Largest record collections in the world. Incredible collections of vinyl records and their owners

In the inconspicuous courtyards of the old Arbat there is a real amber room for vinyl music lovers. The store is simply and clearly called VinylMarket and is located in the basement of a residential building. In this basement, the owners were able to create a bright and spacious hall with 15,000 records. No matter how valuable the record is, you can listen to everything on the spot. Basically, here you can find records of classic rock of the 60s and 70s, the catalog of which is presented here almost in full. There are also new records, but they are not the vast majority. In addition to classic rock here, with a surprise for himself, a sophisticated music lover will find a whole corner of New Wave style records. And then it will turn 180 degrees and see a corner with records of Russian rock. And then he will understand that you can’t leave here empty-handed, since the prices are very pleasant.

What I found there:

To be honest, I have never seen the original Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures for sale in Moscow before. I also didn't see almost the entire discography of the first editions of The Beatles and The Doors on the wall. The first press of The Velvet Underground - I saw it, but not at such a ridiculous price. Recently, everyone wants Kino records, of which there are as many as 16 pieces in VinylMarket. A whole box of records from Vertigo, where the first Black Sabbath presses stand quietly and inconspicuously. It seems that these are very valuable records (don't breathe on them, don't touch them!), but no, here they are - take it and listen!

After 5 copies of the Sex Pistols - Nevermind The Bollocks, I lost count of what I was carrying to the checkout.

Photo - DIG →

DIG is a small shop located between Kitai-Gorod and Taganskaya metro stations. It was opened 6 years ago and has changed its location more than once. Today it is located on Staraya Basmannaya.

Shop in the style of DIY (Do It Yourself), which is probably why it is called so. The choice may seem modest at first glance, but this should not confuse you for the reason that this store has little space, and therefore the entire range is not laid out. Sellers are the coolest and most famous people in narrow circles: Petya Shinawat and Vanya Smekalin. If you wandered there, you can safely ask them about everything that interests you. You may not find the first edition of any Led Zeppelin, but you can easily find the underground, which is not sold in any other places. In addition, all our releases of the so-called "new Russian wave" are sure to get there, if not on vinyl, then on cassette. Rock classics are also present. A lot of Soviet and Russian vinyl is presented, there is a section of discounted records, and you can also bring your own records here to wash them from dirt and dust for only 50 rubles.

What I found there:

Once I went there for a seven-inch The Exploited. Vanya was washing a Dead Kennedys Halloween record (a great thing!). The irony is that on the day we met, Halloween was just celebrated. I also bought a rare thing from Vanya - Pink Floyd's record “It's a pity that you're not here”. That's right: this is a pirate, which was released by the great Soviet vinyl maker Andrey Tropillo. And the debut disc of The Clash turned out to be a very pleasant find.

3. Vinyl Time

Address: metro station Tulskaya, Kholodilny lane, 2
Monday-Friday 12:00-20:00
Saturday 12:00-17:00
Sunday 12:00-17:00

Photo - Yandex →

This is a small shop near the Tulskaya metro station. Despite its size, the most interesting specimens of all musical directions are collected here. Vinyl from the 70s and 80s, I didn’t see modern reissues there. The seller is a charismatic middle-aged music lover who will not refuse to talk with you about specific items and will allow you to listen to whatever you want. And in this store you will find many first editions of your favorite albums and other interesting things. Next to the turntable, where you can listen to rare records, there is a shelf with CDs - there are also a lot of rare gizmos.

My mind was struck by the original album of The Doors Strange Days. This means that this record was released in 1967, during the lifetime of Jim Morrison. An incredible energy emanates from her, as well as from the Black Sabbath Paranoid record, also the first edition, which sits next to her. But the coolest discovery was the incredibly ancient Ella Fitzgerald record, which I asked to be allowed to listen to me: here it was something with something.

Photo -

Go ahead. If the underground and old records do not interest you, then let's go to Maroseyka Street. An almost inconspicuous shop, but sometimes incredible things happen there. The store mainly sells modern vinyl and reissues, but there are some old records. The latest releases will be waiting for you here, so if you want to buy the album that was released yesterday on vinyl, you are here. Huge selection of discs, even more than vinyl. It also sells badges, books, comics and many other interesting goodies. After looking at the pristine sealed records, you can drink coffee and eat it with a bun: there is a cafe in the store.

In general, this is an ordinary store with records that came out no earlier than five to ten years ago. I wouldn't tell you about it, if it weren't for a chance: once I was looking for a record, quite rare for Moscow, and already despaired of finding it. When I saw Iggy Pop looking at me from the Raw Power record cover from the window, I thought I might as well come in. With absolutely no hope, I decided to ask the seller if they have what I've been looking for for weeks:

– Tell me, do you have Tool vinyl?
- There are a couple.
- What is the album? I asked with undisguised excitement.
“Lateralus,” they answered me.

This is the treasured album that I'm tired of looking for.

The only thing that now interested me was whether bank cards were accepted in this store. Our dialogue with the seller is over, but I don’t ignore this store anymore and I don’t advise you. Its small size does not indicate the scarcity of the range.

5. New Art

Address: m. Trubnaya, Butyrskaya st., 5
Monday-Friday 10:00-21:00
Saturday-Sunday 11:00-21:00

Photo - New Art →

It's like "World of Cinema", but more. In general, both of these stores belong to the same site stuffology. This store has the same stock as its smaller brother, but instead of one Swans record, you'll find four here. Sometimes old editions come across for reasonable money. In addition, the cutest tattooed guy sits in the premises of this store, who sells his records separately from the store, and he has a much more interesting choice than his landlords, forgive my impudence. And this store now houses the Uncle Borya rock store. A kind of Terem-Teremok, not low, not high - everyone keeps together.

I don't know why, but in this store, in addition to all sorts of experimental bands and solo albums by Robert Plant, there was an amazing selection of metal. A friend of mine bought an old Slayer Seasons In The Abyss record, which I, for one, love a lot. I also came across the David Bowie record Earthling. At one time, critics smashed this album to smithereens, and therefore it was not published in large numbers. And he was in this store. I have no idea what he was doing there, but he didn’t lie there for a long time, and someone managed to buy it before me. However, I'm all about the store goods, and the tattooed guy sold no less cool things. For example, the first edition of Rock'n Roll High School Ramones in cellophane. This means that no one has ever listened to this record, and it was waiting for me. Oh, it's a pity that I was not with the money.

Photo - Maximum Vinyl →

And here is another DIY store - the union of Moscow DJ Ilya Kot and Dmitry Spirin from the Cockroaches group!. But in fact, this store has more agents, and they travel to foreign festivals, communicate with vinyl sellers there and bargain with them. The more records you take from the seller, the greater the discount will be, and you don’t have to pay for shipping, because the guys carry records from abroad literally on their hump. It may be difficult, but the prices in the store will pleasantly surprise you. And do not be afraid that everyone in this store looks like punks. You buy Ozzy from them, and David Bowie, and The Cure, and The Doors, and Ghost, and everything else. The choice is huge! The guys often go to festivals and concerts, so look for them in clubs and other concert venues!

What I found there:

What is not there! For example, the concert of The Exploited, where I met Ilya, ended for me with the fact that I left the club with a Motorhead record Ace Of Spades. What pleased me the most was the discovery of the debut solo album of my beloved Glenn Danzig. In general, this discovery alone is already enough for me to recommend this store, but there is another story that connects me with it. Once I had to buy the Tom Waits album Rain Dogs. To my surprise, I found that not a single store "for serious people" sells this record. Actually none of the ones I'm telling you about today. There are plenty of other albums everywhere, but there are no about “rain dogs”. Again, without enthusiasm, I went to the Maximum Vinyl website and unexpectedly saw that this album was already sold in two copies. Nowhere, but the punks had it, wow! Since then, I have been very friendly with Ilya.

Photo - Bunch of Questions →

Well, we got to the oldest store. I first came here as a schoolboy, when I was not particularly interested in vinyl, but not so long ago I found myself here again and already asked to see the records for me. I was taken to a room where all the records were on the shelves. There were so many of them that it was pointless to look for something, although it seems that now all this vinyl is in the hall. In any case, look at the catalog on the Internet. There are also many CDs and DVDs, many departments, old rock music in one room, classical music in another. All vinyl is in one place and arranged alphabetically. There are modern records, there are past editions. A place of worship - come take a look.

What I found there:

As far back as my school years, I remember for sure that I saw there CDs by Les Paul and Django Reinhardt, two guitar virtuosos. And there was a huge amount of punk rock: all the punk bands that I know today, I first saw on CDs in Transylvania. But I bought vinyl there recently, and it was the last record of the same David Bowie. A chic thing: there is a pentagram on the cover, the album is designed in black, all the songs are about the fall and other rabble, and the artist himself died shortly after the release of the album. And the name is BLACKSTAR! Natural black metal! I can say with confidence that I took this record at the best price at which it was only possible to buy it in Moscow.

Photo - In contact with →

It's not really a vinyl store, it's more books. However, there is also a music department with vinyl records here, and there are very interesting items in it, so we will not bypass it. This is not even one store, it is a chain of stores, so it's easier to look for items of interest in the catalog on the site. Mostly here you can find modern re-releases of old albums or recently released releases. There are few records printed before the fall of the Berlin Wall, but they do come across.

There is a decent collection of Russian performers, Aquarium, for example. Vinyls of such groups as Picnic, Chaif, Agatha Christie are also present in the Republic. There are very interesting things, including the Georgian group Mgzavrebi. But still, this store is designed more for young people than for the older generation, so there are few Jethro Tull records here, but Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian are a wagon and a small cart. However, such masters that everyone likes are presented without exception. I'm talking about Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave and David Bowie, where without him. Without Bowie records, any store is doomed to fail, Bowie guards vinyl stores like a pantheistic god. Haha!

What I found there:

I was extremely happy to discover the album Dresden Dolls No, Virginia, where a charming woman named Amanda Palmer reigns. The thing is rare for our region, so this can be said to be a valuable find. From the "Republic", I once, in a joyful and cheerful mood, took away the record of the same Dead Kennedys In God We Trust Inc. I still listen to this album with pleasure, but it was sold for some ridiculous money.

Photo - tilbagevise →

If you've searched all of the above stores and haven't found anything interesting, rest assured, Sound Barrier will amaze you. This small, inconspicuous shop is located in the courtyard of Stalinist houses in the Leninsky Prospekt area and has the largest selection of vinyl in Moscow. Yes, in Moscow! In Russia, for sure, or maybe, the range of records of this store is one of the widest in Europe. It's no joke - 150 thousand records in one place! Visiting guests often gasped at one glance at the assortment.

There's so much vinyl that it doesn't stay on the shelves, it's tied with rubber bands so it doesn't fall on your head. You will hardly move around this store, because vinyl is everywhere here. He is everywhere. Everything is collected here. Gramophone records, Louis Armstrong originals, first editions of The Beatles, autographed records. All the cult groups that are full of T-shirts of the current so-called generation Y are here in such a huge number that it makes no sense to list individual performers. You can come here at any time and in 99% of cases you will find what you have been looking for.

And if you don’t find it, then they will order the record of your dreams, but this is a rare case. It happens that in the middle of this warehouse of records there are no seemingly ordinary things (Rain Dogs, Lateralus, Earthling for example). But here you will see at least one record of your favorite group, whatever this group may be. A huge number of bootlegs and first presses, our publications, foreign and so on. In short, if you are asked to take someone to a vinyl record store to be sure to find something valuable to their ear, take them to the Sound Barrier - you can't go wrong!

What I found there:

Everything that I did not find in previous stores. But for you to understand how cool this store is, I will tell you one story. A couple of guests from abroad came to this store in search of a Sepsis record. They, of course, found it there, and not resting on this, they began to study the assortment further. The study went on for several hours and ended with the discovery of an album that they did not expect to find in snowy Russia. It was the rarest Achim Reichel & Machines Echo double album that they had searched all over the world for several years and couldn't find anywhere. Not on sites on the Internet, not in Japan, not in Europe, not in America, ANYWHERE! And found in Russia! Can you imagine how this discovery broke the mold for them?

Photo - Look At Me →

No I am not joking. Feel free to look for records on Avito, because this is a private sale and you can bargain well here. Go to the site, select your city, then select the category "Hobbies and Leisure" and the subcategory "collecting". Now it remains to click on the word "records", and you can search for what you want.

Keep in mind that you may not always be able to find a record in these categories because the seller may not assign a category to their product. Often sellers simply advertise that they have a large number of records for sale, and it is better to call them to check availability, because it is simply unrealistic to make announcements for each record. The easiest way, of course, is to buy a Soviet record on Avito, because in our country this stuff is in abundance. There are also collectors who sell their valuable records, which are not even in the Sound Barrier. The records of Andrey Tropilo (popularly known as "Antrop'y") are easy to find on Avito. They are valuable because Tropillo had to turn on his ingenuity in order to release a record and not get a lawsuit from the copyright holder. His resourcefulness knew no bounds: all titles and proper names were translated into Russian, and the design included such changes that it could no longer be called a copy. That's who came up with the Lead Airship and the Chudak group (this is how The Cure was translated) with the album "Three Unreal Boys".

Just look at what Antrop was doing - you will laugh for a long time, especially when you find out where the production and recording took place - namely, in the premises of the Lutheran church in St. Petersburg. Abroad, these records cost 50 euros, and here - 300 rubles.

What I found there:

Again, a Dead Kennedys record for some mere pennies, sealed in cellophane. Or, for example, one day I urgently needed to buy a Black Sabbath record - thanks to Avito, I carried Master Of Reality home the same day. Acquired and vindicated by Studgis "House of Kaif" from the nicest employee of the Tretyakov Gallery, who was chewing on a toothpick. Then I came across Lou Reed and John Cale's Songs for Drella. The brand new Tom Waits record "Swordfishtrombones" was also found there.

And all these are Antropes (except for the Dead Kennedys), which are already a historical rarity in themselves. They cost me no more than 500 rubles each, I say this just in case. On Avito I also came across a very nicely priced color edition of the Mastodon Leviathan album signed by guitarist Bill Kelicher. Moreover, even without an autograph, this album is as difficult to obtain as Lateralus and Earthling.

By the way, here I found another Tool album - Undertow on two vinyls. A pleasant young woman sold it to me, gave me the same album on a CD and made another discount, because the side of one of the discs was scratched in some way unknown to her. But all this is nothing compared to the case when I arranged a meeting with the person from whom I wanted to buy the debut album of The Velvet Underground. I haven't had the record for a long time, but I'm still friends with the seller.

Photo - Bag →

This is another site, but already an online auction. Here sometimes it will be necessary to have time to make a bet on time. And if you are a trickster and placed a bid 1 second before the end of the auction, then the auction will last another 15 minutes, and so after each subsequent bid, so be patient. Some lots can be bought without bidding, some no one makes bets, so go for it. Thousands and thousands of records, discs, cassettes, coins, stamps, photographs and other valuables are collected here. It's just a paradise for collectors of all stripes, where you can find the most incredible gizmos.

What I found there:

It was with great pleasure that I bought the Dire Straits debut here for an amount that is easy to dine at McDonald's. With even greater pleasure, I found here the first English edition of Disentegration The Cure, also for some pennies for a record that was new in condition.

But all these beautiful things can not be compared with my main trophy. As I usually do (without enthusiasm), one day I typed the following combination of words in a search engine: Diamanda Galas & John Paul Jones - Sporting Life. This album was pressed on vinyl in England in 1994 in a single pressing, because the whole world had switched to CD at that time. And nowhere from the stores I mentioned above this record was not, and it should not have been. I already thought that I was looking for a black cat in a dark room where it is not, since this record has settled firmly in the collections of audiophiles of all stripes, and in Russia there was absolutely no point in looking for it.

However, the site stubbornly proved to me that one copy of this demonic album is in Tver. This record did not come cheap, but I could not allow this album to fall into the hands of a fat speculator who was beaten for patles at the advice, and passed by the one who should have it in the collection. It's good that my friends live in Tver, because I wouldn't survive the transportation of this record by the Russian Post.

Photo - →

And this is the last and best option. This is a site for music collectors, and here are all the editions of all the records that have ever been released. Detailed descriptions for each disc, photos of the sleeve, inner sleeve, apple, matrix, nuances of publications - all this is here. People who open a Discogs account put their records up for sale, some even with autographs and other pleasant surprises. On sale, scary to say, more than twenty million records.

There is one thing though: you have to fork out for shipping, and it sometimes costs more than the record itself, so don't be surprised. However, there is a way out of this situation too: you just need to open the search filter and select Russia as the location of the disc you are looking for: this way you will either find a seller in your city or save a lot on delivery. And if in Russia there is no necessary copy - well, what can you do! You will have to order from abroad, and here the filter will also help you, because shipping from the USA is much more expensive than shipping from Europe. But I want to say one more thing: not all collectors want to part with their records. For example, foreigners from the "Sound Barrier" wool Discogs for 4 years and did not find what they found with us. Although I'm sure it was an isolated case.

What I found there:

The number of plates and not describe. The prices are sometimes very reasonable, so it can be a sin not to take it. I can't boast of finding rare things here, although in any case I was able to purchase records of Morphine and BADBADNOTGOOD. Many people like these groups, but the records of these groups are completely absent in Moscow. I had to order from abroad, there was no other way out. Also, I was able to buy a wonderful Patti Smith Easter record here. It was inexpensive and found quickly, and I saved a lot of time and nerves.

Photo - Vinylium →

“20 million records - well, much more!” - you think. But you understand that all our desires are limited by our imagination. But not all of your favorite albums were released on vinyl, no matter how much you would like to. What to do when you want to have a record that does not exist in nature? Record it yourself!

Many have already asked this question and found out that you can record vinyl only in a batch of a hundred pieces, and it will also cost about a hundred pieces, and no one will write you one record. But magicians from St. Petersburg were able to get modern equipment for cutting records and make any records in any circulation. You send them the songs that you want to have on your record, send them the sleeve and apple design, talk about the details and bang! You have an exclusive! Only you will need to prove that you are making vinyl for personal use, and in case of ordering 20+ records, you will have to provide permission from the author of the music. It won't be very expensive to make one record, but it won't be very cheap either.

What I found there:

I will not say. It's a secret.

As you can see, you have many options. From my stories, you probably realized that luck can smile on you quite unexpectedly. Do not stop searching and you will certainly find what you are looking for!

People don't like to part with old things. For years we have been storing items that have not been used in everyday life for a long time. They collect dust in the farthest corner of the closet and they are taken out only during repairs and moving. But some of these things can be sold to someone who really appreciates them. For example, old vinyl records.

Previously, each house kept a whole stack of them: songs by Alla Pugacheva, Valery Leontiev, as well as rarer copies with foreign music - The Beatles, Queen, ABBA and many other performers. But the time has come and then electronic media. And only a decrepit, as a rule, no longer working player, and a collection of old vinyl are reminiscent of past times.

But those who have carefully preserved records can now earn on their sale. A lot of people are willing to buy them. Among them there are both collectors and lovers of real sound.

The struggle of analog and digital audio

But let's start, perhaps, with why people hunt for vinyl. With such a category as collectors, everything is clear: someone collects stamps, someone collects badges and medals, and there are those who purchase rare copies of records. Very often they are not even unpacked, and they are just part of the exhibition.

But there are also people who prefer to listen to music on such a medium. Compared to compressed digital, the sound is richer, brighter, and has more depth on vinyl. Cassettes also lose in this competition, as they have a significantly reduced frequency range.

Digital formats are much more convenient: by compressing files on one medium, you can store a large amount of music. They are compact, convenient and do not get damaged when playing. That is why they are leading the market today.

But a smaller part of the population - connoisseurs of juicy and deep sound - remained faithful to vinyl. Their army is replenished by individual representatives of the younger generation. Today we can safely say that digital media has not completely won the victory, as the film industry has not been able to completely replace the theater.

Now let's return to the question of where and how to profitably sell records. Moreover, there are quite a few sales outlets, and all of them deserve attention.

Commission shop

In every, even the smallest city, there is a commission shop that accepts various goods for sale - books, equipment, interior items, dishes, things, etc. They also accept old vinyl records of the USSR and foreign performers.

This method of sale is attractive due to its quick sale: if there are connoisseurs of this product in your locality, then it will be bought very quickly. Of the minuses - the price. Here they offer 10-15 rubles. per copy, rarely where the cost reaches 50 rubles.

However, if you do not want to delve into the topic and need to quickly turn in all available records, this is the best option. Quickly, cheaply, without nerves.

Swap meet

In large cities there are various flea markets and collapses. And if you make an effort, then the goods can be sold there. They work, as a rule, on a day off, so even a working person has the opportunity to do the sale himself.

Here the price is much higher - 60-200 rubles. But there are also disadvantages. First, you need at least a minimal knowledge of the prices and potential value of each record. Secondly, there is no guarantee that there will be a buyer, while you will definitely spend your own time. Thirdly, the market is a very special place where sellers coexist with homeless people, outcasts, asocial individuals, plus put up with all the vagaries of the weather.

The pluses include higher profits and, at least, an interesting experience.

A music shop

Since a lot of music lovers are interested in buying vinyl records, then, accordingly, there are outlets where these products are available in a huge assortment. These are various music stores, for example, in Moscow - "Sound Barrier", "Vinyl-Time", "Phonograph", in St. Petersburg - "Vinyl", "Record", "Recordmed" and many others, both in these cities and around the whole country.

In a vinyl record store, goods are often taken for sale - especially rare and valuable items. They will offer a good price for them here. But here it will not be profitable to sell large-circulation copies here - the cost will not be higher than in a banal purchase.

However, this is a very good option for those who are completely unaware of the prices of old vinyl. Here the entire collection will be examined, rare ones will be identified and the approximate market value will be announced. After visiting the vinyl record store, you can independently display your product on Internet sites or leave it for sale.

The main disadvantage of this method is the loss of time during the trip, the long implementation period, as well as the low probability that you have a valuable rarity.

Internet platforms

On the Web today you can buy and sell absolutely everything. And if you are looking for where to sell used vinyl records, then you can turn to the help of such trading platforms as Yula, Avito or Ozone. They have specialized sections with this. You can also try to put the product up for sale in thematic sections on social networks.

In order to place an ad, you need to take a couple of photos and set a price, and, therefore, understand what and for how much you can sell. Then you just need to wait, as the implementation period can be greatly delayed.

Of the minuses of this method, one can note the high risk of encountering scammers: they monitor all ads in order to find a gullible simpleton.

Specialized websites for buying/selling vinyl

There are also little-known specialized sites where you can buy or sell a rare copy - 33ob.ru and similar resources. Those who are well versed in the matter and have the most extensive knowledge on the topic live here.

On such a site they offer the highest prices, but only for a worthwhile thing. The disadvantage of such resources is mandatory registration, a commission is also taken from the sale, or the ad itself will be paid.

In general, in order to sell records here, you need to have something really rare and interesting in your collection.

The price of vinyl records depends on several important factors. These include:

1. Date of issue. The older, the more expensive. But sometimes the old performer was later released in an additional edition - this reduces the cost.
2. Rare copy. The phonograph record was published in a small edition, which makes it exclusive. Collectors hunt for such things, and they are always expensive.
3. The country where the recording was made. Domestic carriers of the Soviet period are not of great value, while among the vinyl with foreign performers you can find an interesting specimen. Those records that came into the country bypassing the Iron Curtain are especially valued.
4. State. Records with a serious defect are almost impossible to sell, but if there are scuffs and scratches on it that have little effect on the sound frequency, the buyer can still demand a discount even for a rare item.
5. Playback speed. All other things being equal, a record with a high turnover rate costs more.

The price of vinyl records in retail can range from 500 to several thousand rubles. If we talk about collectible overvalued and rare items, then they cost tens of thousands of dollars.

How to know the status of the goods

For the convenience of buyers, special symbols were invented that will help to understand the condition of the carrier without a visual inspection:

• Mint - new vinyl, never played. The designation "SS" may also be present here - the package has not been opened.
• NM - the record is almost new, listened to several times. Packaging without damage and scuffs, vinyl surface in perfect condition.
• Ex - excellent condition. On the surface of the media, small defects are permissible that do not affect the sound quality (rustles and light crackles are not considered sound errors). The packaging is in good condition, slight creases in the corners are acceptable, but all seams are intact.
• G - good condition. The packaging looks bad - scuffs, tears, dirty and greasy spots, etc. The vinyl has a lot of scratches, but it is playable.
• F/P - bad condition. The only reason to buy this item is its collectible value. Unsuitable for listening.

Pre-sale preparation

Before you decide where to sell used vinyl records, you need to bring them to a decent look. In other words, you need pre-sale preparation. All of them need to be sorted out, to make sure that the packaging corresponds to the content. Then you need to wipe the envelopes from dust and glue them - this will give them a more presentable look.

It is better not to touch the vinyl surface - the dust leaves traces when wiping, and this delicate procedure should be left to those who understand this topic.

Special attention should be paid to compiling a list of the collection - the name of the disc, manufacturer, year of publication, circulation. This will help facilitate the dialogue with the seller in the purchase or save time when submitting an ad.

So, now you know how and where to sell used vinyl records. And how much you earn on this depends only on whether there are instances of value in your collection.

Nov 8, 2013

Collecting vinyl is an exciting and… insanely costly activity. Vinyl records can be terribly, fabulously, incredibly expensive. These are, as a rule, super-valuable specimens that are in the rarest collections of true and desperate collectors.

Owning such vinyl can be compared to owning expensive paintings by the greatest masters of art or collecting rare limited edition cars. There are very few such truly special specimens around the world, which in turn further increases their investment attractiveness. But how, how does a vinyl record acquire the status of a collectible, rare vinyl? For what? This will be discussed today. let's consider 7 main aspects, thanks to which the record is "doomed" to become a collector's rarity.

The most important aspects forvinyl record collector

• year of release of the record - usually, the older the vinyl, the more valuable it is;
• limited circulation - for example, to have a rare vinyl, the circulation of which did not exceed 500, 300 or 100 (!) copies - is definitely an honor;
• popularity and global demand for the performer / group / musician - unknown musicians are not popular with record collectors;
• the condition of the vinyl record itself and its sleeve - a rare vinyl, for example, 68 years old in a perfectly preserved package, without scratches and chips - a real collector's pearl;
• the label of the publishing company - this issue has its own priorities: the vinyl of such labels as Blue note, Columbia Records, Parlophon, Vertigo is highly valued to this day;
• The image on a vinyl record (a rare photo or a unique illustration by a famous master, artist) also affects its high cost and the level of rarity of such vinyl in general.

#1: Limited Edition

The limited edition attracts connoisseurs and collectors not only with the uniqueness of each “surviving” copy, but also with such pleasant bonuses as hand-numbered copies, a single issue of a special picture-vinyl series, an original, unique sleeve or cover design, unlike the design of a traditional edition of a release, and as well as all sorts of accessories.

Example:

Queen group

Bohemian rhapsody/I'm in love with my car

Issue: 78 year

Cost: £5,000

In the hot summer of 1978, a celebration was held in honor of the receipt by the British record label EMI of the Queen's Award to Industry for Export Achievement. Charming memorable souvenirs were presented at the celebration - fountain pens, sets of glasses with the company logo, scarves. But the most valuable gift was a specially released, limited edition bright blue vinyl of the legendary Queen single. There were exactly two hundred such valuable souvenirs and not a copy more! Once in the hands of people interested in the commercial appeal of this edition, the record has become insanely rare and insanely expensive. Still 5,000 pounds (its current price today) is a lot of money.

#2: Bootleg

Bootlegs in some situations and time periods became the only possible option to purchase an album of your favorite artist or group.

Such vinyl editions were sometimes created almost “on their knees” in an atmosphere of heightened secrecy. Only the “chosen ones” knew about them, and they could only be bought, so to speak, by pull. And, despite the conspiracy and illegality of this act, they went like hot cakes! For example, the concert of Jimi Hendrix in Los Angeles (70th year) is just such an option.

Over time and with the development of the industry, legal publishers began to dominate bootlegs, so all the smuggling that was still being created at that time became just a primitive placement of unofficial compositions, singles, albums and remixes on the global web. And the romance of the bootleg is gone...

Example:

I Feel Love (remix by Patrick Cowley)

Issue: 78 year

Cost: $650

We are talking about a remix (unofficial, of course) by artist Patrick Cowley on Donna Summer. Despite the fact that vinyl, to put it mildly, did not cause a storm of applause from producer Donna Summer, the record began to be considered rare and in demand in the underground theme. Patrick Cowley personally cut his composition on a vinyl disc, and himself (even without intermediaries) handed it over to representatives of various radio stations for distribution.

Music lovers and fans were able to buy the edition only in 1982 (it had never entered the public sale before) in a somewhat abridged version, and the edition appeared on CD only 10 years ago. Now one of the first surviving vinyl records from '78 can be bought for $650.

No. 3: Personal autograph of the musician

This is one of the most natural, almost "natural" ways to make a record a legend and increase its price many times over. Indeed, after some time, a copy with the signature of the author of the release will become part of history.

At the moment, the sale of such rare vinyl discs is quite common. The main thing when buying them is to always check the authenticity of the celebrity mural and require a special certificate confirming this on legally agreed grounds.

Example:

John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Issue: 80 year

Cost: $850,000

Perhaps the most expensive of all the records with the musician's autograph that exists in the world is one of the few copies of the release by Yoko Ono and John Lennon called Double Fantasy. The price breaks all records, gentlemen - $850,000!

It has become a real artifact, bearing part of the history of the tragic day. The fact is that it has genuine fingerprints of Lennon's killer - Mark Chapman. After all, as you know, five hours before the personal destruction of the legend, Chapman received an autograph from the musician on the new album. This was the Double Fantasy record.

In 1999, she went under the hammer for $ 150,000, but 11 years later she was put up for auction again, where the initial bidding price was an amount already several times higher than the original cost.

Firstly, start building your personal collection with new original (not re-released!) vinyl that is in demand on the world market. And if you have sufficient finances, then you can start by buying old original editions. Such records are available both in specialized stores and online auctions.

Secondly, if you like (at least occasionally) to travel, then do not be lazy to visit several shops or even themed flea markets with interesting things. There you can often find a valuable treasure for your vinyl collection at ridiculous prices.

Third, do not forget that every year the investment value of the record is growing, so handle it as carefully as possible (first of all, store and care for it properly). Many collectors never listen to their "treasures", but only carefully store them on the shelves, waiting for the right moment to sell, or just to enjoy the feeling of owning a rare copy.

No. 4: Pervopress

First press is a real treasure for the collector. By the way, we once mentioned in our article on modern vinyl records about the first press and its features.

The main difference between the first press and subsequent copies is the excellent sound, the incomparable breadth of the sound picture. But even here there can be exceptions to the rule. After all, there were situations when First press was published for some reason defective. But in all other moments, such records are valued more than just highly. When buying a first press, the collector must make sure of its authenticity - check the database for the true year of issue of the publication and find out its personal alphanumeric code (it must be such).

By the way, any actual and original album on vinyl, being a first press, will eventually acquire the status of a collectible record. Music lovers should not forget about this when buying a fresh release of their favorite band or artist.

Example:

Issue: 68

Cost: £19,201

This vinyl is often referred to simply as the "Beatles white album". And what is the rarity of this edition? The fact that on each cover of the edition there is a personal numbering created by stamping. Well, the first four issues naturally went to the musicians themselves, but the fifth record of the circulation in 2008 was sold at auction for 19,201 pounds!

#5: The uniqueness of the record sleeve

The cover, vinyl packaging is an integral and very important part of the release. And the unique design of the envelope is regarded by collectors as a work of art. Especially when the master is a famous artist.

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Peter Blake and many other legendary creators of their era were engaged in illustrating vinyl discs.

Example:

The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground & Nico

Issue: 66

Cost: $25,200

This release is rightfully considered one of the most important vinyls in the history of world rock music. The reason for this is a huge influence on the development of modern rock themes and rock culture.

The design of the envelope was personally developed by Andy Warhol (being the first producer of the team). On the outside of the envelope is a banana of a bright yellow hue, and next to it is Warhol's handwritten signature - Peel slowly and see (carefully remove the skin and look). Under the yellow skin of this banana is a delicate, “pink filling” of the fruit - a sort of peeled banana. This artistic concept can be perceived as symbolism, as a joke, as a brilliant design, as a riddle - in general, as you like. Funny and original, especially considering that such an idea was developed by the designer back in 66.

No. 6: Acetate

It includes special editions - discs made of aluminum with the finest coating in the form of a specialized acetate varnish.

You can perceive such releases as an experiment in the context of searching for the best sound. But, one way or another, these releases are very much appreciated by connoisseurs of collecting.

Example:

Antonio Carlos Jobim/Frank Sinatra

Issue: 69

Cost: $9,000

This is an acetate of one of the most popular Frank Sinatra releases in the 2nd half of the 60s.

In 67, Sinatra recorded a record together with the brightest representative of bossanova - with Antonio Carlos Jobim. They worked great. Therefore, after a couple of years, they firmly decided to continue their joint work and record a new album, SinatraJobim. The album was tested on acetate and released. But after some time, unsold copies were withdrawn by stores from sale without explanation.

But just because of this incomprehensible situation, the release became a true treasure.

#7: Celebrity Records

Like any other thing that belongs to famous people and prominent personalities, vinyl records also acquire additional significance, and with it, exclusivity when the former owner is a star. And they do not even need to be a rarity for this. The imprint of fame of a famous person - that's what will increase the price of such releases.

For example, the writer Haruki Murakami has a huge collection of great records (about 50,000 units), most of which is occupied by rare jazz albums by legendary musicians. Can you imagine how much any copy from this collection can cost?

Bill Clinton is also considered a notable collector of vinyl records. He has albums of various artists, groups, trends, genres and, of course, there are pearls of the collection - gifts from famous figures, friends and personal acquisitions. According to Mr. Clinton himself, he has long since lost count...

And by the way, Bob Marley, Bjork, Marilyn Monroe, Amy Winehouse, Claudia Schiffer, Jimi Hendrix, Prince Charles, Steve Jobs - they all once collected vinyl.

You can remember for a long time famous personalities who love and respect analog sound, and also collect rare vinyl discs. The main thing is that their passion every day increases the investment value of the releases they own.

Therefore, buying an insanely expensive record from the star's collection, be sure that its value will only grow, and it will bring you a lot of financial joy over time. Great investment, great return.

That's all. Good and valuable shopping to you! =)

Tell your friends:

A musical number is partly a number about what is not. In a world of mp3s, blogs, and collections measured in hundreds of gigabytes, few people really care about music. New albums do not cause spiritual awe, you want to get rid of the freshly downloaded one as soon as possible. The only thing that still evokes tenderness, envy and simple human interest in people is a long-forgotten vinyl record. Alexey Munipov found out how the Moscow vinyl world works and met with the main collectors.

“I tried never to change with anyone. And he didn't let me listen to his records. There is money - buy, no - go to x ... ". It's hot in the basement of Transylvania, overhead is a trading floor with tons of CDs: there are no vinyl records there, but this is the main music lover's point in Moscow, and where to start asking questions about collectors, if not here?

The owner of Transylvania, Boris Nikolaevich Simonov, was once the president of the Moscow Society of Philophonists and, in theory, should know everyone. His own collection is legendary. They say that everything there is only on vinyl. That in size it is not inferior, and even exceeds the collection of "Transylvania". That a separate apartment is reserved for it. And that, of course, no one has access to it.

All this turns out to be true.

“I started collecting records in the mid-60s,” says Simonov. - I knew for sure that no one would give me records, I didn’t want to beg to listen either. I didn’t run through the forests, through the jolts - I only bought and sold, and only from trusted people. There were several serious fartsov in Moscow. They made money on something else - on mohair, bologna raincoats, scarves, watches, jeans. Sailors, artists, journalists, athletes, various diplomats were unloaded. Vinyl was also brought, but no one really knew what to do with it. On the one hand, it seems to be a fashionable thing, on the other hand, no one understood music. Well, they knew Tom Jones, Paul Mauriat's orchestra, The Beatles... Out of greed, our people bought vinyl at sales, and, oddly enough, interesting things came across there. Here is how I selected them. The best left, the rest sold - for the same money. It wasn't a business, it was just that I could listen a lot and keep a lot for myself. Well, something has accumulated."

Other collectors talk about what exactly has accumulated there with a mixture of envy and admiration. “I would not mention any forty-five, Boris is right there - yes, I have seven of them! - said DJ Misha Kovalev. - Well, seven times - sell one, I say. And he - no, how can I sell it? She's good! Boris has this logic: if he drops a good record out of his hands, then all sorts of fools will ruin it! It's better to let it lie down."

That compacts are for suckers, Simonov does not say out loud, but in general the approach is clear. There is no vinyl in Transylvania in principle. “And how to trade the most expensive? These people will come, they will start to look, touch, they will want to listen, God forbid, they will scratch them ... Well, do not kill them for this? Dangerous!"

In the Soviet Union, the record's life was bizarre and often fleeting. “A fresh longplay cost 50-55 rubles. But in the early days it could cost even 100. Some Creedence "Cosmo's Factory" comes - they immediately grab the "writers" who record music for money, distill it on film from morning to night and repeatedly justify their money. After that, the record turns into mush. There was no idea about rarities, curiosities, collector's editions - in short, about what is now called collectables and is described in thick catalogs - there was. “Even I didn’t understand then that the first edition is more valuable because it sounds better. What people now pay a lot of money for - some original King Crimson, The Beatles on a yellow Parlophone - before you could just kick with your foot.

It was a world of complex schemes, endless chains, dotted lines “from the soloist of the Bolshoi to the composer Artemyev”, calls and resales, honest store assistants, quiet swindlers and serious collectors - Dosya Shenderovich, Rudik the red and Rudik the black, Vasily Lvovich and Vasily Dmitrich. According to Simonov, there were at least several collections in Moscow that were an order of magnitude larger than his own. But this world seems to have long and irrevocably ended. It is difficult to imagine a young man who now goes to other people's apartments for vinyl. Why and who might need it?

***

Vova Terekh, the guitarist of the Riving Strings group, is quite a young man, he hardly heard about the two Rudiks. Terekh is standing in shorts in the middle of his two-room apartment, cigarette smoke is hanging in the air, around the records, records, only records. From furniture only a bed, a table and a bar. Terekh pours tea, puts a 1969 Edgar Broughton Band record on the player and, waiting for the first chords, talks about what every collector talks about first: “Well, listen to yourself - it sounds completely different!”

Sound is what people are supposed to buy vinyl for. Vinyl has an analog sound, a compact has a digital sound: collectors call it flat, clamped, unnatural - whatever, the main thing is that there is no life in it. “I wasn’t a maniac,” Terekh says. - I listened to compacts, collected decently. And one day, for nostalgic reasons, I decided to listen to the Deep Purple album “In Rock” - I loved it as a child. I bought a branded CD - everything seems to be in place, but the music is somehow not like that. I got another edition, then a remastered one, then an expensive Japanese one - everything is not right. Well, once at a party I came across an old record, put it on the player - and realized that we were being deceived.

“Then there were no CDs, no DVDs, no cassettes—vinyl was the only medium,” Terekh says, rummaging through the boxes. - All the best engineering minds in the world were engaged only in achieving the perfect sound. Some records sound like this - it's impossible to believe that they were recorded in the 68th. Collectors hate the word “remastering” especially fiercely: “Some guy sits and decides how to improve the old album. How does he know? Well, yes, there you can hear details that were not heard before - so they may not need to be heard!

Terekh collects garage, psychedelic, punk and kraut rock; it is clear that even holding the original edition of the legendary Nuggets record in his hands is already an adventure. Or find Lou Reed on a junk compilation under a pseudonym, before The Velvet Underground. All this is addictive: the same albums have different circulations, different versions, English, American and other editions. The most annoying thing is that they also sound different. “The American oak has such a mass, a deep track, and the sound presses directly. I like that. English sounds very different – ​​not better, not worse, just different.” Therefore, Terekh has seven pieces of The Velvet Underground's first album, and they are all different.

***

And, of course, design. To impress the neophyte, he is always shown wonders and beauties. All this takes place under the slogan "This does not happen on a CD." The Faces record rolls eyes. Sergeant's mustache and epaulettes are invested in "Sergeant Pepper". The "Jesus Loves the Stooges" EP comes with special glasses that show a 3D dead donkey on one side of the envelope and a 3D big-mouthed Iggy on the other. In the Jethro Tull "Stand Up" envelope, there are paper figures of the participants inside. Leather envelopes, gold lettering, colored vinyl, plastic windows, posters and inlays, pretty much everything.

Dmitry Kazantsev, a designer and part-time blues musician, has about 5,000 records, mostly old, American ones. They, contrary to expectation, do not take up much space - two large racks, that is, half a room. The owner without looking takes out a CD: “What is there to compare? It is almost 9 times smaller than the plate. If you reduce the picture by 9 times, all the details will be lost. The compact is not collectible at all. The price for him is ugh, nothing. In production, it costs a penny. And at the record - how much it took one paper.

On the floor, on an armchair, on a cabinet, piles are unsorted. Dmitry picks up the top plate and shows: “Well, here it is. Album by The Beach Boys "Love You". You first take it, examine it - what a brilliant design, how everything here is thought up to the smallest detail, drawn. Then you turn it over, and there in the middle of this ingenious design is some kind of idiotic amateur photo. And so you think, what kind of idiocy, you look at the name of the photographer, you think: well, how is it possible, is this photographer mu ... k or what? That is... You understand? You haven’t even started listening to the record yet, and already so much fun!”

Kazantsev demonstrates rare sanity: he does not chase after different versions of the same album, he has seen collectables in a coffin, he pays attention only to the music and the quality of the recording. “The same The Velvet Underground on the first albums - well, the horror is what's going on! And they play somehow, and it's recorded monstrously. Or the first editions of The Beatles: they now cost wild money, it is very difficult to get them, and at the same time they are almost always killed, and most of them are generally monophonic. I am satisfied with later reissues. But in the end, he suddenly admits: “Here, of course, you need to understand ... There are fewer and fewer records, and more and more of us. Almost all vinyl in the world has already been assembled, described, prices are rising. And here you sit and think: maybe buy for future use? Then it won't."

***

From this “for the future”, from thinking about the difference in sound, from the phrases “I'll take two, one just in case”, an insane collector's vein begins to beat in people's heads. There are vinyl shops in Moscow, but real collectors don't go to them. At least not the ones in plain sight. There are two or three points on Gorbushka, there is a strange store at Melodiya - with unopened Pugacheva from the warehouse, and of course, there is the Sound Barrier on Leninsky and its owner Pasha. Everyone has a lot of complaints about Pasha, but no one can compete with the Sound Barrier: there are more than a hundred thousand records here - and there is no other place like this collection of Soviet vinyl.

The quiet gatherer loves hidden places, like the point in 1st Smolensky Lane, which is run by Andrey Mikhailov, also known as Andrey Daltonik. This is a room filled from floor to ceiling with records - no sign, no bell, no hint. Here, as if by themselves, heartbreaking stories are born - about drunken collectors, collectors who disappeared, about people who ate only canned food and corn without butter. One artist went - he drank himself. One chemist went - he drank himself, drowned. There was a couple, mother and son, nicknamed Doodle Sharks - tenacious as hell. Collected only the classics, and only old records, 78 rpm. Once they showed a record of Bella Vrubel - this is the wife of the artist Vrubel, she sang a little, recorded 3 or 4 records. The price is - 1500 dollars, at least. And they bought it from an old woman for 50 rubles.

“Jazz that collects or rock - those are still nothing,” says a local consultant, thin, toothless, in a sweater that still remembers Andropov. - But if you start collecting classics - that's all. With ends. Here, take a clarinet concerto by Mozart: there it is in a minor, then in a major, and then once - and it throws you into the abyss. Hell. Beginning in the middle, middle at the end, end at the beginning - nothing is clear. Like Blavatsky. You start collecting this - write wasted. Classic - it strangles people.

And then there are stampers or catalogers - they collect entirely catalogues: let's say, all the records released on the Vertigo label. Andrey Daltonik, who is very fond of Italo disco, was said to have 5,000 records from the German label ZYX Music in his collection. Andrey rejected the figure: “Yes, only three thousand came out there. And yet I do not have enough positions of 70. Five thousand is if you count all my Eurodisco at all. In total, there are 12 and a half thousand records in his collection. “They stand in a separate room, no problem. The family doesn't mind. But no one enters without me.”

By all accounts, vinyl is on the rise. The market is growing, sales are increasing, people are willing to pay big money. Sellers should be happy about this - but it seems to only annoy them. “I don’t like to work with the same oligarchs. The store owner winces. - They are all in a fuss, they themselves do not know what they want. Tiresome people."

Those who don't know what they want buy their Deep Purple "In Rock" and walk away. They remain their own - and you can already deal with them. It's a thin but strong network, a sort of Web 2.0 collectors' network, a network of people who know each other that no eBay auction can match. In addition, Mikhailov says that prices on eBay are often higher than his. “Since it became possible to buy from Russia, everything has taken off incredibly. Hungry people flew in. I just see it." It is more difficult, but also more reliable, to use personal connections: somewhere in Sussex there was a box with unopened vinyl, and in Krasnoyarsk there is a buyer for it. And it won't be listed on eBay. Auction is anonymity, and collecting is always communication. On eBay, God forbid, they will deceive, and if a person deceives, then here he is, nearby. It is better to find your dealer somewhere in America or people who go to England, Japan, Finland and Holland for records. The main thing is to make contact.”

***

The network of acquaintances is also the network of contempt. Everyone here knows everyone and everyone can't stand each other. Collectors of orchestras and music of the 50s - collectors of punk and psychedelia. Jazzmen - collectors of Melodiya. Fans of prog rock 1968-1971 - those who also love 1972-1973. Music lovers - huckster. Hucksters - students. Students are fans of Nazareth. Connoisseurs of kraut-rock - connoisseurs of Italo-disco. Buyers of old vinyl - buyers of modern. Narrow specialists - broad. Connoisseurs of the classics - all the rest.

Below all on the ladder of hatred are those who collect the exotic - Japanese pop music, Dutch rock, African twists. In a small apartment where there is no space, but only paths - to the bed, the record player and the electric organ, Misha Kovalev puts me a seven-inch of some idiotic Dutch: bought at a flea market for one euro. Kovalev is a GITIS teacher and DJ. Collects all the fun. I am very pleased with the fact that no one here is chasing after this: once in the Sound Barrier they managed to snatch part of the collection of Tsvetov, the main Soviet internationalist in Japan, - no one else needed the Japanese stage. Another time, a cabinet with Cuban music appeared there: the main Latin specialist in Moscow died, the widow brought everything “to Pasha”. Each record had a hand-drawn ex-libris, in some places even home-made covers. The closet stood for a couple of days, we managed to dig up something, then the collection went to England - in the West, Cubans on vinyl are terribly expensive. Collections of the dead in general is a rich topic. Their relatives used to throw them away, sometimes they were taken by trucks to Gorbushka and sold by weight. “I got a lot of good things,” Simonov said. - But I recently had a flood - only records from the dead were flooded. I will no longer take from the dead, well, to hell with them.

Kovalev says all the necessary words about the sound, about the sense of time, about the fact that this music is simply not on CD - no one remembers the bands that released three singles and fell apart, and there is nothing about them on the Internet. The main thing says in the end: somehow the actual music has been preserved in these records. Life, warmth, breath - the devil knows what. And he listens to his seven-inchers, but he can’t listen to them, rewritten on CD. No cover, no envelope - can't even remember what it is. “I once went into a DJ shop in Amsterdam: thousands of records, all in white envelopes and with blurred titles. Almost died there."

And then, you can’t buy too much on vinyl: it’s both expensive and dreary, and you get tired of dragging. Vinyl is selection, and selection is exactly what is needed now. Without search, without effort, without these seemingly absurd barriers, music withers, shrinks, disappears. Like gigabytes of everything - but there is nothing to listen to. Do not want.

“Go,” advised Kovalev in parting, “to Gorbushka. There, people have been reselling the same records to each other for years. That’s right, collectors.”

***

The red tent in the yard of the Rubin factory is a strong point. People who list and catalog only The Beatles or only the Canterburys, change Sweet for Slade and Slade for Boney M - they are all here. This is the Moscow Society of Philophonists in the form in which it is still alive. Saturday and Sunday - collection in the morning. Simonov, hearing about him, said only: "Well, these are finished."

Here is a man who has 4,000 records, and everything is only Deep Purple: all editions, and all solo albums, and solo records of everyone who played on solo records. Here is a specialist on the Beatles: after all, young man, there are collections of eight thousand - and only the Beatles. In the middle stands a copy with glasses: he can’t say much, he can hardly stand, and the neighbors chase him away, because he seems to have crap himself - but he holds the bag of records tightly. “The oldest client,” says the current president of the society, half apologetically.

It smells of decay, greed and peppercorns here. And also lack of will: under this red awning, not people gather, but the collections that have mastered them. Any gathering is, in essence, an absurd craving for order; to the opportunity to equip, collect, preserve and describe at least a tiny piece of life. In the end, Deep Purple is not infinite, and nothing is infinite - sooner or later all the rarest positions will be closed, and the collection will become complete, ideal, perfect.

But there are no complete collections. You can collect Melodiya all your life, find rare Soviet jazz, records of drunken pianists - and quite by accident find out that at the Tbilisi branch of Melodiya at night, on the third shift, they wrote and printed fashionable music like cover versions for Nino Ferrer for money . These records are not in the official Melodiya catalog, which means they do not exist - but they do exist. Or hear about the record library of a modest KGB officer from the 5th department, where they sent 20 copies of each (every!) Melodiev's record - including forbidden ones. Where she is and what is there is unknown.

“No one really knows anything,” says Kazantsev. - There is an envelope from one country, and the record is made in another. Released in Holland, it says "Made in Sweden", but made in England. Or they started to print on one label, and finished printing on another. They sound different, but differ only in the fact that some tiny R stands there. Or even not worth it. No Internet will help you, this is not described in any catalogs. I have a Donovan record - no one can even figure out where it was made.

Somewhere in the depths of Gorbushka, a fat man, surrounded by records, almost shouts: “You don’t know what collections are! You don't know what rarities are! These are not collectors, but poof! Real rarities do not sell, do not change, do not show, do not talk about them. Real collections do not fit in apartments! They are stored - in hangars! They are being transported by trucks!” Obviously, I will never see them - to talk about labels, reprints, rarities and Yevstigneev's jazz record library, imaginary trucks slowly go into the distance. Like dreams of peace, like a ghost of a world where there is nothing but music. Like Moby Dick, who is completely impossible to catch up.