British Record Prices & Their Collection?

[Simon T]

I've never really taken much notice of British  stuff unless it is only available on a UK release. (although a white demo with a big red A on it is aesthetically very pleasing)

 

I imagined that those who do collect British do so because they started in the late 60's, or before the importation of USA issues of the top sounds of the day.

 

However, relatively recently .I have noticed an increase of UK records for sale particularly on auctions for quite high sums of money.  

 

So.....

 

1  has British collecting never been away, just prices are going up in general?

2.  is there an upsurge to collecting due more money being available post mortgage, kids etc and the effects of "supply & demand"?

3.  are records being embellished to inflate prices in order to keep dealers in an ever increasing supply of pork pies?

[TOAD]

I could find uk 45s cheap and very easy when i first started buying and in mint condition. Only really buy uk only release's these days

[Ted Massey]

as Mick smith use to say nothing better than seeing 2 red and whites on the decks

[Ernie Andrews]

Love the Pink & Silver MGM demos!

[Liamgp]

Some UK 45s have a much more punchy sound then the US versions too (some are worse...)

[Rotherham Soul]

Some UK 45s have a much more punchy sound then the US versions too (some are worse...)

...as in the Du-ettes evey beat of my heart on President how did that escape the pressing plant?..was it a dub off an existing damaged copy?

[Guest gaz thomas]

I've never really taken much notice of British  stuff unless it is only available on a UK release. (although a white demo with a big red A on it is aesthetically very pleasing)

 

I imagined that those who do collect British do so because they started in the late 60's, or before the importation of USA issues of the top sounds of the day.

 

However, relatively recently .I have noticed an increase of UK records for sale particularly on auctions for quite high sums of money.  

 

So.....

 

1  has British collecting never been away, just prices are going up in general?

2.  is there an upsurge to collecting due more money being available post mortgage, kids etc and the effects of "supply & demand"?

3.  are records being embellished to inflate prices in order to keep dealers in an ever increasing supply of pork pies?

 

 

I Just collect records, Most of my collection is usa issued, but I have a UK section which always gets added to.

 

I started collecting in the 80s, I just love the UK issued stuff, I suppose it came from digging second hand shops as a young Mod

 

And Randy Cozens Mod top 100 was all British releases, which was a starting point for many Mod collectors. 

 

So yes .... Love UK labels ....... and in fact USA, Canadian, Argentinian, Australian., Dutch, French, Jamaican, ............anywhere there are good vintage nuggets

[AlanB]

1  has British collecting never been away, just prices are going up in general?

2.  is there an upsurge to collecting due more money being available post mortgage, kids etc and the effects of "supply & demand"?

3.  are records being embellished to inflate prices in order to keep dealers in an ever increasing supply of pork pies?

 

I think there has been an upsurge in certain types of UK items, particularly in Tamla Motown and UK pop-soul/mod records.  Makes me wonder if it is fuelled by younger folks wanting retro stuff, rather than post-kids older buyers.   

Edited September 15, 2013 by AlanB

[Britishbarry]

I started collecting in 1966. All that we could buy back then was U.K. issued stuff. As a result I still have a huge soft spot for anything on a U.K. label and will always try to get a British copy of a record ,rather than a U.S. copy if I can. Just recently I have been adding to my Stateside collection with a Tyrone Davis ,Betty Lavette and The Van Dykes.

[pogo paul]

I personaly prefer U.K. labels, it's a piece of history, the quality is better and you know you are getting the real thing.

So i can buy more records instead of books on recognising bootlegs.

[dthedrug]

:hatsoff2:HI ALL Collecting 6ts soul that got a UK release was an age thing at one time, but only for those who were about before the imports were allowed into the UK, back in the early days any imports that I collected come from specialist shops Moores, Redifusion, Selecta Disc & so on, many of my early collection of Northern Soul I got from Contempos in Hannaway Street,

However my lust for Rare UK initially come from John Wilkinson from Nottingham, who told me that he had found a copy of "at the Discotheque" for 6d, and he would get 30 shillings for it at the Twisted Wheel.

Although I was DJing Soul in 71 7 an avid Blues & Soul reader, most of my soul records come from the B&S charts. it was not till I met Mick Smith later that year, I got educated into the Smithsonian Approach of collecting Rare UK Soul, Mick had a Sage type of influence over me, and I really envied every record that he played, and I wanted to be the same,

Back then a UK DEMO was Rare, and common records like Jamo Thomas "I spy for the FBI" were the holy grail as a demo.

Again I still have a mind set about my collecting, in that I still refer to records as a Torch, Mecca, Cats & Wigan Play, also I still love the Northern Soul records much better than other up-tempo Disco stuff that has made it's way on the scene.

To conclude you can collect US label till the cows come home & I do, but having all the top rare UK soul to play as and when I want, is Soul self satisfaction, and elite in the MOD ethic, also it is/was achievable?

DAVE K   

[Geeselad]

from my memories of record bars in the 8ts and 9ts little british was seen for sale and it held little interest for the young collectors i knew from back then. maybe its a tainted view but thats how it came across to me. 

[Millo]

It’s interesting to read this seven year old topic. I had noticed there is not much discussion about British on the forum. I collect mainly British now and most of them are mid sixties. It’s a nostalgia thing for me, it was a great time to be a teenager.

[Frankie Crocker]

There seems to be a resurgence of interest in this specialist field. Major dealers are selling high end rarities that once graced old-timers’ collections. There are some great sounds on British labels that I would be proud to own such as Timi Yuro, Chapter Five, Father’s Angels etc but I ignore them to concentrate on US imports. Many British records were hard enough to find back in the 70’s so collecting has not become any easier. The field is very niche but worth the trouble as vinyl quality is superb. The label aesthetics alone are worth a serious look and the appeal of gathering label titles by number perfectly understandable. I take my hat off to anyone with a full run of Stateside or Tamla-Motown records...a fantastic achievement AND loads of great tunes.

[Solidsoul]

I think there has been some great rare UK items coming out of long time collections recently.

Maybe as these guys get older they are starting to part with some long cherished records, for the high prices they can get for them now!

 

[Geeselad]

I did used to look down on British releases, and have certainly focussed on USA releases in my collection but I am slowly starting to see the speak. The quality of pressings is typically better that the equivalent imports. 

[Mark B]

My brother always used to say to me why didn’t you buy British release he has always been an avid British collector i preferred the US issues as the labels are generally nicer