One man’s staggering lifetime collection of 1,500 records – including one of the rarest singles in the world – could achieve £20,000 at auction.
After a 10-year search, Pete Anderson took a chance flight across the globe to get his hands on a holy grail copy of the first ever recording on vinyl written and performed by Canadian-born music legend Neil Young. The Sultan/Aurora by The Squires, one of Neil’s first bands, was pressed in Canada in 1963. It is thought only 300 copies of the 45rpm 7in single were ever made. Some 61 years later hardly any are known to exist.
Pete, 49, a massive Neil Young fan and musician from London, said: “It took me years to locate someone who was potentially interested in selling the Squires single. This in turn required me to chance it by flying 4,000 miles to Winnipeg, Canada, in 2009 to obtain the final missing vinyl of my Neil Young collection. Prior to locating a seller, I’d been searching for this rare and seemingly elusive The Sultan/Aurora double A-side vinyl for the best part of 10 years. And yes, I did track down a UK owner, but sadly he didn’t want to sell, which was completely understandable I suppose. So, off I travelled to Winnipeg.
“Long story short, I was lucky to buy the vinyl from a private collector who’d owned his copy since its original release in 1963. After some back and forward negotiation he agreed to sell his copy to me for $2750 (£2,170).”
Now, with the milestone birthday of 50 approaching, Pete wants a more minimalist life and is freeing himself of possessions to travel. Consequently, he’s bidding farewell to his vinyl treasures. As well as 120 Neil Young records, music fans can bid on hundreds of others, several rare. The collection includes offerings from cult artists like Iron Maiden, punk legends the Ramones, scarce box sets from Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd, posters, DVDs and much more.
Claire Howell, music memorabilia consultant at Hansons Auctioneers which will offer collection in July, said: “It’s one of the best lifetime collections of vinyl I have ever seen in my life, and I’ve been in this business for 35 years. It could achieve £20,000 at auction, perhaps more. Vinyl junkies the world over will be tuning in because opportunities to buy records like The Squires single hardly ever occur. It’s guided at £3,000-£3,500.
“It was Neil Young’s first 45 recorded when he was only 17. Many consider it to be the rarest single in the world. Only around eight to 10 copies are known to exist and this is one of them. I’ve read that even Neil Young doesn’t own a copy. That’s how rare it is. This single almost never comes to auction so it’s a chance of a lifetime for any keen collector.”
The sale includes other Neil Young rarities including scarce 1960s pressings such as Neil Young/Buffalo Springfield, 1967; The Best of Buffalo Springfield, Atlantic Recording Corporation/Neil Young, 1969, and Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, 1969. Also set to go under the hammer are a Hawks & Doves 1980 LP produced by Reprise Records; the original movie soundtrack album Where The Buffalo Roam, 1980, rare pressings made in the UK and Germany, limited-edition box sets, 12in offerings, 6in clear vinyl discs and sought after DVDS and compilations.
Other bands and artists who gained a place in Pete’s prized collection include The Beatles, Anthrax. Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Tom Waits, The Cure, The Rolling Stones, Queen, The Doors, Nick Cave, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Bob Dylan.
Claire said: “It really is quite amazing. Many people have vintage vinyl record collections gathering dust at home but this is something else. Vinyl is very much in vogue and this auction should be a smash hit with collectors.”
Neil Young: Singer, songwriter Neil Young, 78, rose to fame in the 1960s/70s. He released critically acclaimed albums such as Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969), After the Gold Rush (1970), Harvest (1972), On the Beach (1974), and Rust Never Sleeps (1979). Perhaps best known for his number one hit single Heart of Gold, his style combines folk, rock and country music. He’s awash with Grammy and Juno Awards and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him twice, once in 1995 as a solo artist and again in 1997 as a member of Buffalo Springfield. In 2023, Rolling Stone listed Neil Young at No. 30 among the 250 greatest guitarists of all time.
Auction: The vinyl record collection will be offered in the July 3 Music and Film Auction at Hansons Auctioneers, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire. Catalogue due live 10 days before the auction.
Catalogue: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
Enquiries: [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
