You may not have a Ming vase in the attic or antique jewels under the bed but if you grew up before digital domination you probably have vinyl records gathering dust.
Not only that, perhaps you have some old flyers, tickets or posters from a concert you went to in the 1970s, 80s or 90s. If the answer is yes to any or all of these questions I have good news for you – you may own valuable collectibles.
Vintage vinyl and memorabilia relating to pop, rock and punk artists from the 1970s, 80s and 90s are chart-toppers at auction. Forgive my turn of phrase. I remember when TV’s Top of the Pops was unmissable.
Vinyl is so in vogue it’s mind-blowing but in a good way. Record players are popular again and people the world over are keen to enhance their record collections. Musical trends have come full circle as people hanker for something tangible in their hands in a soulless digital age.
Derbyshire salerooms have tuned into this trend. Claire Howell, music memorabilia consultant at Hansons Auctioneers, is witnessing ever-growing demand for vinyl and memorabilia linked to artists who rose to fame in the 1970s and 80s.
So which stars who took the charts by storm 40 or 50 years ago are hot property among vinyl junkies today? Well, in Hansons’ autumn Music and Film sale Kate Bush rose to glory thanks to an album sleeve which didn’t even have a record inside. The cover of her Never For Ever album signed ‘Love Kate Bush’ hammered at £170.
Kate a distinctive singer/songwriter born in London’s Bexleyheath in 1958 was signed to EMI at 16 after Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour discovered the teen prodigy. He helped her produce a demo tape. In 1978, aged 19, her debut single ‘Wuthering Heights’ reached No.1 in four countries. She has maintained a large cult following ever since. It’s hard to imagine but our whimsical Kate is now 66 years young.
Another hot lot was an original 1970 pressing of LP Tea and Symphony – Jo Sago. It raced to £250. Tea & Symphony (later Tea and Symphony) were a Birmingham prog folk band active from late the 1960s to the early 70s.
Famous signatures and vinyl combined to smash lot 79’s estimate, an autographed 1979 12 inch record of Bauhaus’s Bela Lugosi’s Dead. It was guided at £150-200 but hammered at £580. Post-punk band Bauhaus formed in Northampton in 1978. Known for their dark image and gloomy sound, they pioneered Gothic rock thanks to Daniel Ash (guitar, saxophone), Peter Murphy (vocals, occasional instruments), Kevin Haskins (drums) and David J (bass).
Vintage gig posters at home? A 1977 T-Rex – plus The Damned original handbill flyer in good condition hammered at £150. It promoted seven UK concerts which took place in March 1977. Tyrannosaurus Rex, later shortened to T.Rex, were fronted by guitarist/vocalist Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld). The glam rock pioneers had a series of Top 10 UK hits including four number one singles. In America, the group had one major hit, Bang a Gong (Get It On). Vintage punk rockers among you may have fond memories of The Damned, formed in 1976 by Dave Vanian (vocals), Brian James (guitar), Ray Burns aka Captain Sensible (bass then guitar) and Chris Millar aka Rat Scabies (drums).
Old LPS taking up space at home? Some 158 records languishing in three cardboard boxes made £480 from a £150-£200 guide. Vinyl gems inside included AC/DC, Rush, Iron Maiden, Manowar, Pink Floyd, Snow Patrol, Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Eurythmics, David Bowie, Rush, Kate Bush, Abba, Helloween 10 inch, Beatles EP, Bob Dylan, Alex Harvey and compilation 80s pop albums.
The power of music from a different era came to the fore in lot 82 – and proved the best inventions live forever. A superb, colourful and iconic 1958 AMI 200 Jukebox achieved £7,900. It was cool 66 years ago and it’s even cooler today. Music and its nostalgia create a rich melody of happiness for us all.
Entries are invited until November 20 for Hansons Auctioneers’ December Music and Film Auction. For no-obligation advice and free valuations, or to book an assessment at Hansons’ Derbyshire saleroom in Etwall, near Derby, email: [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
