Ep512: The Collectable Records of Elvis Presley

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Lifelong Elvis collector Ian McQuillan discusses the rarest records of Elvis Presley - from Sun Records worth $10,000+, international rarities, even shares insider tips for spotting counterfeits, and explains why young collectors are driving a thriving market for the King's rarest vinyl.

Topics Include:

• Ian McQuillan introduces himself as 55-year Elvis fan since age 2
• Scottish parents in New Zealand exposed him to Elvis on record player
• "Big Hunk of Love" was his first memorable Elvis song obsession
• RCA distributed Elvis records globally, making them widely available worldwide
• Elvis market remains strong while other 50s rockabilly artists declined significantly
• Elvis cornered teenage markets in UK, Australia, New Zealand more than US
• Parkes, Australia hosts massive annual Elvis festival with 20,000+ attendees
• Elvis Week celebration started small, now draws 50,000+ fans to Memphis
• Elvis has bigger catalog depth than any other recording artist
• Sun Records represent collectible pinnacle - only five official 45/78 releases
• 78rpm records rarer due to shellac brittleness, 95% destroyed over time
• Sun 209 "That's All Right" commands $10,000-12,000 in mint condition
• Sam Phillips used multiple pressing plants, creating interesting variants and rarities
• Initial Sun pressings probably 20,000-30,000 copies, reaching 200,000 total eventually
• Early distribution concentrated in American South, spreading through Elvis touring
• Promotional Sun records exist with distinctive red stamps, worth significant premiums
• Jack White famously paid $300,000 for unreleased Elvis acetate recording
• RCA reissues sound much cleaner than original hissy Sun pressings
• Sam Phillips likely pressed extra inventory after selling Elvis to RCA
• Counterfeit Sun records identifiable by shiny vinyl, wrong dates, label gaps
• Pre-army Elvis albums (1954-1960) remain most collectible among LP collectors
• SPD promotional EPs from first album worth $1,200-4,000 in good condition
• Australian gold label first album worth $1,500-2,000, extremely hard to find
• Colored vinyl "Moody Blue" pressings command $2,000-3,000 from collectors
• 8-tracks, reels, cassettes now collectible after being worthless for decades
• Follow That Dream label produces high-quality Elvis reissues for serious fans
• New Elvis footage and recordings still surface regularly from private collections
• Young professionals in 20s-40s driving current strong collector market demand
• Elvis Week features conventions, tributes, candlelight vigil at Graceland annually
• Colonel Parker's merchandising legacy created massive collectible memorabilia market today

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