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

Ep512: The Collectable Records of Elvis Presley


Listen Later

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

Extended and high resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

  • Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios
  • Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot
  • Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon
  • Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

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

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

5 ratings


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

View all
Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,482 Listeners

The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

The Joe Rogan Experience

228,910 Listeners

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

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

512 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,277 Listeners

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend by Team Coco & Earwolf

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

59,423 Listeners

185 Miles South by 185 MILES SOUTH

185 Miles South

252 Listeners

Something About the Beatles by Evergreen Podcasts

Something About the Beatles

353 Listeners

Flashback Forever by Flashback Forever

Flashback Forever

35 Listeners

The New Scene by Keith M / Iodine Recordings

The New Scene

322 Listeners

American Prestige by Daniel Bessner & Derek Davison

American Prestige

1,063 Listeners

HardLore by Colin Young, Bo Lueders, Knotfest

HardLore

380 Listeners

Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin by Rick Rubin

Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin

1,067 Listeners