Vinyl, CD, cassette sales spike as Australians buy more physical music

Maybe you’re looking for a super rare AC/DC record or you’ve got a Paul Kelly album worth over $100 gathering dust – these are the rarest Aussie releases.

Australians spent over $8 million in lockdown buying rare vinyl. Picture: David Geraghty

Australians stuck at home because of COVID-19 lockdowns spent $8.6 million last year buying rare records from one website alone as the rise of physical music continues.

US website Discogs is used by sellers and collectors to gauge the market value of vinyl, CD and cassettes, as well becoming an increasingly popular global marketplace.

Short for discographies, last year over 34,000 Australian buyers made just under 200,00 orders worth $8.6 million in sales from Discogs, up from $5 million in 2019.

However many still prefer the hands-on approach with record stores across Australia reporting a boom in sales, with even teenagers now discovering the joy of vinyl and older music lovers renewing their vinyl habit.

Pat Monaghan, owner of Rock Steady Records in Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: David Geraghty

Dave Lang, from Melbourne’s Round and Round Records, said AC/DC remain the most collectable Australian artist.

Local pressings of Bon Scott-era AC/DC albums, with a blue kangaroo logo, are highly sought-after by collectors.

“Albums like TNT and Powerage in really good condition will get you around $250,” Lang said.

Lang said certain Australian progressive rock, funk, jazz and punk records on vinyl can sell for up to $3000.

Round and Round had a vinyl test pressing of the late Rowland S Howard’s 1999 album Teenage Snuff Film priced at $900.

“We had it on the wall in the store but it didn’t sell,” Lang said. “Who do you get to buy a $900 record? I know (US musician) Henry Rollins collects test pressings and loves Rowland S Howard. I got his email, he said if we paid for the shipping he’d give us $900. And he did. That’s the thing with expensive records, you have to find that one person who is going to pay big money for them.”

This AC/DC splatter vinyl is worth over $2500. Picture: Supplied

This Kylie Minogue single It's No Secret can fetch over $800. Picture: Supplied

Record stores regularly buy unwanted vinyl, with some not realising the value of what they might have gathering dust.

Paul Kelly’s discontinued Talk and Manila albums in good condition will fetch over $100, while Pat Monaghan of Melbourne’s Rocksteady Records says there’s always demand for vinyl by alternative acts the Go-Betweens, The Triffids, the Laughing Clowns, the Dirty Three and Nick Cave’s first band The Birthday Party.

“Those underground bands have become quite sought after,” Monaghan said.

“But I’m more about making interesting records available and affordable for a wide range of people. Personally I don’t think these days you can have a record sitting on your shelves for $650 just waiting for someone to walk in and buy it.”

The ongoing vinyl revival has also seen teenagers embrace the format.

“There’s lots of people from 14 and 15 up who come into the store every Saturday,” Monaghan said.

“They’re buying their favourite contemporary artists like Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Courtney Barnett and also buying Radiohead’s back catalogue.

“There’s people picking their favourite albums from their Spotify playlists and then they want to own it on vinyl. There’s lots of people buying lots of different things lots of the time.”

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The rarest of all Bee Gees records, this one could be worth nearly $3000. Picture: Supplied

MOST EXPENSIVE AUSTRALIAN ITEMS SOLD ON DISCOGS

1. AC/DC – Can I Sit Next To You Girl 7” promo (1974) – $4520

2. Babeez – Dowanna Love 7” (1977) – $4270

3. Thunderdome Down Under Tour Vol 1 CD (1995) – $4017

4. City Ram Waddy – Walking The Dog 7” (1979) $3110

5. Fun Things – Fun Things 7” (1980) $2963

6. Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees – The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs – Mono album (1965) – $2812

7. Extradition – Hush album (1971) – $2511

8. Just Urbain – Just Urbain 7” (1979) $2330

9. The Easybeats – Steady On mono unofficial album (1978) $2330

10. John Butler Trio – Sunrise Over Sea brown vinyl (2004) $2310

GOING RATE FOR RARE AUSTRALIAN ITEMS

AC/DC – If You Want Blood You’ve Got It – splatter vinyl (1978) – $2580

The Saints – I’m Stranded 7” – $2020

Taman Shud – Goolutionites And The Real People vinyl (1970) $2000

Richard Clapton – Prussian Blue (1992) on vinyl or CD – $2000

Kylie Minogue – Live and Other Sides (1998) $1500

Radio Birdman – Burn My Eye 7” $1000

Cold Chisel – Shipping Steel recalled 7” (1979) $1250

Olivia Newton-John – 40th Anniversary Collection 10CD and DVD set (2010) $1200

AC/DC – Boom Box 16CD box set (1995) $1200

Kylie Minogue – It’s No Secret – withdrawn Aus 7 or 12” (1989) $800

Cover of rare the most AC/DC single Can I Sit Next To You, Girl. Picture: Supplied

Originally published as Vinyl, CD, cassette sales spike as Australians buy more physical music