Anytime I come back from my local used wrecka stow with Prince vinyl purchases the first thing my boyfriend asks is "How much is it worth?" He always jokes we are going to have a big Prince yard sale.(not happening!) Other than perusing Ebay is there any way to really know? I sometimes consult my old Uptowns to see if I have scored a real rarity but they are quite old. Personally I don't really care I just like to add to my collection but he always asks and I'd like to be able to give him a ballpark figure. Doesn't it also depend on the popularity of the artist at the time? I recently got the 12" of Thieves in the Temple and told him it's probably not worth anything I just like the song and the photo of Prince on the cover in the motorcycle jacket. But I also picked up the German 12" of Little Red Corvette (dance mix), the German 12" of Let's Work long version b/w Ronnie talk to Russia and the UK 12" of Purple Rain b/w God instrumental and God (vocal) Those could be worth something but how do you know? I paid about $4 each. Thanks for any insight!

It's very hard to say exactly because...as with any collectible...the value of any given piece of Prince vinyl is dependent on two things - rarity and condition.

I'd say you made a pretty good deal on the Purple Rain 12" (I paid much more than that for mine). But again - a lot depends on condition - both of the disc and the jacket.

Actually it is more dependent what someone else will pay 4 it.

Graycap23 said:

That, too. Which is why eBay is often the best place to sell Prince vinyl...but not such a great place to buy it.

Not sure about the USA but here in the UK they have a directory produced by a company called Record Collector http://www.recordcollectormag.com

This is a really good guide as to how rare various titles are and what you can expect to get for them in the UK. I have used it when buying and selling and found it useful as a guide.

Unfortunately, now that the "Ultimate" CD came out, the demand for the long versions of "Little red corvette" and "Let's work" just aren't there as much as they used to be. I think those two records are great, I got both of them at a record show in Buffalo about 15 years ago. Collectors will still buy them I'm sure. The "Purple rain" 12" is great seeing as there is music on it not available on any other official release. I had been looking for it for about 10 years (this was even before I had internet access) before I found it on E-Bay about ten years ago. I payed a lot more than $4.00. You have some nice pieces. They are valuable to you and that is all that ciounts

I'd say anything that is colored or picure disc is worht something. A "real" black album vinyl is also valuable.

But what is really valuable is the out of Print Stuff...I'd say that these are the most rare

The Rainbow Children
The Gold Experience


CD's are becoming rare as well esp if you have any of the associated artists stuff.

But most valuable things are the things that have nothing to do with music...the Ear Wraps, That Hawaii Box, and Yes even hold on to your 3121 perfume. That's going to be worth a lot someday.

I have the (beautiful) Fury vinyl. Probably worth about 50p at the moment!

Hmm I just looked and My Sign of the times, Fury and Black Sweat Pic discs worth quite a bit. A bit shocked with the ones from 3121...but ANYTHING released these days is a collector item.

What interests me about a Prince recording on vinyl, or cassette...is that those days have been replaced with other forms of listening to Prince music...and I truly believe that it just is that way...I believe the journey, to study Prince's life as a recording artist...takes you down the road...and I believe that the searcher will find what they seek. As time goes on...a Vinyl album from a record collector will be handed down...as all things are handed down...

Parents can give you a toy, and Parents can take a toy away depending on how that toy is treated.

Within the psychological aspect of Prince...Prince gives what is asked of him...unless of course, there is, an avenue of judgement that desires to rise above the nature of Prince's work...In this response, an "Old friends 4 Sale," emotion will reach you directly, rather than indirectly.

I do have the ability, to explain Prince, for some reason...and I believe it is because, there is an equality between he and I, that chooses to be humble, unless we are tormented by jealous reactions....

Love is something that maintains itself...It just does...and although...pieces of a family will oppose it...it is merely a strenthening tool, built into the image of GOD....which serves only to protect ourselves....other wise...the multiplication of two...is the birth of eternity...yet in the past within it's collapse into one family...there is a cylclone of understanding...which is...there is a point...and if there wasn't you would fall through a hole in the floor of life....Everything is working as it was guided 2...the enjoyment is to wear blessing and grace to the college of forever...and true love will find you....every person is valuable, even if they were born to not see that clarity as of yet....There is a precise timing built into the fabric of who we are as animals and as humans. Life's story...merely protects the protagonist...against all odds....and we all have that coat of protection...The atom split. We cannot change the origin of the egg.

Maybe life is a grand Sadie Hawkin's dance...and somewhere in the beginning...There were a pair of boots for two people...so one wore them and the other went barefoot....I am here to help anyone that would need me to explain...and my number one priority is Prince....I am the one that stands with pride....and I am the one that contains the sympathy for anyone that feels less than equal....I am from the bottom...for a reason.

The bottom dropped out of the Prince collectable market year ago. The rarest of the rare still usually command a good price, but nothing like they used to. I think the art of Prince vinyl collecting slowly died off once people could get MP3s of the tracks.

Back in the day, not only was it rare, but it was often the only place you could hear it. Now, the collectable item is more a medal than thrill of ownership or treat on the ears.

SquirrelMeat said:

Please don't compare the actual vinyl to an mp3. There are those of us who still love vinyl. I'd say the market hasn't really died since I get outbid on E-Bay quite a bit. The common records don't sell because all the collectors have them, they are still nice to have.

Anyone who would rather have an mp3 over a vinyl record is not a collector...

djdaffy1227 said:

And in my opinion does NOT value music.

Singingboy said:

Try ebay. I see it's more that 50p, but no one is buying it.

SquirrelMeat said:

You know if Prince actually relaeased his music on Vinyl, like everyne is these days, people might actually have an interest. I KNOW i'd pick up PE on Vinyl if it had that lenticular thing as the cover...no moatter how much I may not like it. Then again, it is the IN thing to do so P probably won't.

superspaceboy said:

I've seen PE on double vinyl but it had a black sleeve with a cd size standard pic of the cover in the top corner