Prince’s ‘The Black Album’ is the most expensive record in Discogs, again

Discogs has announced the top 30 most expensive items sold for June 2018, and the most expensive record in the history of the marketplace.

Prince has set another record in the Discogs Marketplace, and so has The Black Album. “Back in April 2016, an US promo copy went for $15,000. While a promo copy from the States is incredibly rare, it’s nothing compared to the version that just netted $27,500.”

Originally styled as The Funk Bible in press releases, it was slated for release in December 1987. At the last minute, Prince ordered Warner Bros. to shelve the album and destroy every copy. Some promos had already been circulated, so they were out there to be passed around. Consequently, those promo copies are how The Black Album became one of the most bootlegged records of all time.

“This month’s high earner is different. It’s not a promo release and was uncirculated. The sealed LP was part of the otherwise-destroyed Canadian production run and was saved by pressing plant employee at the last minute!”

Here are the rest of June’s most expensive items sold in the Discogs Marketplace:

30. Hog-Gish – Hog-Gish

    Sold for $1200.00 Label: Not On Label (Hog-Gish Self-released)
    Format: Flexi, 8″, EP
    Country: Japan
    Released: 1988
    Genres: Rock
    Styles: Punk

29. Andy Y Su Orquesta Riverside – Trae Salsa Al Bembe

    Sold for $1200.00 Label: ORC Records (2)
    Format: LP
    Released: 1971
    Genres: Latin
    Styles: Guaguancó, Guaracha, Bolero, Guajira, Mambo

28. Satyricon – Dark Medieval Times

    Sold for $1227.00 Label: Moonfog Productions
    Format: LP, Album, Ltd
    Country: Norway
    Released: 1993
    Genres: Rock
    Styles: Black Metal

27. Garnet Mimms – As Long As I Have You / A Little Bit Of Soap

    Sold for $1231.00 Label: United Artists Records
    Format: 7″, Single
    Country: France
    Released: 1969
    Genres: Funk / Soul

26. Rey Davila – On His Own (Ya Era Tiempo)

    Sold for $1257.00 Label: ORC Records (2)
    Format: LP, Album
    Country: US
    Released: 1971
    Genres: Latin
    Styles: Salsa, Mambo, Latin Jazz, Descarga

25. Tickled Pink – Reach Out (And Give Me Your Hand)

    Sold for $1298.00 Label: Pink Knip
    Format: 7″, Single
    Country: US
    Released: 1972
    Genres: Funk / Soul
    Styles: Funk, Soul

24. Macintosh Plus – Floral Shoppe

    Sold for $1299.00 Label: Beer On The Rug
    Format: Cass, Album, Ltd, C44
    Country: US
    Released: 2012
    Genres: Electronic, Funk / Soul
    Styles: Abstract, Funk, Vaporwave, Experimental

23. Razar – Stamp Out Disco / Task Force (Undercover Cops)

    Sold for $1301.00 Label: Not On Label, Able Label
    Format: 7″, Single, Yel
    Country: Australia
    Released: 1978
    Genres: Rock
    Styles: Punk

22. Eric Dolphy – In Europe

    Sold for $1312.00 Label: Debut Records (3)
    Format: LP, Album
    Country: Denmark
    Released: 1962
    Genres: Jazz
    Styles: Post Bop

21. Cody Black – Keep On Keeping On / I’m Slowly Molding

    Sold for $1328.00 Label: King Records (3)
    Format: 7″, Single, Promo
    Country: US
    Released: 1968
    Genres: Funk / Soul
    Styles: Soul

20. The Saints (2) – (I’m) Stranded

    Sold for $1339.00 Label: Fatal Records (2)
    Format: 7″, Single
    Country: Australia
    Released: 1976
    Genres: Rock
    Styles: Punk

19. Michael Jackson – Someone In The Dark

    Sold for $1350.00 Label: MCA Records
    Format: 7″, Promo
    Country: US
    Released: 1982
    Genres: Pop
    Styles: Ballad

18. Thors Hammer – Thors Hammer

    Sold for $1398.00 Label: Metronome
    Format: LP, Album
    Country: Denmark
    Released: 1971
    Genres: Jazz, Rock
    Styles: Jazz-Rock, Prog Rock

17. Joy Division – An Ideal For Living

    Sold for $1459.00 Label: Enigma
    Format: 7″, EP
    Country: UK
    Released: 1978
    Genres: Rock
    Styles: New Wave, Punk

16. Tsunematsu Masatoshi – Do You Wanna Be My Dog・g・g!?

    Sold for $1461.00 Label: Gozira Records
    Format: 7″, Single
    Country: Japan
    Released: 1979
    Genres: Rock
    Styles: Punk

15. Museo Rosenbach – Zarathustra

    Sold for $1498.00 Label: Ricordi
    Format: LP, Album
    Country: Italy
    Released: 1973
    Genres: Rock
    Styles: Prog Rock

14. Spontaneous Generation* – Purple, Purple

    Sold for $1500.00 Label: Peace (19), Peace (19)
    Format: 7″, Single
    Country: US
    Released: 1971
    Genres: Rock
    Styles: Psychedelic Rock

13. Kraftwerk – Trans Europa Express

    Sold for $1515.00 Label: Not On Label, Kling Klang
    Format: LP, Album, Promo
    Country: Germany
    Released: 1977
    Genres: Electronic
    Styles: Electro

12. Mark Fry – Dreaming With Alice

    Sold for $1630.00 Label: IT
    Format: LP
    Country: Italy
    Released: 1972
    Genres: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
    Styles: Acoustic, Psychedelic Rock, Folk

11. Jackie McLean – Presenting… Jackie McLean

    Sold for $1650.00 Label: Ad Lib (2)
    Format: LP, Album
    Country: US
    Released: 1955
    Genres: Jazz
    Styles: Bop

10. Grateful Dead* – 30 Trips Around The Sun

    Sold for $1749.00 Label: Rhino Records (2)
    Format: 80xCD + 7″ + Box, Ltd
    Country: US
    Released: 2015
    Genres: Rock
    Styles: Psychedelic Rock

9. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II

   Sold for $1752.00 Label: Atlantic, Atlantic
   Format: LP, Album, M/Print, Wre
   Country: UK
   Released: 1969
   Genres: Rock
   Styles: Blues Rock, Classic Rock, Hard Rock

8. Bathory – Bathory

   Sold for $2053.00 Label: Black Mark Production
   Format: LP, Album
   Country: Sweden
   Released: 1984
   Genres: Rock
   Styles: Black Metal

7. The Parisians – Twinkle Little Star / The Cockroach

   Sold for $2497.00 Label: Demon Hot Records
   Format: 7″
   Country: US
   Genres: Funk / Soul

6. The Rolling Stones – Songs Of The Rolling Stones

   Sold for $2502.00 Label: ABKCO Music, Inc.
   Format: LP, Comp, Promo
   Country: US
   Released: 1975
   Genres: Rock

5. Pink Floyd – The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

   Sold for $2566.00 Label: Columbia
   Format: LP, Album, Mono
   Country: UK
   Released: 1967
   Genres: Rock
   Styles: Psychedelic Rock

4. Little Nicky Soul – I Wanted To Tell You / You Said

   Sold for $3125.00 Label: Shee Records
   Format: 7″, Single, Promo
   Country: US
   Genres: Funk / Soul
   Styles: Soul

3. Roy Panton – Endless Memory

   Sold for $3305.00 Label: Bronco (2)
   Format: 7″, W/Lbl
   Country: Jamaica
   Released: 1968
   Genres: Reggae
   Styles: Rocksteady

2. Bernie Williams – Ever Again / Next To You

   Sold for $5314.00 Label: Bell Records
   Format: 7″, Single, Promo
   Country: US
   Released: 1969
   Genres: Funk / Soul
   Styles: Soul

1. Prince – The Black Album

   Sold for $27500.00 Label: Warner Bros. Records
   Format: LP, Album
   Country: Canada
   Released: 1987
   Genres: Electronic, Funk / Soul
   Styles: Soul, Funk