Sound Advice

Questions on collecting answered by an expert

What’s the best way to downsize a record collection?

May 3, 2012 | Susan Sliwicki | 2

You’ve got a lot of vinyl records, and you’ve decided it’s time to let them go to a new home. What’s the best way to clear out a collection? We offer a few options based on what matters most to you, as well as what you’re willing and able to do. ►

How do you grade a still-sealed record?

April 11, 2012 | Susan Sliwicki | 1

It’s one thing to grade a record you can play and inspect in depth. But what do you do when the record in question is still sealed? Luckily, Sound Advice has a few suggestions. ►

Get the scoop on designate promos, plus ‘Songs of The World’

January 4, 2012 | Susan Sliwicki | 0

Where in the ‘world’ might one find a Norman Luboff Choir LP set? Plus, learn what a designate promo record is and if a mostly-blank label boosts an LP’s value. ►

Get the scoop on copies of ‘Meet the Beatles,’ ‘My Bonnie’ and ‘Magical Mystery’

November 1, 2011 | Susan Sliwicki | 0

By Bruce Spizer Question: I have a copy of The Beatles’ 1961 single, signed by George Harrison. Is this worth more with the autograph? Also I have a signed photo of George. — T. Stephens, via e-mail Answer: The “My … ►

Okki Nokki offers its own spin on record cleaning

October 12, 2011 | Susan Sliwicki | 1

Those records you just bought probably need a good cleaning. So how can you get them ready to play quickly and easily? Okki Nokki may be the answer. ►

Rock ‘n’ roll 78s are a hot, but sometimes overlooked, commodity

July 27, 2011 | Susan Sliwicki | 4

Before there were 45 RPM records, there were 78s. These records are incredible fragile, but if you can find a rock and roll 78 in one piece, you’ve found a great treasure. ►

Is this Beatles ‘Mystery’ a magical record for a collector?

July 20, 2011 | Susan Sliwicki | 0

Goldmine offers advice on a copy of The Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” soundtrack plus pricing and identification information for records related to comic books. ►

Is a cache of jazz records ordinary or extraordinary?

August 31, 2010 | princep | 0

The million-dollar question is whether your artists and records match the “profitable” market, which is very difficult to determine without the specifics of each individual record ►

Unusual Pink Floyd vinyl stumps Sound Advice

July 23, 2010 | princep | 1

A quadraphonic test pressing of excerpts from Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” on one side and Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8” on the other. ►

Is Jimmy Buffett album cover a misprint or a work of art?

July 21, 2010 | princep | 0

What’s the story behind a 1976 copy of Jimmy Buffett’s “Havana Daydreaming” LP with no songs listed on the back? ►