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
