Sealed Vinyl Records: To Open or Not To Open...

[Cdnbob]

...that is the question.

I attended the local Vancouver Record Collectors Swap Meet today and managed to pick up 9 discos albums for a total of $25 CAD. One of my purchases for $5 was a sealed copy of D.C. LaRue's Confessions album, which has been sealed for 30 years. Now my question is, should I or shouldn't I open it. What do you guys think I should do? Open it or not?

[Graham_Start]

Originally Posted by Cdnbob

...that is the question.

I attended the local Vancouver Record Collectors Swap Meet today and managed to pick up 9 discos albums for a total of $25 CAD. One of my purchases for $5 was a sealed copy of D.C. LaRue's Confessions album, which has been sealed for 30 years. Now my question is, should I or shouldn't I open it. What do you guys think I should do? Open it or not?

I opened mine. :)

[The Boogie Doctor]

In my opinion it depends on a number of factors, which are all closely related to the rarity or availability of the particular album. If the record in its sealed state is: (a) incredibly rare, then I would not open it, due to preserving its high collector value; if it is (b) simply difficult to obtain, then I wouldn't be greatly concerned about preserving it and would be comfortable placing it carefully on the platter for a listen. The product was meant to be consumed (i.e. listened to) and thus as it is not 'incredibly' rare then it should be put to this end. Lastly, if the record is (c) easily available, then there are two options: (i) either hold on to the sealed copy and procure another which you can listen to, or (ii) open the sealed copy and attempt to locate another sealed copy.

This is my opinion.

[Disco Funk]

I personally don't care for sealed records. In my experience, sealed doesn't = mint or good condition. The record may have been stored badly, and when you open it, it's damaged in some way. If you're planning on reselling, I guess it depends on who's buying it and whether they believe in their minds that sealed is good. I've had experiences where I bought a sealed record, only to find it was still kind of dirty and didn't sound all that great. Retailers have resealed records back in the day, just like they do nowadays with CDs and DVDs that people return to stores when they don't like something.

Disco Funk

[Cdnbob]

Yeah, my gut reaction is to open it. I really don't believe in keeping stuff sealed as the the music was meant to be heard. That's why it was released in the first place. Who knows; I might not like it when I listen to it, and if so, it'll be shelved and not listened to again.

[Videoskooter]

Originally Posted by Cdnbob

I really don't believe in keeping stuff sealed as the the music was meant to be heard.

There you have it! If you have only 1 copy: open sesame and drop that needle on it

If you have 2 and 1 is still sealed, leave the 2nd one in a well climatised room

Da muZik, it has 2 be played

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Originally Posted by Cdnbob

I might not like it when I listen to it, and if so, it'll be shelved and not listened to again.

Good Lord! Open it!!!
If you like DC LaRue, and you like Bob Esty, you'll love this LP. Their collaboration on this LP is much better than "Forces OF The Night".

"Confessions" is my favorite DC Larue song. And "Let Them Dance", to me, is better in it's original LP mix, with the cold ending.

And, assuming you have the Canadian 'Pyramid Records' copy, it's sound quality is better than the Casablanca.

[Cdnbob]

Yup, I opened it last night, and yes, it is on the Pyramid label, and yes, it was the original factory sealed copy and not a resealed disc.

[KoolChris]

Originally Posted by STEPHEN L FREEMAN

Good Lord! Open it!!!
If you like DC LaRue, and you like Bob Esty, you'll love this LP. Their collaboration on this LP is much better than "Forces OF The Night".

"Confessions" is my favorite DC Larue song. And "Let Them Dance", to me, is better in it's original LP mix, with the cold ending.

And, assuming you have the Canadian 'Pyramid Records' copy, it's sound quality is better than the Casablanca.

I just pulled out my copy (I've had for years, never re-listening to it), and it's actually not bad. "Confessions" has a great, weird, slow, mystic, enchanting atmosphere to it, that will probably have me coming back for more. Oh yeah! I'll be listening to this, definitely.
I guess that's my (late, as it's open already) answer.

[Rab]

Wow, I like this thread! I've acquired several sealed records over the years, some of them I open, and some of them I don't. All are original as far as I know.

These are some of the sealed records I have not yet opened:

Debbie Jacobs - Undercover Lover LP
Gino Soccio - Outline LP
Love Deluxe - Sealed LP
Roberta Kelley - Troublemaker LP
Loleata Holloway - Loleata LP from 1979
Donna Summer - Bad Girls LP
Andrea True Connection - More, More, More 12" w/ instrumental
Cory Daye - Pow Wow/Green Light 12"
Sheila B Devotion - Spacer LP
Marlena Shaw - Take A Bite LP
Peter Jacques Band - LP (from 1978 or 79?)
Fern Kinney - Groove Me 12"
Rufus - Do You Love What You Feel LP
Voyage - Fly Away LP
Souvenirs - Original on TK 12"
Gino Soccio - Dancer 12"
Linda Clifford - Don't Give It Up LP
Plato's Retreat - 12" on T.K. can't remember the artist
Sylvester - Stars LP
Bruni Pagan - LP & copy of Fantasy on 12" sealed
Melba Moore - Pick Me Up I'll Dance
Mavis Staples - Tonight I Feel Like Dancing
Gary's Gang - Keep On Dancing
Suzi Lane - Harmony LP

As you can tell, I kind of like the year 1979. These aren't all of them. I think I only go into the room where I store them a couple times a year. All of these are duplicates or triplicates, already have at least one open copy. Truthfully, I think most were a waste of money, I don't think these will ever be collectable.

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Originally Posted by Rab

These are some of the sealed records I have not yet opened:

Debbie Jacobs - Undercover Lover LP
Roberta Kelley - Troublemaker LP
Andrea True Connection - More, More, More 12" w/ instrumental
Cory Daye - Pow Wow/Green Light 12"
Sheila B Devotion - Spacer LP
Marlena Shaw - Take A Bite LP
Peter Jacques Band - LP (from 1978 or 79?)
Fern Kinney - Groove Me 12"
Souvenirs - Original on TK 12"
Plato's Retreat - 12" on T.K. can't remember the artist - It was Joe Thomas. He also did a remake of Dolly Parton's "2 Doors Down". (SLF)
Bruni Pagan - Fantasy on 12" sealed
Mavis Staples - Tonight I Feel Like Dancing
Suzi Lane - Harmony LP

All of these are duplicates or triplicates, already have at least one open copy. Truthfully, I think most were a waste of money, I don't think these will ever be collectable.

I trimmed your list down to what my experience has shown would end-up building some value, if they are original, sealed copies. And, since you said these are all duplicates, etc... I won't bother telling you to open and enjoy these great pieces of music!

[Disco Funk]

That Andrea True More More More 12" - you wrote it has an instrumental flip side. Isn't that just a misprint? I've bought two of those early Buddha 12"s, Melba Moore's This Is It and Monday After's Merry Go Round, and they both indicate they have instrumental mixes. But in reality, they're just the vocal versions on both sides.

Disco Funk

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

I've bought two of those early Buddha 12"s, Melba Moore's This Is It and Monday After's Merry Go Round, and they both indicate they have instrumental mixes. But in reality, they're just the vocal versions on both sides.

Thanks, Dude! I was eyeballin' a copy of the Melba 12" and you just saved me a lot of money.

[Rab]

Originally Posted by STEPHEN L FREEMAN

I trimmed your list down to what my experience has shown would end-up building some value, if they are original, sealed copies. And, since you said these are all duplicates, etc... I won't bother telling you to open and enjoy these great pieces of music!

.....You really think these unsealed records will be valuable some day?? I don't. I think the only way they could be valuable is on ebay, and I don't think thats going to happen. The younger generation is oblivious to this music, and out of the very few that hear it, most would not care to collect it. You also have to consider sites like Limewire, Netscape, Kazaar. Most people are perfectly happy with a cyber copy over a vinyl copy--with a much better price; and I still think vinyl will be on its way out.

My suspicion, is that the average age on this site is easily over 45+. The younger generations have no idea what they missed.

[Rab]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

I personally don't care for sealed records. In my experience, sealed doesn't = mint or good condition. The record may have been stored badly, and when you open it, it's damaged in some way. If you're planning on reselling, I guess it depends on who's buying it and whether they believe in their minds that sealed is good. I've had experiences where I bought a sealed record, only to find it was still kind of dirty and didn't sound all that great. Retailers have resealed records back in the day, just like they do nowadays with CDs and DVDs that people return to stores when they don't like something.

Disco Funk

This happened to me a few years ago. I purchased an original 12" of At Midnight, by T-Connection sealed, and it had a tiny manufacturing flaw on the vinyl. it was a tiny spec of plastic that had fused with the vinyl. I didn't even play the record...who knows, maybe the needle would have skipped over it and played nicely. But even if it did skip; if the record had been opened back in 1978 when it was manufactured instead, it wouldn't have mattered--the age was irrelevant for this particular type of defect.

Back in the late 70's most of us didn't imagine that any of these records would even be collectable. So, many of us used and abused them--played them to death. Also, we were a lot younger then, and they weren't that expensive. The record companies really weren't focused on making limited quantities either, they used to make so many.