What's This Record Worth?

[winsleydale]

Hello, denizens of the Forum. I recently bought a copy of the Andrews Sisters' "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" on Decca for $50 (along with "Rum and Coca-Cola" and a Doris Day record). The only other copy currently being listed has an asking price of $600, which seems like outright theft to me. Does anybody know how many of these exist, and what one would usually expect to pay? I imagine that a great deal of them were pressed, so I don't understand the high prices.

[Roaring20s]

It pops up regularly and there are equally many persons wanting this classic song.
You did well for an eBay desire if it is in E+ condition.

James.

[Henry]

Six hundred for "Rum and Coca-Cola"? I'll sell mine for $575 firm (seller pays postage). Is that a bargain or what? (Don't answer )

Seriously, I grew up during WWII listening to the Andrews Sisters on 78s. This is one I remember well from that time. Along with "One Meat Ball," they were my favorites.

BTW, I think I picked up my copy at a thrift store, or maybe a library book sale. Or it might have come to me in a batch of records I acquired by donation; I honestly can't recall.

[jboger]

Is there any standard price guide for records? Don't really trust any of them, but trying to get an understanding of relative rarity/demand. I've looked online w/o much success. Mostly found offers to buy and links to ads. Anyone have a suggestion?

[winsleydale]

Well, the record is not in E condition. It looks worn, and will obviously need to be cleaned (as all newly-acquired records need). I based my decision in part on what I saw outside of ebay; a few of the videos I watched of people playing this record, seemed to have bits wherein the videographer complains about how expensive the record was to obtain. So, I decided that $50, with other records included, was an OK deal.

[Cody K]

collectorsfrenzy.com can be a useful resource for questions like yours: http://collectorsfrenzy.com/search?q=an ... ch-button=

[jboger]

Thanks for that link. I don't place a whole lot of value on what things sell for, but I'd be lying if I said I weren't curious. I've done OK for some of the records I found in the bulk lots I've bought. I think maybe the best one I bought from a dollar standpoint is by Papa Too Sweet (aka Tampa Red) singing Big Fat Mama and It's Tight Like That. But it's also clear that there is a huge differential between records in great condition and the same records in less than great condition.

The Andrew Sisters. Good stuff. It's nice to find recordings we like. They had a good sound, and their wartime movies were good as well. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy is a classic.

[winsleydale]

I first got into the Andrews Sisters long before my first phonograph. When my grandmother died in 2004, I got a copy of the Andrews Sisters Capitol Collector's album on cassette, and I was hooked. I have many CDs of them, and I recently decided I should try to find as many of the songs I have as I can on record.

[marcapra]

I had no idea that a 1940s hit like Rum and Coca-Cola by the Andrews Sisters on Decca would be considered rare! I've got some Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra 78s I'd sell for half that!

[winsleydale]

The main title in question is Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. It seems to command higher prices than other, similar songs.