The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Well, it's rare for me! I paid more than a few dollars, and I'd buy it all over again if I saw another copy.

chunnybh wrote: Wed Apr 06, 2022 8:28 pm

Well, it's rare for me! I paid more than a few dollars, and I'd buy it all over again if I saw another copy.

I have done the same myself. I now have 10 copies of this track on 6 different labels with several doubles. I nowadays only play the Australian pressing. The rest will have to go at some point.

Like all 78's, the value is usually based on the condition of the record and that is difficult to determine if buying on-line. That is why sellers often have an audio file of the track and if clean, it will fetch a higher price. A lot of my cheap copies can only be played by a steel needle. Great for the kids to play with.

chunnybh wrote: Wed Apr 06, 2022 6:35 pm

Does this mean my label is more rare?

None of these pressings are "rare". The only reason this track fetches high prices is because of it's appearance in The Shining. I've seen it sell for a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. Why?... I suppose it depends on who and how many were bidding at the time.

The reason this track appears on so many labels is because HMV / Victor would have thought it was going to be a hit. The master would have been sent around the world and varying quantities of records would have been pressed in each country.

The very best pressing is of course, the laminated Australian pressing which is super quiet.
Yes, I will add it to my page. Thanks.