The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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