8 Vinyl Records From the '60s That Are Worth a Small Fortune

The 1960s brought massive cultural shifts and an era packed with now-iconic albums from artists who remain wildly popular to this day. Many music collectors are willing to shell out serious cash for some of those iconic records, but specific variants, release dates, and condition matter a great deal when it comes to assessing value.

If you've been trying to find an online side hustle and have an old record collection, reselling vintage vinyl records from the '60s could be the answer. Keep an eye out for these eight albums that are worth serious cash.

Editor's note: All estimated market value data comes from eBay, unless otherwise stated.

The Beatles - 'Yesterday and Today'

Estimated market value: $3,500

Even though "Yesterday and Today" features some of the Beatles most loved hits, like "Yesterday" and "Drive My Car," it's the record cover that really drives the value of this 1966 album.

The original cover, known as the "Butcher Cover," showed the Fab Four with what appears to be bloody baby doll parts. It was almost immediately recalled. "First state" editions of the album include unaltered versions of the cover and are worth the most (up to $125k, according to auction records).

Second state versions had a new cover pasted over the controversial one, and third state versions have this pasted cover mostly or entirely peeled off. A third state version recently sold on eBay for $3,500.

Tina Brooks - 'True Blue'

Estimated market value: $2,035

"True Blue" is the only record with jazz legend Tina Brooks serving as band leader that was released in his lifetime, and the elusive 1960 album is considered a gem among many vinyl collectors.

According to Discogs, it is widely speculated that less than 1,000 copies of the original album were pressed and the record sale for one of them was $7,499.

Copies kept in very good condition tend to sell for between $2,000 and $3,000 — and even those with obvious signs of wear have been known to sell for around $500.

Bob Dylan - 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'

Estimated market value: $2,000

Though the stereo press version of Bob Dylan's 1963 album did sell for $150,000 back in 2022, recent sales put the market value closer to $2,000 for a used version.

The stereo pressing of "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" includes four tracks that were replaced prior to its official release. Those tracks, "Rocks and Gravel," "Let Me Die in My Footsteps," "Gamblin' Willie's Dead Man's Hand," and "Talkin' John Birch Blues" are named on the album's cover, but not the inside jacket.

A few copies of the record with the original track list were mistakenly released and are still wildly valuable today.

Led Zeppelin - 'Led Zeppelin I'

Estimated market value: $1,750

While several early versions of Led Zeppelin's debut record are known to be valuable, a first-press version released for a short time in the UK with turquoise font used on the front is the holy grail. Even used versions of the 1969 album tend to sell for well over $1,000.

Later versions of the record had orange lettering on the front and are more common, so they tend to be worth less.

Jimi Hendrix - 'Electric Ladyland'

Estimated market value: $1,038

Several versions of Jimi Hendrix's 1968 double album, "Electric Ladyland," are valuable to fans and collectors, and not just because it is the rock legend's final studio album and features some of his most well-known songs, like a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower."

The first UK press came in a sleeve that had to be censored at the time of its release as it featured a photograph of a room full of naked women. One recently sold on eBay for more than $1,000.

Pink Floyd - 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'

Estimated market value: $1,000

Specific versions of Pink Floyd's debut album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" are incredibly valuable on vinyl, particularly its original UK mono pressing.

On the first press version of the album itself, you'll find record label Columbia is clearly printed in bright blue, with "Sold in the U.K. Subject to resale price conditions" printed in white underneath.

Recently, a used version of the record in good condition sold on eBay for $1,000. Even clearly worn versions can sell for a few hundred dollars.

The Mothers of Invention - 'Freak Out!'

Estimated market value: $223

The Mothers of Invention's experimental debut album, released in 1966, is considered a collectible for a number of reasons, including introducing the idea of a "concept album." First pressings of the record are where the real money-making potential lies, though.

You can identify a first-release US version of the vinyl record by a "Hot-Spots Freak Map" promo on the inside spread. After 1967, versions of the record no longer included the promo.

Recent sales of the album range from about $40 to well over $200.

'The Velvet Underground & Nico'

Estimated market value: $200

When The Velvet Underground & Nico's self-titled 1967 album was first released, it featured a banana sticker on the cover, designed by Andy Warhol. Naturally, almost 60 years later, it's rare to find one of these albums with the sticker still intact.

These albums have sold for more than $1,000 in the past, but currently, the going rate on eBay for a used version with its banana sticker (mostly) intact is around $200.

Bottom line

Selling vintage vinyl from the '60s can be a legit way to earn extra money on the side. However, records from popular artists of the era were pressed in huge numbers and most are not worth much. The albums listed here are valuable because they are first or limited releases or include some other rarity.

Before listing records from your collection, look for dates, label markings, and other details to see if you have a valuable first-edition. To get a better idea of a fair listing price, check recent sales on a site like eBay or Discogs. If you think you have something seriously valuable, consider a professional appraisal.

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