I Found $500 - $2,000 Worth of Rare Soul 45s in a Thrift Store!

I bought thirty 45s for $150 this weekend at a local thrift store and Discogs says they are worth between $500 and $2000. It's been a VERY (very!!!) long time since I've had this kind of score at a thrift store. Watch to see which rare 45s I found.

I'll admit, some of these are common and not that valuable, but I included them anyway as I will use them for my DJ sets.

[jraaicizcool]

I am addicted to collecting the 45rpm now after finding an original copy of Robby Lawsons Burning Sensation on Kyser Label, incredibly rare. Found it with 50 plus other 45s in a plastic storage bin for only $5!!

[Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

For the most part people looking for records are looking for LPs and ignore 45s, which is a huge mistake. Usually worth more than what Discogs says too. I found a record for $1 called Harvell guiton and it sold for almost $1300 on eBay with a sales history of 500 or less, so you never know.

[keithfinsley]

Nice score! 45's are always the "sleepers" that can often get overlooked. My greatest financial find is still "What Will Tomorrow Bring" by Waymond Hall on the Jamal label. I got $950.00 for it! Not bad considering I bagged the whole boxful of discs at a yard sale for 20 bucks!

[jeffreylind]

That's a nice pick up of some great 45s. As for the name/address stickers, I have found that using a bit of soap and warm water with a Q-Tip type swab, and getting the sticker wet, let it soak for about 10 seconds, and use the cotton swab to gently push at it from the corners and sides will often remove the sticker completely and safely from the label. The trick is to keep the label and swab wet (not soaked), and keep working it from all four sides. I have had very good success doing this, although some labels have a lot of glue, and in those cases won't work, but the address labels may come off. You might want to experiment a bit first on a less rare record. Good luck.

[thislazylife]

The break on The Winston's "Amen Brother" is one of the most sampled breaks of all time. Just about every jungle track samples that break.

[soulstep]

The hope you have is in our hearts. Great find.

[walterloucks-pooc]

Another trick to removing the address labels is to take some vegetable oil and gently rub it into the labels and let it sit for a few hours to soak in and break down the old adhesive from the labels after the oil has been put on the labels check every 3 to 6 hours gently pulling up at the corners of the labels, usually after a few hours the old labels will come right off.

[williamsmith]

Good finds. Not showing the condition of these 45s would make one think they are VG- or less. Some look very bad. Condition major factor in pricing.

[SPINNINGMYWHEELS]

$150 at a thrift store is INSANE for 45s...what kind of thrift store is this - i've bought entire collections of 45s in cases at thrift stores for $5 - they must be lusting over online prices at this thrift store..which really isn't a thrift due to those prices. Some good titles though in general. Nothing to feel bad about obviously but these thrift stores are more like boutiques now. DIscogs has actually levelled the playing field... good and bad depends on what you're expecting to sell.

[TheBard]

Soulhawk is a Detroit label, I think.

[eowenspa]

Drake and the Ensolids. Please leave me. Know it well, was huge in UK 78/79

[DorianPaige]

That Third Party was more Detroit soul.

Play your cards close to your vest; don't tell collectors you have multiples. I know a guy who sold sports cards and listed 5 of the same card on Ebay all at once. It was purchased by a speculator when it became a no-brainer to by all 5 and flip individually.

[jayveebloggs]

Drake and En-Solids is rare and sought after in uk for last 40 years!

[DorianPaige]

Discogs is more accurate than they guy trying to low ball you.

[dundadunda]

Does using generic sleeves lessen the value?

[cartersworld]

If I have a bunch of these laying around could I take em to a pawnshop?

[SkippyTheMagnificent]

What if they got like a drill hole in the record?

[raysmith]

Wow…thought you were going to something good like play the music. Record collecting is not only about money