rts rarities

CHECK OUT OUR SERIES ON COLLECTING RARE FILM MUSIC SOUNDTRACK LPS:  PART 1- INTRODUCTION; PART 2- A STUDY OF RECORD CONDITION VS RECORD VALUE; PART 3- THE EVOLUTION OF THE SOUNDTRACK COLLECTING MARKET; PART 4- COLLECTING RARE FILM MUSIC SOUNDTRACK LPS FROM EUROPE; PART 5- COLLECTING RARE FILM MUSIC ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK LPS: THE JAPANESE REISSUES; PART 6- THE AUSTRALIAN REISSUES; PART 7- VARESE SARABANDE RECORDS: EARLY YEARS OF A GREAT SOUNDTRACK LP COMPANY; PART 8- EFFECT OF REISSUES ON ORIGINAL ISSUED SOUNDTRACK LPS.  

INTRODUCTION TO COLLECTING RARE FILM MUSIC SOUNDTRACK LPS:

This is our first 'primer' on how one goes about becoming a collector of rare soundtrack LPs (we're not including cds or cassettes in this primer).  Just as in any collecting field, rarity doesn't necessarily equate to valuable (as in monetary value).  Something can be rare, but if no one wants it, it's not going to be valuable. In the soundtrack LP collecting market, here's what makes one valuable. First, and foremost, are the film composers from what we call 'the Golden Era of Film Music' (from the 1940s to 1960s). We didn't dictate who they were, the collector market we've been engaged in since 1972 did that through the purchase of hundreds of thousands of sales and what prices we were paid either through our auctions or set price sales, and the input of other collectors and dealers whose opinions we respected. Here's the list of film composers (not in any particular order) :  Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Max Steiner, Alfred Newman, Bernard Herrmann, Victor Young, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Hugo Friedhofer, Dimitri Tiomkin, Franz Waxman, Bronislau Kaper, John Barry, Richard Rodney Bennett, Malcolm Arnold, Miklos Rozsa, Jerry Fielding, George Duning, Andre Previn, Ennio Morricone, Mario Nascimbene, Ron Goodwin,  David Raksin, Nino Rota, Masaru Sato, Lalo Schifrin, Angelo Lavagnino,  Georges Delerue, Maurice Jarre, Bruno Nicolai, Leith Stevens, David Grusin.  There are others, but this group consistently composed memorable film music that registered with soundtrack collectors and their rarer LPs garnered higher prices. To a lesser degree, soundtrack collectors also collect on the basis of the film's genre with sci-fi and horror registering the best values, and also when a cult film star was prominently showcased on the LP cover (examples, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, John Wayne).  Other basis for valuable soundtracks are the limited editions, private pressings, non-commercial releases. The oldest LPs go back to the late 1940s, preceded by the fragile 78 rpm recordings which generally do not fare well with collectors (78s were noisey, and few players are available presently).  The advent of 'High Fidelity' provided better sound on LPs in the 1950s, and then when stereo made its entry in the late 1950s, the LP was the ultimate source of the musical experience, played in homes on huge console units made of wood. Later the 'component stereo system' provided better sound with audiophile turntables and expensive phono cartridges for even better fidelity.

So to put this primer to bed, until we publish part 2 shortly, we spotlight what is the without question THE RAREST SOUNDTRACK LP--it's LP is shown above in not great resolution--it's THE CAINE MUTINY!  What makes it so rare is that it was released back in 1954, and due to an injunction by its composer, Max Steiner, was withdrawn within a week or two of its release. The LP isn't a great one to listen to as it contains much of the dialogue from the film which clouds the film music, which may be why Steiner didn't want it released. Rumors abound as to why it was withdrawn, but like the more famous Beatles 'Butcher Cover' (which recently sold for nearly $40,000 mint), it's worth a lot of money.  In 1989, the stars all came together, and we were able to sell a copy of the "Caine Mutiny" in VG condition with a slight edge tear to a client in Europe for a round $10,000!  In our estimation, should a mint copy ever appear, bit would easily surpass the $40,000 Beatle price today.  Beware of a number of copies which were released about 15 years ago which were reissues of this rare LP---you can easily tell if you've hit the mother lode because a 50+ year old LP isn't going to look new. 

We'll be citing specific examples of rare soundtrack LPs in future columns on this primer, interesting stories, and a lot of insight into the rare soundtrack titles. So look for Part 2 coming up soon!  For those of you who would like to get a jump on rare soundtrack values, we do offer our RTS PRICE GUIDE, 11th edition, which was published some time ago, but it gives you composers, record numbers, and a guide on collecting in this field. Price is $10 postpaid USA to RTS, Box 93897, Las Vegas, NV 89193.  It lists over 8,000 titles including imports, Broadway Shows, 45s.  Or you can check out our Ebay store at RTS Rarities for our current offerings.  Hope you enjoy this series! 

 PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR 'WANT LIST' OF RARE RECORDS LPS & VIDEOS TO US AT 'RTS RARITIES' AS WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF OTHER LPS IN STOCK, AND THOUSANDS MORE COMING IN EVERY WEEK!