Let's talk about SEALED records

I have a few records in the collection which are sealed, some of which I'm fighting not to open and others which I don't particularly care about breaking into at the moment (a still-sealed high school band recorded in 1967). Some of the records I do want to get into will be worth more probably if kept still-sealed from a collector's point of view. But aren't records meant to be enjoyed? In some cases I might be able to track down a CD of the album but it wouldn't be the same.

Here are some thoughts on how still-sealed can affect value: http://www.recordcollectorsguild.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=30&page=1

in my experience the difference in $$ between still sealed and mint in the shrink is pretty negligible. do it

Who gives a **** if it is SEALED.?
It is MUSIC.!
Someone WANTED you to hear this.!

So what if it is SEALED.?

Then I am the Lucky bastard
who nails this virgin record
and makes her scream.

peace

You shitting me? Sealed records and you leave them sealed? Open those things up!

You buy opened records anyway, I don't see the logic unless you have an extra somewhere. Guys like you are the ones that wipe their ass with brown paper bags.

Nah unless its a super duper rare one off limited edition thats worth a shit load of money I wouldn't even keep it sealed, open it up and play it

I know a few record collectors. The bad asses in the record collecting game usually purchase two. One gets played the other is untouched.
Now some have records that have been touched only a few times by the original owner, for example one of the collectors I know owns Bob Marley records that were listened to and owned once by Bob Marley. That record does not get played and is nicely stored. Bob's finger prints are on it and his dna is all over it too. A fact not even considered back in the 70's when they got it. However now that vinyl is worth a lot of money.
So depending on the record and the history you may have a reason not to play.
I have a few sealed records but those are box sets. I doubt they are really going to be worth anything. Plus I have the songs on other records so it's not like I can't hear the song.
My FELA box set is very important to me and I opened it not long ago. My Jimi Hendrix Records are important to me and so are my live James Browns. Even more important in some cases are my Reel to Reels. Those are awesome because of the length of play. You can have it play for hours. I have some good studio mixes and live concerts given to me of popular groups that I know other people will never know existed.
Cheers,
Ian

Thanks for all these comments still considering them. I especially like:

mcroepster wrote:Who gives a **** if it is SEALED.?
It is MUSIC.!
Someone WANTED you to hear this.!

So what if it is SEALED.?

Then I am the Lucky bastard
who nails this virgin record
and makes her scream.

peace

I think if I were an artist who released a record I wouldn't give a fudge. Reminds of DJ Shadow in the documentary Scratch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gpKYnRdf0A

Ill-Green wrote:Guys like you are the ones that wipe their ass with brown paper bags.

Lol.

only keep it sealed if its your 2nd or 3rd copy

I've heard that test printings and shit used to be put in the store. Like a normal copy. Could be a reason to open those joints. I'm new to sampling, and I've dabbled in music over the years but I'd say I'm new to that too, but I love diggin'. I also collect comics. It's the same experience. Looking for gold, something where the seller didn't know the value, or where there is no value, but something about it is special to you. The internet is a great resource but mainly for shit you already know about. And for finding associated acts. However, finding a truly random record, to have your musical horizon truly expanded, you need to dig. A garage sale, a thrift shop, a record store dollar bin, are not tailored to you by google. Anything can be in there. ANYTHING! Your tracks, or your favorite album are out there. But the only way to hear them, is to go get them. They aren't coming to you. Diggin', nothing like it.

StarOne wrote:You never known the condition of the joints inside.

True, I've had some taco records before which were sealed but didn't care about them as much. I think I was overthinking the whole thing. If I was a slept-on artist in the 70s who released a joint I would probably feel that the person 40 years later who wouldn't open up the sealed record to hear it for the first time was a knob.