The Completist
While most collectors fume at the sight of biro messages inscribed on sleeves, such scribbles can add to the value of a record in other ways
PETE PAPHIDES
Pete Paphides is a music journalist, record collector and broadcaster. Catch him on Soho Radio every Tuesday, 12-2pm
Why do people do that?” exclaimed the guy in the record shop, disapprovingly. Someone had written on the back of Sadé’s third album, Stronger Than Pride, thus diminishing its resale value. “JULY – 1988,” read the dedication, “To Kim, See you in Nice, With love, Rich. xxxxx”. Just because I could appreciate the record shop guy’s frustration, it didn’t mean I agreed with it.
A lot of collectors will hold out for a Mint condition copy of a desired album. To them, a biro inscription hovering above Sadé’s right shoulder is an act of vandalism. Possibly the difference between them and me is mere nosiness. What was the deal with Rich and Kim? And why Nice? Did one of them live there? Had they even met in person? Perhaps they were pen-pals and this Sadé album represents a mutual decision to take their relationship beyond the realm of correspondence.