Forty Years of Music Legends: From "Fake Idol" to "God of Chinese Pop" — Jacky Cheung's Thousand Concerts and the Immortal Era of Vinyl Records.
"Fake Idols" Infiltrating Idol Groups
In the golden age of Mandopop, Hong Kong's "Four Heavenly Kings" dominated the music scene. However, among these four superstars, Jacky Cheung's identity is somewhat contradictory; he is often jokingly referred to as a "fake idol" who has infiltrated an "idol group." While Andy Lau, Leon Lai, and Aaron Kwok attract attention with their handsome looks and popularity, Jacky Cheung is different. He's not the most handsome; he's more like a middle-aged man. His most attractive weapon has always been his undeniable voice and top-notch talent.
Jacky Cheung's success proves that even in an era of idols, talented singers can still hold their own. His awards mostly lean towards "Best Singer" and "Sales Performance" categories, as well as industry recognition of his musical achievements, a clear distinction from other superstars whose awards emphasize idol influence. For example, from 1991 to 1999, Jacky Cheung dominated the "Highest Selling Record of the Year" award at the Hong Kong Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards for eight years. Ultimately, it was precisely because of his record sales, singing skills, and industry recognition that he was officially hailed as the "successor to the God of Songs of the 1990s" by Yu Zheng, Managing Director of Commercial Radio Hong Kong, at the 1992 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation, thus solidifying his title as the "God of Songs."
Professionalism and sincerity spanning forty years and thousands of concerts
The title of "God of Songs" also comes from Jacky Cheung's ultimate sincerity and professional dedication to the stage. His latest "Jacky Cheung 60+ World Tour" Haikou stop marked the completion of his 1,000th solo concert, making him the first Chinese singer in history to surpass 1,000 concerts on a single tour.
This legendary journey spanned 38 years, with footprints covering over a hundred cities across Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. Jacky Cheung's dedication to performance is embodied in his "Three Iron Rules": never lowering the key, starting on time, and never relying on a teleprompter. This rigorous self-discipline has astonished even singers of his generation.
Chen Yiren, the visual director, revealed that Jacky Cheung's professionalism is admirable. He would practice singing and memorizing lyrics every day between new and old tours, so he wouldn't need to spend too much time preparing after the concert. All his thinking is "focused on the performance," always thinking about how to make the performance better. He even topped the Billboard Worldwide Concert Box Office chart, becoming the first Chinese-language singer to achieve this honor, demonstrating his status as a world-class superstar.
Exorbitantly Priced Vinyl Records: The Analogous Magic of "True Feelings"
For recyclers like us at Music Box, Jacky Cheung's musical achievements are not only commercial and artistic successes, but also reflected in the astonishing value of his records in the collector's market, especially in the realm of vinyl records.
Jacky Cheung released several Mandarin and Cantonese albums in 1995, achieving the second-highest global sales, second only to the late superstar Michael Jackson. Among his many works, the Cantonese album "True Feelings Revealed," released in 1992, is considered a "holy grail" in the vinyl record world. This album sold over eight times platinum (400,000 copies) in Hong Kong and won the 1992 IFPI "Best-Selling Album of the Year Award."
Because the 1990s saw CDs begin to replace vinyl records, the vinyl record of "True Feelings" was released in extremely limited quantities. It's said that only a little over a thousand copies were printed that year, making it one of the rarest Chinese vinyl records. This scarcity directly increased its value.
- After entering the 2010s, the price of the "True Feelings" vinyl record in Hong Kong had been inflated to about HK$1,500.
- By the 2020s, its vinyl records had been sold for over HK$15,000 in Hong Kong.
Many seasoned audiophiles, when comparing the original vinyl, SACD, or gold disc versions of "True Feelings," generally believe that the vinyl version has a unique "analog flavor," with sound quality far superior to digital media. This pursuit of analog flavor and ultimate sound quality has made "True Feelings" a commonly used test record in audio stores.
In addition, the vinyl versions of Jacky Cheung's early albums, such as "Jacky" (released in 1987, which includes "Sun and Stars" and "Silent Eyes") and "Smile" (released in 1985, his debut album), also have extremely high collectible value.
ARS Replica Craftsmanship and Diverse Collectible Options
Faced with the exorbitant prices and scarcity of original vinyl records, Universal Music has launched a variety of high-specification reissues in recent years, among which the most eye-catching is the ARS (Abbey Road Studios) Ultimate Vinyl Series.
The selling point of the ARS vinyl version lies in its use of Abbey Road Studios, a top-tier British recording studio favored by The Beatles, for simulating the original master tapes for sampling and remastering. This high-standard production aims to reproduce the ultimate details of the original sound and is often considered to surpass previous reissue batches.
For example, many of Jacky Cheung's classic albums have been released in ARS versions:
- "Jacky" ARS LP : Made on 180g vinyl, pressed in Japan, includes 8 pages of lyrics/photos and a 20 x 30 inch poster. Priced at $82.10 USD in Singapore (approximately HK$640.38).
- Smile ARS LP : Jacky Cheung's first solo album, also pressed in Japan using 180g vinyl records, includes a 20x30 inch poster. Priced at $58.00 USD (approximately HK$452.4).
- "True Feelings Revealed" (ARS Re-mastered ): Priced at approximately $85.10 USD (approximately HK$663.78).
- The "Learning and Friends" 1993 concert vinyl record is also available in an ARS 2LP version, emphasizing high-fidelity reproduction of live details.
(Note: Prices above may fluctuate slightly based on the exchange rate of the day. Here, $1 USD is converted to a reference of $7.8 HKD.)
In addition to vinyl records, Universal Music also offers collectors a variety of reissue options:
- High-specification CDs : such as K2HD CD series, 24K Gold CD series, SHM-SACD (such as "Smile" SHM-SACD priced at $110.00 USD, approximately HK$858), MQA-UHQCD.
- Vinyl/Colored vinyl : This includes the "1992 PolyGram Vinyl Record Series", in which "True Feelings", "The Most Beautiful Woman in the City" (Leon Lai) and "Come Back" (Priscilla Chan) were all released in ARS Vinyl format, priced at HK$405.00, and most of them are sold out.
- Other media : such as glass CDs and cassette tapes.
A Professional Recycling Perspective: How to Identify the "First Edition" and the Mystery of Speculation
As a professional recycler, Jiu Music Box understands that audiophiles must learn to identify the value of different versions when pursuing these classics.
Many collectors are obsessed with "original pressing" records because they are generally more valuable, coming from fresher die plates, and early pressings are often of higher quality. To determine if a vinyl record is an original pressing, the following steps are required:
- Visit the Discogs website : This is the most widely used international database of record catalogs.
- Compare Master Number (Matrix/Runout Number) : Examine the engravings on the inner ring of the record and enter these numbers into the Discogs search bar for comparison.
- Check the details : including the record label, spine (side of the cover), inner sleeve, and whether a poster is included, as these may vary between different versions.
The high prices of Chinese vinyl records are due not only to their limited print runs but also to the high demand from audiophiles in the Greater China market. Cantonese albums, especially those from the 1980s and 90s, were among the first Hong Kong pop music that mainland audiophiles encountered after China's reform and opening up, leading to huge market demand and driving up prices. Even Cantonese albums are highly sought after by audiophiles in Guangzhou and other areas.
Music Box reminds you that while original versions are incredibly expensive, top-tier replicas like the ARS LP, thanks to their high-specification reproduction technology, can also provide an exceptional sound experience. We are happy to assist you in determining the true value of your treasured possessions.
Music Box Collection Recycling Center
From the record-breaking vinyl record of Jacky Cheung's "True Feelings Revealed" to Leon Lai's ARS reissue, every classic PolyGram record carries an indelible chapter in the history of Chinese music. Your treasured collection, whether a rare first-edition vinyl, a discontinued ARS reissue, or a high-resolution SACD/K2HD, may be waiting for its next discerning collector.
Our professional music box recycling team uses its expertise and fair pricing to extend the value of your musical treasures.
Contact our music box professional recycling consultant via WhatsApp now for a free estimate!
Contact information: WhatsApp: (852) 69043974