Vivian Chow's Vinyl Record Collector's Guide: From "Unruly Goddess" to the Appreciation Potential of Japan Limited Edition LPs
Art & Vision Records Era—Early Treasures that Established the Image of the "Jade Girl"
Vivian Chow's early Cantonese albums were mainly released by Art-Vision Records. Due to their relatively small release volume and their historical significance in the early stages of her career, these albums are now rare finds on the secondhand market.
1. Vivian Chow (1988) This is her first Cantonese album.
2. *Vivian* (1990) and *The Unruly Goddess*: This is Vivian Chow's second Cantonese album, containing classic songs such as "The Unruly Goddess," "Old Lover," "In This Faraway Place," and "Curse." In the secondhand market, a well-maintained 1990 edition of *The Unruly Goddess* vinyl record, complete with a songbook but with slight wear on the cover edge, is priced at approximately HK$500.
3. The album "Love's Obsession" (1990) was released in December 1990 and included tracks such as "Love's Obsession," "Dance of the Tightrope," "Borrowing a Way," and "Do You Know I Miss Him?" Due to financial difficulties at the time, ArtVision Records ceased its record publishing business. Releases from this period often have specific collectible value due to their special background and relative scarcity.
PolyGram's classic era—the "myth of out-of-print" front-page prints skyrocketing in price.
After switching to PolyGram in 1991, Vivian Chow's career reached its peak, and the first vinyl records of many of her albums are now fetching astronomical prices on the market.
1. The exceptionally high price tag of "Endless Dream" (1992)
"Endless Dream" is Vivian Chow's fifth Cantonese album, which includes classic songs such as "Publicly Announce My Love", "The Fairy Tale of Time", "If You Know My Suffering", and "Where Does My Love Belong".
The original vinyl record of "Endless Dream," especially the first edition released by PolyGram in 1992, has an astonishing market value.
- A near-new (95% new) original vinyl record of "Endless Dream" with complete lyrics and poster was once priced as high as HK$4,800 or HK$6,800 .
- One seller pointed out that a 1992 edition of the vinyl record "Endless Dream" with lyrics and a poster, even though there is a slight flaw (a rattling sound) at the end of the second song on side A, is still priced at HK$3,850 .
- Some high-priced acquisition lists even mention that the acquisition price for Vivian Chow's "Endless Dream" could reach HK$60,000 (although this price may be for a complete set or an extremely rare edition).
Therefore, if you have a well-preserved, complete copy of the 1992 PolyGram edition of "Endless Dream", its value is considerable.
2. "A Long & Lasting Love" (1991)
This is Vivian Chow's first album after joining PolyGram, and she solidified her status as the "Queen of Jade Girls" with songs such as "Love Never Grows Old". It includes "True Love is Tomorrow", a duet with Leon Lai.
New Generation Limited Edition—A High-Quality Reissue Made in Japan
In recent years, record companies have met music fans' demand for high-quality vinyl records by re-releasing many of Vivian Chow's classic albums. These re-releases, especially the Japanese imports, are also collectible due to their quality and limited edition nature.
1. Imported from Japan, "Limited Edition"
Universal Music released limited-edition Japanese vinyl reissues of "A Long & Lasting Love" and "Endless Dream" in 2025.
- These versions are 180g weight plates and are labeled as made in Japan and produced in a completely limited quantity .
- The price of "A Long & Lasting Love" (Japanese version) is approximately HK$349.00 (or SGD$69.00).
- The price of Endless Dream (Japanese version) is approximately HK$325.00 (or SGD$69.00).
- There are also new Japanese editions of "Endless Dream" LPs on the market, advertised as "no K" (non-K version), priced between HK$270 and HK$290 .
2. ARS Number Plate and Colored Adhesive
In addition to the Japanese version, Universal Music also released a Hong Kong version of "Endless Dream" in 2017, remastered by Abbey Road Studios (ARS). The prices of these numbered vinyl records are quite stable, with brand new, unopened numbered versions (such as Serial No. 806 or #858) priced between HK$1,800 and HK$2,500 .
In addition, Vivian Chow's "Pure Shadow Lyrics Collection" vinyl record has been released in a "Transparent Brown & Opaque Green VInyl" colored vinyl version, while the album "Bonsai" also has limited editions of "Pink Marble Vinyl" and "Transparent Pink Silver Splatter Vinyl". Colored vinyl and limited editions are usually rarer than ordinary vinyl records, and therefore have higher collectible value.
The core elements for judging the value of Vivian Chow's vinyl records
To accurately assess the appreciation potential of your Vivian Chow vinyl record collection, Jiu Music Box will focus on the following four core elements:
1. Release version and rarity
The version is the primary key factor in determining the value of a vinyl record.
- First Pressing: This is the "ultimate pursuit" for collectors because they are closest to the master tape in sound quality and have irreplaceable historical significance. Early ArtVision and PolyGram first editions of Vivian Chow's records are far more valuable than reissues.
- Limited editions and special editions: Colored Vinyl, Picture Disc, and "White Label Promo" used for radio promotions are usually more valuable due to their limited release and scarcity.
- Regional version differences: First editions released locally by Hong Kong singers are the most valuable, but Japanese editions (Japan Pressing) are highly sought after due to their high-quality pressing technology and exquisite printing. For example, the new 180g Japanese limited edition is a popular reissue on the market.
2. Condition (preservation status) — the ultimate arbiter of value.
The condition of a vinyl record directly determines its final selling price. Even rare editions will see their value significantly reduced if poorly preserved. Internationally, the Goldmine standard is used for valuation.
- Cover Condition: Check for visibly worn rings, intact corners, tears, graffiti, or water stains. A near-mint (NM) cover can significantly increase its value.
- Record Condition: The record surface must be carefully inspected to avoid deep scratches that could cause skipping. Minor hairline scratches have little impact on value, but deep scratches will severely reduce playback quality and collectible value.
- Completeness of Original Accessories: A complete record must include all original accessories, such as lyric sheets and posters. For example, the front edition of Vivian Chow's "Endless Dream" usually includes lyrics and a poster; missing accessories will affect the buyback price. For Japanese editions, the paper strip known as the "OBI Strip" is even more crucial.
Storage Tips: Records should be kept dry, upright, and firmly pressed to prevent deformation. Avoid placing records in areas with heat sources or direct sunlight. Proper storage is crucial.
3. The significance of collecting: history and investment
Many collectors are not only music fans but also investors. Vinyl records of legendary Hong Kong music stars (such as Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui, Teresa Teng, Danny Chan, Priscilla Chan, etc.) are becoming increasingly rare due to the passing of these artists, making their works "swan songs" and thus their market value enormous.
Although older vinyl records (such as those from the 1970s and 80s) have stood the test of time and demonstrated high durability, for today's high-priced vinyl collectibles, pursuing perfect condition is an ironclad rule.
Future Investment Outlook for Vivian Chow's Vinyl Records
The market value of Vivian Chow's vinyl records reflects the charm of Hong Kong's golden age of Cantonese pop music. Her early works have reached peak prices due to their historical significance and rarity; while the high-quality Japanese reissues and limited-edition colored vinyl records released in recent years satisfy the pursuit of sound quality by a new generation of music fans and audiophiles, and also have stable collectible value.
Whether you possess an extremely rare original or a high-quality replica, Jiu Music Box will use its expertise to offer the fairest and most market-aligned buyback price for your collection.
[Professional Music Box Recycling Commitment]
We understand the story and value behind every vinyl record. We specialize in acquiring high-quality, high-value vinyl records, CDs, and cassettes featuring popular Chinese music from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
- Professional valuation: We provide fair and reasonable quotes based on the latest international market conditions, combined with key factors such as version, rarity, condition, and completeness of accessories.
- Price Reference: Based on current market conditions (e.g., the front page of Vivian Chow's "Endless Dream" can fetch several thousand to nearly ten thousand Hong Kong dollars), we guarantee to offer competitive buyback prices.
- Free door-to-door service: We offer free door-to-door recycling service throughout Hong Kong and Macau, saving you the hassle of moving things.
Let Vivian Chow's classic melodies come to life in your hands! If you own any vinyl records by Vivian Chow or other classic singers, please contact Nine Music Box immediately for free appraisal and pricing.
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(Note: Prices not mentioned in Hong Kong dollars will be converted to Hong Kong dollars based on the exchange rate of the day.)