Forty Years of Musical Legend: From "Fake Idol" to "God of Chinese Pop"—Jacky Cheung's Thousand Concerts and the
The "Fake Idol" Who Infiltrated an Idol Group
During the golden age of C-pop,Hong Kong's "Four Heavenly Kings" dominated the music scene. However,among these four superstars,Jacky Cheung's identity often seemed a bit contradictory; he was frequently jokingly referred to as the "fake idol" who infiltrated an "idol group." Andy Lau,Leon Lai,and Aaron Kwok captivated audiences with their handsome looks and popularity,but Jacky Cheung was different. He wasn't the most handsome,more like a friendly uncle next door. His greatest weapon for attracting fans was always his undeniable voice and top-tier talent.
Jacky Cheung's success proved that even in an era of idols,a powerful vocalist could still hold the center stage. Most of his awards were focused on "Best Singer categories," "Sales categories," and industry recognition for his musical achievements,which stood in stark contrast to the awards received by other Heavenly Kings,which often emphasized their idol influence. For example,between 1991 and 1999,Jacky Cheung monopolized the "Annual Top Sales Award" at the Hong Kong "Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards" for eight years. Ultimately,it was his record sales,vocal prowess,and industry recognition that led Commercial Radio's Managing Director,Yu Tsang,to officially declare him the "successor to the God of Songs in the nineties" at the 1992 "Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation," thereby solidifying his title as the "God of Songs."
Forty Years,A Thousand Concerts: Professionalism and Sincerity
The title of "God of Songs" also stems from Jacky Cheung's extreme sincerity and professional dedication to the stage. His latest "Jacky Cheung 60+ Concert Tour" in Haikou marked his one thousandth solo concert in his singing career,making him the first Chinese singer ever to break the thousand-concert mark for a tour.
This legendary journey has spanned 38 years,with footprints across over a hundred cities in Asia,Europe,Oceania,and America. Jacky Cheung's dedication to performing is reflected in his "three iron rules": no lowering of keys,starting on time,and no teleprompters. This rigorous self-discipline even astonishes his contemporary singers.
Chen Yi-jen,the visual director,revealed that Jacky Cheung's professionalism is admirable. He insists on practicing singing and memorizing lyrics daily between new and old tours,so he doesn't need much time to prepare once a concert begins. All his thought processes are "centered on the performance," always thinking about how to make the show better. He even topped Billboard's Global Concert Boxscore chart,becoming the first Chinese singer to achieve this honor,demonstrating his status as a world-class superstar.
Sky-High Vinyl: The Analog Magic of "True Love Expressed"
For recyclers like 9Box Music,Jacky Cheung's musical achievements are not merely commercial and artistic successes; they are also reflected in the astonishing value of his records in the collector's market,especially his vinyl records.
In 1995,Jacky Cheung released multiple Mandarin and Cantonese albums,with cumulative sales ranking second globally,only surpassed by the late superstar Michael Jackson. Among his many works,the 1992 Cantonese album "True Love Expressed" is considered a "holy grail" in the vinyl world. This album sold over eight platinum (400,000 copies) in Hong Kong,earning the IFPI "Annual Top Sales Award" in 1992.
As the 1990s was a period when CD albums began to replace vinyl records,the circulation of "True Love Expressed" vinyl records was extremely limited,reportedly only a little over a thousand copies were released,making it one of the rarest Chinese vinyl pressings. This scarcity directly drove up its value:
- After entering the 2010s,the market price of "True Love Expressed" vinyl in Hong Kong soared to approximately HK$1,500.
- By the 2020s,its vinyl record market price in Hong Kong had escalated to over HK$15,000.
Many veteran audiophiles,when comparing the original vinyl,SACD,or gold disc versions of "True Love Expressed," generally agree that vinyl possesses a unique "analog flavor" and superior sound quality compared to digital media. This pursuit of analog flavor and ultimate sound quality has made "True Love Expressed" a common test record in audio stores.
In addition,Jacky Cheung's early albums such as "Jacky" (released in 1987,featuring "Sun,Moon,Stars" and "Silent Eyes") and "Smile" (released in 1985,his debut album) also have highly collectible vinyl versions.
ARS Remastering Craftsmanship and Diverse Collection Options
Given the exorbitant prices of original vinyl records,Universal Music has recently released various high-spec reissued versions,with the most notable being the ARS (Abbey Road Studios) Ultimate Vinyl series.
The selling point of ARS vinyl versions is that they use the internationally renowned Abbey Road Studios,favored by "The Beatles," for analog master tape sampling and remastering. This high-standard production aims to reproduce the extreme details of the original sound,often considered to surpass previous reissue batches.
For example,several of Jacky Cheung's classic albums have been released in ARS versions:
- "Jacky" ARS LP: Features 180g vinyl,pressed in Japan,includes an 8-page lyric/photo booklet and a 20 x 30-inch poster. Singapore pricing is $82.10 USD (approximately HK$640.38).
- "Smile" ARS LP: Jacky Cheung's debut album,also features 180g vinyl pressed in Japan,includes a 20x30-inch poster. Priced at $58.00 USD (approximately HK$452.4).
- "True Love Expressed" ARS Re-mastered: Priced at approximately $85.10 USD (approximately HK$663.78).
- "Jacky Cheung '93 Concert" Vinyl Record: Also available in an ARS 2LP version,emphasizing high-fidelity reproduction of live details.
(Note: The above prices may fluctuate slightly based on the exchange rate of the day; here,$1 USD is temporarily converted at $7.8 HKD for reference.)
In addition to vinyl,Universal Music also offers collectors a variety of reissue formats:
- High-spec CDs: Such as the K2HD CD series,24K Gold CD series,SHM-SACD (e.g.,"Smile" SHM-SACD priced at $110.00 USD,approximately HK$858),MQA-UHQCD.
- Vinyl/Colored Vinyl: Including the "1992 PolyGram Vinyl Record Series," where "True Love Expressed," "Love of a City" (Leon Lai),"Come Back" (Priscilla Chan),etc.,were released in ARS Vinyl format,all priced at HK$405.00,and most are now sold out.
- Other Media: Such as glass CDs,cassette tapes.
Professional Recyclers and Thoughtful Buyers know that when pursuing these classics,audiophiles must learn to identify the value of different versions.
Many collectors frantically pursue "first pressings" because original records typically hold more value,come from fresher stampers,and often boast higher pressing quality. To identify if a vinyl record is a first pressing,follow these steps:
- Consult the Discogs website: This is the most commonly used record database internationally.
- Compare the matrix/runout number: Check the inscriptions in the inner groove of the record and compare these numbers with those in the Discogs search results.
- Examine 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.
As for the high speculative prices of Chinese vinyl,in addition to their limited print runs,it is also related to the pursuit of audiophiles in the Greater China market. Particularly for Cantonese albums from the 80s and 90s,after China's reform and opening up,this batch of music was the first Hong Kong pop music that mainland audiophiles encountered,leading to enormous market demand and thus driving up prices. Even Cantonese albums are highly favored by many audiophiles in places like Guangzhou.
We remind you that although original editions command astonishing prices,top-tier reissues like ARS LPs can still offer an ultimate "beautiful sound" experience thanks to their high-spec remastering technology. We are happy to help you determine the true value of your cherished collection.
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【9Box Music Collection Recycling Station】
From the sky-high price of Jacky Cheung's "True Love Expressed" vinyl to Leon Lai's ARS reissues,every classic PolyGram record carries an indelible part of Chinese music history. Your treasured collection,whether it's a rare first pressing vinyl,a sold-out ARS reissue,or a high-spec SACD/K2HD,might be waiting for the next appreciative collector.
Our dedicated acquisition team at 9Box Music provides the most professional knowledge and fair prices to extend the value of your musical treasures.
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