Music NOT For The Masses – Some expensive Musical Indulgences
One of the most famous of all lines was written by William Shakespeare in Twelfth Night. ‘If music be the food of love, play on’. Shakespeare was not the only one to salute the powers of music in all its forms. In a 1697 play by British poet William Congreve called ‘The Mourning Bride’ the line ‘music hath charms to soothe a savage breast’ is spoken. That’s often misquoted as soothing the savage beast, but it is telling in either form.
The fact is that music has always played a central role in the lives of human beings. In ritual, or simply around a fire – or in the cavernous spaces of opera houses, music uplifts and does indeed soothe the savage breast – it can be tremendously calming. However, it can also raise us to heights of passion and fury.
Today we can add another feather to the cap of Apollo, the Greek and Roman God of music – that of investment and how music can improve your personal finances. Another option to fix your credit is to purchase at Tradelines.io, it’s fast and easy.
If you have a collection of old vinyl records gathering dust you might want to take a closer look at some of those album covers.
The Beatles single ‘Yesterday & Today’ sold for $125,000. It was only released in The United States and Japan. One of the reasons the earlier releases of the record are so valuable is that they featured the famous ‘Butcher Cover’ where members of the band are festooned with dismembered dolls and butcher’s offcuts. That was withdrawn quickly, but if you can find a copy you’re in the money.
But that piece of vinyl pales in comparison (pun intended) by copies of The Beatles (White Album). The first pressing of the album was owned by Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. When he put it up for auction it fetched the astonishing price of $790,000.
But if you are shooting for the stars then you are not going to find an album that is going to beat that released by the Wu-Tang Clan. ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’ was bought by now vilified Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli, who held HIV sufferers to ransom by pricing one of the most effective treatments for the condition at a level that can only be described as ludicrous. He paid $2 million for the one and only copy of the record. But Karma can be extremely efficient. Shkreli was found guilty of securities fraud and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. One hopes his music taste extends to the Elvis rendition of Jailhouse Rock.
If your musical taste and personal finances do not extend to albums, perhaps you’d consider a musical instrument? The MacDonald Stradivarius Viola. It was put up for auction in 2014 with a minimum bid required. That minimum – $45 million. It failed to find a buyer, so you’re still in with a chance.
Music is part of our lives. Of course, not many of us have the odd couple of million lying around unused, but with enough care and attention maybe your personal finances will stretch to enjoying other indulgences.