In the field of music collection, one of the most fascinating and even contentious points of discussion is the subject of “holy grails.” Defined as rare, expensive, and highly prized records, a holy grail is judged by factors like where and when it was pressed, and how mint its condition is.
Though scarcity doesn’t equate to rare or a grail, it is among one of many several criteria for a holy grail. Millions of records were pressed between the 1950s and ‘80s, with those numbers dwindling by the ‘90s as compact discs and, later, digital became the preferred medium for music.
By the same token, if the market is flooded with copies of a certain title that fetches large sums, does that qualify the album as a holy grail? That’s a grey area where one can say, “It depends.”
Recently, there have been hard-to-find titles that have been reissued, including Ryan Cayabyab’s groundbreaking 1981 album, One – which was highly sought after — and Bong Peñera’s three albums, released in succession from 1976 and 1978: A Samba Song, Batucada sa Calesa, and his self-titled release. With the market flooded with reissues, it makes up for the lack of availability of the original first pressing, and that affects desirability.
With the vinyl revival and more and more people especially the younger generation that is now the biggest market for physical format sales as they have discovered the music of yesteryears, it has created a demand for older music. However, like anything else that is collectible, the downside is the astronomical and unreasonable prices these grails fetch.
Rolling Stone Philippines interviewed around 100 respondents – music fans and collectors from Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z — and this is what we got: A list of 10 OPM holy grails, listed in no particular order.
The 10 listed titles are by no means definitive. For example, the vinyl version of Rico Blanco’s Your Universe shockingly sold for Php 30,000, and the first vinyl pressing of Up Dharma Down’s Capacities is another expensive one. Wolfgang’s self-titled debut is up there, and ditto with Put3ska’s first album. These are all just as highly desirable, and it makes for a nice sequel to this article.
We can only imagine what this list will be like in 10 years as new titles enter the marketplace, many being produced in even smaller quantities than anything put out between the 1960s and ‘90s.
Released in LP at the height of new wave’s popularity under Dyna Records, Identity Crisis exuded MTV cool and mysterious goth. When the song “Sumigaw, Umawit Ka” was first released, it was unlike anything on Philippine radio then as it is today.
You rarely see an Identity Crisis record or tape in the market. (This includes the band’s second album Water Came Running, which seems to be even more rare.) And if you do, a copy in near mint or very good condition is hard to find. Any purchase in any condition begins at a very conservative P8,000.
LP, Indie Pop Records released in 2012
The 2012 Ang Nawawalang Soundtrack was the second to be released on vinyl this new millennium under Indie Pop Records. The honor of being the first OPM music to be released on vinyl this century is Red-i‘s Jahdgement Day that came out a few months before the former.
When it came out in 2012, it didn’t have a huge run. In fact, each band was given one copy of the record each. If the other members wanted one, they had to buy it. Some who purchased the record didn’t even own a turntable, but it sold out after several months.
It is rare you see this on the market. If one does, it sells really quick, at prices beginning at P10,000.
EP on compact disc, BMG released in 1997
This five-track EP came out at the height of the band’s career. The following year, their first international release — Aloha Milkyway — came out.
It sounds weird that despite the Eraserheads‘ popularity, Bananatype didn’t have the usual volume of compact discs pressed – instead, emphasis was placed on the cassette version. As a result, the CD version is highly sought after today.
Perhaps of all the Eraserheads’ releases on CD, this is the hardest to find. A near mint copy sells for a minimum of Php 8,000.
‘Up in Arms,’ ‘Himig Natin,’ ‘Maskara,’ ‘Super Sessions,’ and ‘Live & In Concert’ is under Sunshine Records, while Kahit Anong Mangyari is under Blackgold Records.
Any physical copy of a Juan de la Cruz Band, especially in very good condition, is a jewel for fans of Pinoy rock. If you didn’t get it the first time around, you must pay a king’s ransom to acquire it today.
During Record Store Day Pilipinas in 2017, a sealed copy of Kahit Anong Mangyari sold for P20,000! At that point, that was the highest price for a Juan de la Cruz Band record. Since then – secondhand copy or not – the prices have gone only up.
As for the other records, they sell from anywhere between P8,000 and P30,000. And believe it or not… there are takers. In fact, before the COVID-19 pandemic, all these records were offered in bulk for over P400,000 on eBay. A near mint copy of their debut record Up in Arms sells for almost $3,000!
Each of these records got at least over a thousand pressings and yet, they are rare in the market. A copy of an original release is always a highlight in anyone’s collection.
Betrayed’s self-titled album is one of the most important releases by any Filipino punk band to this day. It first came out on the band’s own DMZ Records before getting a second run under Twisted Red Cross.
The cassette album features the original line-up with Eddie Siojo on vocals on one side, and Dominic Gamboa on the other. A copy today goes for at least P5,000, so if you manage to score one for less than that, then it’s a steal.
According to multiple sources from the local punk scene’s music collecting circles, a copy of Betrayed’s DMZ issue has only surfaced twice in the last seven years, and they didn’t stay ownerless for long.
During the first ever Record Store Day Pilipinas in 2017, an LP of Gapô Vol. 1, released under Ace Records, was being sold at P3,000. Good luck acquiring an original copy at that price today.
This compilation featured 10 rock, funk, and soul acts that played in the Subic Bay club circuit during the 1970s. The songs — especially the first single “Perwisyo sa Lipunan” by The Frictions — was a staple of radio and jeepney 8-track tape fare back in the day.
While reissued on vinyl several years ago, the first press remains a grail.
Released on BMG Records, Parnaso ng Payaso by the folk-rock act band Pan is arguably frontman Dong Abay’s second-best collection of songs. Written after his Yano project with guitarist Eric Gancio and during his return to the University of the Philippines to complete his college degree, it was a fertile period for Abay to feel inspired and write new songs.
A copy of Pan’s one and only album on compact disc is rarely sold. In contrast, a copy of Yano resurfaces every once in a while, which is proof of the larger volume pressed. And like other grails, Pan is very elusive.
This is the first ever independent release — and new wave, too — in the country, under Insect Dance Records. Unfortunately, the 7-inch EP took a while to sell with such a small press run. There’s even a rumor that at one point, Ocean Zoo’s vocalist Jack Sikat used a copy or two as a frisbee at University Santo Tomas.
Interest in this EP picked up around 2017 as independent labels began reissuing releases from the ‘80s. And when it has been sold, the minimum is Php 13,000!
LP, reissued on vinyl by Polyeast Records in 2014
The one and only album of funk masters P.O.T. has always been a best seller. When it was first released on CD in 1997, it sold very well, they put out a remastered version eight years later, and it still sold very well.
In 2014, it was reissued on vinyl for the first time under Polyeast Records. Unfortunately, it was largely ignored until the COVID-19 lockdown when it was snapped up by record collectors. Today, one copy sells between P6,000 and P15,000.
Lokal Brown — arguably the second Filipino supergroup after Circus Band — was comprised of Lolita Carbon, Chickoy Pura, Mon Espia, Ed Formoso, Eva Caparas, Saro Bañares, and Pendong Aban. This Is Lokal Brown, released in LP and cassette under Ivory Records, was beautifully produced; it had a feel of a pop rock opera as the band sang nationalistic songs addressing the social issues of its day.
This is such a difficult album to find. A cursory look at Discogs will find one copy selling for around P75,000.
Rolling Stone Philippines September 2025 Issue, Now Available at SariSari Shopping
