The British record collector magazine Record Collector has published several Top 20 to 100 “Worldwide Rarities” lists throughout the years for Queen and solo releases. The ones published between 1998 and 2000 can be found here. Some more lists have been published throughout the years with the last notable one being from 2021, but all were arguably incomplete. The collectors market changes on a regular basis. New items are being discovered every few months or years. Rare items are suddenly not so rare anymore because old warehouse stock was found or interest in a particular artist or release has increased or decreased, changing demand and thus an item’s value.
A small group of Queen collectors came up with the idea to compile a new contemporary list, covering not just Queen, but also the solo releases. Each list will be a Top 100 to ensure that as many releases will be covered as possible. To avoid the fact that many lists will be dominated by obscure one-off releases or test pressings, two main categories are introduced:
- General public releases: these include music formats which could be purchased in a shop, were handed out to radio stations or where released but then withdrawn again
- Non-general public releases: as expected, this one covers anything that was not made for the record buying audience. These include test pressings, acetates, special executive and event releases and rumoured releases
Each of these two categories apply to every artist or band (Queen, The Cross, Brian May, Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor) and will cover 100 of the most rare and expensive releases up to the date of this publication. This approach thus means that you will get up to 200 releases per artist! The only exception is for John, since his solo output is so small.
The Top 100 lists
Some words about these lists. The referenced values are all estimates and not written in stone. They are in most cases for (near) mint copies and based on (recent) sale values. Still, anyone can ask or pay for an item whatever he or she wants.
The title of a release in the lists can be a link to a relevant page (i.e. Discogs or Popsike) with further details including images, catalogue number, label information etc. You may even stumble upon an opportunity to buy such an item!
The thumbnails are clickable to see a larger version of the artwork if needed, but please note that many images are sourced from various places across the internet. This means that the quality is not always that great.
These lists furthermore are solely covering The Cross their work. This thus means that you will not find anything by Roger, though that is covered by another list!
General public releases
The below 100 entries cover those releases which were made available to the general public and radio stations in relation to The Cross their work, excluding Roger’s solo output.
| Details | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 2.600 € | |
 | Final Destination 1990, France, Vinyl (7″, Single) Promo, mispressed B-side label, no text apart from copyright statement |
|
| #2 | 2.500 € | |
 | Final Destination 1990, France, Vinyl (7″, Single) Promo |
|
| #3 | 1.100 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Germany, CD (5″, Box Set) Promo, with 4 track sampler (also available separately), VHS, biography, sticker, photo |
|
| #4 | 400 € | |
 | Heaven For Everyone 1988, Japan, CD (3″, Single) Regular commercial issue with red promo sticker over the barcode and “Sample” on disc |
|
| #5 | 400 € | |
 | Final Destination 1990, Germany, CD (5″, Single) |
|
| #6 | 300 € | |
 | Heaven For Everyone 1988, Japan, CD (3″, Single) |
|
| #7 | 250 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Canada, CD (5″, Album) |
|
| #8 | 250 € | |
 | Life Changes 1991, Germany, CD (5″, Single) Withdrawn |
|
| #9 | 190 € | |
 | Liar 1990, Germany, CD (5″, Single) |
|
| #10 | 190 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Germany, CD (5″, Sampler) Promo, 4 track sampler, also available in a box |
|
| #11 | 180 € | |
 | New Dark Ages 1991, Germany, Vinyl (12″, Single) Beware of counterfeit which has no face on the front sleeve |
|
| #12 | 175 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, USA, CD (5″, Album) Light photo on front, with longbox, different track listing, with Feel The Force and HFE sang by Roger |
|
| #13 | 175 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, Germany, Vinyl (12″, Album) |
|
| #14 | 150 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, Japan, CD (5″, Album) With obi |
|
| #15 | 150 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, Japan, CD (5″, Album) Regular commercial issue with promo sticker on back and “Sample Not For Sale” on the disc, with obi |
|
| #16 | 125 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, Italy, Vinyl (12″, Album) With embossed promotional stamp on front cover |
|
| #17 | 125 € | |
 | Live In Germany 1992, UK, Cassette (Album) Fan club release |
|
| #18 | 100 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, Australia, Cassette (Single) |
|
| #19 | 100 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, UK, CD (5″, Single) Promo, in white gatefold sleeve with sticker |
|
| #20 | 100 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Japan, CD (5″, Album) Regular commercial issue with promo sticker on back and “Sample” on disc, with obi v2 |
|
| #21 | 100 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Japan, CD (5″, Album) With obi |
|
| #22 | 100 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Japan, CD (5″, Album) Regular commercial issue with promo sticker on back and “Sample” on disc, with obi |
|
| #23 | 100 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, Italy, Vinyl (12″, Album) |
|
| #24 | 100 € | |
 | Bootleg Astoria Theatre, Dec 1990 1991, UK, Cassette (Album) Fan club release |
|
| #25 | 90 € | |
 | Liar 1990, Germany, Vinyl (12″, Single) Beware of counterfeit which has no catalogue numbers on the spines |
|
| #26 | 70 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Japan, CD (5″, Album) Dark photo on front, obi v1, obi has no printing on back and price includes taxes |
|
| #27 | 70 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Japan, CD (5″, Album) Dark photo on front, obi v2, obi has printing on back and price without taxes |
|
| #28 | 60 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Mexico, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front, additional print on the front |
|
| #29 | 50 € | |
 | Heaven For Everyone 1988, France, Vinyl (7″, Single) One-sided promo, Freddie Mercury vocal version, company sleeve |
|
| #30 | 50 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Japan, Vinyl (12″, Album) Dark photo on front, promo, with obi |
|
| #31 | 45 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, Japan, Vinyl (7″, Single) Promo |
|
| #32 | 40 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Canada, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #33 | 35 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, Japan, Vinyl (7″, Single) |
|
| #34 | 35 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Brazil, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #35 | 35 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, UK, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front, grey labels |
|
| #36 | 35 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Japan, Vinyl (12″, Album) Dark photo on front, with obi |
|
| #37 | 35 € | |
 | Liar 1990, Germany, Vinyl (7″, Single) |
|
| #38 | 35 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, France, Vinyl (12″, Album) |
|
| #39 | 35 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, UK, Vinyl (12″, Album) |
|
| #40 | 35 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Italy, Vinyl (12″, Album) |
|
| #41 | 30 € | |
 | Footsteps In The Sand / Cowboys And Indians 1987, Italy, Vinyl (7″, Single) Jukebox promo, A-side is by Delta, no picture sleeve, with jukebox title card |
|
| #42 | 30 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Brazil, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front, with yellow lettering |
|
| #43 | 30 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Germany, Vinyl (12″, Album) |
|
| #44 | 30 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, Italy, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #45 | 25 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, USA, CD (5″, Album) Light photo on front, different track listing, with Feel The Force and HFE sang by Roger |
|
| #46 | 25 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, EU, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front, grey labels |
|
| #47 | 25 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, France, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front |
|
| #48 | 25 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, UK, CD (5″, Album) |
|
| #49 | 25 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, Netherlands, CD (5″, Album) Silver disc face |
|
| #50 | 20 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, UK, Cassette (Single) |
|
| #51 | 20 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, Australia, Vinyl (7″, Single) |
|
| #52 | 20 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, Italy, Vinyl (7″, Single) |
|
| #53 | 20 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, UK, CD (5″, Single) |
|
| #54 | 20 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Australia, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front |
|
| #55 | 20 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, UK, Vinyl (12″, Single) B-Side mislabeled Belinda Carlisle |
|
| #56 | 20 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Germany, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #57 | 20 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, France, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #58 | 20 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Switzerland, CD (5″, Album) |
|
| #59 | 20 € | |
 | Power To Love / Radar Love 1990, Italy, Vinyl (7″, Single) Jukebox promo, B-side is by Oh Well, no picture sleeve, with jukebox title card |
|
| #60 | 20 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, France, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #61 | 20 € | |
 | New Dark Ages 1991, Germany, CD (5″, Single) |
|
| #62 | 20 € | |
 | New Dark Ages 1991, Germany, Vinyl (7″, Single) |
|
| #63 | 18 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Canada, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front, different track listing, with Feel The Force and HFE sang by Roger |
|
| #64 | 18 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Italy, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front |
|
| #65 | 18 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Canada, Vinyl (7″, Single) A-side has a 3:12 edit, in Virgin company sleeve |
|
| #66 | 18 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, USA, Vinyl (7″, Single) Promo, SP or AR label, A-side has a 3:12 edit |
|
| #67 | 18 € | |
 | Power To Love 1990, Italy, Vinyl (12″, Single) |
|
| #68 | 18 € | |
 | Power To Love 1990, Italy, Vinyl (7″, Single) |
|
| #69 | 18 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, Germany, CD (5″, Album) Blue disc face |
|
| #70 | 15 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, Germany, Vinyl (7″, Single) With German promo sheet |
|
| #71 | 15 € | |
 | Manipulator 1988, Germany, Vinyl (12″, Single) |
|
| #72 | 15 € | |
 | Manipulator 1988, Germany, Vinyl (7″, Single) With German promo sheet, promo stamp on label |
|
| #73 | 15 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Canada, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #74 | 15 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Spain, Vinyl (12″, Album) Dark photo on front |
|
| #75 | 15 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Germany, Vinyl (7″, Single) With German promo sheet |
|
| #76 | 15 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, USA, Vinyl (7″, Single) SP or AR label, A-side has a 3:12 edit |
|
| #77 | 15 € | |
 | Shove It / Love Lies Bleeding 1988, USA, Vinyl (12″, Single) Promo |
|
| #78 | 15 € | |
 | Power To Love 1990, Germany, CD (5″, Single) |
|
| #79 | 15 € | |
 | Power To Love 1990, UK, CD (5″, Single) |
|
| #80 | 15 € | |
 | Power To Love 1990, EU, Vinyl (12″, Single) |
|
| #81 | 15 € | |
 | Shove It 2022, Netherlands, CD (5″, Album) “Music on CD” reissue |
|
| #82 | 12 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, Australia, Vinyl (12″, Single) |
|
| #83 | 12 € | |
 | Heaven For Everyone 1988, Germany, Vinyl (7″, Single) Roger Taylor vocal version, with German promo sheet |
|
| #84 | 12 € | |
 | Heaven For Everyone 1988, Italy, Vinyl (7″, Single) Roger Taylor vocal version |
|
| #85 | 12 € | |
 | Manipulator 1988, UK, Vinyl (12″, Single) |
|
| #86 | 12 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Germany, Vinyl (12″, Single) |
|
| #87 | 12 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, USA, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front, different track listing, with Feel The Force and HFE sang by Roger |
|
| #88 | 12 € | |
 | Power To Love 1990, UK, Vinyl (12″, Single) |
|
| #89 | 10 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, EU, Vinyl (12″, Single) |
|
| #90 | 10 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Germany, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #91 | 10 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, France, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #92 | 10 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, UK, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #93 | 10 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, USA, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #94 | 10 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, USA, Cassette (Album) Promo |
|
| #95 | 10 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, UK, CD (5″, Album) Dark photo on front |
|
| #96 | 10 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, EU, Vinyl (12″, Album) Dark photo on front |
|
| #97 | 10 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, EU, Vinyl (12″, Album) Light photo on front, red & green labels |
|
| #98 | 10 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, UK, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #99 | 10 € | |
 | MAD : BAD : And Dangerous To Know 1990, Italy, Cassette (Album) |
|
| #100 | 9 € | |
 | Heaven For Everyone 1988, EU, Vinyl (12″, Single) Both vocal versions, front has golden border |
|
Wonderful! You’ve managed to reach the end of this Top 100 list! Hope it was worthwhile and in some way educative. On to the next one!
Non-General public releases
The next entries cover those releases which were not made available to the general public. These include test pressings, acetate discs, releases for special events, executive pressings and rumoured releases.
Unlike the previous list, this one “only” covers 15 items as there are not that many known, certain collectors tend to not share information about their collection or there are simply not that many of these type of releases for The Cross.
Nevertheless, have fun with this list. It is arguably the most fun one with a lot of rarities and oddities!
| Details | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 900 € | |
 | Top Of The World Ma / Closer To You 1990, UK, Acetate (7″, Single) Two single-sided 10″ discs, Town House label, for withdrawn single |
|
| #2 | 500 € | |
 | Manipulator 1988, UK, Acetate (7″, Single) Single-sided, 10″ disc, Town House label |
|
| #3 | 350 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, UK, CD (5″, Single) Rumoured, promo, in picture gatefold sleeve with sticker OR white gatefold sleeve with sticker and color insert |
|
| #4 | 300 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, USA, Acetate (12″, Album) Single-sided, A-side only, Artisan Sound Recorders label |
|
| #5 | 300 € | |
 | The Cross October ’88 1988, UK, Cassette (Misc) Town House Studios, includes songs Heartland, I Can Take You Higher, Celebration, I Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Passion For Trash |
|
| #6 | 275 € | |
 | Blue Rock 1991, Germany, Vinyl (12″, Album) Test pressing |
|
| #7 | 250 € | |
 | New Dark Ages 1991, Germany, Vinyl (12″, Single) Test pressing |
|
| #8 | 125 € | |
 | Liar 1990, Germany, Vinyl (7″, Single) Test pressing |
|
| #9 | 125 € | |
 | Power To Love 1990, UK, Master tape (Single) Sony Tape Master, for CD-single release |
|
| #10 | 125 € | |
 | New Dark Ages 1991, Germany, Master tape (Single) Sony Tape Master, for CD-single release |
|
| #11 | 75 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, USA, Cassette (Album) In-house promo cassette |
|
| #12 | 75 € | |
 | Power To Love 1990, Germany, Vinyl (12″, Single) Test pressing |
|
| #13 | 50 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, Germany, Cassette (Sampler) Promotion cassette with “Cowboys And Indians”, Heaven For Everyone”, Shove It” |
|
| #14 | 40 € | |
 | Cowboys And Indians 1987, UK, Vinyl (12″, Single) Test pressing |
|
| #15 | 25 € | |
 | Shove It 1988, UK, Vinyl (12″, Single) Test pressing |
|
This second list concludes the top rarities and collectables for The Cross. 115 items broken down into two categories, added through collaboration by a number of fans and collectors. It is expected that there are still some gems hidden in someone’s collection or information has gone lost over the years. But anything that may pop up this year, may be a candidate for next year’s list in case we decide to revise this topic.
For an overview of all available lists, please refer to the main article.
These Top 100 lists were created with the valuable input from the following people: Remy Hunter, Román Varady, Jeroen Kooistra, Michael Ehrt, Roland Osbeck, Brian McWhinnie, Ron Formela
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