A CD copy of Richard Clapton’s ‘Mainstreet Jive’ album has sold on eBay for $1691.
Clapton albums have been long out of print and are popular resale items on eBay. Richard says it is bizarre how much people pay for his old albums but he is not surprised because it’s the only way fans can get them.
“My fans trawl the Internet for all kinds of albums like this so I’m aware that there have been a number CDs of mine being sold on eBay (for a great deal of money ) and elsewhere for some time now,” Richard tells Noise11.com.
Despite having one of the most successful careers in Australian music and producing 14 of the finest Oz rock albums ever Richard’s current catalogue has been reduced to his personal indie releases and compilations. “I personally get about 20 requests a week for my albums – there are so many people who simply don’t want to buy through iTunes etc. Fans do not understand why a record company actually owns these copyrights so I have no say on whether or not they are deleted,” he says.
Even is classic albums ‘Girls On The Avenue’ (1975), ‘Goodbye Tiger’ (1977) and ‘The Great Escape’ (1987) are no longer available even though songs from those albums are played daily on classic rock radio in Australia.
“Very interesting ain’t it?,” he says.
Other Clapton albums on eBay are ‘The Great Escape’ fetching $159.99, ‘The Definitive Anthology’ $99.96, ‘Goodbye Tiger’ $89.95 and ‘Angeltown’ $88.99.
‘Mainstreet Jive’, released in 1976, was Clapton’s third album. The album was recorded at Festival Records studios in Sydney with Richard Batchens.
Richard Clapton dates
Saturday 2 September, Twin Towns, Gold Coast
Saturday 9 September, State Theatre, Sydney
Saturday 16 September, The Forum, Melbourne
Friday 20 October, The Gov, Adelaide
Friday 17 November, The Tivoli, Queensland
