Christmas Gifts for Vinyl Lovers: A Record Shop's Gift Guide
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The safest vinyl gift is a well-loved album they don't already own. If you're not sure what's on their shelf, a gift card or a pack of record sleeves never misses. Below are the records and extras we'd wrap up ourselves this Christmas, all in stock at the time of writing.
Quick picks
| If they… | Get them |
|---|---|
| Love the classics | Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon |
| Just want the hits | Fleetwood Mac – Greatest Hits |
| Grew up in the 90s | Pearl Jam – Ten |
| Want Christmas music on the turntable | Michael Bublé – Christmas (Red Vinyl) |
| Already own everything | Premium Outer Sleeves ($19) or a gift card |
Before you buy: a few quick checks
- Check their shelf. The most common gift mistake is a record they already have. A quick look, or a word with their partner, saves a return.
- Think about what they play most. A new album by an artist they already love is a safer bet than a genre they've never mentioned.
- New to vinyl? If they've just got a turntable, start with one or two classics and our beginner setup guide.
Safe-bet classics
These are albums most collectors want on vinyl sooner or later. Most single LPs in this guide are under $50.
- Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (50th Anniversary, 180g). Our best seller. If you want the backstory, read our Dark Side of the Moon pressings guide.
- Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (180g)
- Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
- Michael Jackson – Thriller (Gatefold)
- Jeff Buckley – Grace
- Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
Greatest hits: the easiest gift for parents
A greatest hits record is hard to get wrong. Every track is one they know, and it's the record that gets played at Christmas lunch.
- Fleetwood Mac – Greatest Hits
- Sade – The Best of Sade (180g 2LP)
- Simon & Garfunkel – Greatest Hits
- David Bowie – ChangesOneBowie (180g)
- Creedence Clearwater Revival – Chronicle (2LP)
- Madonna – The Immaculate Collection (2LP)
For the rock and metal fan
- Pearl Jam – Ten
- Metallica – Metallica (2LP)
- Metallica – Master of Puppets (180g)
- Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
- System Of A Down – Toxicity
For the pop and soul fan
- Taylor Swift – Evermore (Green Vinyl 2LP)
- Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (2LP)
- Kate Bush – The Kick Inside (180g)
- AIR – Moon Safari, an easy one for Christmas Day background music.
Australian records
For a gift with a local connection, start with our list of the best Australian albums on vinyl, or browse the whole Australian music collection. Two in stock right now:
Christmas albums on vinyl
A Christmas record is a gift they'll pull out every December. Browse all of them in our Christmas vinyl collection.
- Michael Bublé – Christmas (Red Vinyl)
- Kylie Minogue – Kylie Christmas
- Bob Dylan – Christmas in the Heart
- Joss Stone – Merry Christmas, Love ($24)
Stocking fillers under $25
Every collector runs out of sleeves. They're cheap, useful and easy to post.
- Heathen Records Premium Outer Sleeves, 75 micron PE, 50-pack ($19). Keeps covers free of scuffs and ring wear.
- 3-Ply Anti-Static Inner Sleeves, 50-pack ($24). Replaces the paper sleeves that scratch records.
- Metallica – Master of Puppets T-Shirt ($24). Check sizes before ordering.
- A $25 gift card.
Not sure which sleeves to choose? Our record sleeves guide explains the difference.
Band T-shirts
Pair a shirt with the album it comes from. A few in stock now: the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Tour 1972 T-Shirt ($34) and the Metallica Hardwired T-Shirt ($24). Check sizes before ordering.
Gift cards: when you're not sure
A Heathen Records digital gift card lets them choose. Cards come in amounts from $25 to $1,000 and have no expiry date. You can email it straight to them with a message, schedule it for Christmas Day, or have it sent to you to give yourself. It's digital, so there's no postage and no cut-off date.
Getting it there for Christmas
- Shipping: Parcel Post is $12, Express Post is $18, and Parcel Post is free on orders of $200 or more. Everything ships with Australia Post.
- Order early: stock sells out quickly before Christmas, and many titles can't be restocked in time. If something you want is out of stock, tap "Notify me" and we'll email you when it's back.
- Returns: change-of-mind returns are accepted within 28 days if the record is unopened. Faulty items are covered under Australian Consumer Law. See our refund policy.
- Heathen Points: you earn points on every purchase, which work out to about 5% off a future order.
FAQ
What's a good vinyl gift for someone who already has a record player?
A classic album they don't own yet, a greatest hits record, or a pack of sleeves. If you can't check their collection, a gift card is the safe choice.
Do vinyl records make good Christmas gifts?
Yes. A record is something they can hold, play and keep, and there's an album for almost every taste and budget.
What if they already have the record I bought?
Unopened records can be returned within 28 days under our change-of-mind policy. Keep the shrink-wrap on until you're sure.
What's a good cheap gift for a record collector?
Record sleeves from $19, a band T-shirt from $24, or a $25 gift card. You can also browse our records under $40.
Are there Christmas albums on vinyl?
Plenty. Michael Bublé, Kylie Minogue and Bob Dylan all have Christmas records in our Christmas vinyl collection.