Trackhunter's Most Sought After Drum and Bass Records

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

by Tat

Last year we compiled lists of some of the most sought after records from the techno, house and hardcore rave scenes. This time we thought we would look at drum and bass which alongside lovers rock, UK garage and grime is one of the most important and defining genres ever to come from this island. Jungle was the prototype and catalyst for drum and bass which in itself soon split and diversified into various sub genres. At a time when rave and hardcore tracks were getting faster and faster, drum and bass showed that music did not have to be hard as well as greatly up tempo. Whether the early protagonists expected the scene to still be around over 30 years on is anyone’s guess, no doubt they were living in the moment and not looking too far forward. Yet the appeal of the music remains incredibly strong and has continued to flourish in the underground whilst seeing continued commercial success with the likes of Chase & Status.

With any kind of list like this they are never totally definitive and can be open to question. Genres themselves can be questionable as some see them as a wrapper for journalists to use to encourage hype and attention. I would argue that they are useful to help listeners navigate the myriad of releases coming out every day. Genres are not definitive as much electronic and dance music is hybrid as influences cross pollinate with each other. They do offer useful markers for those trying to find music of a certain type, especially when there is so much to sift through.

As with the previous articles, we explored Discogs marketplace to discover the highest valued records and whether they were selling for the asking price. A criticism of Discogs is that it has a tendency (as with other marketplaces) to inflate prices. Nevertheless the records in our list have all sold on multiple occasions for three figures. That alone highlights where drum and bass has gone from its underground urban beginnings. That, unlike some early detractors, was keen to shout out that this music was not a flash in the pan and has gone on to become a cornerstone of not only British dance music but the much wider music arena, and worth every penny.

Various - Reinforced 25th Anniversary Box Set ( 2015) Reinforced Records

Kicking our list off with a massive box set which ditched the scene’s traditional 12 inch format for five clear vinyl 7 inches and a quartet of tapes. In addition the box set came two 7 inch slipmats, which is cool but perhaps a bit overkill, unless you have a couple of the very rare Technics SL-700 7 inch turntables. The box set rarely goes for less than £100 and a couple of recent sale tipped the 300 mark

https://www.discogs.com/release/7820480-Various-Reinforced-25th-Anniversary-Box-Set

System X - Feel It (1994) Entity Records

System X is Rupert Parkes AKA Photek and one of his early atmospheric drum and bass workouts. Using the Amen break alongside samples by soul divas Lyn Collins and Loleatta Holloway, it still stands up incredibly well as a dancefloor masterpiece. Over 3300 Discogs users want this and they will need to find nearly £150 for a proper copy on purple vinyl, or a just over £100 for the less attractive brown version.

https://www.discogs.com/release/414141-System-X-Feel-It

Various - Formation Records Collectors Boxed Set (1990 - 1997 Hardcore Drum & Bass Anthems) (1997) Formation Records

As box sets go this one is pretty comprehensive with nine (yes nine) records encapsulating one of the most important labels in British underground music in the 1990s. With 27 tracks in total featuring everyone from the main man DJ-SS to Formation stalwarts Mental Power, Tango and EQ. It’s rare to see a full box set sold on the site but those that do go are usually between £80-150. Looking at the current marketplace you will need more than that if you want to get your hands on this.

https://www.discogs.com/release/82295-Various-Formation-Records-Collectors-Boxed-Set-1990-1997-Hardcore-Drum-Bass-Anthems

System Ex - Say It (1994) Entity Records

System Ex before it dropped the excess ‘e’ to become System X as Rupert Parkes delivers a second record in our top 10. A record that has changed hands a couple of dozen times in the past three years and usually more than £100. Four tracks of Parkes' more dancefloor focused output, you will need much more cash than recent prices as the Discogs Marketplace effect adds a bit of inflation to current copies for sale.

https://www.discogs.com/release/161348-System-Ex-Say-It-Mindgames

Voyager - Future Retro (1997) R & S Records

Outside of the UK, Belgium’s R & S Records have championed the drum and bass sound longer than most. Good examples were Alex Reece remixing Model 500 and The Original Playboy ‘Playboys’ release in 1995. Produced by Pete Parsons who largely first appeared alongside DJ Rap on their album Intelligence on Rap’s Proper Talent label. The album still sounds fresh 30 years on and good vinyl copies are hard to come by, usually selling between £50 and £150.

https://www.discogs.com/release/135531-Voyager-Future-Retro

The Chameleon - Links - (1995) - Good Looking Records

The Chameleon was a one off project from the very talented Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton, AKA Global Communication, Jedi Knights and Reload. Very much reflecting GLC’s wider portfolio this is a double header of sheer class, wonderfully uplifting and light with both tracks tipping close to 10 minutes of epic aural adventure. There are various releases of this record with various promos and the official release on the market for under £100 and it is only a matter of time before they get snapped up by the army of 3000 Discogs users who want a copy.

https://www.discogs.com/release/9402-The-Chameleon-Links

Fast Floor - On A Quest For Intelligence (2018) - Smooth Recordings

Another compilation in our list from the very talented Ron Wells at Smooth Recordings, who we interviewed last year. Spread across four transparent records it first appeared as a triple white label in 1994. If you can’t afford the three figure prices on Discogs, thankfully you can now download a digital copy directly from Ron Wells Bandcamp page for a fifth of the price.

https://www.discogs.com/release/11520023-Fast-Floor-On-A-Quest-For-Intelligence

Studio Pressure - Jump - (1993) - Certificate 18

Rupert Parkes completes a trio of releases in our top 10 with Studio Pressure alias via Paul Arnold’s discerning Certificate 18 imprint. Three tracks that switch from the more atmospheric sounds of Jump to a full on rave workout with Don’t Worry. Nearly a thousand people desire a copy of this on Discogs and if they are lucky they will pick up a VG copy for less than £100, but for VG+ they’ll need to dig deeper into their savings to break the £100 barrier.

https://www.discogs.com/release/42022-Studio-Pressure-Jump

DJ Hazard - Bricks Don’t Roll (2015) Playaz Recordings

One of just two 12 inches from this century to make it onto the list and it is one that has become quite desirable in a very short time. Copies have changed owners multiple times for well over £100 and on three occasions over £200. The hardest and roughest of the releases to make it onto the list and one that seems to have stirred debate in the release comments as to whether it merits the prices. Nevertheless there are over 500 people who want a copy, whether they are willing to pay over £200 is quite another thing.

https://www.discogs.com/release/6944318-DJ-Hazard-Bricks-Dont-Roll-Mk-Q

Jack Ruby - Global Torrents (1995) Knowledge Records

Knowledge Records' short run of five releases lasted two years between 1994-95 and turned out one of the most wanted drum and bass records. Jack Ruby is the alias of the highly prolific DJ Zinc AKA Dope Skillz and a collection of other aliases. It is another timeless piece which highlights the scenes’s longevity and that 30 years on this would still sound incredibly good on a big soundsystem. It is only in the last few years where the value of this record has grown somewhat from circa 2018 when you could have easily picked up a copy for sub £50.

https://www.discogs.com/release/394475-Jack-Ruby-Global-Torrents-Another-World