The Joy Formidable burst onto the scene in 2008 with the Austere single, to this day one of their best songs. The original single was on black vinyl and limited to 500 copies (a common theme with the Joy Formidable's singles). Collecting this single is a liitle odd. It goes through alternating waves of being available and impossible to find. I think the value has actually been artificially held down by a couple of stretches in which sellers have "found several copies in the warehouse" or something like that. This has essentially held the value stable around the $30 range. I would have expected this single to be one of the biggest collector's pieces for this band, but some of the limited CDs have actually ended up filling that role.
Atlantic Records released its own Austere single in 2011 with different artwork. This one also contained a b-side, the "Oh Matt Thomas Bamalam Remix" of the title track. This record, also on black vinyl, is readily available.
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMAK007 7" Black | 25-30 | 1 | Stable |
| AT0358 7" Black | 5-8 | 1 | Stable |
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| Sleeve | 1st - Thick-stock, full, glossy 2nd - Thick-stock, full, matte |
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This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.
Whirring b/w Chwyrlio 7"
Friends Vs Records FVSR009, released 2009
Atlantic 7-527452, released 2011
"Whirring" was the breakthrough single for the Joy Formidable. I fully admit to not being the first on the scene with this band, but as soon as I heard this song, I was hooked. The Joy Formidable summons the guitar-driven rock of their '90s forefathers, and "Whirring" is one of the shining examples of that sound. Great song. The original 7" is pretty rare, but the value is a bit volatile (though never really clearing the $30 mark). At one point, I read that it was limited to 500 copies, but can't seem to find anything that commits to that number anymore. It would make sense, as that is the standard pressing these days for unproven bands. All were on black vinyl. The b-side is a really cool version of "Whirring" in Welsh.
In 2011, Atlantic re-released this single, also on black vinyl, but with different artwork. It was released for Record Store Day. This one was limited to 2,000 copies. It is not hard to track down.
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| FVSR009 7" Black | 15-25 | 1 | Volatile |
| 7-527452 7" Black | 5 | 1 | Stable |
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| Sleeve | 1st and 2nd - Thick-stock, full, glossy |
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This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.
Cradle b/w The Last Drop 2x7"
Try Harder WORK015, released 2009
The first three singles that the Joy Formidable released are all spectacular, and all make for powerful live performances. "Cradle" was the third of those singles. This single has been their most valuable piece of vinyl so far. It is a double disc set, all on black vinyl. It comes in in a gatefold sleeve, hand-numbered out of 500. The first disc features "Cradle" and the "KYTE remix" of that track on side b. Disc 2 contains "The Last Drop" and "The Last Drop (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs-Iguanadon mix)." It is a fairly tough find, but does come up for sale from time to time. I have seen it sell for as little as $20 and as much as $60. I would call anywhere from $35-50 a normal price range.
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| WORK015 2x7" Black | 35-50 | 1 | Volatile |
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| Sleeve | Thick-stock gatefold |
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This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.
Popinjay b/w Popinjay (Bill Oddie Remix) 7"
Draca TJF020, released 2010
"Popinjay" has made several appearances over the Joy Formidable's early years, but the studio version only showed up on this single and on the Big Roar box set. This one was on red vinyl. I have heard the 500 copies figure for this single, much like those that preceded it, but that is unconfirmed. The value of this one was rising for a while, but settled in the $15 range.
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| TJF020 7" Red | 15-20 | 1 | Stable |
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| Sleeve | Thick-stock, full, glossy |
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This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.
I Don't Want to See You Like This b/w Whirring (Instrumental Harp Version) 7"
Atlantic/Canvasback AT0355, released 2010
"I Don't Want to See You Like This" was the first single from the Big Roar album. This one was released as a nice picture disc. There was also a digital release of the single, but it came with different tracks - instead of the "Whirring" remix, it had "I Don't Want To See You Like This (Grouplove Remix)" and "Popinjay (Live)." It is an easy find (for now).
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT0355 7" Picture Disc | 5 | 1 | Stable |
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| Sleeve | Plain plastic sleeve with label affixed |
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This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.
Roarities CD EP
Canvasback/Atlantic 528307-2, released 2011
Contains: Austere (The Naked and Famous Remix), Whirring (Innerpartysystem Remix), A Heavy Abacus (Live at Koko), Llaw = Wall (Live at Koko), The Greatest Light Is the Greatest Shade (Live at Koko)
This is an interesting EP. The live tracks are what you would expect. The "Whirring" remix isn't bad. I absolutely love the "Austere" remix, though. Remixes are generally not my thing, but that one makes me happy. When this disc first came out, it was available in limited quantities, both on its own and bundled with the Big Roar CD. The price spiked a little at that point when it became tougher to find, came back down when it became available digitally, and has since gone up again.
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| 528307-2 CD | 20-25 | 1 | Volatile |
This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.
The Big More CD EP
Atlantic AT0361, released 2011
Contains: Cradle, Cradle (Fang Island Remix), Anemone, Whirring (Live at Koko), It's Over
The Big More EP was a CD that was a sort of expanded single for "Cradle." There is some great, exclusive material on here, including a studio version of "Anemone," which the band had previously featured in many of its earlier live shows, and a cover of Roy Orbison's "It's Over." This one can be fairly tough to find.
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| 528307-2 CD | 20-30 | 1 | Stable |
This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.
Bootleg Vol. 1 CD EP
Self-released in 2011
Contains: Magnifying Glass, Anemone, Popinjay, Austere
This is a live disc released by the band, sold only at a few of their shows in 2011. The value here is entirely conjecture, as I have not seen one sold in some time.
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-released CD | 40-50? | 1 | Unknown |
This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.
Cholla CD EP
Atlantic AT0362
Contains: Cholla, Tempo (Strong-Weak-Weak), Cholla (Acoustic Version), Wolf's Law
During the lead-up to the release of the Wolf's Law album, the Joy Formidable released this CD EP. Two of the tracks on here are exclusive to this disc - the acoustic version of the title track and "Tempo (Strong-Weak-Weak)." It is fairly easy to obtain.
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT0362 CD | 5 | 1 | Stable |
This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.
A Minute's Silence b/w Badlands 12"
Atlantic, released 2013
Record Store Day strikes again! This 12" was released as a Record Store Day exclusive in 2013 and limited to 1850 copies. The b-side is a Springsteen cover.
| Version | Value ($) | Scarcity | Price Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12" | 15 | 1 | Stable |
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This page was last updated on January 9, 2019.