It is Amazing how some prices are now. When I sold my UK copy of Glen Miller for £400 about 5 years ago I thought I'd got a good price.
What we must remember is "our little soul world" has expanded so much in the last 10 years or so. Far quicker than when we were young, in terms of number of collectors, record buyers, events etc and the need for old original records has increased beyond anybodies projections.
One over riding factor is the number of old Soul records, whether a 100 run or a 10,000 run cannot be increased (unless reissued or booted), and by that fact alone the desirability of a particular 45/LP wanted by more people increases in price by whatever.
Desire is one thing, willing to pay more than the next person is another. Put 2 people together with both those factors and a desirable 45 then hey presto.
The prices they are fetching does my collection no harm at all and even if I sell at below todays prices I will be well in profit, if that was my motivation.
It is only a downer if you want something and you are watching it soar.
If everybody collected records under £20, it wouldn't be long before most records would be £21 and above and your in the same boat again.
Rejoice in the fact that there's avid collectors or investors willing to buy that "old ship ballast" stuff off you.
Dave H.