5 most collectable LPs of the ‘Madonna of the East’ Anita Mui
The Canto-pop diva’s death at 40 shocked fans in Hong Kong and across Asia, but she left behind a trove of albums, many of which are sought-after by collectors
While we are reminiscing about Anita Mui, who would have celebrated her 55th birthday on October 10, and in the midst of the revival of vinyl records, we have selected the most collectible, original-release LPs of the Canto-pop diva who began her singing career at the age of four.
1. ‘The White Bride’ (1983)
Following the success of Mui’s first Japanese single (Before The French Kiss), EMI released her second Japanese single in a 7-inch format (The White Bride) the same year. However, it has been reported that the company soon recalled the single due to Mui’s “inaccurate” Japanese.
Even though EMI reissued the single last year as a limited edition, the price, and the value, of the original 1983 edition are still surging.
2. ‘Drunk in Dreams Together’ (1988)
Mui’s ninth album in Cantonese released in 1988, “Drunk in Dreams Together”, is a melancholy, nostalgic album with 1930s Shanghai as its theme. The main title song, Drunk in Dreams Together, is a rearranged version of David Byrne’s The Last Emperor, whereas the more popular song on the album, Stand By Me, is rearranged from Maurice White’s version.
The record company Capital Artists created two versions, coloured and black-and-white, for the album and the latter is highly sought-after because it is rare.
3. ‘Anita Mui in Concert 87-88’ (1988)