May 2, 2009 13:07

Motown vinyl sells for record breaking £25,000

Frank Wilson's 'Do I Love You' 7-inch is one of only two surviving copies in the world

A rare Motown 7-inch vinyl single has been sold at auction for £25,742, becoming the world's most expensive record.

The 7-inch of Frank Wilson's 'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)' is one of only two surviving copies in the world, after Motown boss Berry Gordy had the record destroyed due to Wilson quitting performing music to move into songwriting and production.

Despite Gordy ordering the destruction of the record, a couple of copies managed to survive – including the one sold at auction.

Seller Kenny Burrell, from Fife, bought his version of the disc from a Canadian record dealer for £15,000 in 1997. The record had previously been obtained from a record processing plant in Detroit, the home of Motown.

Another copy of the record had made its way to England in the '70s, quickly becoming a classic on the Northern Soul circuit, record dealer John Manship told BBC.

"It was considered at the time as one of the greatest discoveries ever," he explained.

The buyer of Burrell's copy of the record wishes to remain anonymous.