CDs and vinyl records, once thought to be relics of a bygone era due to the advent of MP3s and global streaming services, are making a comeback. Nostalgia is now a lucrative business, with people returning to physical media in large numbers. This means those old discs gathering dust on your shelf or in your car could now fetch a pretty penny.
Collectors are prepared to pay hundreds, even thousands, for rare CDs from artists ranging from David Bowie to Michael Jackson. These sought-after CDs were often released in limited quantities or exclusively overseas, while others were recalled for various reasons.
For instance, Bruce Springsteen’s The Future of Rock and Roll, a promo-only compilation released in Japan in 1988, is now extremely rare and can command around £1,100. One eBay user is currently listing their copy for £907, reports OK!.
Prince’s My Name Was Prince follows a similar story, according to MyLondon.
Only 50 copies of this Japan-exclusive collection were produced in 1993 to promote the 12-track album The Hits/The B Side. Its rarity makes it almost impossible to find, with collectors willing to shell out up to £5,000 for a copy.
Paris Hilton’s brief foray into the music industry may have ended years ago, but her debut album Paris is now highly sought after. This is all thanks to renowned London graffiti artist Banksy who, in 2006, surreptitiously distributed around 500 counterfeit copies of the album in 48 UK shops.
He replaced the original booklet with his own artwork and swapped the disc for one featuring Danger Mouse remixes. These rare CDs can command prices ranging from £750 to a staggering £8,000.
The first Now That’s What I Call Music 4 album was launched in 1984 and was the inaugural Now album on CD, but only 500 copies were produced.
Regrettably, the 15-track compilation was reissued in 2019 so it’s not extremely rare, but original discs can still fetch between £200-£400. Only 150 copies of Coldplay’s 1998 EP The Safety were available for sale, with the remaining 350 supposedly distributed to family, friends, and label executives.
It’s now one of the most valuable CDs from Chris Martin’s band and fortunate music enthusiasts who possess one can reportedly sell it for around £1.5k.
Nirvana released a single titled Pennyroyal Tea in April 1994 as an alternative version of the song of the same name on their 1993 album In Utero. It was later withdrawn following Kurt Cobain’s death the same month.
A few copies are still in circulation and now sell for around £1.5k-£2k. Michael Jackson memorabilia has always been highly sought after, particularly after his unexpected death in 2009. However, the most coveted disc is the single ‘Smile’ due to its mysterious disappearance.
This CD, released exclusively in Austria in 1997, was later discontinued and never reissued, making the few remaining copies worth around £1k-£1.5k. David Bowie’s ‘Sound + Vision’ should also not be overlooked. A 1989 compilation, one of only 350 ever produced, reportedly fetched over £4k on eBay in 2013. This collector’s item boasted 49 tracks, a video disc, a 72-page booklet, and was housed in a basswood and birch box. Subsequent editions released in 1990 are currently trading between £70-£350. So, it seems it’s time to start rummaging.
Here is the complete list of CDs that collectors are on the hunt for:
- The Future of Rock and Roll (Bruce Springsteen)
- My Name Was Prince- Japan-only compilation (Prince)
- Paris- 2006 Banksy/Danger Mouse edition (Paris Hilton)
- Now That’s What I Call Music 4
- The Safety EP (Coldplay)
- Pennyroyal Tea (Nirvana)
- Smile (Michael Jackson)
- Sound + Vision (David Bowie)