1 week Ago By [email protected] (Rebecca McCulloch)
The vinyl revival is well and truly underway. But could CDs also be in line for a comeback? More and more people are returning to physical media. And luckily, this means the discs gathering dust on your shelf or in your car could now actually be worth something.
From David Bowie to Michael Jackson and even Paris Hilton, collectors are willing to pay hundreds, or even thousands, to get their hands on rare CDs. Most were released in small numbers or exclusively in other countries, whilst some were later recalled for various reasons. Find out below which CDs could fetch you a note-perfect sum.
READ MORE: The Boss, aka Bruce Springsteen, released The Future of Rock and Roll as a promo-only compilation in Japan in 1988. The 16-track double disc is now incredibly hard to find and has been known to fetch around £1.1k, and this eBay user is selling their copy for £907.
It's the same story with Prince's My Name Was Prince. He issued only 50 copies of a Japan-only collection in 1993 to promote 12-track album The Hits/The B Side. Nearly impossible to stumble upon, collectors are willing to pay up to £5k for a copy.
Banksy altered the Paris sleeve to read Why am I famous? and What have I done? (Image: Getty Images) Paris Hilton's short-lived singing career may have ended back in the noughties but her debut Paris is now highly sought after. This is thanks to London's favourite graffiti artist Banksy who, in 2006, placed around 500 fake copies of the album in 48 UK shops. He replaced the original leaflet with his own artwork and switched the disc for one with Danger Mouse remixes.
These rare CDs can sell for around £750 to a staggering £8k! First released in 1984, Now That's What I Call Music 4 was the first Now album on CD but only 500 copies were pressed. Sadly, the 15-track collection did get re-released in 2019 so it's not ultra rare but original discs can still sell for £200-£400. Only 150 copies of Coldplay's 1998 EP The Safety were available for purchase, with the other 350 made supposedly given to family, friends, and label executives.
It's now one of the most valuable CDs from Chris Martin's band and lucky music fans in possession of one can reportedly snag around £1.5k. Bruce Springsteen may have over 21 albums but surprisingly only one is worth selling (Image: Getty Images - Gus Stewart) Nirvana put out a single called Pennyroyal Tea in April 1994 as an alternative version of the song of the same name on 1993 album In Utero.
It was later recalled following Kurt Cobain's death the same month. A few copies are still out there and now sell for around £1.5k-£2k.
Michael Jackson memorabilia has always sold well, particularly in the wake of his unexpected death in 2009. But no disc is more coveted than the single Smile due to its mysterious disappearance. The Austria-only CD was issued in 1997.
It was later cancelled and never pressed again so the rare few that still exist are now worth around £1k-£1.5k. Last but by no means least is David Bowie's Sound + Vision.
One of just 350 copies of the 1989 compilation made reportedly sold on eBay for just over £4k in 2013. Apparently, it came with 49 tracks, a video disc, 72-page booklet and a basswood and birch box. Further copies released in 1990 are being sold for £70-£350.
So, there you have it, time to get looking. Good luck! Full list of CDs that collectors search 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).
