CDs and vinyl records, once left behind in the era of MP3 players and smartphones, are making a strong comeback as nostalgia rekindles interest in physical media. This resurgence means those old discs collecting dust on your shelf or in your car might now be worth a significant amount.
Collectors are willing to pay hundreds, even thousands, for rare CDs from artists ranging from David Bowie to Michael Jackson. Many of these prized CDs were released in limited numbers, made exclusively for overseas markets, or were even recalled.
One sought-after example is Bruce Springsteen’s The Future of Rock and Roll, a Japan-only promo compilation from 1988. This rare, 16-track double disc is now almost impossible to find and has reportedly sold for around £1,100.
Similarly, Prince’s My Name Was Prince, issued in Japan in 1993 with only 50 copies, was released to promote The Hits/The B-Side. This album is exceptionally rare, with collectors willing to pay up to £5,000 for a copy.
Michael Jackson memorabilia has consistently attracted high prices, especially after his sudden passing in 2009. But no disc is more coveted than the single Smile. Released only in Austria in 1997, this CD was quickly cancelled and never re-pressed. With so few copies in existence, it now commands between £1,000 and £1,500 on the collector’s market.
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)
