The Most Valuable CDs of All Time

2024-11-30

Bob Dylan. The most valuable CDs of all time are worth a lot, and if you have any of these hanging around in your attic or basement, you could be golden.

The most valuable CDs of all time are worth a lot, and if you have any of these hanging around in your attic or basement, you could be golden. – Author: Charles Ken, Bob Dylan photo via Barry Feinstein

Sure, vinyl records are often talked about as being very valuable when there are limited edition or very rare vinyl records up for auction. But, it’s not just about the wax. The most valuable CDs of all time are also worth a lot, and if you have any of these hanging around in your attic or basement, you could be golden. It’s really surprising how much some of these CDs are worth, according to experts, and it’s because they’re rare and capture a moment in time. They’re rarely the most popular albums, too, because those are so readily available.

So, sit back and take a look at some of the most valuable CDs of all time to see if you have any of these. Knowing these valuable CDs can come in handy when going to garage sales, too, because you never know what kind of treasure you’re going to find.

A Handful of CDs That Are Valuable

AC/DC

Australian rockers AC/DC have a CD set that sold for a mighty $15,960.59, according to Value Your Music. That CD is their AC/DC box set prototype from Albert Productions.

Bob Dylan

If you’re a Bob Dylan fan, perhaps you have a range of his music, including his 50th anniversary collection. If so, then note that the CD collection could snag you a cool $2,500. According to the experts at Savvy Dime, this collection is so valuable in part because only 100 copies of it were made and released. So, a handful of Bob Dylan fans have this one, and it’s worth a good amount.

Madonna

Madonna had a lot of great music out on CDs in the 1980s and 1990s, because that was really the time when CDs reigned supreme. According to Discogs, her “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore (Remix)” is worth about $1955.06. Don’t forget that six cents, right?

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s “Smile” single is worth a lot of dough. There are hardly any copies of the single on CD, because the release was actually nixed at the last minute, so many copies were thrown out. According to the experts at Discogs, this CD is worth about $2,899.

Paris Hilton

Here’s a name that’s unexpected to see on this tally. Pop culture icon Paris Hilton releases music at times, and her “Paris” CD is worth up to $1,000, per the experts at Savvy Dime. This CD was released in 2006 and features special artwork by Banksy.

Valerie Carter

Who would have thought Valerie Carter music would be so valuable? The American singer-songwriter’s Japanese release “Mightnight Over Honey River” has gotten more than $2,900 as a mint copy, according to Discogs. The median price, however, is $84.

Find more surprisingly valuable CDs that could be in your collection via this Audio Ink Radio feature.

Also, if you’re curious, according to the History of Information, the CD was officially launched around 1976, when Phillips and Sony created the compact disc, defined as “an optical disc used to store and playback digital data.” They add that the CD “was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively.” Even though the CD launched around that time, per Disc Wizards, the CD really dates back to 1957 “with experiments involving the rudimentary video disc by the Italian Antonio Rubbiani.” So, there’s a rich and lengthy history attached to the CD.

Charles Ken
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Posted by Charles Ken | Music, Rock, Rock News