16 Old CDs That Are Now Surprisingly Worth a Fortune

November 26, 2024 History, Interesting

Those dusty CDs you once jammed to and later ditched in a spring-cleaning frenzy? Turns out, some of them are worth more than your car payment now.

1. Smile, Michael Jackson

The single CD “Smile” was only briefly released in Austria. Now, that rarity means it’s worth around $1,500.

2. 50th Anniversary Collection, Bob Dylan

Only 100 copies of Bob Dylan’s “50th Anniversary Collection” were ever made, and copies sell for over $2,500.

3. Teardrops on My Guitar, Taylor Swift

Everybody knows that Swifties are crazy, and they’ll do anything – including spend up to $1,500 – to get their hands on a promotional copy of one of Taylor’s first albums.

4. My Name Was Prince, Prince

Only 50 copies of “My Name Was Prince” were ever distributed in Japan, making it one of the most valuable CDs ever produced. It’s worth what greedy collectors will pay for it, which can $5,000 or more.

5. Slim Shady EP, Eminem

The debut of Eminem’s alter ego Slim Shady was originally distributed before Marshall Mathers hit it big. Therefore, it’s worth a ridiculous $12,000 if you have an original copy.

6. The Future of Rock and Roll, Bruce Springsteen

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“The Future of Rock and Roll” was a promo-only CD released in Japan. If you were lucky enough to grab one there, you could sell it for around $2,300 today.

7. Steel Wheels Japan Tour 1990, The Rolling Stones

Anything Japan is going to sell well, and this recording of The Rolling Stones live tour in Japan will sell for over $2,000.

8. Midnight Over Honey River, Valerie Carter

Valerie Carter might not be as famous as some other people on this list, but this 2003 CD of hers was only released in Japan, making it worth over $3,000.

9. Falling Hearts, Runner

The band Runner only lasted one year, 1978, and in that time they released an album called “Falling Hearts.” If you happen to own the South Korean 1993 re-release of that CD, it’s worth $3,000.

10. Sound + Vision, David Bowie

Only 350 copies of “Sound + Vision” were ever produced, and in addition to the music, the 49 track compilation comes with studio live recordings and a 72-page booklet. The value for all of that in the modern day is over $5,000.

11. Pennyroyal Tea, Nirvana

The single version of Pennyroyal Tea was released shortly before lead singer Kurt Cobain’s death in April of 1994. The CD was quickly recalled, but if you were able to secure a copy in time, it’s worth around $2,000.

12. The Greatest 3, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones and Queen.

Created for Japanese audiences, this 1995 CD box set put together a compilation of the best of each iconic artist. This set has sold for over $5,000.

13. Have A Heart, Celine Dion

“Just Have a Heart” was part of Dion’s 1990 French album Incognito. The English version, “Have a Heart” was part of her album Unison, however, a single version was released in Quebec. That single CD is worth over $1,200.

14. Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd

The Japanese version of this CD, released with a gold outline, are some of the most expensive CDs ever made. Some have gone for almost $3,000.

15. The Safety EP, Coldplay

Coldplay’s first ever public album was limited to 500 copies, making this one worth over $1,000.

16. Prelude to a Dream, Jackie Evancho

Jackie Evancho released this first album when she was nine years old in 2009, and soon after, she was signed by SYCO/Sony/Columbia Records. The album was quickly withdrawn, and even though she now has nine albums to her name, a rare CD of the first is worth almost $2,000.

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