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50 Most Expensive CDs

The most expensive CDs sold on Discogs include out-of-print hip hop albums, rare metal titles, and coveted promo releases.

What’s the most money you’ve forked over for a CD? These lovable silver discs can sell for more than $20 for a new album, but some collectors are dropping a lot more than that on desirable CDs. And by “a lot,” we mean over $1,000.

Below is a ranking of the 50 most expensive CDs ever sold on Discogs.

Box sets have been excluded, so you’ll find a mix of singular releases and various compilations with no more than three discs each. You may notice duplicates of certain CDs; that’s because some of these rarities have consistently sold for high prices.

Featured image by Mick Haupt.

Top 3 Most Expensive CDs

#1

Falling Hearts
Runner
1991
Rock
CD, Album
Shop

Falling Hearts is a heavy metal gem from Korea. Although the album was reissued on CD in 2022, the original Korean CD is a rarity that a serious collector paid $3,000 for.

#2

Midnight Over Honey River
Valerie Carter
2003
Rock, Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country
2 x CD, Album
View Release

Mightnight Over Honey River is a Japanese release from the American singer-songwriter. Although the median price is $84, a mint copy of this CD fetched more than $2,900.

#3

Smile
Michael Jackson
1998
Pop
CD, Maxi-Single
Shop

The release of the single “Smile” was canceled at the very last minute, so most copies were destroyed. Surviving copies are some of the rarest Michael Jackson CDs out there, explaining the $2,899 price tag.

Most Expensive CDs of All Time

ImagePrice    ArtistReleaseLabelGenreFormatYearShop
null$3000Runner Falling HeartsHee Jee RecordsRockCD, Album1991Shop
null$2902.91Valerie CarterMidnight Over Honey RiverDreamsville RecordsBlues, Folk, World, & Country, Funk / Soul, Pop, Rock2xCD, Album2003Shop
null$2898.89Michael JacksonSmileEpicPopCD, Maxi1998Shop
null$2799Pink FloydWish You Were Here = 炎 (あなたがここにいてほしい)CBS/SonyRockCD, Album, Gol1982Shop
null$2521.01Koji Kondoスーパーマリオ ヨッシーアイランド (オリジナル・サウンド・ヴァージョン)NTT PublishingStage & ScreenCD, Album1995Shop
null$2500Heather NovaSouthV2Pop, RockCD, Album2001Shop
null$24931 Gud CideContradictionsScarred For Life Records, P.H.B.M.Hip HopCD, Album1997Shop
null$2313.65CricetFlossinRWI RecordsHip HopCD, Promo1994Shop
null$2309.15Pet Shop Boys5 Songs From Our History – Pop Art The Hits = 5 曲で歷史を見せてやる!ParlophoneElectronic, PopCD, Promo, Smplr2003Shop
null$2099.17EastsideThe BattlefieldPuppy Dog Unlimited RecordsHip HopCD, Album1998Shop
null$2000RareDonkey Kong Country Trilogy (Greatest Hit Soundtracks From Donkey Kong Country 1,2 & 3)NintendoElectronic, Stage & ScreenCD, Album + CD, Album + CD, Album + Comp1996Shop
null$1999DarksideDarksideCoast To Coast EntertainmentHip HopCD, Album1996Shop
null$1955.06MadonnaLove Don’t Live Here Anymore (Remix)Warner Music Taiwan, UFO Group, Maverick, Warner Bros. Records, SirePopCD, Single, Promo1995Shop
null$1950ColdplaySafety E.P.Not On Label (Coldplay Self-released)RockCD, EP1998Shop
null$1949Spice GirlsViva ForeverVirginElectronic, PopCD, Single, Enh, Ltd, Promo1998Shop
null$1900.441 Gud CideLook What The Streets MadeScarred For Life RecordsHip HopCD, Album1995Shop
null$1881.18BurzumBurzumDeathlike Silence ProductionsElectronic, RockCD, Album1992Shop
null$1850.25George HarrisonSongs By George HarrisonGenesis PublicationsPop, RockCD, EP, Mono, Ltd1987Shop
null$1800Uncut ClickTryin To Make A MillionUncut RecordsHip HopCD1997Shop
null$1797Ben Howard Games In The DarkNot On Label (Ben Howard Self-released)Folk, World, & CountryCD, EP, Promo2008Shop
null$1700Morbid AngelDominationEaracheRockCD, Album, Ltd, Sli1995Shop
null$1699.99Geisha GonerCatching BroadnessCarnage Records RockCD, Album1993Shop
null$1666.67Young GangstasPre-Meditated GangstarismTeflon Don RecordsHip HopCD, Album1995Shop
null$1653.31GangrenaInfected IdeologiesMTMRockCD, Album1994Shop
null$1600Black MenaceReally DoeBig Boy Records Hip HopCD, Album1993Shop
null$1580.19Céline DionHave A HeartColumbiaPopCD, Single, Promo1990Shop
null$1529.41Céline DionThe Last To KnowColumbiaPop, RockCD, Single, Promo1991Shop
null$1528.24O.G. Cat Presents Bigg RiggazMobfiguresBigg Rigga RecordsHip HopCD, Album1999Shop
null$1522.95Impact Take The PainAvanzada MetalicaRockCD, Album1991Shop
null$1500Michael JacksonSmileEpicPopCD, Single1998Shop
null$1500Michael JacksonGive In To MeEpicRockCD, Single, Promo1993Shop
null$1500William S. BurroughsElectronic RevolutionCrash MagazineNon-MusicCD, Ltd1998Shop
null$1499.98NirvanaPenny Royal Tea (Scott Litt Mix)Geffen RecordsRockCD, Promo1994Shop
null$1428.57Depeche ModeWorld ViolationAlfa, MuteElectronicCD, Mini, Promo1990Shop
null$1428.57Kylie MinogueLive And Other SidesMushroomPopCD, EP1998Shop
null$1326.84U2ZooropaIsland RecordsRockCD, Single, Promo1993Shop
null$1323.53Mylène FarmerSans ContrefaçonPolydorElectronic, PopCD, Single, Gol1987Shop
null$1300Mariah Carey Feat. Jadakiss And Styles PWe Belong Together (Remix)Island RecordsHip HopCD, Single, Promo2005Shop
null$1299.99Kylie MinogueLive And Other SidesMushroomPopCD, EP, Promo1998Shop
null$1250Ernest AnsermetThe Royal Ballet – Gala PerformancesClassic Compact Discs, RCA VictorClassical2xCD, 24K Shop
null$1250Michael JacksonThe MedleysEpicPopCD, Promo1992Shop
null$1250EminemSlim Shady EPWeb EntertainmentHip HopCD, EP1997Shop
null$1250Jean-Michel JarreInterior MusicBang & OlufsenElectronicCD, Ltd, Promo, Dig2001Shop
null$1235.28Céline DionUnisonEpicPop, RockCD, Album, Lon1990Shop
null$1224.49Mariah CareyOne Sweet Day / Open ArmsSony RecordsFunk / Soul, Pop2xCD, Single, Promo1995Shop
null$1218.29Kidd WikkidKidd WikkidNot On Label (Kidd Wikkid Self-released)RockCD, Album1992Shop
null$1208.79MazaratiMazaratiPaisley ParkElectronic, Funk / SoulCD, Album, RE1990Shop
null$1200The PillowsTiny BoatKing RecordsRockCD, Mini, Single1996Shop
null$1200Pet Shop BoysMega MixEMIElectronicCD, Promo1991Shop
null$1199U2Mysterious WaysIsland RecordsElectronicCD, Single, Promo1991Shop

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About the Most Expensive CDs on Discogs

A list of the most expensive releases ever sold features items that were purchased and paid for on Discogs. Although most people come to Discogs to buy new records from independent sellers around the world, some collectors are on the hunt for rarities that sell for high prices due to their scarcity. 

Discogs is the world’s largest online music database and marketplace. Dedicated contributors catalog releases in the Database and sellers use this information to list items for sale in the Marketplace. On the right side of each release page, you’ll find useful statistics about the lowest, median, and highest price paid for the item you are viewing.

All prices have been converted to USD (United States Dollar). Some prices may fluctuate with the exchange rate; the prices on this list reflect the current exchange rate while the prices on the release pages reflect the exchange rate at the time of sale.

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