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In the age of digital downloads and music streaming sites like Spotify, many people have been left with racks full of CDs taking up valuable space at home. Shelves full of great music gathering dust that would have once been the soundtrack to your teenage years and twenties. It's sad, but that's progress, baby. CDs (short for compact discs) just aren't as convenient as having music stored in the cloud or having the instant availability of your favourite songs anywhere through streaming apps. Vinyl, on the other hand (an even older and more inconvenient format), has seen a massive resurgence with discerning music fans over recent years. But those shimmering, iridescent discs of joy still hold a place in some collectors' hearts, and some can fetch a fair whack. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE CDs first came out in Japan in October 1982, followed by other markets in 1983. Rare CDs from famous and platinum-selling artists can fetch thousands when sold to specialist collectors. This includes the rarer catalogue from superstars like Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd, which can fetch thousands. CDs you could still have stored up in a box in the attic or, god-forbid, already chucked out on bin day sometime last year. So now might be a good time to go through those reams of plastic cases to see if you're sitting on a goldmine. Entertainment experts at playcasino.com analysed the marketplace using online music database Discogs.com as a source to find the five Most Expensive CDs Ever Sold. This included cancelled releases and country-specific pressings, which are driving high price tags. Obviously, the better the condition of these rare CDs, the more likely they are to fetch a higher price from collectors. Several other big artists with CDs ranking outside the top five, but still in the top 50 most expensive CDs of all time, include Pet Shop Boys, Madonna, Coldplay, Spice Girls, Celine Dion, and George Harrison. The complete list can be found here . 1) Runner — Falling Hearts (1991) — $3,000 (approx £2,249) According to Discogs: "Runner is a hard rock/heavy metal band from Chicago, Illinois, USA, that was formed in 1985. In 1986, the band changed its name to Desire. The band split up around 1987/1988." They recorded the album Falling Hearts in 1987 but it remained unreleased until 1991. The original Hee Jee Records CD is the priciest thanks to extreme scarcity and demand from genre die-hards. (Figures are based on Discogs’ paid, completed sales) 2) Valerie Carter — Midnight Over Honey River (2003, 2×CD) — $2,902.91 (approx £2,176) According to Discogs: "[Valerie Carter] was an American singer-songwriter. She was perhaps best known as a back-up vocalist who worked with many artists including James Taylor and Jackson Browne." This sought-after Japanese CD prices high when in 'mint' condition 3) Michael Jackson — Smile (1997, CD single/maxi) — $2,898.89 (approx £2,173) Pressed then pulled at the last minute, official copies with artwork were largely destroyed before release. The handful that escaped are now among the rarest MJ CDs — and routinely command eye-watering sums. 4) Pink Floyd — Wish You Were Here (1982, Japan CD) — $2,799 (approx £2,098) An early Japanese CD issue of a rock staple; exotic packaging and limited supply have made it a blue-chip grail for Floyd collectors. 5) Koji Kondo — Super Mario: Yoshi’s Island (Original Sound Version) (1995) — $2,521.01 (approx £1,890) Original ’90s soundtrack pressings remain fiercely coveted, pushing prices well beyond the casual collector’s budget.
