musicMagpie Blog

Are you staring at your CD collection and wondering "Are CDs worth anything?". The answer is a resounding yes! With the resurgence of interest in vinyl and physical music formats, CDs have become hot commodities among collectors. In fact, some of them have been known to fetch jaw-dropping prices at auctions.

So, let's dive into the world of rare and valuable CDs, where nostalgia meets astonishing value. Keep reading to learn about the rare CDs out there and what to do if you have one!

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In this blog:

• Nirvana – Pennyroyal Tea
• Michael Jackson – Smile
• Coldplay – The Safety EP
• Prince – My Name was Prince (Japan-only compilation)
• Paris Hilton – Paris (2006 Banksy/Danger Mouse edition)
• Now That's What I Call Music 4 (1984)

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Nirvana – Pennyroyal Tea

One of the most valuable CDs for any Nirvana fanatic is the Pennyroyal Tea single. This one-track alternative version of the song from album In Utero was set to be released as the third single from the album in April 1994, before it was recalled that same month due to the death of lead singer, Kurt Cobain. Despite the recall, a few copies still made it out into the world and now sell for around £1500-£2000.

Michael Jackson – Smile

Michael Jackson's highly sought-after Smile CD currently sells for around £1000-£1500 and is one of the most valuable CDs to own. The Austrian CD was issued in 1997 and was supposed to be the final single from the HIStory Album, but it was cancelled shortly after. Some CDs slipped through the net and are now considered one of the most coveted pieces of Michael Jackson memorabilia to date, winning this track a place on our list of rare CDs.

Coldplay – The Safety EP

Want to know if you own any Coldplay rare CDs? The 1998 EP titled The Safety is probably one of the most valuable CDs from the band, as only 500 were made and just 150 of those made it onto the market. For the lucky individuals who managed to snag a copy, it's now worth up to £1500!

Prince – My Name was Prince (Japan-only compilation)

The Japan-only compilation of Prince's 1993 release, My Name was Prince, is an extremely rare CD that collectors will pay anywhere up to £5000 for. Prince issued just 50 copies of the album to Japanese to promote The Hits/The B Side compilation, which features 12 tracks in total.

Paris Hilton – Paris (2006 Banksy/Danger Mouse edition)

Now, don't get too excited – the 2006 Paris Hilton album titled Paris isn't actually rare… but the Banksy copies are! In September 2006, Banksy placed around 500 fake copies of the album in 48 different UK record stores. Banksy had replaced the original leaflet with his own cover art and had switched the CD with remixes by Danger Mouse. These rare CDs can sell from as low as £750 to as high as £8000!

Now That's What I Call Music 4 (1984)

Now That's What I Call Music 4 was the first ever Now album to release on CD with an estimated 500 copies pressed. While this CD did get re-released in 2019, the original 15-track album is the one that holds some value, selling for around £200-£400.

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Want to sell your CDs? Whether you're looking to sell some rare CDs or some regular ones, musicMagpie is a great place to start! Simply scan your barcode using the free app or type in the barcode number in the online valuation engine to get a price for your CDs. If you're happy with the valuation, pop your CDs in a box and send them for free. You'll receive your money as soon as your CDs arrive with us, so you don't have to wait around for your cash!

Plus, if you want to give your collection a refresh, shop our huge range of cheap vinyl records at the musicMagpie Store.