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Remember how those humble Walkmans filled our pockets? While many now gather dust, a select few have become unexpected treasures.
Proving once again that rarity, influence, and a good story can make plastic and magnetic tape worth a fortune, what was once considered a ‘dead format’ has found a new lease of life, popularised by some of the biggest chart-topping names in recent years, through to up-and-coming acts dubbing tapes on their parents’ stereo. At least, we used to do that... there’s probably an app for that now, correct?
We’ve searched the annals of Discogs once again this month to find 15 more releases on cassette tape that fetched a huge sum in recent years, basing our findings on the highest sold price in the online marketplace’s history. That means that though it did sell for that price originally, it’s still worth undertaking your due diligence to check back in and see if there is still a demand for your items.
That is, sadly, the nature of collecting.
So, what did we find this month that commanded a huge figure to own on the humble old magnetic format?
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13. Blink-182 – Blink (1994) – £637.50
This ultra-rare cassette is an unofficial demo or early release from Blink-182 - then known as Blink - predating their major-label breakthrough. Originally released through Filter Records, it's a raw, authentic piece of the pop-punk giants' formative years. For the band's colossal fanbase, acquiring such a scarce artefact from their very beginnings is a top collecting priority. | Getty Images/Discogs
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14. Metallica – No Life 'Til Leather (1982) – £818.96
A monumental piece of heavy metal history, this self-released demo cassette from 1982 is a legendary artefact from Metallica's earliest days. Featuring future classics and the band's initial line-up (including Dave Mustaine, not featured in this photo), it was crucial in establishing their sound before their debut album. Its extreme rarity and pivotal role in the birth of thrash metal make it a holy grail for metal collectors worldwide. | Getty Images/Discogs
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15. Grimes – Geidi Primes (2010) – £825.00
The highest-valued tape on our list this month, Geidi Primes is the debut album from the highly influential experimental pop artist Grimes. Released as a limited edition cassette by Arbutus Records, its extreme scarcity from a burgeoning artist, combined with Grimes' later meteoric rise to global fame, has transformed this relatively recent release into an astoundingly valuable and sought-after artefact for collectors. | Getty Images/Discogs