11 Cassette Tapes From the ‘80s & ‘90s Worth a Small Fortune

Audio cassettes were all the rage in the '80s, with the compact tapes outselling vinyl in the first half of the decade. With the rise of the portable Walkman, the cassette held onto popularity through the decade and into the early '90s, though it was eventually replaced by the CD, pirated online music, and ultimately, streaming. In recent years, though, cassette tapes have erupted in unexpected popularity again.

Some classic tapes from the '80s and '90s could be your key to make extra money online, and they tend to be much more valuable if they are first-press, in good condition, and especially if they are factory-sealed. Look out for these 11 cassettes that have sold for serious cash.

Editor's note: Estimated market values come from eBay, unless otherwise stated.

Madonna - 'Madonna' (1983)

Estimated market value: $120

Before she became the reigning Queen of Pop, Madonna released her first studio album in 1983. It featured a few tracks that went on to become massive hits, like "Lucky Star" and "Holiday," and though it's not a rare tape, factory sealed versions of the cassette have sold for $120 and beyond recently.

A used version of the tape is not worth much though, with the going rate between $5 and $10 on eBay.

Metallica - 'Ride the Lightning' (1984)

Estimated market value: $100

If you have a first issue version of Metallica's "Ride the Lightning" on cassette, you could be looking at a payday of $100 or more. The issue is what drives the value for this 1984 tape, as later versions of the album were put out after Metallica signed with Elektra Records.

The first issue cassettes include the logo for the band's first label, Megaforce Records.

Beastie Boys - 'License to Ill' (1986)

Estimated market value: $55

The Beastie Boys' "License to Ill," which included hits like "Fight For Your Right" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," was the best-selling rap album of the '80s. Though the cassette was originally released in 1986, a re-release from 1994 tends to be more valuable on eBay.

Even used versions sell for $50+, and one sealed version of the tape is attracting plenty of attention with a $500 asking price on eBay.

The Smashing Pumpkins - 'The Smashing Pumpkins' (1989)

Estimated market value: $467

It's estimated that about 500 copies of The Smashing Pumpkins' 1989 demo cassette were produced, according to Discogs, and it's extremely difficult to get your hands on one. The cassettes come in different colors, red, pink, and green, and the labels are reportedly hand-written.

Discogs puts the median price for one of these tapes at $467, and the record high sale is $1,200.

Nirvana - 'Bleach' (1989)

Estimated market value: $50

Before "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became an anthem of the '90s, Nirvana released their first album, "Bleach," in 1989. This one features other gems like "About A Girl," and cassettes in good condition have been known to sell for $50+.

Recent sales on eBay range from around $20 to more than $100, and black versions of the tape tend to command higher prices than clear.

Pearl Jam - 'Ten' (1991)

Estimated market value: $130

While used tapes of Pearl Jam's debut album, "Ten," tend to sell for about $20 to $25, cassettes in mint condition or with a factory seal intact often command well over $100.

The 1991 album features some of the group's biggest hits like "Jeremy" and "Even Flow."

Nas - 'Illmatic' (1994)

Estimated market value: $160

Nas' debut album, which was released in 1994 and features classics like "N.Y. State of Mind," is widely considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Recent sales on eBay indicate that these cassettes, even used, sell for at least $80, with those in better condition selling for around $160.

Prince - 'The Versace Experience' (1995)

Estimated market value: $5,000

In 1995, Prince, or "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince" at the time, released a limited-edition cassette featuring several tracks from his upcoming album "The Versace Experience" at a Versace fashion show in Paris.

The collection was called "The Versace Experience," and though it was re-released 20+ years later, an original 1995 tape is worth around $5,000, according to Discogs estimates.

Deftones - 'Adrenaline' (1995)

Estimated market value: $130

Several Deftones cassettes are quite valuable, including their 1995 debut "Adrenaline." The tape regularly pops on sites like eBay, attracting plenty of attention with asking prices exceeding $100.

Eminem - 'Infinite' (1996)

Estimated market value: $2,500

Before he exploded in popularity in the late '90s with his Slim Shady alter ego, Eminem released a debut album called "Infinite" that the rapper says essentially tanked after release.

These days, versions of the original 1996 cassette are worth thousands. One was recently listed, and promptly sold, on eBay with a $2,500 asking price.

Jay-Z - 'Reasonable Doubt' (1996)

Estimated market value: $130

There have been reports of sealed or never-used tapes of Jay-Z's 1996 debut, "Reasonable Doubt," selling for hundreds of dollars to collectors. Even used versions of the cassette often sell for around $100 on eBay, and one in excellent condition recently sold for $130.

Bottom line

It may seem hard to believe since CDs made cassettes near obsolete decades ago, but if you've been trying to find an online side hustle, selling your old tapes on sites like eBay or Discogs could be the answer.

Of course, it's important to be cognizant of the major differences in value between old, scratched-up tapes and those kept in pristine condition. A tape that's never been used and those in their original cases and wrapping (factory-sealed) are always going to command more.

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