Top 10 Costliest Albums Ever Produced in Music History
In the world of music, we frequently hear about album sales or earnings, but rarely delve into the expense of creating these masterpieces. That's where it gets interesting, especially in the realm of rock and roll, as some albums have broken the bank. Here are ten legendary albums that were a financial drain, with costs that would make your jaw drop.
10. Fleetwood Mac - Tusk
Back in 1979, Fleetwood Mac released Tusk, an album that, at the time, held the title of the most expensive rock album ever recorded. While initial reports suggested a cost of $1 million, it was later revealed to have actually cost $1.4 million. The hefty price tag largely stemmed from the construction of Studio D, which was the band's private studio where most of the album was recorded. One notable story from the recording sessions is the infamous first night where the band celebrated Mick Fleetwood's purchase of a $70,000 sports car with a copious amount of cocaine. Unfortunately for Mick, his uninsured car was broadsided and demolished while being towed to his house[3].
9. Steely Dan - Gaucho
Though no exact dollar figure is available for Steely Dan's Gaucho, it's an album famed for costing a fortune due to problems that ranged from lengthy recording sessions to legal battles. The band utilized over 42 different musicians, but this was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to expenses. Singer Donald Fagen's increasing drug use and troubles with bandmate Walter Becker took a backseat after Becker was hit by a car while pushing a woman out the way. His injuries and subsequent complications added to the mounting costs[3].
8. The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell And Back
Labeled by one critic as the "world's most expensive penis joke," One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back by The Darkness is said to have cost roughly $1.8 million back in 2005. Despite the album's lackluster sales compared to its predecessor, it achieved platinum status in the UK. Guitar guru Roy Thomas Baker, who had worked with the likes of Queen and Alice Cooper, demanded they record in analogue and included up to 160 guitar parts per song. Given that some guitars were only in the final track for a couple of seconds, it's no wonder the costs soared[3].
7. Happy Mondays - Yes Please!
Records rarely come with a price tag, but Yes Please! by The Happy Mondays is a rare exception. Its production cost the now-defunct Factory Records so much that they went bankrupt shortly after its 1992 release. The album is widely considered to be the band's poorest work, with their destructive behavior and drug use taking a toll on both the music and the label's finances[3].
6. Chris Gaines - Greatest Hits
Garth Brooks shook things up in 1999 by experimenting with an alter ego, Chris Gaines, to explore rock and roll. As it turned out, this venture was a massive flop, with production costs reaching $5 million and promotional costs of $15 million. The album ultimately failed to meet expectations and left the president of Capitol Records Nashville, Pat Quigley, resigning. What's worse, Brooks felt compelled to apologize to other artists on the label for the undue attention he had received[4].
5. Korn - Untouchables
Korn's Untouchables, released in 2002, cost roughly $4 million over a two-year period. Most of the expenses stemmed from the band's lavish lifestyle, with each member renting expensive properties for several months in different locations during the recording process[5]. The actual recording cost a mere $750,000, but the band had a 15-person crew on retainer for the entire two years it took to complete the album. Despite selling a respectable 5 million copies worldwide, the album did not perform as well as its predecessors and was ultimately a commercial disappointment[5].
4. The Beach Boys - Smile
The Beach Boys' Smile is renowned for its never-ending production delays and astronomical costs. The album was eventually substituted for 1967's Smiley Smile. Initial sessions took place between 1966 and 1967 and were shrouded in chaos due to technical difficulties, legal battles, and Brian Wilson's substance abuse and mental health problems. Wilson demanded an Arabian-style tent be built in his home for drug-fueled sandwiches, LSD, and weed. The recording of "Good Vibrations" alone is reported to have cost $75,000, which would equal approximately $555,000 today[6].
3. Def Leppard - Hysteria
Def Leppard's Hysteria is another album with an eye-popping cost, thanks in part to the prolonged production process. The album took a staggering three years to record, with estimated costs of around $4.5 million. The delays were caused by drummer Rick Allen's car accident, producer Mutt Lange's exhaustion and subsequent re-recording of the entire album, and the band changing members. Despite the album's high production costs, it went on to sell over 25 million copies, making it one of the best-selling rock albums of all time[7].
2. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
With a production cost of over $13 million in today's dollars, Chinese Democracy by Guns N' Roses is the most expensive rock album ever produced. The album's creation spanned a whopping 14 years and featured over 50 songs. the band was constantly changing members and faced various legal issues, all of which contributed to its astronomical production cost. What's even more astounding is that the band had a monthly budget of about $250,000 during the recording phase[1].
1. Michael Jackson - Invincible
Michael Jackson's Invincible, released in 2001, is considered the most expensive album ever made, with a reported production cost of $30 million. This astronomical figure stemmed from using a handful of producers and co-writers to record between 50 and 87 songs over five years, with three studios being booked simultaneously due to Jackson's uncertainty about which studio he would choose to record in each day[8]. Sony spent an additional $25 million on promoting the album, but to no avail. The album's failure and Jackson's falling out with Sony are attributed to the director of the label, Tommy Mottola, being accused of racial discrimination by Jackson[4].
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/nov/23/feature8[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleetwood_Mac[3] https://www.complex.com/music/2013/09/most-expensive-albums-ever[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Gaines[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korn[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smile_(Beach_Boys_album)[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysteria_(Def_Leppard_album)[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invincible_(album)
The financial burden of album production in the music industry can be staggering, as demonstrated by these ten renowned albums. For instance, in 2001, Michael Jackson's Invincible held the title of the most expensive album ever made, with a reported production cost of $30 million. Similarly, back in 1979, Fleetwood Mac's Tusk boasted the most expensive rock album title at the time, with costs reaching $1.4 million. The world of business, finance, and entertainment intertwine in the creation of these costly masterpieces, making them intriguing subjects for exploration.
