10 Most Expensive Rock & Metal Albums Ever Made
7. Grateful Dead: Aoxomoxoa - $180,000 ($1.25 Million Today)
The oldest album on the list, Grateful Dead's third studio album was nothing short of revolutionary. Originally created as an eight track record, their first version of the album was scrapped after they were given the chance to use Ampex's new 16 track technology, and is one of the very first albums to utilise such a new concept when it was released in 1969.
Due to the new opportunity, the band's planned album (originally called Earthquake Country) was discarded and the band spent eight months recording a new album. Not only were they recording new and improved songs, but they were also tackling the new tech at their disposal.
Unfortunately, the lengthy sessions put the band deep into debt with Warner Bros Records, and the finished album cost just over $180,000 (1.25 million today), an unheard of total at that time. It was worth the price, though, as Aoxomoxoa went on to receive rave reviews from both critics and fans alike, and has gone down as perhaps their best album.
After its release, the band took a step back from costly adventures and decided to get their money situation sorted. Good move.