7 Most Expensive Music Albums That Make You Open-Mouthed

Creativity is not something that can be rushed. Putting out the perfect record may be an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. When you combine a high-profile musician with a top-notch studio and a desire for perfection, the cost of recording a blockbuster album may rise. This is because all three factors contribute to a desire for perfection.
Some people in the creative industry let their need for perfection prevent them from fulfilling their deadlines, which results in longer production times and higher overall expenses. High production costs can often be rationalized as the price that must be paid for the luxury of having plenty of wiggle space and room for innovation. Whatever the reason, some extremely high-priced albums released in the last several years have been received with lukewarm receptions from both music reviewers and listeners. Could you kindly show me the bill?

1. Michael Jackson - 'Invincible' ($30 Million)

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Invincible, Michael Jackson's final album is often regarded as the most costly record to be produced. The album, released in 2001, resulted from four years of hard work in the studio, during which time hundreds of songs were produced. The record, which cost $30 million to complete, was well-received by critics after its release.

2. Guns N' Roses - 'Chinese Democracy' ($13 Million)

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Axl Rose's supposed return with Guns N' Roses, the $13 million Chinese Democracy, never materialized. The recording took ten years, and several delays were before the album was finally released. In 2004, Rose sued Geffen Records as the label sought to recoup some of their expensive expenditures by releasing a greatest hits album. Despite Rose's repeated assurances that the album was finished and ready for release, the label decided to move through with the greatest hits collection, and he lost the lawsuit.

3. Garth Brooks - 'Chris Gaines' ($5 Million)

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The country superstar Garth Brooks wasted $5 million trying to transform into the renowned rock singer Chris Gaines for a movie that was never made. It was a costly experiment in more ways than one for Brooks to release his alter ego's record under his name as Garth Brooks in... The Life of Chris Gaines.

4. Def Leppard - 'Hysteria' ($4.5 Million)

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Def Leppard's fourth studio album, Hysteria, is notorious for being pricey and jam-packed with smash singles. The record was one of the most costly of its time, costing close to $5 million. If the album had bombed, "it would have been devastating for this band," says drummer Rick Allen.

5. Kanye West - 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' ($3 Million)

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The production of Kanye West's album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010 was a lavish endeavor. The album reportedly cost Def Jam Recordings $3 million to produce at the time of recording. Others say Kanye West worked on his masterwork in a glass-enclosed Tropical house, where he had two full-time private cooks preparing both hot and cold meals.

6. Fleetwood Mac - 'Tusk' ($1.4 Million)

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While critically acclaimed, Fleetwood Mac's ambitious double album Tusk failed to live up to the economic success of its predecessor, Rumours. The album cost over $1 million, which was a huge sum of money in 1979. This may have contributed to its critical failure upon its first release.

7. 070 Shake - You Can't Kill Me

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An estimated $1 million was spent on recording and producing The Darkness' follow-up to their debut album. Known for their work with Queen, the band collaborated with legendary producer Roy Thomas Baker and used various innovative recording techniques to bring their vision to life. It was intended to be as exploratory as possible, which inevitably means a hefty price tag.