The golden age of the CD single
Here's what streaming never gave you: the B-side. Pop CD singles came stacked with exclusive tracks, remixes and live versions that often never appeared anywhere else — pressed in their millions, worth real attention now. A pop collection built from singles is full of songs that have effectively vanished from the internet. The cardboard slipcases, the maxi-singles, the "CD1 and CD2" releases with different track lists — it was a golden, slightly ridiculous era, and it is extremely collectible.
What pop collectors look for
- CD singles with exclusive B-sides and remixes — check the track list in the listing; that's where the buried treasure is.
- Australian chart editions. Local releases sometimes carried different artwork or bonus tracks to the international versions.
- Deluxe and special editions — bonus discs, DVD editions, anniversary remasters.
- Condition. Four honest grades, Mint to Fair, described exactly as they are. Pop discs lived hard lives in car stereos — the grade tells you the truth before you buy.
A shelf full of 90s singles?
You are sitting on somebody's nostalgia. Sell your pop CDs for a flat fifty cents a sale, or swap them for the albums you actually miss. The music deserves a CD player, not a cupboard.