What was the cheapest album ever recorded?

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Maybe it's a redundant question since things like talking books or poetry readings or field recordings might cost the price of a dictaphone, but shall we try and keep to music?

― the next grozart, Thursday, 1 March 2007 10:24 (nineteen years ago)

For the cost of a C-90 in 1985 or so:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000001FO2.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― mark 0, Thursday, 1 March 2007 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

she actually paid for the cassette? good ol' moneybags shocked.

― GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ, Thursday, 1 March 2007 11:01 (nineteen years ago)

how much did Campfire Songs by Animal Collective cost to produce? Not as cheap as Michelle Shocked but it was just three minidisc players recording. Wonder if there was very much post production or tidying up?

― the next grozart, Thursday, 1 March 2007 11:12 (nineteen years ago)

http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/7/3/5/715377_170x170.jpg

― braveclub, Thursday, 1 March 2007 13:36 (nineteen years ago)

"Thank God For Mental Illness" by the Brian Jonestown Massacre has got to be up there. I can't remember the exact amount they said they recorded it for (though they stated it on the album cover) but it was under $20 or something.

― Masonic Boom, Thursday, 1 March 2007 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

whatever i just made on my computer the other day

― latebloomer, Thursday, 1 March 2007 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

Ned Raggett Reads The Almanac

― blueski, Thursday, 1 March 2007 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, hundreds recorded for $20 or less could be here. Aren't the first few Mountain Goats albums recorded live to boombox?

― Mark Rich@rdson, Thursday, 1 March 2007 14:05 (nineteen years ago)

"Nebraska"?

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 1 March 2007 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

The Replacements: "When the Shit Hits the Fans."
They took the cassette from someone in the audience, so they didn't even pay for the media or batteries!

― Jazzbo, Thursday, 1 March 2007 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

For live albums, couldn't net gate receipts be considered an asset offsetting recording costs? Tens of thousands of people all paid, what, $150 or $200 or whatever for the privilege of watching the Eagles record Hell Freezes Over, for example. In one sense, that would put recording "costs" in the NEGATIVE-millions of dollars.

― Myonga Vön Bontee, Thursday, 1 March 2007 18:34 (nineteen years ago)

LOL, genius.

― Whiney G. Weingarten, Thursday, 1 March 2007 18:39 (nineteen years ago)

Clearly the answer must be an a capella record, where there are no instrument/amp costs to speak of.

Are there any albums recorded entirely on Yak-Baks?

― Curt1s Stephens, Thursday, 1 March 2007 18:41 (nineteen years ago)

I think the first The Orb album cost the price of a DAT tape.

― Chewshabadoo, Thursday, 1 March 2007 19:14 (nineteen years ago)

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