> How much did it cost to make the Beatles' albums? A piano, drums, a couple of guitars and salaries for 4 guys?

The Beatles did only take a few days to knock out each of their earliest LPs. However, per Wikipedia, "the group spent 700 hours on [Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]. The final cost [...] was approximately £25,000 (equivalent to £573,000 in 2023)."

So, actually, envelope-pushing cultural landmarks typically do require a lot of effort and money to complete.