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In 1970, Reprise Records released Joni Mitchell’s “Ladies of the Canyon.” The album gets its title from Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles. The album contains many of Joni Mitchell’s best known songs including “Big Yellow Taxi” and “The Circle Game,” on which she is backed up by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.  The “Big Yellow Taxi” 45 is worth no more than $10.00 unless it’s a promo copy as shown here. Then the value jumps up to $40.00. An original copy of “Ladies of the Canyon” is worth up to $150.00 today.

Little Richard called himself the “architect of Rock N Roll.” It’s hard to argue against it. He was as important to the birth of 1950’s Rock N Roll as any including Elvis, Buddy Holly, and Chuck Berry. His second album for Specialty records, “Little Richard,” contains some of his greatest hits including “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” and “Good Golly Miss Molly,” A copy of that single can now fetch $40.00. An original copy of the album can get you $500.00 today.

Legendary actor/dancer Fred Astaire called Frances Ethel Gumm “the greatest entertainer who ever lived” and for forty years she lived up to his praise, not just in the U.S. but throughout the world in front of movie audiences, on stage, and through her massive number of recordings. Frances was Judy Garland. In 1979, Mark 56 Records released the Judy Garland picture disc “Live In San Francisco.” A copy is worth up to $150.00 today. “Live in San Francisco” by Judy Garland is just one of the picture discs you’ll find listed on our Picture Discs Price Guide on a flash drive. It’s available in the left hand column.

“Sailor” was the second album from the Steve Miller Band. It features songs written by Miller and band member, Boz Scaggs. The album made Billboards’ top 25 in 1968. It contained hits like, “Living in the U.S.A.” and “Dime-A-Dance Romance,” neither now worth more than $10.00. However, the “Sailor” album released on Capitol Records can get you $100.00 today.

George Martin is a name every Beatles fan knows well. Some call him the “fifth Beatle” as he was the producer on most of their albums. It was Martin who molded the raw talent of the Beatles into the polished performers heard on vinyl. He has been quoted as saying he would have signed the Beatles to a contract based on their wit alone. In 1964, George Martin recorded an instrumental version of “A Hard Day’s Night.” Released by United Artists, a copy of the 45 can sell for $200.00. The picture sleeve, showing the Beatles, can get you $1,000.00 today.

On June 1, 1971, Gladys Knight is the last musical guest to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show, which was canceled the next day after 23 years on the air. It was TV’s longest running variety show and was a showcase for nearly every major music act in the 1960’s. Sullivan was so upset about the cancellation that he refused to do a final show. The most valuable record for Gladys Knight was when she was just a “pip,” before headlining as Gladys Knight & the Pips. The single, “Every Beat of My Heart,” released on Huntom Records in 1961, is worth up to $900.00 today.

The Penguin is one of Batman’s biggest foes. He is cunning and deceiving, and few realize his true motives until it’s too late. Played by Burgess Meredith on the TV version of Batman, the Penguin held a high tech umbrella and a cigarette in a cigarette holder. In 1966, ABC-Paramount issued the single, “The Capture and The Escape” narrated by Meredith. A copy can get you $100.00 today. Add another $100.00 for the picture sleeve.

Clyde McPhatter got his start with the Dominoes and can be heard on their classic, “Sixty Minute Man.” Not earning enough with the Dominoes, he moved on to join the Drifters where he can be heard singing lead on “Honey Love” and the classic, “Money Honey.” A copy of that single can now sell for $150.00 His biggest hit as a solo artist was “Lover Please” in 1962. In 1959, Atlantic Records released his album, “Love Ballads.” On a red record label, it’s worth up to $50.00 but if the record label is black the value jumps up to $350.00 today.

John Cougar Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. You can quibble about some of those who have been added but there’s no question that Mellencamp belongs there. With 40 million records sold and 13 Grammy Awards, he is best known for hits like “Jack and Diane” and “Hurt So Good.” In 1983 Main Man Records released the 12 inch picture disc of “Kid Inside.” A copy can get you $100.00 today.

Martha and the Vandellas placed 26 singles on the charts. Among the biggest are “Nowhere to Run” and “Dancing in the Street.” Their first big hit came in 1963 with “(Love is Like a) Heat Wave.” It was not only a million-seller but a Grammy Award nominee, their only one. A copy of the single is worth up to $30.00. It’s also listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.” A mono copy of the “Heat Wave” album, released on Gordy Records in 1963, can get you $200.00 today. Make it $400.00 for a stereo version.