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Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker made up the blues-rock super trio known as Cream. In just three years they sold 15 million records. Their last album for ATCO Records, “Goodbye Cream,” was released in 1969 and recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall. It’s worth up to $30.00 if the record label is yellow. However, if the label is pink and tan as shown here, the value jumps up to $350.00.

The Zombies were among the groups who rode the wave of the British Invasion. Forming their band at St. Albans school in England, they had just about given up when they won a contest, which led to a recording contract with Decca Records. That led to the single “She’s Not There.” In the U.S. it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. A copy of the 45 is worth up to $15.00. The Zombies’ first album in the U.S. was called “The Zombies” and released on Parrot Records in 1965 and is worth up to $75.00 in mono and $100.00 in stereo.

Young Roy Orbison played mostly Country music with his band, the Wink Westerners. However, a college friend and future hit-maker, Pat Boone, urged Roy to lean more toward the new music craze called Rock and Roll. Orbison then formed a new band called the Teen Kings and released his first 45, “Ooby Dooby,” on Je-wel Records in 1955. An original copy can sell for $1,200.00 today. Counterfeits exist and look identical. Contact us if in doubt. The single was later released on Sun Records in 1956 and that version is worth up to $150.00 today.

“Surfin’ Bird” is one of those songs you hear once and either love it or hate it. Recorded by the Trashmen, it went all the way to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965 even though many radio stations refused to play it. The song has been used on soundtracks for movies such as “Full Metal Jacket” and TV shows like “Family Guy.” The “Surfin’ Bird” 45 is worth up to $25.00. But the album, released on Soma/Garrett Records, is worth up to $100.00 in mono and $200.00 in stereo.

Alice Cooper, a pioneer of Shock Rock, chopped up rubber dolls and simulated executions on stage while draping a live boa constrictor around his neck. He is entertaining! In 1972, he released “School’s Out,” his first major hit but worth no more than $10.00. The album, released by Warner Brothers, came with paper panties, but that’s only part of what makes it collectible. The big value depends on the back cover. If the song titles are listed on the back, the album is worth up to $100.00 with the paper panties. If the back cover does not list titles, then hold on to your panties. It can get you $500.00 today.

“Don’t Be Cruel” with “Hound Dog” on the flip side is Elvis Presley’s all-time best-selling 2-sided single and his personal favorite. The king recorded 28 takes before settling on the version heard on record. “Don’t Be Cruel” was originally offered to a young Frankie Valli but song-writer Otis Blackwell asked him to let Elvis record what would become a Rock & Roll classic. Elvis held the #1 spot on the Billboard charts for 11 weeks in 1956. Released by RCA, the 45 is worth up to $50.00. The black and white picture sleeve can sell for $100.00 today.

What’s the most valuable record by the Rolling Stones without a picture sleeve? That would be their first release in the U.S. on London Records in 1964. The title, “Stoned,” made radio stations reluctant to play it. An original copy can sell for $12,000.00 today.

Its said that “Do You Love Me” was a song originally meant for the Temptations but when they weren’t available the Contours stepped in and created a classic and a Billboard top-5 hit in 1962. In 1988, the song was featured in the Patrick Swayze movie, “Dirty Dancing,” and became a hit all over again. The original “Do You Love Me” 45, released on Gordy Records, can fetch $40.00. The original album can get you $300.00 today.

Dennis Coffey played on several Motown records along with the Funk Brothers, the musicians who played behind the Motown stars. Coffey can be heard on the psychedelic “Cloud 9” by the Temptations and “Someday We’ll Be Together” by Diana Ross and the Supremes. His own single, “Scorpio,” sold a million copies in 1971 but is worth no more than $10.00. However, his 45, “Theme from Black Belt Jones,” released by Warner Brothers in 1974, is worth up to $150.00 today.

In the 1920’s, Ma Rainey was known as “the mother of the blues” and credited to be the first great female blues recording artist. Sometimes, because of the suggestive themes of her recordings, she was called “Madame Rainey.” All of her 78’s from 1924-1928 are collectible like “Dream Blues.” Released by Paramount Records, it’s worth up to $1,000.00. With Papa Charlie Jackson, she recorded “Ma and Pa Poorhouse Blues” in 1928 for Paramount. A copy can sell for up to $2,500.00 today.