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Alabama, one of Country music’s most popular bands of all time, formed in 1969 with Randy Owens and Terry Gentry. In the 1980’s they had over two dozen # 1 hits on the Country charts including “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band.” They were the only strictly-Country band to appear on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.” They released their first album, “Alabama Band No.3,” in 1978 on both Alabama and MDJ Records. Either can sell for $400.00 today.

“Holy Rock N Roll, Batman!” Did he really sing while protecting Gotham City from the Penguin, the Riddler, and the Joker? Well, let the bat light shine on a single from 1966 called “Miranda.” It wasn’t a hit. Even the radio stations in Gotham City wouldn’t play it. It was the only single for Adam West. He probably hid in the Bat cave after that. Nonetheless, the 45 of “Miranda,” released on 20^th Century Fox Records in 1966, is worth up to $250.00. Add up to $1,500.00 for the picture sleeve.

In 1978, Bon Scott of AC/DC proclaimed in song his love for a woman named Rosie who he described as a Tasmanian devil weighing 350 pounds. She apparently bragged to Scott that she had been with 28 famous people in a month. Bon Scott woke up with her the next morning and whispered, “29.” The single, “Whole Lotta Rosie” by AC/DC, released on Atlantic records, can get you $100.00 today.

On July 7, 1958, a record enters the U.S. charts. It holds the unique distinction of being the very first record to reach #1 on the newly created Billboard Hot 100. The singer is Ricky Nelson. The first record to reach # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 is “Poor Little Fool.” The 45 on Imperial is worth no more than $20.00 but the 78 version can sell for $125.00 today.

The Raindrops presented themselves as a trio when they hit big in 1963 with “The Kind of Boy You Can’t Forget.” The 45 can now sell for $30.00.  In reality, the Raindrops consisted of song-writers, producers, and husband and wife Jeff Berry and Ellie Greenwich. To continue the illusion that they were a trio, the cover for their album, “Raindrops,” pictures Jeff, Ellie, and Ellie’s sister Laura who was never on the record. Released on Jubilee Records, the album can get you $150.00 today.

Smiley Lewis was on the precipice of becoming the biggest music star to come out of New Orleans in the 1950’s but his style received better response when delivered by Fats Domino. Lewis was the first to record “Blue Monday” but it was the version by Fats that would become the hit. Lewis’ biggest hit came in 1955 with “I Hear You Knocking (But You Can’t Come In).” The 45 can now sell for $250.00 on a red Imperial label. His only album, the same title as his hit single, was released by Imperial Records in 1961 and is worth up to $400.00 today.

In 1964 the Beach Boys hit the top-10 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “When I Grow Up (To Be a Man).” A regular black vinyl copy is worth up to $30.00 but a red vinyl copy, as seen here, can sell for $3,500.00 today.

There are so many Beatles records that are worth money that we could feature one a day for an entire year. However, today we are looking at their 1964 number one hit, “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Using the same picture that came with the single, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” Capitol Records created one of their most valuable picture sleeves. The “I Want to Hold Your Hand” picture sleeve is worth up to $125.00 but the “Can’t Buy Me Love” picture sleeve can get you $800.00 today.

Gene Vincent was Capitol Records’ Elvis. He was the poster boy for Rock N Roll rebellion. Along with his backup band, the Blue Caps, (named after President Eisenhower’s blue golf cap) Gene Vincent’s debut smash was the classic. “Be-Bop-A-Lula,” a 45 that can now fetch $40.00. Nothing exemplified pure Rockabilly excitement like the music of Gene Vincent with hits such as “Blue Jean Bop” and “Lotta Lovin.” In 1957, Capitol Records released the album, “Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps.” A copy can get you $300.00 today.

Davie Allan & the Arrows did a lot of soundtrack instrumentals for the biker and rebellious teen movies of the 1960’s such as “Skaterdater,” “Thunder Bay,” “Born Losers,” and the most famous of all, “The Wild Angels,” which can now sell for $40.00. However, the most valuable would be “Wild in the Streets.” Released on Tower Records in 1968, its worth up to $150.00 today. “The Wild Angels” and “Wild in the Streets” albums are just two of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks Guide, covering movies, TV shows, and Broadway shows. It’s available on a flash drive in the left hand column.