moneymusic.com

Domingo Samudio had one of the biggest hits in the history of Rock ‘N’ Roll. In 1965 he recorded as Sam the Sham. Along with his group, the Pharaohs, he made “Wooly Bully” a true classic, selling 3 million copies that year alone. On MGM Records its worth up to $10.00.  But he first tasted success in 1964 with “Haunted House.” Released on Dingo Records, that 45 is worth up to $100.00 today.

“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” is so bad it has become a Christmas cult classic. The plot involves Martian parents coming to Earth to kidnap Santa Clause so he can bring joy to their little Martian misfits, even though Santa is really creepy. The soundtrack, released in 1966 on Golden Records, comes with a comic book. As bad as the movie is the album with comic book is worth up to $200.00 today. Maybe you should ask Santa for a copy for next Christmas. “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks on our Soundtracks guide on CD. It lists the values for all movies, TV, and Broadway shows and is available in the left hand column.

Some hits come about in the strangest ways. Legend has it that Monotones member Charles Patrick heard a commercial for Pepsodent toothpaste including the line “You’ll wonder where the yellow went…” and wrote a hit called“(Wonder Who Wrote) The Book of Love.” Released in 1958 on Argo Records, the 45 is worth up to $50.00. But it was first issued in 1957 on Mascot Records. A copy on that label can sell for $600.00 today.

Marianne Faithful had her first hit in 1964 when she was just seventeen. “As Tears Go By,” written by boyfriend Mick Jagger, would be her biggest hit. An original copy on London Records can get you $50.00. However, another song written for her by Jagger during her drug use is her most collectible. “Sister Morphine,” recorded in 1969 with the Rolling Stones backing her up and released on London Records, is worth up to $150.00 today.

With a mixture of garage-rock and flower power, the Seeds, a Los Angeles band in the mid 60’s, created a classic in 1965 with  “Pushin’ Too Hard.” Copies that read “Pushin’ Too Hard” are common and are worth up to $20.00, but copies that read “You’re Pushing Too Hard” are worth up to $175.00 today. Promo copies up to $400.00. What a difference a word can make!

It’s called “The Shoop Shoop Song” and went as high as number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. But everyone seems to know Betty Everett’s hit as “It’s In His Kiss.” Released on Vee Jay Records, it’s worth no more than $15.00. In 1991 the song became a smash hit again, this time by Cher. Betty Everett’s next biggest hit was “Let It Be Me” with singing partner Jerry Butler. But her first record from 1957 is where the money is. “My Love,” released on Cobra Records, can fetch $500.00 today.

“I’ll Cry Instead” was originally recorded by the Beatles for the movie, “A Hard Day’s Night.” It can be found on the soundtrack album but was cut from the film with its flip side, “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You.” The 45 with its picture sleeve, released in 1964 on Capitol Records, is worth up to $400.00 today.

Eskew Reeder is not well known to your average music fan. Recording as Esquerita, he was a major influence on Little Richard with his wild, screaming, racy songs. He was Little Richard before Little Richard was Little Richard. Esquerita never made the charts himself but did write “Green Door,” a number one hit in 1956 on Dot records for Jim Lowe, which can get you $25.00. In 1959 Capitol Records released the album, “Esquerita.” It’s worth up to $500.00 today.

Sonny and Cher had their first hit in 1965 with “I Got You Babe.” And then the hits just kept coming, like “Baby Don’t Go” and “The Beat Goes On.” However, before they became world famous as Sonny & Cher they recorded as “Caesar & Cleo.” Their 1964 single of “Love is Strange” on Reprise Records in 1964, with its picture sleeve, is worth up to $200.00 today.

Duke Ellington was a giant in Jazz music with a career that began in 1916 and conducted successfully until his death in 1974. Asked what kind of music he played, he would reply, “American music.” His biographers say his last words were, “Music is how I live, why I live, and how I will be remembered.” He has 40 records worth over $100.00 or more such as “Immigration Blues.” Released in 1927 on Vocalion Records it’s worth up to $400.00. In 1926, Buddy Records issued “If You Can’t Hold the Man You Love”. A copy can sell for $750.00 today