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Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs were basically one-hit-wonders and that hit came in 1960 with “Stay.”  The song holds the distinction of being the shortest #1 hit in the history of Rock & Roll. Released on Herald Records, the single is worth up to $50.00. The “Stay” album from 1961 can get you up to $250.00 today.

Being in the right place at the right time paid off big time for Eva Boyd. She was babysitting for song-writers Carole King and Gerry Goffin when they asked her to sing a song they had just written called “Loco-Motion.” The single chugged all the way to # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. A copy of the 45 is worth up to $30.00 while the “LLLLLoco-Motion” album by Little Eva, released on Dimension Records in 1962, can fetch $350.00 today.

Buster Brown was almost 50-years-old before he had his first and only top-40 hit with “Fannie Mae” in 1958. The 45 version on Fire Records is worth up to $50.00, up to $400.00 as a 78. In 1960, Fire Records released the Buster Brown album “The New King of the Blues.” That can get you up to $600.00 today.

Be sure and request this month’s free list of “10 Records Worth $100.00 or More.” PLUS trivia about the recording artists. To receive your copy, just email mightyjohn1971@gmail.com

He was known as Luke the Drifter, the Lovesick Blues Boy, and the Hillbilly Shakespeare but mostly by the name the world knows him as, Hank Williams. His influence on the Country artists to follow is enormous. All of his big hits were recorded on M-G-M like his signature song, “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” Those 78’s are not worth much more than $30.00 but his first record “Calling You” is on Sterling Records. Released as a 78 in 1947, a copy is worth up to $1,500.00 today.

In 1967, Decca Records released the Who’s third album, “The Who Sell Out.” It is unique in that it not only features songs like “I Can See for Miles” (the 45 now worth up to $30.00) but the album also mocks advertising songs and jingles. Rolling Stone magazine ranks the album among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In stereo, it’s worth up to $30.00. In mono, the value jumps up to $125.00.

Jimmy Buffett was an author, song-writer, singer, and environmentalist. His persona was formed with his first song, “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean.” His biggest hit came in 1977 with “Margaritaville.” But his most valuable album is the 1970 release, “Down to Earth.” Issued on Barnaby Records, a copy can sell for up to $200.00 today. A year earlier Audio Mobile Records issued the Jimmy Buffet 45, “Abandoned on Tuesday.” That single can now sell for $500.00.

Johnny Burnette was a prolific song-writer who wrote many hits for Ricky Nelson and others as well as himself. Among his own big hits in the early 60’s are “You’re Sixteen” and “Dreamin’.” His album on Coral Records in 1956, “Johnny Burnette & the Rock N Roll Trio,” is among the earliest Rock and Roll albums and worth up to $1,500.00 today. Counterfeits exist and can be identified by the lack of printing on the spine. Original copies have identification numbers mechanically stamped in the trail-off wax. Counterfeit copies are hand etched. All known counterfeit records are listed and described in the Mighty John Record Appraisal Guide. It’s available in the left hand column.

If there’s a king of Glam Rock, it has to be David Bowie. Not only a recording star but also a producer and actor, Bowie was a force in music since 1969 when his hit, “Space Oddity,” made him a star in his native England. His 1973 single, “Time,” on RCA is worth up to $50.00 but if you have or find an original copy of the “Time” picture sleeve, your “time” has come. It can sell up to $7,500.00 today.

Born in Chicago in 1909, Benny Goodman grew up to be the “king of swing.” Many major recording stars got their start with his band in the 1930’s and 1940’s. In 1934, Columbia Records released the Benny Goodman 78, “Riffin the Scotch.” What really adds to the value of this single is the singing voice of 18-year-old Billie Holiday. It was her first appearance on record. Current value is up to $1,000.00. She also sang on Benny Goodman’s other single from 1934. That 78 called “Your Mother’s Son-In-Law” is worth up to $1,000.00 as well.

The Youngbloods, led by Jessie Colin Young, had their first album, “The Youngbloods” in 1967. It contained “Get Together,” which became a top-10 Billboard Hot 100 hit two years later after getting exposure on a TV public service announcement promoting brotherhood. The album, released by RCA, was issued with two different covers. Those featuring a watercolor painting are worth up to $100.00. Covers showing a photo montage of the band are up to $200.00 today.