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If nothing else, Britain’s Motorhead is one of the world’s loudest bands. An influence on Guns N Roses and Metallica, Motorhead has barely seen any action on the U.S. charts. Their 1996 album, “Overnight Sensation,” released on CMC Records, can sell for $300.00 today.

Jackie De Shannon had hits like “What the World Needs Now is Love” and “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” She also wrote a lot of hits for others like “Bette Davis Eyes” for Kim Carnes in 1981, which won a Grammy for Song of the Year.” De Shannon’s 1964 album, “Breakin’ It Up On the Beatles Tour,” released on Liberty Records, is worth up to $100.00 today.

Paul Revere and the Raiders owned the charts from the mid-60’s until the early 70’s with Mark Lindsay singing lead on hits like “Kicks (Just Keep Getting Harder to Find)” and “Indian Reservation.” The band formed in 1959 as the Downbeats. Their exposure on Dick Clark’s TV show, “Where the Action Is,” made Paul Revere and the Raiders a household name. Their first album, released on Gardena Records in 1961, is called “Like Longhair.” An original copy is worth up to $600.00 today. Their second album, “Paul Revere and the Raiders,”” on Sande Records can now fetch $500.00.

In the 1970’s John Denver was all over the radio with hits like “Rocky Mountain High” and “Take Me Home Country Roads.” Twelve of his albums went gold. Four went platinum. In 1966 he put out his first album “John Denver Sings” on HJD Records. Find a copy and $750.00 could be yours.

“Records you should know about” are records that most people have never heard of but are worth a lot of money. The Del-Larks was a group first formed in 1953 in Plainfield, New Jersey with Sammy Campbell as lead singer. They never had a problem finding work in local clubs but like many harmony groups of the era they never made it big nationally. Their 1967 release of “Job Opening” on Queen City Records is worth up to $10,000.00 today.

Mighty John’s “Records You Should Know About” appraisal guide lists thousands of them, each worth at least up to $500.00 or more. Most are worth up to $1,000.00 or more. The “Records You Should Know About” appraisal guide is on CD-ROM in Microsoft Word. Click on “Records You Should Know About” in the yellow strip above for free samples.

Jim Reeves, often referred to as “Gentleman Jim,” was one of the most successful and popular Country stars of all time. However, baseball was his first love. But after severing his sciatic nerve, his prospects of becoming a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals ended. His greatest hit came in 1959 with “He’ll Have to Go.” The “He’ll Have to Go” album on RCA is worth up to $25.00 but his first album “Jim Reeves Sings” on Abbott Records in 1956 can sell for $1,200.00 today.

The Delfonics found fame at the height of the soul-music wave in the mid to late 60’s. Their first hit came in 1968 with “La La Means I Love You.” The song, written by William Hart, was inspired by the words of his young son who was always saying,” La La La La….” Their next hit came a year later with “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time.” “The “La La Means I Love You” album from 1968 on Philly Groove Records can get you $100.00 Their album, “Super Hits,” released on the Philly Groove label in 1969, can also fetch up to $100.00 today.

Van Morrison has been called brilliant, introverted, aloof, and extremely influential on other icons like Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello. His first solo hit came in 1967 with “Brown Eyed Girl,” which is worth no more than $20.00. But in 1968, Van Morrison recorded his signature album “Astral Weeks.” Some call it Folk. Some say Jazz; and others Soul. It’s a meandering mix of all three. An original copy, released on Warner Brothers in 1968, is worth up to $500.00 today. Reissues from 1969 are worth no more than $20.00. On originals you’ll find the “W7” logo top-center on back cover. On reissues you’ll find the“WB” logo top-center on back cover. With Mighty John’s Record Appraisals Guide you’ll be able to recognize originals and reissues of all albums.

The Ventures are often considered to be a surf-music band, but they were around long before surf music captured the nation’s interest in the early 60’s. The Ventures are probably best known for two of their hits, “Hawaii Five-O” and “Walk Don’t Run.” Most copies of “Walk Don’t Run” can be found on Dolton Records and worth up to $40.00. But if you have or find a copy on Blue Horizon Records, then don’t walk—run to pick it up. A copy is worth up to $1,000.00 today.

Usually the death of a recording artist does not affect the value of his or her records. Speculation kicks in immediately after the loss of a superstar. It might be a good time to sell but not to buy. Prices tend to settle back down to pre-death values after sixty days. However, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album went up in value and stayed there. A standard black vinyl copy is worth up to $40.00 for an original but the picture disc version is worth up to $400.00 today.