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Dinah Washington once stated that Annie Laurie was her favorite singer. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s Annie Laurie had several singles that met with little success until she hit big in 1957 with “It Hurts to be in Love.” The 45, released by Deluxe Records, is worth up to $40.00 but the album, released by Audio Lab in 1958, can sell for $150.00 today.

“This Boy,” also known as, “Ringo’s Theme,” was on the first Beatles album on Capitol Records, “Meet the Beatles.” John Lennon tried to give the song a Motown feel. Paul McCartney said they were also influenced by the Phil Spector song, “To Know Him is to Love Him,” as sung by the Teddy Bears. In 1964 George Martin and his orchestra released the instrumental version of “Ringo’s Theme.” Released by United Artists, the 45 with picture sleeve is worth up to $100.00 today.

With hits like “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On,” it seemed like Jerry Lee Lewis’ star would burn bright for a long time, that is until he married his 13-year old cousin. The hits stopped. The concerts stopped. His star faded. Then, after several years, memories faded and the comeback was on with the album “The Return of Rock.” Released on Smash Records in 1965, a copy can get you $100.00 today. It met with good success but nothing like the fame he gained when his Country Music career brought him back to the top of the charts.

The Marcels was a Doo Wop group that took their name from the “marcel wave,” a popular hairstyle of the early 1960’s. Their first hit, “Blue Moon,” was a Billboard Hot 100 #1 smash. It is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. The Marcels’ second hit, “Heartaches,” was a 1930’s standard given a Rock N Roll beat in 1961, reaching # 7 on the charts. A copy, released on Colpix Records, is now worth up to $100.00 with its picture sleeve.

Known as the “king of the blues,” B.B. King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Well into his 80’s, King continued to perform as many as 100 concerts a year. The B.B. stands for “Blues Boy.” Early in his career he ran into a burning building to save his guitar. Later, learning the fire was caused by two guys fighting over a girl named Lucille, he named all his guitars, “Lucille.” His 1958 album “The Blues,” released by Crown Records, can sell for $450.00 today. His first record, “Miss Martha King,” from 1949, released as a 78 on Bullet Records, can sell for $2,000.00 today.

The “Elvis movie formula” began with his second film “Loving You.” The Elvis character rises from rags to riches to fame and fortune and all the troubles that come with it. This theme was repeated in his next two movies “Jailhouse Rock” and “King Creole.” It was during his appearance in “Loving You” that Elvis dyed his hair black for the first time. The movie contained the giant Elvis hit “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” with “Loving You” on the flip side. The 45 with picture sleeve can sell for $100.00. An original copy of the album, released by RCA in 1957, is worth up to $400.00 today.

In 1965 Barbara Lewis had a hit with “Baby I’m Yours.” But it almost never happened. Barbara didn’t like the song. Take after take, her heart just wasn’t in it; that is until her manager told her his little daughter could do a better job. That ticked off Barbara and a hit was born. The single, released on Atlantic Records, is worth up to $30.00. The “Baby I’m Yours” album can sell for $125.00 today.

In the summer of 1955, 20-year old Elvis Presley gains national exposure for the first time when he reaches # 1 on Billboard, but not on the pop chart. He does it with a song on Billboards’ Country Chart with “I Forgot to Remember to Forget.” The 45, released on Sun Records is worth up to $750.00 while the 78 rpm version can sell for up to $1200.00. Both are shown here.

In 1966 the Beatles peaked at #11 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with “Eleanor Rigby.” It was the first Beatles’ release where none of the Beatles played instruments. A string section of studio musicians, composed of four violins, two cellos and two violas, performed a score composed by producer George Martin. Paul wrote most of the song, but it was Ringo who came up with the lyrics, “Writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear.” The 45 with picture sleeve can now sell for up to $125.00

“Dazed and Confused” was a song Jimmy Page played with the Yardbirds in their live performances. When he joined Led Zeppelin, the group recorded and released it on their 1969 debut album. Due to the demand from radio, Atlantic Records released a promotional single with “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave” and “Dazed and Confused.” The 45 is worth up to $500.00. The picture sleeve is also valued up to $500.00.