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Out of Toronto Canada came Rush, one of Rock and Roll’s most successful groups with 24 gold records and sales that places them just behind the Beatles and the Rolling Stones for most consecutive gold records by a Rock band. But it all began for Rush with a remake of the Buddy Holly classic, “Not Fade Away.” The Holly 45 on Brunswick Records from 1958 is worth up to $75.00. Released in 1973 on Moon Records, the Rush 45 can get you $1,000.00 today.

The legend of Johnny Ace is the first Rock and Roll mystery. Many say he shot himself back stage at a concert in Houston while playing Russian Roulette on Christmas Eve 1954. Others say it was an accident. And there have been whispers of murder. As a result, his song “Pledging My Love” went on to be #1 on the Rhythm & Blues chart for 10 weeks in 1955. An original copy of the 45 on Duke Records with “No Money” on the flip side is worth up to $100.00. In 1955, Duke Records released the 10 inch “Memorial Album.” An original copy can sell for $600.00 today.

The term genius is sometimes used when it doesn’t apply but not in the case of Ray Charles. Born Ray Charles Robinson, he dropped his last name so not to be confused with boxing champ, Sugar Ray Robinson. At home playing Jazz, Blues, or Rock and Roll, he also did something a black artist had never done up to that time; he became a Country music star. His 1965 album, “Country & Western Meets Rhythm & Blues,” released by ABC Paramount, is now worth up to $100.00 in mono and $150.00 in stereo.

“John Lennon Sings Great Rock & Roll Hits” was a disaster from the start. The recording session was rushed. The quality was bad. Record producer Phil Spector was not at his best. The album, released on Adam VIII Ltd Records, was sold on television my mail orders. Lennon was also upset as he ordered a copy and it was a month before he received it. But all that grief adds up to one thing—a record collectible! The ill-fated album is worth up to $750.00 today.

He was born Eugene Dixon but recorded under the name Gene Chandler. Record producer Carl Davis gave Dixon the new name because movie star Jeff Chandler was Davis’ favorite actor. However, after Gene’s #1 hit in 1962, most people know him as the Duke of Earl. The 45 on Vee Jay Records is worth up to $25.00. A mono copy of the “Duke of Earl” album can sell for $100.00 while a stereo version is worth up to $150.00 today.

Merry Christmas! If you have a black vinyl copy of the original “Elvis Christmas Album” from 1957 on RCA its worth up to $800.00. BUT if the vinyl is red, as seen here, the value jumps up to $15,000.00. Ho Ho Ho!

Fleetwood Mac’s founder was blues guitarist Peter Green. B.B. King once said about Green, “He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats.” Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. A mono copy of “Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac,” released on Epic records in 1968, is worth up to $100.00 today.

One of the biggest instrumental hits of all time came in 1958 with “Tequila” by the Champs who took their name from Gene Autry’s horse, Champion. The band consisted of studio musicians. Their album, “Go Champs Go,” released on Challenge Records, is worth up to $100.00 on black vinyl and up to $500.00 on blue vinyl. A red vinyl copy of the “Tequila” 45 can fetch $1,000.00 today.

Sting parted with the Police in 1984 after the band’s fifth and most successful album, “Synchronicity.” There are a lot of cases where the color of the record label or the color of the vinyl can make a difference in value. But here’s a case where the color of the cover establishes value. Yellow, red, and blue covers are up to $10.00. Gold, gray, and brown are up to $50.00 while the same album with a black and white cover can sell for $100.00 today.

Cathy Jean & the Roomates scored their only hit in 1960 with “Please Love Me Forever,” later a hit for Bobby Vinton. The Roomates and Cathy Jean recorded their hit without meeting each other. The Roomates hated the song and reluctantly overdubbed the harmony parts. The 45 is worth up to $40.00 but their album, “At The Hop,” which contains the hit, was released on Valmor Records and can fetch $700.00 today.