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Where do the ideas come from for some of Rock and Roll’s greatest hits? In 1957, Elvis Presley held the #1 spot on Billboard for two months with “All Shook up.” Songwriter Otis Blackwell got the idea for the song and title from an associate who was shaking up a bottle of Pepsi. The 45, with picture sleeve, is worth up to $150.00 today. $100.00 just for the picture sleeve. Don’t shake it!

Little Richard’s back-up band was the Upsetters. Among the members during those early years of Rock and Roll was a man who would epitomize the Soul sound of the 60’s. That man was Otis Redding. Best known for his #1 hit, “(Sittin’on) The Dock of the Bay,” he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His “Dock of the Bay” single can fetch $40.00. In 1965, Volt Records released the Otis Redding album, “Soul Ballads.” A copy is worth up to $100.00 today.

One of the comic book characters brought to TV in the golden age of television was “Dennis the Menace.” The series on CBS ran from October of 1959 through July of 1963. It preceded the most popular TV show on Sunday nights, “The Ed Sullivan Show.”  Starring Jay North, the show was sponsored by Kellogg’s cereals and Skippy Peanut Butter. In 1960, Colpix Records released the soundtrack album “Dennis the Menace.” A copy is worth up to $200.00 today. “Dennis the Menace” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks Guide, covering movies, TV shows, and Broadway shows. It’s available in the left hand column.

The Reflections were blue-eyed Doo Wop singers from Detroit when they reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964 with “(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet.” They tried the formula again two years later with “Like Adam and Eve.” However, it failed. The 45 of “(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet,” released on Golden World Records, is worth no more than $15.00 but that failed attempt of “Like Adam and Eve” can sell for $125.00 today. The “(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet) album can also fetch $125.00.

“The Way You Make Me Feel” was the third single from Michael Jackson’s “Bad” album to make it to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Composed and written by Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones, it was released not only as a 45 but also as a 12-inch single in conjunction with Pepsi Cola. The regular 45 isn’t too collectible, up to $5.00. However, the 12-inch single, with custom cover as seen here, can easily sell for $200.00 today. (Find the values for every record by Michael Jackson in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

The Beatles’ 5^TH album for Capitol records is “Beatles 65’,” containing their hits, “I’m a Loser,” “She’s a Woman” and “I Feel Fine.” The album also shows the respect the Beatles had for legendary Rock and Roll pioneer Carl Perkins as they covered his songs, “Honey Don’t” and “Everybody’s Trying to be My Baby.” An original copy of the album is worth up to $150.00 in stereo and up to $400.00 in mono.

“After Bathing at Baxter’s” is Jefferson Airplane’s third album, which was inspired by the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts club Band.” The psychedelic group from San Francisco wanted to go with a more experimental approach. Gary Blackman, a friend of the band came up with the title. “After Bathing at Baxter’s” really means after “bathing taking LSD.” Baxter was the band’s code word for LSD.
Released on RCA in 1967, a stereo copy is worth up to $30.00 while a mono copy could sell for $750.00 today.

“Kiss Alive II” is the second live album for Kiss. It’s one of their best-selling albums and their first to be certified double platinum. Most copies are worth no more than $40.00. However, if you have or find a copy with three live tracks, “Hooligan,” “Take Me,” and “Do You Love Me,” then the value jumps up to $500.00. The three songs might be listed on the cover, but you actually have to play the record to see if they are. (Find the values for every record by Kiss in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

John Lennon’s eighth and final album was “Milk and Honey.” It took Yoko Ono three years to be able to resume work to complete it following John’s death. Yoko explained the title referred to their journey to settle in America, the land of “milk and honey.” Released on Polydor Records at the beginning of 1984, a black vinyl copy is worth up to $20.00 However, a yellow vinyl copy can sell for $150.00 while a green vinyl version could fetch $175.00. (All versions of all records are described in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

Rare Earth was not the first white band signed by Motown but they were the first to hit big. They did it in 1970 with “Get Ready.” More hits followed like “I Just Want to Celebrate” in 1971. Motown was looking to have a separate label for their white acts and named that label Rare Earth, after the band. The “Get Ready” album cover has two versions. Albums with the standard square cover are worth no more than $15.00 but the same album with a rounded-top cover can get you $250.00 today.