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Redd Foxx might be best known for his 1970’s TV series, “Sanford and Son,” but he began his career in the 1940’s. As a result of his blue humor he found it difficult to get his records accepted by brand name record stores. Most of his records are comedy, which fall into a spoken word category. Spoken word records are generally not highly prized by record collectors. However, in 1957 Foxx recorded a Rhythm & Blues song called “Real Pretty Mama.” Released on Dooto Records, the single is worth up to $250.00 today.

Tommy Roe had a lot of what was known as bubble-gum hits in the 1960’s and 70’s such as “Sweet Pea” and “Jam Up Jelly Tight.” He hit number one in 1969 with “Dizzy.” His fist hit came in 1962 with “Sheila.” Issued on ABC Paramount it’s not worth more than $20.00. However, two years earlier Tommy Roe recorded it for Judd records, which released it with a different spelling: “Shelia” That version is worth up to $300.00 today.

“(Let me take you on a) Sea Cruise” is one of the best-loved hits of the 1950’s with multiple millions sold (mostly as 45’s). Frankie Ford made a living from his classic hit from 1959. The 45 rpm version is up to $50.00, but If you have a copy on 78 rpm on Ace Records with “Roberta” on the flip side as seen here, it’s worth up to $2,000.00 today. Makes you wanna say “Oo wee oo wee baby!”

As “Sgt. Peppers’ Lonely Hearts Club Band” was the most heralded of all Beatles albums so was “Pet Sounds” for the Beach Boys.  With songs like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows,” Rolling Stone Magazine lists “Pet Sounds” as the second greatest album of all time. Released on Capitol Records in 1966, a mono copy is worth up to $800.00. A mono copy of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” can sell for $600.00 today.

Domingo Samudio had one of the biggest hits in the history of Rock ‘N’ Roll. In 1965 he recorded as Sam the Sham. Along with his group, the Pharaohs, he made “Wooly Bully” a true classic, selling 3 million copies that year alone. On MGM Records its worth up to $10.00.  But he first tasted success in 1964 with “Haunted House.” Released on Dingo Records, that 45 is worth up to $100.00 today.

“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” is so bad it has become a Christmas cult classic. The plot involves Martian parents coming to Earth to kidnap Santa Clause so he can bring joy to their little Martian misfits, even though Santa is really creepy. The soundtrack, released in 1966 on Golden Records, comes with a comic book. As bad as the movie is the album with comic book is worth up to $200.00 today. Maybe you should ask Santa for a copy for next Christmas. “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks on our Soundtracks guide on CD. It lists the values for all movies, TV, and Broadway shows and is available in the left hand column.

Some hits come about in the strangest ways. Legend has it that Monotones member Charles Patrick heard a commercial for Pepsodent toothpaste including the line “You’ll wonder where the yellow went…” and wrote a hit called“(Wonder Who Wrote) The Book of Love.” Released in 1958 on Argo Records, the 45 is worth up to $50.00. But it was first issued in 1957 on Mascot Records. A copy on that label can sell for $600.00 today.

Marianne Faithful had her first hit in 1964 when she was just seventeen. “As Tears Go By,” written by boyfriend Mick Jagger, would be her biggest hit. An original copy on London Records can get you $50.00. However, another song written for her by Jagger during her drug use is her most collectible. “Sister Morphine,” recorded in 1969 with the Rolling Stones backing her up and released on London Records, is worth up to $150.00 today.

With a mixture of garage-rock and flower power, the Seeds, a Los Angeles band in the mid 60’s, created a classic in 1965 with  “Pushin’ Too Hard.” Copies that read “Pushin’ Too Hard” are common and are worth up to $20.00, but copies that read “You’re Pushing Too Hard” are worth up to $175.00 today. Promo copies up to $400.00. What a difference a word can make!

It’s called “The Shoop Shoop Song” and went as high as number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. But everyone seems to know Betty Everett’s hit as “It’s In His Kiss.” Released on Vee Jay Records, it’s worth no more than $15.00. In 1991 the song became a smash hit again, this time by Cher. Betty Everett’s next biggest hit was “Let It Be Me” with singing partner Jerry Butler. But her first record from 1957 is where the money is. “My Love,” released on Cobra Records, can fetch $500.00 today.