moneymusic.com

“Do You Want to Know a Secret” was the first top-10 hit for the Beatles where George Harrison was the lead singer. The lyrics “Do you want to know a secret. Promise not to tell” came from Disney’s “Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs.” The 45 on Vee Jay is worth up to $50.00. Add up to another $200.00 for the picture sleeve as seen here. The promo copy, also seen here, on the left can fetch up to $600.00 today. (Find the values for all promo records that are worth more than the commercial versions released in stores with “Mighty John’s Promo Records Guide,” in the yellow strip above.)

One of the all-time favorite cartoon characters is Mr. Magoo, originally created by Millard Kaufman to mock Senator Joe McCarthy in his relentless search for American communists. In 1957, RCA released “Magoo in Hi-Fi” featuring the voice of Jim Backus. The soundtrack album is worth up to $100.00 today. (“Magoo in Hi-Fi” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks Guide, covering movies, TV, and Broadway shows. It’s available in the left hand column.)

In 1965, Elvis Presley starred in the movie “Tickle Me.” It’s unique for an Elvis movie as all the songs for the film had been previously released on other Elvis albums. There were no new songs recorded just for the movie. It’s also rare that the title did not have a song of the same name.  The EP soundtrack, released by RCA, is worth up to $200.00 if the record label is black. However, if the record label is orange, the value can go as high as $600.00.

Jimmy Bowen was a major record producer in the 1960’s. Frank Sinatra hired him to produce records for his Reprise record label. Bowen produced hits for Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. But back in the 1950’s, Bowen was a Rock N Roll singer and reached # 14 on the Billboard charts in 1957 with “I’m Stickin’ With You,” which ends with the lyric “I’m stuck with you, Baby.” Released on Roulette Records, the 45 is worth up to $40.00 while the “Jimmy Bowen” album containing the hit can sell for $125.00 today.

The first draft of Jan And Dean’s 1963 hit, “Surf City”, was written by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The working title was “Goody Connie Won’t You Come Back Home.” The working title for “Yesterday” by the Beatles was “Scrambles Eggs.”  So much for working titles! The original” Surf City” 45 on Liberty Records is worth up to $50.00 with its picture sleeve. The original “Yesterday” by the Beatles can sell for $100.00 with its picture sleeve.

One of the most popular and endearing Doo Wop classics is “Earth Angel,” made famous by the Penguins and written by Jesse Belvin. In 1956, Jesse had his own big hit with “Good Night My Love.” In 1959, he hit gold again with “Guess Who.” Influenced by Nat King Cole, Jesse was a major influence on a young Sam Cooke. In 1959, RCA released the album, “Just Jesse Belvin. A year later RCA released “Mr. Easy” by Jesse Belvin. Each of the albums is worth up to $100.00 today.

After Billy Joel played “Just the Way You Are” for his then wife Elizabeth, she asked “Do I get the publishing too?” Later Billy would say, “In retrospect, I probably should have known right then and there that the relationship was doomed. I had written ‘Just the Way You Are’ for someone who had changed.” The 45, “Just the Way You Are,” with picture sleeve is worth no more than $10.00. Maybe she should have asked for a mono copy of the Billy Joel album, “The Stranger.” That could get her and you up to $2,000.00.

In 1982, Elektra Records released the single, “Body Language,” by Queen. Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, it was the band’s first excursion into Funk and Disco. The value for the 45 depends on the picture sleeve. The version with a color picture of two naked bodies is worth no more than $10.00. However, a copy of the 45 that came with a sleeve with no images but just Queen and Body Language in red print on white background can sell for $350.00 today. Both versions are shown here.

Merry Christmas! If you have a black vinyl copy of the original “Elvis Christmas Album” from 1957 on RCA its worth up to $1,000.00. However, if the vinyl is red, as seen here, the value jumps up to $15,000.00. Ho Ho Ho!

Two years before Jerry Lee Lewis had his smash hit of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” Big Maybelle charted with her version. In 1999, the Grammy Hall of Fame Award was given to Big Maybelle’s 1956 hit, “Candy.” Her last hit came in 1966 with a cover version of “96 Tears,” made most famous by Question Mark and the Mysterians. In 1957, Savoy Records released the albums, “Big Maybelle Sings” and “Blues, Candy and Big Maybelle.” Each is worth up to $600.00 today.