moneymusic.com

When we say that little things can make a big difference in value for the same record, there’s no better example than the Rolling Stone’s first album released by London Records in the U.S. in 1964. What you want is the version pictured here with sticker in lower left hand column reading “Free Full Color Photo Inside” with photo inside. On the record itself, it has the words “Full Frequency Range Recording.” That version is now worth up to $1,000.00. Covers with “Free Full Color Photo Inside” with photo but record without “Full Frequency Range Recording” printed on the label are up to $400.00. Copies with bonus photo but no mention of it on the cover and no “Full Frequency Range Recording” on the label can sell for $300.00. Copies with no bonus photo and no “Full Frequency Range Recording” on label can sell for $40.00. My head hurts. I’m going to lay down now. Whew! (All the little things that can make a big difference in all record values are detailed in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

In 1970 Apple Records released the John Lennon single, “Mother.” It wasn’t much of a hit, reaching only #43 on the Billboard Hot 100. Abandoned by his father, and even though he didn’t live with his mother, the two were close. The 45 is worth up to $40.00 if the word “MONO” is printed on the label, up to $10.00 if it is not. The picture sleeve by itself can get you $125.00 today.

(Find the values for every record by John Lennon in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

In September of 1967, sixteen-year-old Alex Chilton and his band, the Box Tops, are number one in the country with “The Letter”. It will stay at #1 for four weeks. “The Letter” is only the second #1 hit in the history of Rock and Roll to be under 2 minutes in length. The other is “Stay,” by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs, which was a #1 single from 1960. The album, “The Letter/Neon Rainbow,” released on Bell Records, is worth up to $30.00 but the “Stay” album, released on the Herald label, can now sell for $250.00.

Brenda Lee charted 47 times in the 1960’s. She is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. It would take Madonna to break her record of nine consecutive top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Among Brenda Lee’s best known hits are “I’m Sorry” and “I Want to be Wanted.” Her smash, “Dum Dum,” can be found on her 1961 album “All the Way.” The “Dum Dum” 45 is worth no more than $20.00 but the album it’s on, released on Decca Records, is valued up to $40.00 in mono and up to $125.00 in stereo.

(Find the values for every record by Brenda Lee in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

Gladys Knight & the Pips began their rise to stardom in 1953 and for the next 35 years the hits just kept on comin’. The first hit was “Every Beat of my Heart.” Next up was “Letter Full of Tears.” Then the flood gates opened with smashes like “Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye)” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Among the records sought by collectors is the 1964 album on Waxx Records called “Gladys Knight & the Pips.” A copy is worth up to $125.00 today.(Find the values for every record by Gladys Knight & the Pips in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

In 1996 Isaac Hayes, who wrote the classic, “I’m a Soul Man,” for Sam and Dave sent presidential candidate Bob Dole a letter requesting Dole supporters stop using the phrase, “I’m a Dole Man.” The Sam and Dave album, “Soul Men,” released on Stax Records in 1967, can fetch $50.00 today. Isaac Hayes’ first single of “C.C. Rider” on Youngstown Records is now worth up to $100.00. As far as we know Bob Dole had no vinyl record, just a political one. And we thank him for his service.
(Find the values for over a million records in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column)

As with baseball cards from a player’s rookie season, the first records from recording artists can be quite valuable. Such is the case for Alice Cooper. In 1969, Straight Records released his 45, “Return of the Spiders,” with “Shoe Salesman” on the other side. A year later in 1970, Warner Brothers re issued the 45, plugging “Shoe Salesman.” The Warner Brothers reissue is worth up to $125.00. However, the original release on Straight Records can sell for $1,200.00. Both issues are shown here. (The values for all original issues of all records as well as the values for all reissues are explained in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

In February of 1974, Casablanca Records released the first Kiss album. First issues do not contain the song, “Kissin’Time.” In July the album was re issued and this time with “Kissin’ Time.” The Kiss album containing “Kissin’ Time” is worth no more than $20.00, but copies without “Kissin’ Time” can get you $750.00 today.

(Find the values for every record by Kiss in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

In September of 1971, the Grateful Dead have their ex-manager arrested for embezzling $70,000.00. Peace and love is nice, brother, but let’s face it; it is all about the money. Instead of stealing, maybe their manager should have scooped up some of the Dead’s records, like the single, “Dark Star,” from 1968. Released on Warner Brothers Records, the 45 is now worth up to $200.00. Add another $400.00 for the picture sleeve as seen here. (Find the values for every record by the Grateful Dead in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

In October of 1972 Michael Jackson made a rat a star when he hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Ben.” It was his third time in Billboard’s top spot. He was 13. The rat was a little younger. The album, released on Motown, featured two different covers. The version showing just Michael Jackson on the cover is worth up to $20.00. But a cover showing Michael and a rat can sell for $75.00 today.(Find the values for every record by Micheal Jackson in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)