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Among the one-hit-wonders of the early 1960’s was Randy and the Rainbows, started by brothers Mike and Sal Zero. In 1963, they had a top-10 Billboard hit with “Denise,” based on a real girl named Denise Lefrak. Their one and only hit was released by Rust records. A copy on a white label with rust and blue print is worth no more than $10.00, but a copy with a gold label can get you $100.00 today. Both versions are shown here.                         

Like the Grateful Dead, Phish has developed a massive following without much commercial airplay. With beginnings at the University of Vermont in the early 1980’s, Phish has sold almost 10 million records. Their concerts are continuously sold out and they often use audience participation. The original release in 1990 of their album, “Lawn Boy,” on A Go Go Records can sell for $500.00 today.

Doo Wop and Rockabilly records are among the most collectible on the market. An original copy of the Rockabilly record, “Gonna Rock And Roll Tonight” by Carl Mann, released on Jaxon Records in 1957, is worth up to $1,500.00. In 1951, the Larks recorded the Doo Wop song, “My Lost Love,” on Apollo Records. An original copy can get you $4,000.00 today.

If there was one song that exemplified the anti-war movement in the early 70’s, it was “Give Peace a Chance” by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band. Lennon was accompanied on acoustic guitar by Tommy Smothers of the Smothers Brothers. The original release of the 45 in 1969 on Apple Records is worth up to $100.00 with its picture sleeve. In 1994, Capitol Records reissued “Give Peace a Chance.” There was no picture sleeve but the record is also worth up to $100.00 today.

On April 7,1956 Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally” enters the US Pop chart. It peaks at #6. The record hits # 1 on the R&B chart. It becomes his first top 10 hit. A cover version by Pat Boone appears on the Pop chart simultaneously and reaches #8. Boone’s version lacks the raucous sound from Little Richard’s original. “Long Tall Sally” by Pat Boone is worth no more than $25.00 as issued as a 45 on the Dot Label. The original by Little Richard released as a 78 on Specialty Records can sell for $100.00 today.

Many times the color of the vinyl can make a big difference in value. Sometimes the color of the record label can make all the difference. But in the case of “Love Me Tender” by Elvis Presley, it’s the color of the picture sleeve that counts. Released by RCA in 1956, a copy of the 45 with a black and pink picture sleeve is worth up to $100.00. With a green and black sleeve the value jumps up to $150.00. And a copy with a black and white picture sleeve can get you $200.00 today. The picture sleeves that came with many 45’s are worth more than the records! For more free samples click on “Mighty John’s Picture Sleeve Guide” in the yellow strip above. The guide lists the values for over 10,000 picture sleeves.

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is the biggest selling album of all time. Who had the 2^nd biggest selling album of all time? That would be AC/DC with “Back in Black.” Rolling Stone magazine lists the album at #72 on its list of the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time. Taking their name from the initials of alternating current/direct current, AC/DC released the single “Flick of the Switch” from the “Back in Black” album in 1984 on Atlantic Records. A copy with picture sleeve can get you $100.00 today.

Marvin Lee Aday is better-known as Meat Loaf. His best known album, selling 34 million copies, is “Bat out of Hell,” containing the classics “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” The “Bat out of Hell” album, released on Epic Records in 1977, is no more than $10.00, but in 1967 Meat Loaf was a member of a group called Popcorn Blizzard. Their 45, “Once Upon a Time,” released on Magenda Records, can get you $350.00 today.

Among the great Rock bands to come out of San Francisco was Quicksilver Messenger Service. Their 45 of “Stand by Me” can now sell for $300.00 with its picture sleeve. Their commercial appeal wasn’t as great as Jefferson Airplane and other top-40 psychedelic bands of the day but don’t tell that to their many fans throughout the world. Their self-titled album from 1968, released on Capitol Records, is worth up to $250.00 today thanks in part to the cover art by Rick Griffin.

These are records you should know about. Here’s more in our series of valuable “Northern Soul” records. Born in obscurity, they live to be among the biggest record collectibles. In 1968, Pzaaz Records released “Sweet Lover” by Fortson and Scott. An original copy is now worth up to $1,500.00. That same year, Mary Jane Hooper recorded “I’ve Got What You Need.” An original release of that 45 on the Power-Pac record label can sell for $4,000.00 today.

Records you should know about are records that most people have never heard by recording artists most people have never heard of BUT can be worth a LOT of money. Mighty John’s “Records You Should Know About” appraisal guide lists thousands of them, each worth at least up to $500.00 or more. Most are worth up to $1,000.00 or more. The “Records You Should Know About” appraisal guide is on a flash drive. Click on “Records You Should Know About” in the yellow strip above for more free samples.