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Without a doubt, the one album that many people think is worth big money but is not is “Street Survivors” by Lynynrd Skynyrd. Released on MCA Records in October 1977, just before a plane crash that took the lives of two band members, the cover shows the band with flames. Later issues had the flames removed, The cover without flames is no more than $10.00 but the cover with flames is no more than $40.00 today.

Lionel Hampton was a master of the vibraphone and a drummer who could juggle drumsticks without missing a beat. He played with all the Jazz greats from Charlie Parker to Louis Armstrong. But it was Benny Goodman who first recognized Hampton’s amazing talents. Among his collectible albums is “Jazztime Paris.” Released on Blue Note Records in 1953, a copy can get you $250.00 today.

Donna Loren is one of the best known unknowns of the sixties. She is best known as spokesperson for Dr. Pepper from 1963-1968. She recorded over a dozen singles but never had a hit. Nonetheless, she appeared on “Shindig” several times and was a regular in the popular “Beach” movies of the day. In 1964, Capitol Records released the single, “Blowing Out The Candles,” by Donna Loren. A copy with its picture sleeve can get you $200.00 today.

The first Spanish group to hit the Billboard Hot 100 was Los Bravos from Madrid. Their giant contribution to Rock N Roll was the smash single, “Black is Black (I Want My Baby Back),” reaching #4 in 1966. The single is worth no more than $20.00 but the album, “Black is Black,” released on Press Records, can get you $100.00 today.

Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran are among the giants in the history of Rock N Roll. Both would die young, well before their time; Holly in a plane crash and Cochran in a car accident. Any and all of their records are collectible. In 1956, Crest Records released “Skinny Jim” by Eddie Cochran. In 1957, Coral Records issued the single “Words of Love” by Buddy Holly. Each one can get you $800.00 today.

In the summer of ’62 you couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing “The Loco-motion” by Little Eva. This former baby sitter for Carole King scored again that same year with “Keep Your Hands Off My Baby.” But it’s her single on Dimension Records with picture sleeve of “Makin’ with the Magilla” that collectors prize. Made for the cartoon show, “The Magilla Gorilla Show,” its worth up to $250.00 today.

Bobby Freeman’s first hit came in 1958 with the classic, “Do You Want To Dance,” which was also a hit for the Beach Boys in 1966. Freeman’s version on a 45 can now sell for $40.00. In 1964, Bobby Freeman scored again with “C’mon and Swim,” reaching # 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The other dance craze he is famous for is the Shimmy. In 1965, King Records released the album, “The Lovable Style of Bobby Freeman.” A copy can get you $200.00 today.

In 1953, Frank Sinatra and Donna Reed won Academy Awards for best supporting actor and best supporting actress for their roles in “From Here To Eternity.” The movie also won the Academy Award for best picture. Hollywood legends Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr were the stars of the film based on the James Jones novel. The soundtrack album, released by Coral Records, can get you $100.00 today. “From Here to Eternity” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks Guide on a flash drive in Microsoft Word, covering movies, TV shows, and Broadway shows. It’s available in the left hand column.

Barbara Lewis was not just a great singer but she also wrote many of her hits like “Hello Stranger,” which charted at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963, and can now sell for $25.00. More hits followed like “Baby I’m Yours” and “Make Me Your Baby,” each reaching # 11 on the charts. Her 1964 album, “Snap Your Fingers,” released on Atlantic Records, is worth up to $125.00.

Before Graham Parsons worked with the Byrds and Emmylou Harris, he helped form the International Submarine Band. With Parsons doing vocals, the band never had any real commercial success but are recognized as being influential on the Country-Rock bands that followed. In 1966, Ascot Records released the single, “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming,” by the International Submarine Band. A copy with picture sleeve can get you $100.00 today. Beware of counterfeits: Originals have the Ascot label and number at lower right on the record label. Counterfeits do not. All known counterfeit records are listed and described in the Mighty John Record Appraisal Guide on a flash drive in Microsoft Word. It’s available in the left hand column.