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In September of 1990 Gunnar and Matthew Nelson, twin sons of Ricky Nelson, are #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Love and Affection,” making them the 3^RD generations of Nelsons to have a #1 hit. Their grandfather, Ozzie,” was on top of the charts in 1932 with “And Then Some.” Their dad, Ricky, did it with “Travelin’ Man” in 1961. The grandsons and granddad, however, are not too collectible. Their #1 hits are worth no more than $10.00 but Ricky is another story. His #1 hit of “Travelin’ Man,” released on Imperial Records, can fetch $50.00 with its picture sleeve. Make it $4,000.00 for a copy on blue vinyl.

They say Chubby Checker got his stage name from Dick Clark’s wife who thought he looked like Fats Domino. Therefore, Fats was changed to Chubby and Domino to Checker. He was the king of the Twist, the Pony, the Hucklebuck, the Fish, the Fly and numerous other dance crazes of the 60s. However, it’s one of his lesser-known 45s that is worth the most money. A copy of “The Twist” on Parkway Records might fetch $30.00 today but his little-known single on Parkway from 1966 called “You Just Don’t Now” can sell for $800.00. Make it up to $1,500.00 for a promo copy as seen here.

(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,” available in the yellow strip above.)

The Kinks, founded by brothers, Ray and Dave Davies, were part of the British Invasion of the mid-60s along with the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, the Who and so many more. Their first big hit, “You Really Got Me,” reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The value for the 45 is up to $30.00. The value for the album is up to $30.00 in stereo and $100.00 in mono if the label is pink, gold, and green as seen here. Cut the value in half if the label is brown.

(All versions of all records are described in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

“The Long and Winding Road” was issued on Apple Records in May of 1970, a month after the Beatles broke up. It was their 20^th and final # 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The single is worth no more than $20.00. The picture sleeve,as seen here, can now sell for $150.00.

(You can find the values for over 10,000 picture sleeves with “Mighty John’s Picture Sleeve Guide,” available in the yellow strip above.)

One of the 1970’s best known Rock bands was Grand Funk Railroad. They took their name from Grand Trunk Western Railroad that ran through their town of Flint, Michigan. With Todd Rundgren as a producer, they had their most successful album, “We’re An American Band.” It’s the same title as their 1973 # 1 hit. Released on Capitol Records, the album with black vinyl is worth no more than $10.00 but almost half of them were issued on gold vinyl and a copy can sell for $50.00 today.

“Elvis in Concert” featured some of his final performances. Released in 1977, the two-disc set was certified Gold and Platinum on October 14 and 3× Platinum on August 1, 2002, by the RIAA. The value depends on the color of the labels on the record. Copies with blue record labels are worth up to $25.00. Copies with black record labels can now sell for $600.00.
(All versions of all records are described in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

”She was sent from down below.” That’s what Ernie K-Doe sang about his mother-in-law. But he should have thanked her for giving him a million-seller that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. Released on Minit Records, a copy of “Mother-In Law” is worth up to $50.00. In 1971, Janus Records released “Here Comes the Girls” by Ernie K-Doe. He could have shown his appreciation for his mother-in-law by giving her a bunch of those singles. A copy can sell for $400.00 today.

Art Kassel started his dance band in 1924 and over the years featured many great musicians including Benny Goodman.  Kassel was a saxophonist and a clarinetist. His composition of “Doodle Doo Doo” can even be heard in the soundtrack of the Elvis movie, “The Trouble with Girls.” In 1947, the Vogue Record Company issued the Art Kassel picture disc, “Queen For a Day.” A copy is worth up to $4,500.00 today. “Queen For a Day” by Art Kassel is just one of the picture discs you’ll find listed on our Picture Discs Price Guide. It’s available in the left hand column.

In 1963, Mercury Records released the Boris Karloff album, “Tales of the Frightened.” The man who brought Frankenstein’s monster and the Mummy to the silver screen tells creepy tales in that familiar eerie voice just made to bring us chills. Along with creepy music and sound effects, Karloff opens each story with the words “Are you one of the frightened?” A copy of the album can scare up $75.00. In 1967, Decca released the album, “An Evening with Boris Karloff,” now worth up to $300.00.

In 1967, Van Morrison had his first solo hit with “Brown-Eyed Girl.” Two years earlier the Golliwogs came out with their single “Brown-Eyed Girl.” It’s the same title but different song. The Golliwogs would later be known as Creedence Clearwater Revival. But whose brown-eyed girl would you rather have? A record collector would choose the Golliwogs. Van Morrison’s single on Bang Records is worth no more than $20.00 while the Golliwog’s 45 of “Brown-Eyed Girl” on Scorpio Records can get you $250.00 today.