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Jackie Wilson was Gospel polished and a true Rock N Roll great who influenced superstars from Elvis Presley to Michael Jackson. While singing the lyric, “My heart is crying,” from one of his classics, “Lonely Teardrops,” at a Dick Clark Revue in 1975 he collapsed and never recovered. At first the audience and fellow performers thought that when he fell it was just part of the act. But the act was over for Jackie Wilson. The original 45 from 1958 can now sell for $50.00. The “Lonely Teardrops” album, released on Brunswick Records in 1959, is worth up to $125.00 today.

Stevie Wonder has been a force in music since the early 60’s when he was known as “Little” Stevie Wonder. At the age of 12 he had his first in a long list of hits. With Marvin Gaye on drums and Little Stevie on bongos and playing the harmonica, “Fingertips” went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Released on Tamla Records in 1963, the single with its picture sleeve is worth up to $125.00 today.

Glen Campbell will always be best known for hits like “Gentle on My Mind,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” and “Rhinestone Cowboy.” But in many cases it’s the lesser known records by well-known recording artists that are worth more. In 1958, Ceneco records released, “Dreams for Sale,” by Glen Campbell. A copy can get you $200.00 today.

Here are more examples of Northern Soul, a valuable record collectible category so named for Northern England and the obscure Soul records from the U.S. that tops their want lists. In 1972 Duke Records issued the single, “Long Walk On A Short Pier,” by Rhonda Davis. It’s worth up to $300.00.  In 1971, Gemini Records released “Pot of Gold” by the El Count Executives. A copy of that 45 can get you $1,000.00 today. These are records you should know about. 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 in Microsoft Word. Click on “Records You Should Know About” in the yellow strip above for more free samples.

In 1960, after spending 3 years with Cadence Records where the Everly Brothers recorded massive hits like “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” the boys signed with Warner Bothers where their first release “Cathy’s Clown” would become their biggest hit. Released in 1960, a black vinyl copy is worth no more than $20.00 but a gold vinyl copy can get you $150.00. Add up to $50.00 for the picture sleeve.

Many say that Bill Evans was the greatest Jazz pianist of all time. In 1958 Evans became part of the Miles Davis Sextet and the album, “Kind of Blue,” which is the all-time best-selling Jazz album. In 1961 he recorded the album, “Waltz For Debbie.” Evans gained 31 Grammy nominations before his death in 1980. The album, “Waltz For Debbie,” released on Riverside Records in 1961, is worth up to $500.00 in stereo and $1,500.00 in mono. His 1958 album on Riverside, “Everybody Digs Bill Evans,” can sell for $750.00 in mono or stereo.

“(You Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Hound Dog” will always be remembered as a classic made most famous by a Rock N Roll king, but the song was first introduced by a Blues queen. Elvis Presley’s 1956 version, released on RCA records, is worth up to $150.00 with its picture sleeve. However, the 1953 release on Peacock Records by Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton can get you $300.00 today.

The Crests was among the most successful interracial Doo Wop groups of the 50’s and 60’s. Led by Johnny Maestro, they racked up hits like “Trouble in Paradise,” and “The Angels Listened In.” But it all began with “16 Candles.” It went all the way to #2 in 1959. Released on Coed Records, the 45 is worth no more than $20.00 but on a 78 the value jumps up to $400.00.

In the early 1950,s the movie musical was in its heyday. Among the most successful and enduring was “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” starring two of Hollywood’s most famous sex symbols, Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe. Monroe’s rendition of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” was the inspiration for Madonna’s “Material Girl.” The soundtrack album, released on M-G-M Records in 1953, is worth up to $100.00 today. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks flash drive in Microsoft Word, covering movies, TV shows, and Broadway shows. It’s available in the left hand column.

“They often call me Speedo but my real name is Mr. Earl” is the way to describe Earl Carroll, lead singer of the Cadillacs, which is one of Rock N Roll’s greatest Doo Wop groups. Their big hit,“Speedo,” which is worth up to $75.00 today, is on their 1957 album, “The Fabulous Cadillacs.” If you have or find a copy of the album on Jubilee Records and the record label is black it’s worth up to $200.00. If the record label is blue it can get you $500.00 today.