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The 1969 debut album for MC5 was “Kick out the Jams.”  The band was together for no more than three years but the impression they left had a deep affect on the hard rock groups that followed. True to their Detroit roots, the band took the name MC5, which stands for Motor City Five. Their “Kick out the Jams” album was released by Electra Records. There was both a censored and uncensored version. The “clean” copy is no more than $30 but the version with the X-rated title track can get you $600.00 today.

Elvis fans know Barbara McNair as one of the nuns in the Elvis/Mary Tyler Moore movie, “Change of Habit.” But she was so much more than that. Her biggest hits included “Bobby” in 1958 and “You’re Gonna Love Me Baby” in 1965. She did it all, from appearing nude in Playboy to joining Bob Hope on his U.S.O. tours in Vietnam and then on to the Broadway stage. In 1966 Motown released the Barbara McNair album, “Here I Am.” A copy is worth up to $100.00 today. In 1969 Motown issued, “The Real Barbara McNair.” That, too, can sell for $100.00.

Blues records have been around for almost 100 years and in most cases blues means green when it comes to monetary value. In 1928 Paramount Records released “Mississippi Jail House Groan” by Rube Lacy. A copy is now worth up to $2,500.00. In 1937 Vocalion Records released “Milkcow’s Calf Blues” by the legendary Robert Johnson. A copy can get you $10,000.00 today.These both fall into a category known as “Pre-war Blues.” Blues records that came out prior to World War ll can be very valuable.

Dickey Lee first hit the top-10 in 1962 with “Patches” despite the fact that many radio stations wouldn’t play it because it dealt with suicide. He then followed up with the more upbeat, “I Saw Linda Yesterday.” However, neither of these hits are worth more than $10.00. But Dickey Lee first recorded for Sun Records where his “Dreamy Nights” single can get you $100.00 today.

Darlene Love, best known as lead singer of the Crystals on hits such as “He’s A Rebel” began her career as lead singer for the Blossoms. They can be heard backing up Shelly Faberes on “Johnny Angel” and with Johnny Rivers on many of his hits like “Poor Side Of Town.” Darlene Love also had a number of solo hits like “The Boy I’m Gonna Marry,” which is now worth up to $100.00. Her most valuable solo single came in 1964 with “Stumble and Fall.” Issued on Philles Records, a copy can get you $1,000.00 today.

One of the forerunners for disaster movies was “Island In The Sky” starring John Wayne. Released by Warner Brothers in 1953, the film is considered a classic because of the realism of the plane crash scene. Also in the movie was Fess Parker who would go on to overnight success as Davy Crockett and James Arness who John Wayne convinced to take the part of Matt Dillon for the new TV show, “Gunsmoke.” The soundtrack album on Decca Records can get you $250.00 today. “Island in the Sky” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks flash drive covering movies, TV shows, and Broadway shows.

Freddie King was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, recognized for his body of work including the top-40 hit, “Hide Away,” which on the original Federal record label can now fetch $50.00. But he’s also noted for being one of the great Blues guitarists of all time and for his influence on other greats like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn. The 1961 album, “Let’s Hide Away and Dance Away,” by Freddie King, released on King Records, is worth up to $700.00 today.

The Louvin Brothers started out as Gospel singers in the 1940’s, but their real lives reflected more of the hard-drinking, womanizing Country tunes of the 50’s. Eventually, they did go Country. Married four times and shot four times, Ira Louvin’s life could have been a made-for-TV movie. And long before Peter Townsend of the Who was smashing guitars on stage, Ira was doing the same with mandolins. In 1956, Capitol Records released the Louvin Brothers’ album, “Tragic Songs of Life.” How appropriate! A copy can get you $100.00 today.

Barbara Lynn had one of the biggest hits of 1962 with “You’ll Lose a Good Thing.” The song has also been recorded by soul-sister Aretha Franklin and Country star Freddie Fender. But Barbara Lynn’s version is the classic. A copy of the 45 can fetch $40.00. She was one of the few African American women who played guitar as she sang. The album, “You’ll Lose a Good Thing,” released on Jamie Records in 1962, can get you $400.00 today.

Those 45’s that fall into a “Garage Rock” category can be quite valuable. In 1966, Pharaoh Records released the single, “24 Hours,” by the Headstones. A copy is now worth up to $1,500.00. That same year Fairchild Records issued, “Problem Child,” by the Four More. An original copy can get you as much as $2,500.00 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. 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 free samples.