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“Wildflowers” by Tom Petty was released by Warner Brothers in 1994. In 2020, it was listed at #214 on Rolling Stones’ list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”
Credit was given just to Tom Petty with no mention of his band, the Heartbreakers. The album has been certified 3x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. A copy of the 2-record set can now sell for $400.00. (You can get a detailed appraisal for any record for just $1.00. Just click on “Online Appraisals” in the yellow strip above)

The Turtles had their biggest hit with “Happy Together.” In January of 1967, it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2007, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Released as a 45 on White Whale Records, its worth up to $20.00 now. However, the picture sleeve, can now sell for $200.00.

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

“Big Hits, High Tide, and Green Grass,” by the Rolling Stones, released on London records in 1966, can be one of the most valuable albums you could have or find. The album cover photo was taken at Franklin Canyon Park in the mountains above Beverly Hills. However, the important thing to know about the cover is the album title. If the title is on three lines in upper case lettering, the album is worth up to $50.00. If the title is printed on one line in lower case lettering, as seen on the right, then don’t drop it. It’s worth up to $7,500.00! Both versions are shown here. (All the little things that can make a big difference in record values are detailed in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

“Electric Ladyland” was the last album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The double album was the band’s only number one album. By mid-November in 1968, it had reached number 1 on the Billboard’s Top LPs chart. Released by Reprise Records, a copy with an orange and brown record label is worth up to $600.00. A copy with only a brown record label is a re issue and worth no more than $15.00 (All issues and re issues of every record are described in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

In 1967, Capitol Records released “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by the Beatles. The inspiration is said to have come when roadie Mal Evans innocently asked McCartney what the letters “S” and “P” stood for on the pots on their in-flight meal trays, and McCartney explained it was for salt and pepper. This then led to the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band concept, as well as the song. A stereo copy is worth up to $150.00. Make it $500.00 for a mono copy.

RCA was the first record company to issue 45’s in both mono and stereo and the difference in value can be quite significant. In 1960, Elvis Presley had one of his biggest hits with “Are You Lonesome Tonight.” A mono copy, as seen on the left, is valued up to $20.00. Add up to another $50.00 for the picture sleeve a seen here. A stereo copy,seen on the right, can jump the value up to $800.00.

“A whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum was literally an anthem during the summer of love in 1967 and one of the best-selling singles in history. There have been over 1,000 cover versions by other recording artist. The 45 on Deram Records is worth up to $20.00 with another $20.00 for the picture sleeve. The self-title album featuring the hit can be another story. Mono or stereo copies with poster and cover sticker as seen on the right are worth up to $500.00. Without the poster and cover sticker as seen on the left are worth up to $250.00.

“You Can’t Hurry Love” was a number # 1 hit for the Supremes in 1966. Billboard named the song number 19 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time. Released on Motown Records, the single itself is worth not much more than $15.00. However, the picture sleeve as seen here is valued up to $125.00.

“Highway 61 Revisited,” is considered one of Bob Dylan’s greatest albums. It ranks #18 on Rolling Stones’ list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Most copies, with a regular version of “From a Buick 6” are worth up to $50.00. However, versions of the album with a harmonica riff at the beginning of “From a Buick 6” can sell for $350.00 today.

“Meet the Temptations” was the debut album for one of Motown’s best-known super groups. Although David Ruffin would become the leader, he sings lead only on the hit, “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” featured on the album. All other tracks feature Elbridge “Al” Bryant as lead singer. Bryant was fired shortly before the release of the album and David Ruffin became the star. Released in 1964, a copy is worth up to $125.00 today.