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It’s hard to believe that Ritchie Valens was only seventeen when he died in that fateful plane crash along with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. He had just charted with the two-sided hit, “Donna” and “La Bamba.” His first album, released on Del Fi Records in 1959, is worth up to $200.00 if the back cover correctly lists his hit “That’s My Little Suzie.” But, if the back cover incorrectly lists the song as “I Got a Gal Named Sue,” then the value jumps up to $400.00 today.

“California Dreamin’” by the Mamas and Papas is one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s top 100 songs of all time. The song was first recorded by Barry McGuire with back up by the Mamas and Papas. But it’s their version that will live forever in Rock N Roll history with a value up to $15.00. However, the black and white picture sleeve, as shown here, was released by Dunhill Records in 1965 and worth up to $300.00 today.

In 1865 Lewis Carroll introduced the world to a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world inhabited by creatures like the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, and the Mad Hatter. In 1958 Disney released the animated version. Issued on Disneyland Records, the original soundtrack for “Alice in Wonderland” is worth up to $350.00. “Alice in Wonderland” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks on our Soundtracks guide on CD. It lists the values for all movies, TV, and Broadway shows and is available in the left hand column.

Chester Arthur Burnett, known as Howlin’ Wolf, was one of if not the greatest Blues artists of his time. He began his recording career in the early 1950’s, but it was the Rolling Stones who made his enormous contributions to the Blues known to the world. Like Elvis, Howlin’ Wolf recorded his early music at the famous Sun studios. His first records came in 1951 like “Crying at Daybreak” and “My Baby Stole Off.” Issued by RPM Records, each of these 45’s is worth up to $3,000.00 today.

The Hollywood Argyles had a number one hit in 1960 with a song called “Alley-Oop” based on the comic book character of the same name. The 45 is worth up up $30.00. But, there was not a real group called the Hollywood Argyles. It was just Gary Paxton, producer, writer, and hit-maker. After “Alley-Oop” became a smash hit, Paxton had to put a group together to go on the road to cash in on his giant novelty hit. The “Alley-oop” album, released on Lute Records in 1960, is worth up to $400.00 today.

Released in 1978, “Darkness on the Edge of Town” is Bruce Springsteen’s fourth album. Despite the fact that the album didn’t produce any hit singles, it stayed on the charts for almost two years. The album is not a collectible at no more than $10.00 unless you have or find the picture disc version as shown here on the right. Released by Columbia Records its worth up to $200.00 today. “Darkness on the Edge of Town” by Bruce Springsteen is just one of the picture discs you’ll find listed on our Picture Discs Price Guide on CD. It’s available in the left hand column.

“The Chirping Crickets” was the first album for Buddy Holly and his band. It contains Rock N Roll classics such as “Maybe Baby”, “That’ll Be the Day,” and “Oh Boy!” which on a 78 as seen here can get you $400.00. Recorded when Buddy Holly was just twenty-one-years old, “The Chirping Crickets” album was released by Brunswick Records in 1957 and is worth up to $750.00 today.

The Shadows of Knight, an early punk band out of Chicago, gave Rock N Roll one giant hit in 1966 with “Gloria” (G-L-O-R-I-A). The song was written and first released by Van Morrison and his band, Them, but the Shadows of Knight’s version has become the established classic. It would have been an even bigger hit had it been released on a bigger label than Dunwich, which had distribution problems. The single is worth up to $10.00 but a follow up on Dunwich records in 1966 called “Bad Little Woman” can fetch up to $200.00 today with its picture sleeve as shown here.

“Danger” was a live 30 minute anthology series that ran on CBS for 5 years, debuting in September, 1950. Among the actors who were little known at the time were Paul Newman and James Dean. Tony Mottola played the original theme music included on the “Danger” TV soundtrack album, which is the first TV soundtrack album. Released on M-G-M records, it’s worth up to $100.00 today. “Danger” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks CD, covering movies, TV, and Broadway shows. It’s available in the left hand column.

Ersel Hickey was a tough kid who had a tough life with a mother in a mental institution, a missing father, and no home but foster homes. But in 1958, encouraged by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, Hickey wrote and recorded the Rock N Roll classic, “Bluebirds Over the Mountain.” It was later recorded in 1958 by Ritchie Valens and again by the Beach Boys in 1968. Hickey’s 45 on Epic Records is worth up to $25.00 but a 78 rpm version can sell for $200.00 today. Both are seen here.