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“The Banana Splits Adventure Hour,” consisting of Bingo the Gorilla, Fleagle the Beagle, Snork the Elephant, and Drooper the Lion was a Saturday morning favorite on NBC in 1968 and 1969. The album, “We’re The Banana Splits,” released on Decca Records in 1969, can get you $300.00 today.

Yvonne Baker and the Sensations began their career in 1955. It would be 6 years before they hit big and that was with “Let Me In,” which reached # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1963, Argo Records released the album, “Let Me In,” Its worth up to $400.00 today. In 1967, Yvonne Baker went solo with “You Didn’t Say A Word.” Released on Parkway Records, it can get you $1,000.00 today.

Every one is familiar with dances such as the Twist, the Pony, the Swim, and the Mashed Potatoes. But before them all, there was the Madison. “Madison Time” was a hit for the Ray Bryant Trio in 1960. With its picture sleeve, as seen here on the left, it can now sell for $30.00. Ray Bryant was one of the few Jazz pianists to make the Billboard Hot 100. From 1953-1956, he was the house pianist in Philadelphia’s Blue Note club. The album “Ray Bryant Trio,” released on Prestige Records in 1957, is worth up to $700.00 today.

Among the Rock N Roll stars to make the leap from music to movies was Connie Francis. One of the biggest selling female recording artists of all time, she starred in the 1961 film, “Where The Boys Are,” which was also the title of one of her biggest hits. The movie put Ft. Lauderdale on the map and is responsible for establishing the ritual which has come to be known as “spring break.” The single, released on M-G-M, is now worth up to $125.00 with its picture sleeve.

Jackie Wilson, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, first gained fame as a member of the Doo Wop group, Billy Ward & the Dominoes. In 1957, he had his first solo hit with “Lonely Teardrops.” One of Wilson’s biggest fans was a young Elvis Presley. Wilson reportedly told Elvis to take salt pills to make him sweat when he performed. According to Wilson, girls loved it when they saw him sweat. In 1960, Brunswick Records released the album, “Jackie Sings the Blues.” A mono copy is now worth up to $75.00 but a stereo copy can get you $150.00 today.

Who is Percy “Thrills” Thrillington and why is his album worth money? Because Percy is Paul McCartney. In 1977, Capitol Records released the “Thrillington” album. The album, recorded by Paul McCartney and his wife Linda, is an instrumental version of McCartney’s “Ram” album. An original copy of “Thrillington” is worth up to $400.00 today.

One of the many Motown girl- groups was the Marvelettes, perhaps best known for their top-10 smash, “Please Mr. Postman,” which was later covered by the Beatles. Their second top-10 hit came a year later with “Playboy,” which can now sell for $30.00. Their other hits included “Twistin Postman” and “Beechwood 4-5789.” Their album, “Playboy,” released on Tamla Records in 1962, is worth up to $500.00 today.

It is generally believed that the most popular Big Band leader of the 30’s and 40’s was Tommy Dorsey. Until Elvis came along, Dorsey was RCA’s biggest selling recording star. Ironically, it was Tommy’s brother, Jimmy, who highlighted Elvis in his TV show for 6 consecutive weeks at the beginning of 1956. In 1945, Vogue Records released the picture disc, “Cocktails for Two,” featuring Tommy Dorsey. It’s worth up to $1,000.00 today.

A preacher at the age of nine, Solomon Burke was a pioneer in Soul music. Mick Jagger covered three of Burke’s songs on early albums by the Rolling Stones. Ironically, it was a Country song, “Just out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)” that was his first hit in 1961. He is probably best known for his Soul-flavored single, “Cry to Me.” The 45 on Atlantic Records can now fetch $40.00. His 1962 debut album, “Solomon Burke,” released on Apollo Records, is worth up to $400.00 today.

In 1967, the Box Tops went all the way to #1 with, “The Letter, ” thanks to lead singer, Alex Chilton. The 45 on Mala Records is worth no more than $15.00. In 1968, the band reached #2 with “Cry like a Baby.” Chilton said his singing voice was not his natural voice but a result of too much drinking and lack of sleep. He left the Box Tops in 1970 and formed Big Star, which was commercially unsuccessful but a heavy influence on bands such as R.E.M. In 1979, Chilton went solo and recorded the album “Like Flies on Sherbert.” Released on Peabody Records, a copy is worth up to $350.00 today.