moneymusic.com

Quiet Riot was bigger than Van Halen when they were both waiting to be signed to a record label but Van Halen was signed first. However, Quiet Riot’s time came in 1983 when their album “Heavy Mental” became one of the biggest albums in Heavy Metal history. Unfortunately, its value is no more than $10.00. The big money is for their 1975 EP on Magic Wand Records. “Suicidal Show” is worth up to $700.00 today.

Dion DiMucci led his group, the Belmonts, to Rock N Roll immortality in 1959 with “A Teenager in Love.” The original 45 can sell for $40.00 today. The group, named after Belmont Avenue in the Bronx, had other hits like “I Wonder Why” and “Where or When.” Their debut album, “Presenting Dion and The Belmonts,” released on Laurie Records in 1959 is worth up to $400.00 in mono and up to $500.00 in stereo.

The Mamas and Papas had six top-5 hits in 1966 and 1967 including “California Dreamin” and “Monday Monday.” Their 1966 album “If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears,” released by Dunhill Records, is worth up to $30.00 if the cover view of the toilet is blocked as seen on the right. But if there is a full view of the toilet, as shown on the left, then the value jumps up to $250.00.

In the summer of 1966 the Doors was the house band at Whiskey-A-Go-Go. A year later they hit number 1 with the immortal “Light My Fire.” Their next #1 came a year later with “Hello, I Love You.” The 45 can now sell for $25.00. It was on their only #1 album, “Waiting For the Sun.” Released on Elektra Records in 1968, a stereo copy is worth no more than $50.00. However, a mono copy is worth up to $750.00 today.

In 1963, brother and sister, Inez and Charlie Foxx, had one big hit. “Mockingbird” went all the way to number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Released on Symbol Records, the 45 is worth up to $10.00. The song has been covered by many other recording artists including James Taylor and Carly Simon. Their version is among the most popular. In 1964, Sue Records released the Inez and Charlie Foxx album, “Mockingbird,” with Inez’s picture on the cover. It’s worth up to $250.00 today

Johnny Preston had several hits in the early 60’s like “Cradle of Love” and “Charming Billy.” Preston’s biggest hit was “Running Bear.” The song was a love story about Running Bear and Little White Dove. The background sounds on the record were done by the Big Bopper and a very young George Jones. A copy of the single can get you $25.00.The “Running Bear” album, released on Mercury Records in 1960, is worth up to $100.00 today.

Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield were young song writers in the fifties when they offered some compositions to Connie Francis. Her management felt the songs were to “grown-up sounding” for the emerging teen market. The boys were asked to write something less intelligent, more “stupid.” The result was “Stupid Cupid,” which turned out to be one of Connie’s biggest hits. The 45, released on M-G-M in 1958, is worth no more than $20.00 but the 78rpm version is up to $100.00 today. Both versions are shown here.

In 1958 RCA released “One Night” by Elvis. The original lyrics were “One night of sin,” but were toned down for airplay with lyrics that went “One night with you.” Even Elvis didn’t have the power to ignore F.C.C. guidelines of the day. The 45 rpm version with picture sleeve is worth up to $100.00 but the 78 rpm version is worth up to $800.00. Both versions are shown here.

“Stack-O-Tracks,” released by Capitol records in 1968, is a unique Beach Boys album. It was their first not to make the charts. It consisted of backing tracks to some of their many hits. It came with lyrics so the listener could sing along. You might say it was the first instance of Karaoke. Original copies are worth up to $125.00 today.

Aretha Franklin was the undisputed Queen of Soul with over a dozen hits that went gold. Without a doubt she gets the most R-E-S-P-E-C-T for that 1967 maga-hit, which record collectors respect up to $20.00 as well as others like “Chain of Fools” and “Think,” all recorded for Atlantic Records. But her debut album was on Columbia records. “Aretha,” released in 1961, is worth up to $250.00 today.