moneymusic.com

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.

Before Smokey Robinson and the Miracles would have their big stretch of hits beginning with “Shop Around,” they released three albums which are now quite collectible. A great example is their 1962 album, “I’ll Try Something New.” Issued by Tamla Records, a copy with a yellow label is worth up to $400.00, but if the label is white, as shown here, then the value jumps up to $800.00.

The Pointer Sisters’ first album, containing their hit, “Yes We Can Can,” went gold in 1973. Their next big hit, a cover version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Fire” reached number two as did the single that followed, “Slow Hand.” “Fire” is worth no more than $10.00 with picture sleeve. Their biggest hit is “I’m So Excited.” However, their most valuable record, “Send Him Back,” as seen here, was recorded in 1972 on Atlantic Records. It’s worth up to $200.00 today.

Diane Renay was another Philadelphia success story along with the city’s other stars like Chubby Checker and Bobby Rydell. She had her one big hit when she was seventeen. “Navy Blue” hit Billboards’ top 10 in February of 1964. The single can get you up to $35.00. The album, “Navy Blue,” was released by 20th Century Fox the same year. A mono copy is worth up to $150.00. A stereo copy can sell for up to $300.00 today.

Rare Earth was Motown’s first successful all-white band and recorded on Motown’s Rare Earth record label. They had a run of hits in the early 1970’s like “I Just Want to Celebrate” and a cover version of the Temptations’ “Get Ready.” Their 1970 album, “Rare Earth Generation,” is their most valuable. It’s worth up to $600.00 today.

Records you should know about are those most people have never heard of, but you should. Johnny Powers is not a name that is well known today but back in the 1950’s he was a Rockabilly artist who sounded a lot like Elvis. Like Presley, Powers also recorded some singles for Sun Records. Powers was also the first white artist to sign with Motown. On his 1957 single, “Long Blond Hair, Red Rose Lips,” it Is Jazz legend, Stan Getz, on guitar. The single, released on Fox Records, is worth up to $2,000.00 today.

“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. You may see them at a local yard sale or flea market and pass them by. You could be passing by a fortune. Mighty John’s “Records You Should Know About” appraisal guide lists thousands of them, each worth at least up to $500.00 or more. Most are worth up to $1,000.00 or more. The “Records You Should Know About” appraisal guide in Microsoft Word. Click on “Records You Should Know About” in the yellow strip above for more free samples.

“Strutter” is a song written by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Released as a single by Kiss in 1974 with “100,000 Years” on the flip side, it failed to make the charts. Peter Criss, the original drummer for Kiss, said “Strutter” is his favorite Kiss song. Issued on Casablanca Records, the 45 is worth up to $400.00 today.

“Plains, Trains, and Automobiles” is one of those movies that has become a Thanksgiving tradition to watch. It’s the story of Steve Martin trying to get home in time for the holiday while traveling with John Candy. In one part of the film, Candy lip-syncs to the Ray Charles classic “Mess Around.” A 78 rpm version from 1953 on a red and black Atlantic record label is worth up to $150.00. An original 45 rpm version on a yellow and black Atlantic record label is worth up to $300.00 today.

Martha Reeves and The Vandellas was Motown’s second most popular and successful girl-group of the sixties. Martha Reeves states in her autobiography that she and the Vandellas could have been more successful but were held back because Barry Gordy was obsessed with showcasing Diana Ross & the Supremes. As a result, bad feelings developed between Reeves and Ross. The 1963 album, “Come and Get These Memories,” by Martha and The Vandellas, released on Gordy Records, is worth up to $400.00 in mono. Stereo versions are worth up to $600.00 today.

Linda Scott hit the charts twelve times in the early to mid-1960’s. Her biggest hit came in 1961 with “I’ve Told Every Little Star.” It sold over a million copies. An original 45 on Canadian American Records is worth up to $40.00. More hits followed like “I Don’t Know Why” and “I Left My Heart in the Balcony.” In 1962 Congress Records released the album “Linda.” A mono copy is worth up to $75.00, up to $150.00 in stereo.