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Dolly Parton is best known for her hit, “I Will Always Love You,” which was also a smash for Whitney Houston. Dolly was one of twelve children from a poor Tennessee family. Many of her early hits like “Coat of Many Colors” reflect her meager upbringing. At thirteen, her first record, “Puppy Love,” was released by Goldband Records. The publicity photo is shown here along with the single. The record is worth up to $750.00 today.

Vee Jay Records issued the first Beatles album in the United States in 1963 with “Introducing The Beatles.” No other record company found more ways of repackaging the same album as did Vee Jay. They released the same material on the Beatles album,” Songs, Pictures, and Stories,” as well as the album, “The Beatles and Frank Ifield.” They even put the same songs together in an album with the Four Seasons who were also signed to Vee Jay. “The Beatles Vs The Four Seasons” album, released in 1964, is worth up to $2,000.00 in mono and $2,500.00 in stereo.

Little Peggy March was four-foot-nine and fifteen-years-old when she had one of the biggest selling singles of 1963 with “I Will Follow Him.” She stills hold the record for being the youngest female singer to hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single can sell for $20.00 today. The album, “I Will Follow Him,” released by RCA, is worth up to $50.00 in mono and $100.00 in stereo.

The “Twilight Zone” was without a doubt the most popular of the sci-fi shows of the 60’s. A close second and very well received was “Outer Limits,” which ran on ABC from 1963-1965. The Marketts’ version of the “Outer Limits” theme was the bigger hit but worth only up to $25.00. Another version was by the Centuries. It wasn’t a hit, but it’s worth much more. Released by Cleopatra Records in 1963, a red vinyl copy can get you up to $175.00 today.

ZZ Top is a Blues/Rock band that came out of Texas in the early 1970’s and still maintains a strong fan base today. With the advent of MTV and videos of their classics like “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs,” their popularity exploded. Their first 45, “Salt Lick,” released on Scat Records in 1969, can now sell for $100.00 and their debut album, “First Album,” released on London Records in 1971, is worth up to $200.00 today.

Eddie Burns was part of the Detroit Blues scene of the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. He started out as a session man for the legendary John Lee Hooker. Eddie might have had a bigger name if he had toured more often, but he was happy just to stay in Michigan. His 1952 single, “Hey Miss Jessie Lee,” released on DeLuxe Records, is worth up to $500.00. In 1957 J-V-B Records released “Treat Me Like I Treat You.” Both the 45 and 78 rpm versions can sell for $600.00 today.

Alabama was a forerunner for the many Country music bands to follow. They reached number 1 on the Country charts over 30 times and crossed over to the pop charts as well. They have been given their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2005 were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. They first recorded as Wild Country and their “Wild Country” album, released on LSI Records in 1970, is worth up to $500.00 today.

Madonna has sold over 300 million records and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. Inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, Madonna is the number 1 best-selling recording artist of the 20th century. In 1983, Sire Records released her album, “Like a Virgin.” With over 21 million sold, it became her first number 1 album. A white vinyl copy is worth up to $125.00 today.

Taking their name from a restaurant in Queens, NY, the Shangri- Las, made up of two sets of sisters, were one of the most popular white girl-groups of the mid-1960’s with their songs of teen melodrama like “Give Him A Great Big Kiss” and “I Can Never Go Home Anymore.” But they will always be best known for their number 1 classic, “Leader of The Pack.” The single can now sell for $40.00.The album, released by Red Bird Records in 1965, is now worth up to $300.00.  

Gospel music played an important part in the life and career of Elvis Presley. He grew up with Gospel music and would often sing it to warm up for recording sessions. His own personal record collection contained many Gospel artists. And the king never received a Grammy for Rock N Roll or Country, but he did for Gospel. In 1966, RCA issued the Elvis Gospel single, “Joshua Fit the Battle.” With its picture sleeve, it’s worth up to $350.00 today.