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It’s almost a sin that the only music Elvis Presley ever won a Grammy for was Gospel. There were none for all the Rock N Roll and Country records he released. But Gospel music was where his heart was. His most valuable Gospel album is “His Hand in Mine,” issued by RCA. A 1960 version in mono is worth up to $200.00. However, a 1963 copy in stereo is worth up to $750.00 today.

Rosie Hamlin was only 14 when she wrote the lyrics to one of Rock and Roll’s early classics. At 15 she recorded “Angel Baby” for Highland Records. A copy from 1960 is worth up to $50.00. John Lennon said it was his all-time favorite song. Due to a royalty dispute, Rosie left Highland and signed with Brunswick Records who in 1961 released her album, “Lonely Blue Nights.” A mono copy is worth up to $250.00. But a stereo copy can get you $350.00 today.

In 1961 Ernie K-Doe went all the way to number one on the Billboard charts with a woman he says “was sent from down below.” That would be his “Mother-In-Law.” Ernie never had another big hit but he remained a legend in New Orleans until his death in 2001. The “Mother-In-Law” single on Minit Records is worth up to $25.00 today but the album, released in 1961, is up to $200.00.

His real name is Jerry Samuels and he had one of the biggest novelty hits in the history of Rock N Roll. Recording as Napoleon XIV, he went top 10 in 1966 with “They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” The flip side is the same song, only recorded backwards. The 45 is worth no more than $10.00 (Ha-Haaa) but that same year Warner Brothers released the album “They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” which contained the hit and in stereo is worth up to $125.00 today.

Born Harold Jenkins, Conway Twitty held the record for the most number-one singles with 40 Country hits reaching the top spot until 1976 when the honor went to George Straight. Only one of Conway Twitty’s number one records was on the Rock N Roll charts, and that was “It’s Only Make Believe.” A copy on a 78 rpm can sell for $100. In 1959 M-G-M released the album “Saturday Night with Conway Twitty” featuring some of his other Rock N Roll hits like “Halfway To Heaven” and “Danny Boy.” The album is also worth up to $100.00 today.

The Music Machine was another of the numerous 1960’s bands who had one giant hit and that was it. For them it happened in 1966 with “Talk Talk,” a top-20 smash now worth up to $40.00. Unfortunately, tension between the band’s manager and the record label cut short a more promising career. Their album, “Turn on the Music Machine featuring Talk Talk,” released on Original Sound Records in 1966, is worth up to $125.00 today.

In 1968, Savage Records released the album “The Savage Young Beatles” with songs recorded in 1961 when Pete Best was the drummer. Here’s a rare case where the color of the cover makes the difference in value. A yellow cover makes the album worth up to $125.00. An orange cover makes the album worth up to $1500.00. 

Bubble Puppy was a one-hit wonder psychedelic rock band out of Texas. In 1969 they scored their top-20 hit, “Hot Smoke and Sassafras,” the title of which they lifted from a line spoken on the hit TV show, “The Beverly Hillbillies.” The 45 is valued up to $20.00 but that same year Int’l Artists released the album, “A Gathering of Promises,” containing their only hit. The album is worth up to $200.00 today.

The Teddy Bears was Phil Spector’s first group. Their one hit came in 1958 with “To Know Him is to Love Him.” Rumor has it that Spector took the title from his father’s tombstone. The single stayed on the Billboard charts for 23 weeks. It was number 1 for 3 weeks in a row. Released on Dore Records, the 45 can fetch $50.00. A mono copy of the album “The Teddy Bears Sing,” which contains the hit, was released on Imperial Records in 1959 and is worth up to $500.00. A stereo copy can bring up to $1,000.00 today.

David Bowie’s first record in the U.S.A. was released by Warner Brothers in 1966. There were barely any sales of “Can’t Help Thinking About Me,” so few that promo copies sent to radio stations, as shown here, turn up more frequently than stock copies. Also, the credit is given to David Bowie with the Lower Third. Any copy would be worth up to $2,500.00 today.