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In 1977 RCA released the Elvis album, “Moody Blue.” He died shortly thereafter. The album can be quite valuable depending on the color of the vinyl. 95% are blue in color and worth no more than $25.00. A black vinyl copy is worth up to $200.00. If you have or find a copy where the record is green or red, the value jumps to $1,000.00.

Arthur Alexander was one of those recording artists who should have been given more credit for his impact on those to follow. In 1962 he had his first hit with “You Better Move On,” which is valued up to $25.00. It was later covered by the Rolling Stones and even George Jones. His next biggest hit was “Anna” in 1962, which was later covered by the Beatles on their first album in the U.S.,”Introducing the Beatles.” In 1962, Dot Records released the “You Better Move On” album, worth up to $125.00 today.

“Positively 4th Street” by Bob Dylan was a top ten hit in 1965 and one of the rare occasions were the words in the title are never mentioned in the song. Dylan once lived on 4th street in Manhattan. He also attended the University of Minnesota. That, too, was on 4th street in Minneapolis. But who really knows the meaning of the title. After all, it’s Bob Dylan. The 45 released on Columbia Records is worth up to $125.00 with picture sleeve and record on black vinyl and up to $350.00 with its picture sleeve and record on red vinyl.

Like many Blues artists of the day, Elmore James was influenced by the legendary Robert Johnson. In turn, Elmore James made a huge impression on Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones and Jeremy Spencer of Fleetwood Mac. James has more than 35 records well worth over $100.00 each like the album “Blues after Hours.” Released on Crown Records in 1961, its worth up $250.00. His first record, “Dust My Broom,” was released as a 78 on Trumpet Records in 1951. It can sell for $750.00 today.

Like many performers, Jewel Akens began singing in church before beginning his career with a 1950’s group called the Four Dots who employed Rock N Roll icon Eddie Cochran as their guitar player. In 1964, Akens had a top ten smash with “The Birds and The Bees,” which is worth up to $20.00. But the following year he released “My First Lonely Night.” That 45, issued by ERA Records, is worth up to $400.00 today.

The stories of kids and their dogs have long been a popular theme for Hollywood. There have been numerous films about Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, Old Yeller, and others. In 1959, 20TH Century Fox released the movie “A Dog of Flanders,” which follows the familiar theme of a youngster nursing a dog back to health and forming that special bond between a boy and his dog. The soundtrack album in stereo is worth up to $250.00 today. “A Dog of Flanders” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks in our Soundtracks guide. It lists the values for all movies, TV, and Broadway shows and is available in the left hand column.

Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five had many hits in their star-studded career. The first record came in 1968 when Joe Jackson convinced Gordon Keith of Steeltown Records to come see his sons perform. Reluctantly, he went and was more than impressed with what he heard. The result was the single, “Big Boy.” Copies that read “Distribution by ATCO” on the label are worth up to $50.00. However, copies that don’t credit ATCO are worth up to $500.00 today.

One of the many one-hit-wonder groups on the 1960’s was the Ad-Libs, a quintet out of Bayonne, New Jersey. Formed in 1964, they had their biggest success in 1965 with the top-ten hit, “The Boy from New York City.” Released on Blue Cat Records its worth up to $30.00, but the following year A.G.P Records released the Ad-Libs song, “New York in the Dark,” which is worth up to $450.00 today.

The Impressions had their first big hit in 1958 with “For Your Precious Love” with Jerry Butler as lead singer. More hits followed after Butler left to pursue a solo career. In 1961 came the groups’ next big hit, “Gypsy Woman,” with Curtis Mayfield at the front mike. The hits continued like 1964’s “Keep on Pushin’” and “People Get Ready,” each worth up to $15.00. In 1966, they reached number 7 with “Amen.” The “People Get Ready” album, released by ABC Paramount in 1965, is worth up to $200.00 today.

It’s hard to believe that Ritchie Valens was only seventeen when he died in that fateful plane crash along with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. He had just charted with the two-sided hit, “Donna” and “La Bamba.” His first album, released on Del Fi Records in 1959, is worth up to $200.00 if the back cover correctly lists his hit “That’s My Little Suzie.” But, if the back cover incorrectly lists the song as “I Got a Gal Named Sue,” then the value jumps up to $400.00 today.