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One of Motown’s first hits came in 1961 with “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong. His original 45 on the Anna record label, a subsidiary of Motown, is now worth up to $400.00. The song would later be covered by the Beatles and in 1979 by the Flying Lizards. Strong is also credited with writing hits like “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” by the Temptations and “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” made popular by Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Barrett Strong’s most valuable record, “Let’s Rock,” released on Motown’s Tamla record label in 1960, is worth up to $1,500.00 today.

Larry Chance was originally from Philadelphia and went to school with Chubby Checker, Frankie Avalon, and Danny Rapp of Danny & the Juniors. But when his family moved to the Bronx,Larry formed the Earls and had a giant classic. “Remember Then” hooks the listener from the beginning with the “Re-Mem-Mem, Re-Mem-Ma-Member” bass part. The 45 as seen here can sell for $50.00 today. The album, “Remember Me Baby,” containing the “Remember Then” hit, released on Old Town Records in 1963 is worth up to $300.00 today. Note: Counterfeits exist and can be identified by the identification number in the vinyl trail-off. Counterfeits have the numbers etched where originals have the numbers mechanically stamped.All known counterfeit records are listed and described in the Mighty John Record Appraisal Guide. It’s available in the left hand column.

In 1963 Motown released the Supremes 45, “A Breath Taking, First Sight Soul Shaking, One Night Love Making, Next Day Heartbreaking Guy,” but the title was too long for Dee Jays to remember. The song was re released and shortened to “A Breath Taking Guy.” The version with the short title is worth up to $25.00 but the longer title is what you want. It’s worth up to $400.00. Both versions are shown here.

The Duprees was one of the most popular groups of the early 60’s with re-makes of old standards like their first hit, “You Belong to Me,” which is now worth up to $50.00. It had been a hit for Jo Stafford in 1952. Their next hit was “My Own True Love” (“Tara’s Theme” from “Gone With the Wind”). Their last hit, “Have You Heard,” was a re-make of a Joni James single from 1953. The album “Have You Heard” by the Duprees, released in 1963 on Coed Records, is worth up to $200.00 today.

It has been said that Jefferson Airplane epitomized the culture of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco in the 60’s. When Grace Slick became lead singer, two top 10 hits quickly followed with “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit.” Jefferson Airplane’s debut album “Jefferson Airplane Takes Off” was released by RCA in 1966 with Signe Anderson as lead singer. If you have a copy with eleven songs on the album the value is up to $50.00, but if there are 12 songs the value jumps up to $500.00 on a black RCA label.

One of the lesser-known groups of the mid 60’s British Invasion was the Swinging Blue Jeans. In 1964, they rocked the charts with “The Hippy Hippy Shake.” The 45 on Imperial Records is now worth up to $30.00. The group saw little success after that. When Graham Nash left the Hollies, he was replaced by Terry Sylvester from the Swinging Blue Jeans. Their most valuable record is the album, “Don’t Make Me Over.” Released on Capitol Records in 1966, it’s worth up to $1,000.00 today.

The Dubs was just one of the many harmonizing doo-wop groups that sang on the streets of Harlem in the 1950’s.But what made the Dubs stand out was one giant hit record that over the years has become a standard. With Richard Blandon as writer and lead singer, the Dubs gave us “Could This Be Magic.” A copy released on a black Gone record label is worth up to $75.00 as a 45 and up to $150.00 as a 78. Both are shown here.

The sweet smooth sounds of James Taylor provide much of the soundtrack of the seventies with hits like “Fire and Rain” and “You’ve Got a Friend.” Most of his classics were on Columbia Records but in 1969 Paul McCartney signed James Taylor to Apple Records resulting in the single, “Carolina In My Mind.” The value depends on the flip side. If it’s “Something Wrong” then it’s only worth up to $10.00. However, if the flip side is “Taking It In,” as shown here, then the value jumps to $300.00.

The title “First Lady of Motown” doesn’t go to Diana Ross but to the label’s first big female star, Mary Wells. The Beatles requested that she open for them on their 1964 tour. Her biggest hit came that same year with “My Guy.” Her first hit was “The One Who Really Loves You.” Both the single, with picture sleeve, and the album of the same name released on Motown in 1962 are worth up to $150.00 today. Both are seen here.

Giovanni Dominico Scafone Jr. recorded under the name Jack Scott. Starting in 1958 he began his ride on the top-40 charts with hits such as “My True Love” and “Goodbye Baby.” His mix of Country and Rockabilly is best exemplified on his 1959 hit, “The Way I Walk.” His biggest hit came in 1959 with “What In the World’s Come Over You.” The 45 is worth up to $25.00. The album of the same name on Top Rank Records released in 1961 also includes his second biggest hit, “Burning Bridges.” A copy of the album is worth up to $250.00 in mono and $350.00 in stereo.