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Johnny Preston had several hits in the early 60’s like “Cradle of Love” and “Charming Billy.” Preston’s biggest hit was “Running Bear.” The song was a love story about Running Bear and Little White Dove. The background sounds on the record were done by the Big Bopper and a very young George Jones. A copy of the single can get you $25.00.The “Running Bear” album, released on Mercury Records in 1960, is worth up to $100.00 today.

Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield were young song writers in the fifties when they offered some compositions to Connie Francis. Her management felt the songs were to “grown-up sounding” for the emerging teen market. The boys were asked to write something less intelligent, more “stupid.” The result was “Stupid Cupid,” which turned out to be one of Connie’s biggest hits. The 45, released on M-G-M in 1958, is worth no more than $20.00 but the 78rpm version is up to $100.00 today. Both versions are shown here.

In 1958 RCA released “One Night” by Elvis. The original lyrics were “One night of sin,” but were toned down for airplay with lyrics that went “One night with you.” Even Elvis didn’t have the power to ignore F.C.C. guidelines of the day. The 45 rpm version with picture sleeve is worth up to $100.00 but the 78 rpm version is worth up to $800.00. Both versions are shown here.

“Stack-O-Tracks,” released by Capitol records in 1968, is a unique Beach Boys album. It was their first not to make the charts. It consisted of backing tracks to some of their many hits. It came with lyrics so the listener could sing along. You might say it was the first instance of Karaoke. Original copies are worth up to $125.00 today.

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.