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It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t love the music of Sam Cooke. Between 1957 and 1964 he had 30 singles that made the Billboard Hot 100. Cooke was also a music publisher and record label owner, which was rare for a black music star of the time. In 1959, Keen Records released the album, “Hit Kit,” featuring three of his biggest hits including “Only Sixteen,” “Everybody Loves to Cha-Cha-Cha,” and “You Send Me.” An original copy of the album can get you $350.00 today.

On Feb. 17, 1966 work begins on what would be the most expensive 45 to record up to that date in the history of Rock and Roll. It takes 11 recording sessions to complete. It would become a million-seller and a true classic for a band that had been sending out good vibrations since 1961. The 45 from Capitol Records of “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys can now sell for over $75.00 with its picture sleeve.

John Lennon once said, “If you tried to give Rock and Roll another name you might call it Chuck Berry.” Duck walking his way through the beginning of the Rock N Roll era, his hits and influence are immeasurable. In 1958, Chess Records released “One Dozen Berrys” containing his classics, “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Rock and Roll Music.” The album can get you $250.00 today. The 78 of “Rock and Roll Music” is now worth up to $350.00.

Laura Nyro was a singer and songwriter whose compositions gained fame for others like “Eli’s Coming” for Three Dog Night. The 5th Dimension scored with her songs “Stone Soul Picnic” and “Wedding Bell Blues.” Blood, Sweat & Tears had a hit with Nyro’s “And When I Die” and Barbara Streisand did the same with “Stoney End.” Laura Nyro was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Her 1967 album, “More Than a New Discovery,” released by Verve-Folkways Records, is worth up to $150.00 today.

Many say the birth of Soul music was 1955 when Ray Charles introduced singles like “I Got a Woman” and “Hallelujah, I Love Her So.” In 1957, Atlantic Records released his debut album simply called “Ray Charles.” The same album was re -released in 1962 with a new cover and new title “Hallelujah,” I Love Her So.” The 1962 issue is worth up to $100.00 but the 1957 release can get you $200.00 today.

These are “Records You  Should Know About.” Who is Hasil Atkins and why should you care? Hasil (pronounced Hassel) was little known outside West Virginia where he spent his entire life. He loved girls, guitars, cars and was obsessed with chickens. All reflected in his music. He was a one-band band and recorded some interesting and valuable vinyl. In 1958, Air Records released Hasil’s single, “She’s Mine.” A copy is now worth up to $2,000.00. In 1963, Roxie Records released “The Hunch.” It can sell for $1,000.00 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. 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 is on a flash drive in Microsoft Word. Click on “Records You Should Know About” in the yellow strip above for more free samples.

Larry Henley co-wrote a song that has become a standard and first made famous by Bette Midler. That song is “Wind Beneath My Wings.” But in 1964, Henley was a member of the Newbeats who hit big with a silly song called “Bread & Butter.”  The 45 may get you a loaf of bread and a stick of butter. It’s worth now more than $10.00. In 1965, Hickory Records released the album, “Bread & Butter,” by the Newbeats. A mono copy can fetch $50.00. But a stereo copy can sell for $125.00 today.

“Long John Silver” is unique in the sense that the movie, starring Robert Newton as Long John Silver, later became a TV series, “The Adventures of Long John Silver,” with the same actors who appeared in the movie. The movie was filmed in Sydney, Australia, the first film shot in cinemascope in that country. The TV series that followed was more popular than the movie. The movie soundtrack album, released on RCA in 1955, can get you $350.00 today. “Long John Silver” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks flash drive in Microsoft Word, covering movies, TV shows, and Broadway shows. It’s available in the left hand column.

The Blues bring big bucks, especially the 78’s from the first half of the 20th century. In 1930, Paramount records released “All Night Long Blues” by Louise Johnson. A copy is worth up to $2,000.00. In 1929, Victor records issued the 78, “T-Bone Steak Blues” by John Estes and James Rachel. That can get you $2,500.00 today.

In 1964, Elvis starred in “Kissin Cousins” where he played two different characters, sporting a blond wig for one. The soundtrack might have been bigger had it not been for the Beatles who were beginning their journey of dominating the charts. RCA released two versions of the album cover. One, with the film cast pictured on the lower right, is worth up to $100.00. The cover without the film cast pictured can get you $250.00 today. Both versions are shown here.