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Who is Percy “Thrills” Thrillington and why is his album worth money? Because Percy is Paul McCartney. In 1977, Capitol Records released the “Thrillington” album. The album, recorded by Paul McCartney and his wife Linda, is an instrumental version of McCartney’s “Ram” album. An original copy of “Thrillington” is worth up to $400.00 today.

One of the many Motown girl- groups was the Marvelettes, perhaps best known for their top-10 smash, “Please Mr. Postman,” which was later covered by the Beatles. Their second top-10 hit came a year later with “Playboy,” which can now sell for $30.00. Their other hits included “Twistin Postman” and “Beechwood 4-5789.” Their album, “Playboy,” released on Tamla Records in 1962, is worth up to $500.00 today.

It is generally believed that the most popular Big Band leader of the 30’s and 40’s was Tommy Dorsey. Until Elvis came along, Dorsey was RCA’s biggest selling recording star. Ironically, it was Tommy’s brother, Jimmy, who highlighted Elvis in his TV show for 6 consecutive weeks at the beginning of 1956. In 1945, Vogue Records released the picture disc, “Cocktails for Two,” featuring Tommy Dorsey. It’s worth up to $1,000.00 today.

A preacher at the age of nine, Solomon Burke was a pioneer in Soul music. Mick Jagger covered three of Burke’s songs on early albums by the Rolling Stones. Ironically, it was a Country song, “Just out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)” that was his first hit in 1961. He is probably best known for his Soul-flavored single, “Cry to Me.” The 45 on Atlantic Records can now fetch $40.00. His 1962 debut album, “Solomon Burke,” released on Apollo Records, is worth up to $400.00 today.

In 1967, the Box Tops went all the way to #1 with, “The Letter, ” thanks to lead singer, Alex Chilton. The 45 on Mala Records is worth no more than $15.00. In 1968, the band reached #2 with “Cry like a Baby.” Chilton said his singing voice was not his natural voice but a result of too much drinking and lack of sleep. He left the Box Tops in 1970 and formed Big Star, which was commercially unsuccessful but a heavy influence on bands such as R.E.M. In 1979, Chilton went solo and recorded the album “Like Flies on Sherbert.” Released on Peabody Records, a copy is worth up to $350.00 today.

One of the most successful instrumental bands of the late 50’s and early 60’s was Johnny & The Hurricanes. With Johnny Paris on sax and Paul Tesluk playing organ they churned out a number of hits like “Red River Rock,” which reached #5 in 1959 and is now valued up to $40.00. That was followed by “Reveille Rock” and “Beatnik Fly.” In 1959, Warwick Records released the album “Johnny & The Hurricanes.” A mono copy is worth up to $100.00, a stereo copy up to $300.00.

In 1963, Dimension Records released the album, “The Dimension Dolls.” On the album are the labels’ best-known female stars including the Cookies singing “Chains,” a song later covered by the Beatles. There’s also Little Eva with her monster hit, “Locomotion.” Also on the album is Carole King with her Dimension Records hit, “It Might As Well Rain Until September. The album is worth up to $250.00 today. Find the value for all albums with various hits by various recording artists on the Mighty John Compilation Album Price Guide, available in the left hand column .

In 1968, Elvis starred with Nancy Sinatra in the movie “Speedway.” Elvis played a racecar driver while Nancy was an IRS agent trying to collect his back taxes. The film also featured NASCAR drivers like Richard Petty and Cale Yarbrough. The movie soundtrack album, released by RCA, is worth up to $125.00 in stereo but a mono copy can you $4,000.00 today.

Perhaps the most unsual group to record for Sam Phillips, the man who discovered Elvis, was the Prisonaires. They just happened to be inmates at the Tennessee State Penitentiary in Nashville. Their biggest hit came in 1953 with “Just Walkin’ In the Rain,” which later became a million-seller for Johnnie Ray. The Prisonaires’ version can now sell for $400.00. The Prisonaires’ most valuable record, “There Is Love in You,” released on Sun Records in 1954, is worth up to $8,000.00 today.

Do You Love Me” was a song written by Barry Gordy for the Temptations. But when the Temptations were late for a recording session, Gordy gave it the Contours to record. They had a hit with it in 1962 and, thanks to the movie “Dirty Dancing,” it became a smash again in 1988. The original “Do You Love Me,” released on Gordy Records, is worth no more than $25.00 but a previous single, “Funny,” by the Contours, released in 1961 on Motown Records, is worth up to $500.00 today.