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Before Neil Diamond had his first # 1 with “Cracklin Rose” in 1970, he wrote two major hits for the Monkees, “I’m a Believer” and “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You.” In 2011, he was inducted not only into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but also received a Kennedy Center honor. His first album, “The Feel of Neil Diamond,” released on Bang Records in 1966, contains his hits “Solitary Man” and “Cherry Cherry.” The 45’s on Bang are worth no more than $10-$20 but an original copy of the album can get you $75.00 today.

Barbara Mason was inspired by the Major Lance hit, “Monkey Time” to write and record her biggest hit. In “Monkey Time,” Lance sings, as part of the lyrics, “Are you ready?” In 10 minutes Barbara wrote her smash hit of “Yes, I’m Ready.” Her song is considered the first to exemplify what would become known as the Philadelphia Sound.  A copy of the 45 is now worth up to $50.00. The album, “Yes, I’m Ready,” released by Arctic Records in 1965, can get you $150.00 today.

The first record from the 1990’s super band, Green Day, was “1,000 Hours.” Green Day was known as Sweet Children at the time and despite the objections from the record company, the band, led by Billie Joe Armstrong, switched to Green Day. An original copy of the “1,000 Hours” EP, released on Lookout Records in 1989, can get you $200.00 today. Their 1997 album, “Nimrod,” on Reprise Records can now sell for $300.00.

Due to the overwhelming success of the Elvis Presley movie, “Blue Hawaii” in 1961, Elvis returned to the islands in 1962 to film “Girls! Girls! Girls!” The big hit from the movie was “Return To Sender.” An original copy of the “Girls! Girls! Girls!” soundtrack album, released by RCA, can get you $200.00 today. Add up to another $250.00 if you kept or find the 1963 calendar that came with the album as shown here.

Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen influenced many guitar players to follow but who influenced Hendrix and Van Halen? That would be Dick Dale, the king of the Surf guitar. As a surfer he was interested in putting to music what he heard in his mind while surfing. His record of “Let’s Go Trippin” is considered as the first Surf-Rock song and currently worth up to $50.00. It can be found on the album, “Surfer’s Choice.” Released on Del-Tone Records in 1961, a copy can get you $150.00 today.

Billie Holiday was perhaps the greatest female Jazz singer of all time. Born in Baltimore, she began singing for tips but would soon be fronting bands such as Count Basie’s and Artie Shaw’s. Among her greatest and most noteworthy recordings is her album, “Billie Holiday at Jazz at the Philharmonic.” Released by Clef Records in 1955, the cover featured art by David Stone Martin. A copy can get you $750.00 today. Her only 45 on Aladdin Records, “Detour Ahead,” can now sell for $500.00.

The third album by the Monkees was “Headquarters.” It’s noteworthy because, unlike their first two albums, the Monkees actually played their own instruments instead of using session musicians. They also wrote much of their own material on “Headquarters.” It took “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by the Beatles to knock the Monkees album from the top spot on the Billboard charts. An original copy, released on Colgems in 1967, can get you $125.00 today.

Those old Doo Wop records continue to be among the biggest collectibles. Here are two more to look for. in 1953, Sabre Records released the 45, “Lonely Mood,” by the Five Echoes. A black vinyl copy can get you $500.00 but a red vinyl version, as seen here, is worth up to $1,000.00. In 1955, Blue Lake Records issued the single, “Can’t Stop,” by the Fascinators. A copy can get you $4,000.00 today.

In 1970, Reprise Records released Joni Mitchell’s “Ladies of the Canyon.” The album gets its title from Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles. The album contains many of Joni Mitchell’s best known songs including “Big Yellow Taxi” and “The Circle Game,” on which she is backed up by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.  The “Big Yellow Taxi” 45 is worth no more than $10.00 unless it’s a promo copy as shown here. Then the value jumps up to $40.00. An original copy of “Ladies of the Canyon” is worth up to $150.00 today.

Little Richard called himself the “architect of Rock N Roll.” It’s hard to argue against it. He was as important to the birth of 1950’s Rock N Roll as any including Elvis, Buddy Holly, and Chuck Berry. His second album for Specialty records, “Little Richard,” contains some of his greatest hits including “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” and “Good Golly Miss Molly,” A copy of that single can now fetch $40.00. An original copy of the album can get you $500.00 today.