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Ersel Hickey was a tough kid who had a tough life with a mother in a mental institution, a missing father, and no home but foster homes. However, in 1958, encouraged by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, Hickey wrote and recorded the Rock N Roll classic, “Bluebirds Over the Mountain.” It was later recorded in 1958 by Ritchie Valens and again by the Beach Boys in 1968. Hickey’s 45 on Epic Records is worth up to $25.00 but a 78 rpm version can sell for $200.00 today. Both are seen here.

For HUGE discounts on all our record guides, click on “Mighty John’s Discount Packages” in the yellow strip above)

In 1961, the Marcels took a number-one-hit from 1935 by Glen Gray and made it their own. With the Intro of “Bomp Baba Bomp Ba Bomp Ba Bomp Ba Bomp Bomp Baba Bomp Baba Bomp Da Dang Dang Da Ding A Dong Ding,” “Blue Moon” rocketed up to number one on the Billboard Charts. The original 45 is worth up to $30.00, but the “Blue Moon” album, released by Colpix Records in 1961, is worth up to $300.00 today.

Find the values for over a million records by over 75,000 recording artists in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.

Holy Rock N Roll, Batman! Robin has a record, the vinyl kind. Trying to capitalize on the popularity of TV’s dynamic duo, M-G-M gave Burt Ward (Robin) a recording contract. But neither the Joker or the Riddler could make it a hit. The song, “Boy Wonder I Love You,” was written by Frank Zappa, which certainly adds to its value. A store-bought copy is worth up to $75.00. A promo or DJ copy, as shown here, is up to $150.00.  To find the value for all promo copies, click on “Mighty John’s Promo Records Guide” in the yellow strip above.

“Hey Joe” was the first single put out by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It tells the tale of a fugitive on the run after killing his wife. Not exactly what top 40 radio was looking for in 1967. It was also the last song performed at Woodstock. The 45, released on Reprise Records, is worth up to $150.00. And the picture sleeve for “Hey Joe” is worth up to $700.00 today.

The success of Ike & Tina Turner is well known. It was at a nightclub in St. Louis in 1956 that Tina first sang with Ike. Their first hit came in 1960 with “A Fool In Love,” (worth up to $25.00 on Sue Records) followed by “It’s Gonna Work out Fine.” And the hits just kept coming like “Proud Mary.” Eight of their albums are worth up to $100.00 or more. In 1965, they recorded just one album for Cenco Records called “Get It-Get It.” It’s worth up to $1,000.00 today.

“Records You Should Know About” are records by recording artists most people have never heard of that can be worth a lot of money, like Furry Lewis. He was among the Blues artists of the 1920’s who didn’t get just recognition for their contributions to music until much later in the 1960’s and 1970′s when Blues became more popular. Before he passed away, Lewis opened for the Rolling Stones and performed for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. He has a dozen records each worth up to $1,000.00 or more. His 1928 single, “Judge Harsh Blues,” on Victor can now sell for $4,000.00. His 78 of “Mistreatin’ Mama,” released on Victor Records, is worth up to $4,500.00 today.

Al Green was one of the most popular and smoothest soul singers of the seventies. Following some of his greatest hits like “Let’s Stay Together” in 1971 and “I’m Still in Love with You” in 1972 (each worth no more than $10.00), he went into the ministry but continued to tour until a 1979 concert in Cincinnati where he narrowly escaped serious injury. After that he limited public appearances to religious services. His debut album, “Back Up Train,” released on Hot Line Records in 1967, is worth up to $500.00 today.

Ricky Nelson has never been given the respect he deserves as one great Rock N Roller. From the beginning it was thought he was a manufactured teen idol like Fabian. His family’s TV show, “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet,” was already a hit when he did an impersonation of Elvis. The song he sang, “I’m Walkin,” went on to sell a million copies. An original copy on an orange Verve record label can sell today for $75.00. His first album, where he shared billing with other singers, was called “Teen Time.” Released on Verve Records in 1957, its worth up to $300.00 today on a black Verve label. Blue Verve labels are re issues and no more than $50.00.

Roy Head and the Traits had been around a long time before they hit big with the Blue-Eyed Soul single, “Treat Her Right,” in 1965. A copy on Back Beat Records is worth up to $20.00. Roy’s style on stage caused many to call him the white man’s James Brown. The album, “Roy Head and the Traits,” released on TNT Records in 1965, is worth up to $200.00 today. Note: counterfeits exist. Counterfeits include “Treat Her Right.” Originals do not. All known counterfeit records are listed and described in Mighty John’s Record Appraisal Guide. It’s available in the left hand column.

“The Chirping Crickets” was the first album for Buddy Holly and his band. It contains Rock N Roll classics such as “Maybe Baby”, “That’ll Be the Day,” and “Oh Boy!” which on a 78 as seen here can get you $400.00. Recorded when Buddy Holly was just twenty-one-years old, “The Chirping Crickets” album was released by Brunswick Records in 1957 and is worth up to $750.00 today.