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“I Fought The Law (and the law won)” was a top-10 hit for the Bobby Fuller Four in 1965 on Mustang Records, and now worth up to $40.00. Fuller’s death, attributed to swallowing gasoline, remains an unsolved homicide and possible police cover-up. Maybe the law did win. However, his classic lives on in Rock N Roll history and mystery. The original issue of “I Fought The Law” was released on Exeter Records in 1964 and is worth up to $500.00 today.

Best known as the creator of the Bakersfield Sound and co-star of TV’s “Hee Haw” along with Roy Clark, Buck Owens had the Country music tiger by the tail in the 1960’s with hits like “Act Naturally,” later covered by the Beatles, and “Waitin’ In Your Welfare Line.” However, like many Country stars, Buck was a Rock N Roller in the beginning. Recording as Corky Jones, his 1956 single “Hot Dog” on Pep Records can sell for $400.00 today.  The same song under his Buck Owens name was released on New Star Records in 1958 and can bring $300.00 today.

Tommy Roe had a lot of what was known as bubble-gum hits in the 1960’s and 70’s such as “Sweet Pea” and “Jam Up Jelly Tight.” He hit number one in 1969 with “Dizzy.” His fist hit came in 1962 with “Sheila.” Issued on ABC Paramount it’s not worth more than $20.00. However, two years earlier Tommy Roe recorded it for Judd records, which released it with a different spelling: “Shelia” That version is worth up to $300.00 today.

“(Let me take you on a) Sea Cruise” is one of the best-loved hits of the 1950’s with multiple millions sold (mostly as 45’s). Frankie Ford made a living from his classic hit from 1959. The 45 rpm version is up to $50.00, but If you have a copy on 78 rpm on Ace Records with “Roberta” on the flip side as seen here, it’s worth up to $2,000.00 today. Makes you wanna say “Oo wee oo wee baby!”

Some hits come about in the strangest ways. Legend has it that Monotones member Charles Patrick heard a commercial for Pepsodent toothpaste including the line “You’ll wonder where the yellow went…” and wrote a hit called“(Wonder Who Wrote) The Book of Love.” Released in 1958 on Argo Records, the 45 is worth up to $50.00. But it was first issued in 1957 on Mascot Records. A copy on that label can sell for $600.00 today.

Marianne Faithful had her first hit in 1964 when she was just seventeen. “As Tears Go By,” written by boyfriend Mick Jagger, would be her biggest hit. An original copy on London Records can get you $50.00. However, another song written for her by Jagger during her drug use is her most collectible. “Sister Morphine,” recorded in 1969 with the Rolling Stones backing her up and released on London Records, is worth up to $150.00 today.

With a mixture of garage-rock and flower power, the Seeds, a Los Angeles band in the mid 60’s, created a classic in 1965 with  “Pushin’ Too Hard.” Copies that read “Pushin’ Too Hard” are common and are worth up to $20.00, but copies that read “You’re Pushing Too Hard” are worth up to $175.00 today. Promo copies up to $400.00. What a difference a word can make!

It’s called “The Shoop Shoop Song” and went as high as number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. But everyone seems to know Betty Everett’s hit as “It’s In His Kiss.” Released on Vee Jay Records, it’s worth no more than $15.00. In 1991 the song became a smash hit again, this time by Cher. Betty Everett’s next biggest hit was “Let It Be Me” with singing partner Jerry Butler. But her first record from 1957 is where the money is. “My Love,” released on Cobra Records, can fetch $500.00 today.

“I’ll Cry Instead” was originally recorded by the Beatles for the movie, “A Hard Day’s Night.” It can be found on the soundtrack album but was cut from the film with its flip side, “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You.” The 45 with its picture sleeve, released in 1964 on Capitol Records, is worth up to $400.00 today.

Get a detailed value for any record for just $1.00…Click on “Online Appraisals” in the yellow strip above. No maximum. No minimum.

Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide” is for those who seek out treasures at yard sales, flea markets, estate sales, thrift stores and even in your own records. The guide lists the values for over a million records, listed alphabetically by recording artist. Available on a flash drive for $24.95 with free shipping in the U.S.A.

Eskew Reeder is not well known to your average music fan. Recording as Esquerita, he was a major influence on Little Richard with his wild, screaming, racy songs. He was Little Richard before Little Richard was Little Richard. Esquerita never made the charts himself but did write “Green Door,” a number one hit in 1956 on Dot records for Jim Lowe, which can get you $25.00. In 1959, Capitol Records released the album, “Esquerita.” It’s worth up to $500.00 today.