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James Brown’s first hit was “Please Please Please.” It has become a Rhythm & Blues classic and recognized as the signature song for James Brown and The Famous Flames. Reportedly, the song came about because James Brown’s friend, Little Richard, had written please, please, please on an old napkin that he carried around and Brown felt the urge to write a song with that title. The single, released on Federal Records in 1955, is worth up to $40.00. The “Please Please Please” album was released on King Records in 1958. A copy can sell for $400.00 today.

Among the most valuable records of all time is a release from the legendary Sun record label in Memphis. “Lonesome Old Jail” with “Greyhound Blues” on the flip side was recorded and released in 1953 by Blues artist, D.A. Hunt. For 50 years, it was thought that the record was only available as a 78 but a 45 version is now known to exist. The 78 rpm record is worth up to $5,000.00 but find an original 45 and you’ve hit the jackpot. An original copy can sell for $40,000.00 today. Re issues that are not collectible do exist.

One-hit-wonders made up a major portion of the hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Such is the case for a blue-eyed soul group out of Detroit known as the Shades of Blue. They reached #2 in 1966 with a song written by Edwin Starr, the man who gave us the classic “War (What is it Good For).”The song by the Shades of Blue is “Oh How Happy (You’ve Have Made Me).” Released on Impact Records, the 45 is worth no more than $10.00 but their 1966 album, “Happiness Is,” in stereo can sell for $100.00 today.

Born into a musical family, one of Lavern Baker’s aunts was Jazz singer, Merline Johnson. Another one of her aunts was legendary Blues artist, Memphis Minnie. Lavern Baker was one of the most successful solo female singers in the early days of Rock and Roll with classics like “Jim Dandy” and “I Cried a Tear.” But her first hit came in 1955 with “Tweedle Dee.” The 45, released on Atlantic Records, is worth up to $50.00 while the “Tweedle Dee” EP can sell for $300.00 today. Both 45 and EP are pictured here.

Miles Davis was a musician, arranger, composer, producer, band leader, and the essence of what it meant to be cool. Along the way, he also introduced other Jazz greats like Sonny Rollins and Horace Silver. The Miles Davis album, “Young Man with a Horn,” released on Blue Note Records in 1952, can fetch up to $750.00 today. His “Classic Jazz” album on Capitol Records from 1953 can also sell for up to $750.00.

Eddie Cochran was a true pioneer in the early days of Rock and Roll with classics like “C’mon Everybody” and “Summertime Blues.” As big a star as he was in the states, he was even more popular in England where a car crash took his life at the age of 21. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, his most valuable 45 is “Mean When I’m Mad.” Released on Liberty Records in 1957, the single with its picture sleeve is worth up to $1500.00 today.

Born Jamesetta Hawkins and speculated to be the daughter of legendary pool-player Minnesota Fats, Etta James with hits like “Dance with me Henry” and “Tell Mama” is recognized as one of the all-time music greats. Her early 1960’s hit,“At Last (My Love Has Come Along)” has become a standard and wedding song favorite. The album on Argo Records is worth up to $500.00 today. The original 45 can sell for $200.00 today.

In 1956, United Artists released the movie “Comanche,” which tells the story of Quana Parker, chief of the Comanche Antelope tribe.” Son of a Comanche chief and a white European, Quana Parker never lost a battle but eventually accepted the white man’s culture when he saw no alternative. Starring Dana Andrews and Linda Crystal, the original soundtrack album on Coral Records from 1956 is worth up to $350.00 today. “Comanche” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks Guide, covering movies, TV, and Broadway shows. It’s available in the left hand column.

Can the same song by two different recording artists be worth money? In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis shook up the Rock and Roll world with a song he didn’t want to record for religious reasons. “Great Balls of Fire” on the Sun label is worth up to $100.00 with its picture sleeve. In 1979, Dolly Parton recorded “Great Balls of Fire.” It was issued as a picture disc with Dolly’s picture on the vinyl itself. It can also sell for $100.00 today.

Best known for co-hosting “Hee Haw” with Buck Owens, Roy Clark is recognized as one of the best guitarist and banjo pickers in the music business. Although he had hits like “Tips of my Fingers” and “Yesterday When I was Young,” his most valuable 45 is his Rockabilly single called “Please Mr. Mayor (Don’t Outlaw Rock and Roll)” It was released on Debbie Records in 1958. An original copy is worth up to $250.00. His biggest hit, “Tips of My Fingers” with “Spooky Movies” on the flip side can fetch $40.00.