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Originally known as the Starlettes, the Angels had their biggest hit with a song they sang as a demo meant for the Shirelles. However, the Angels’ demo sounded so good that their version was released and “My Boyfriend’s Back” was a Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit in 1963. Lesser hits followed like “Dream Boy,” which with its picture sleeve can sell up to $100.00. The same is true for the album “A Halo for You,” containing the single.  Both the 45 and the album were released by Smash Records.

The Buckinghams had 5 top-20 hits. In 1967, they went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the single, “Kind of a Drag,” worth up to $20.00. USA Records, which released the 45, also issued the “Kind of a Drag” album. If you have a copy with 12 songs on it, it’s worth up to $30.00. However, if you have a copy with 13 songs, the value jumps up to $125.00 today.
(All the little things that can make a big difference in record values are described in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left column.)

Dinah Washington crossed many musical boundaries including Blues, Jazz, Pop, and Rock and Roll. Her biggest hit came in 1959 with “What a Difference a Day Makes.” A copy on Mercury records is worth up to $20.00. A combination of pills and alcohol silenced her amazing voice in 1963. Her debut album “After Hours” on Emarcy Records was released in 1954 and can fetch $400.00 today.

Be sure and request this month’s free list of “10 Records Worth $100.00 or More.” PLUS trivia about the recording artists. To receive your copy, just email mightyjohn1971@gmail.com

It all began for Lightnin’ Hopkins in Houston with a self-made guitar fashioned from a cigar box and chicken wire. Worried that black artists were not receiving the royalties due them, Hopkins insisted on cash for each studio take. He is recognized as one of the great Blues artists of all time. His album, “Lightnin’ and the Blues,” released on Herald Records in 1960, is worth up to $1,000.00 today. His 1958 album, “Strums the Blues,” on Score Records can now sell for $1,800.00.

(Find the values for over a million records in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

Buffalo Springfield became ground-breakers for what is known as Country Rock. They had their biggest hit in 1967 with “For What it’s Worth.” And for what it’s worth, the 45 is worth up to $20.00. The group was short-lived but members went on to form other groups such as Poco, Loggins & Messina, and Crosby, Still, Nash & Young. Their self-titled album on ATCO Records came in two versions. The one with “For What it’s Worth” is up to $50.00.  A version of the album without the hit can sell for $300.00 today.
(All the little things that can make a big difference in record values are described in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs were basically one-hit-wonders and that hit came in 1960 with “Stay.”  The song holds the distinction of being the shortest #1 hit in the history of Rock & Roll. Released on Herald Records, the single is worth up to $50.00. The “Stay” album from 1961 can get you up to $250.00 today.

Being in the right place at the right time paid off big time for Eva Boyd. She was babysitting for song-writers Carole King and Gerry Goffin when they asked her to sing a song they had just written called “Loco-Motion.” The single chugged all the way to # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. A copy of the 45 is worth up to $30.00 while the “LLLLLoco-Motion” album by Little Eva, released on Dimension Records in 1962, can fetch $350.00 today.

Buster Brown was almost 50-years-old before he had his first and only top-40 hit with “Fannie Mae” in 1958. The 45 version on Fire Records is worth up to $50.00, up to $400.00 as a 78. In 1960, Fire Records released the Buster Brown album “The New King of the Blues.” That can get you up to $600.00 today.

Be sure and request this month’s free list of “10 Records Worth $100.00 or More.” PLUS trivia about the recording artists. To receive your copy, just email mightyjohn1971@gmail.com

He was known as Luke the Drifter, the Lovesick Blues Boy, and the Hillbilly Shakespeare but mostly by the name the world knows him as, Hank Williams. His influence on the Country artists to follow is enormous. All of his big hits were recorded on M-G-M like his signature song, “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” Those 78’s are not worth much more than $30.00 but his first record “Calling You” is on Sterling Records. Released as a 78 in 1947, a copy is worth up to $1,500.00 today.

In 1967, Decca Records released the Who’s third album, “The Who Sell Out.” It is unique in that it not only features songs like “I Can See for Miles” (the 45 now worth up to $30.00) but the album also mocks advertising songs and jingles. Rolling Stone magazine ranks the album among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In stereo, it’s worth up to $30.00. In mono, the value jumps up to $125.00.