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“Records you should know about” are records that most people have never heard of but are worth a lot of money. The Del-Larks was a group first formed in 1953 in Plainfield, New Jersey with Sammy Campbell as lead singer. They never had a problem finding work in local clubs but like many harmony groups of the era they never made it big nationally. Their 1967 release of “Job Opening” on Queen City Records is worth up to $10,000.00 today.

Mighty John’s “Records You Should Know About Guide” lists thousands of them, each worth at least up to $500.00 or more. Most are worth up to $1,000.00 or more. The “Records You Should Know About Guide”is on a flash drive in Microsoft Word. Click on “Records You Should Know About” in the yellow strip above for more free samples.

In the 1970’s, John Denver was all over the radio with hits like “Rocky Mountain High” and “Take Me Home Country Roads.” Twelve of his albums went gold. Four went platinum. In 1966, he put out his first album,“John Denver Sings” on HJD Records. Find a copy and $750.00 could be yours.

Paul Revere and the Raiders owned the charts from the mid-60’s until the early 70’s with Mark Lindsay singing lead on hits like “Kicks (Just Keep Getting Harder to Find)” and “Indian Reservation.” The band formed in 1959 as the Downbeats. Their exposure on Dick Clark’s TV show, “Where the Action Is,” made Paul Revere and the Raiders a household name. Their first album, released on Gardena Records in 1961, is called “Like Longhair.” An original copy is worth up to $600.00 today. Their second album, “Paul Revere and the Raiders,”” on Sande Records can now fetch $500.00.

Jackie De Shannon had hits like “What the World Needs Now is Love” and “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” She also wrote a lot of hits for others like “Bette Davis Eyes” for Kim Carnes in 1981, which won a Grammy for Song of the Year.” De Shannon’s 1964 album, “Breakin’ It Up On the Beatles Tour,” released on Liberty Records, is worth up to $100.00 today.

If nothing else, Britain’s Motorhead is one of the world’s loudest bands. An influence on Guns N Roses and Metallica, Motorhead has barely seen any action on the U.S. charts. Their 1996 album, “Overnight Sensation,” released on CMC Records, can sell for $300.00 today.

James Cotton, leader of the James Cotton Blues Band, was only nine-years old when he heard his idol Sonny Boy Williamson on the radio. Cotton later sought out Williamson and for six years played harmonica with his hero. Cotton then joined the legendary Howlin Wolf followed by twelve years with Muddy Waters. James Cotton’s 1954 single for Sun Records Called “My Baby” is worth up to $2,500.00. Cotton’s single, “Cotton Crop Blues,” on Sun, also from 1954, can sell for $3,500.00 today.

Among the most valuable records are Doo Wop, and among the most popular Doo Wop groups of the 50’s was the Del-Vikings, one of the first groups to include black as wells as white members. They were Air Force personnel stationed in Pittsburgh. Because various members were transferred to other bases, several different members came and went. Their biggest hit was “Come Go With Me” in 1957. Most copies were sold on Dot Records and worth up to $40.00. However, first issues were on Fee Bee Records and can sell for $500.00 today. Both original labels are shown here.

Country Joe and the Fish was one of the first political, psychedelic bands to emerge in the late 60’s with classics like “Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag,” which can sell for $20.00, and the famous “Fish Cheer.” Their 1967 album, “Electric Music for the Mind and Body,” released on Vanguard Records, is worth up to $100.00 today.

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were among the most sought after songwriters of the 50’s and 60’s. They wrote enough hits to fill a Broadway show. The title of that show is the same as one of their earliest hits, “Smokey Joe’s Café.” The single was recorded by the Robins whose members Carl Gardner and Bobby Nunn became part of one of Rock and Roll’s most popular groups, the Coasters. The 45 of “Smokey Joe”s Cafe” can  sell for $150.00 today. The 78 for $250.00.

Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker made up the blues-rock super trio known as Cream. In just three years they sold 15 million records. Their last album for ATCO Records, “Goodbye Cream,” was released in 1969 and recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall. It’s worth up to $30.00 if the record label is yellow. However, if the label is pink and tan as shown here, the value jumps up to $350.00.