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The title “First Lady of Motown” doesn’t go to Diana Ross but to the label’s first big female star, Mary Wells. The Beatles requested that she open for them on their 1964 tour. Her biggest hit came that same year with “My Guy.” Her first hit was “The One Who Really Loves You.” Both the single, with picture sleeve, and the album of the same name released on Motown in 1962 are worth up to $150.00 today. Both are seen here.

Giovanni Dominico Scafone Jr. recorded under the name Jack Scott. Starting in 1958 he began his ride on the top-40 charts with hits such as “My True Love” and “Goodbye Baby.” His mix of Country and Rockabilly is best exemplified on his 1959 hit, “The Way I Walk.” His biggest hit came in 1959 with “What In the World’s Come Over You.” The 45 is worth up to $25.00. The album of the same name on Top Rank Records, released in 1961, also includes his second biggest hit, “Burning Bridges.” A copy of the album is worth up to $250.00 in mono and $350.00 in stereo.

The sweet smooth sounds of James Taylor provide much of the soundtrack of the seventies with hits like “Fire and Rain” and “You’ve Got a Friend.” Most of his classics were on Columbia Records but in 1969 Paul McCartney signed James Taylor to Apple Records resulting in the single, “Carolina In My Mind.” The value depends on the flip side. If it’s “Something Wrong” then it’s only worth up to $10.00. However, if the flip side is “Taking It In,” as shown here, then the value jumps to $300.00.

Bobby Lewis was an orphan who could play piano at five-years old. He was adopted at twelve. In his late twenties he was number one on the Billboard charts for seven weeks with his Rock N Roll classic, “Tossin & Turnin’.” The 45 is worth no more than $20.00 but in 1961, Beltone Records released the “Tossin’ &Turnin’” album. It’s worth up to $100.00 today.

The 13th Floor Elevators never really had any hits but the Texas band that formed in the mid 60’s still has a following today. Psychedelic music was what they lived for but drugs were their downfall. Member Rory Erickson was charged with marijuana possession in 1969, followed by three years at the Rusk Hospital for the criminally insane. Their most valuable album was released by International Artists in 1967. An original stereo copy of “Easter Everywhere” can get you $500.00. An original mono copy is worth up to $1,000.00 today.

A former boxer and marine, Lee Dorsey had his first hit “(Sittin’ here la la waitin’ for my) Ya Ya” in 1961, which is worth up to $40.00. John Lennon recorded the song several years later. Other hits followed like “Do Re Mi” and the top 10 hit, “Workin In a Coal Mine,” covered by Devo in 1981. The “Ya Ya” album, released on Fury Records in 1962, is worth up to $250.00 today.

In the mid 60’s through the mid 70’s, B.J. Thomas owned the charts with hits like “Hooked On a Feeling” and “I Just Can’t Help Believing.” His biggest success came in 1970 with the number one hit, “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,”which is worth no more than $10.00.” However, it all began in 1965 with the single “Keep It Up.” Released on Joed Records, its worth up to $400.00 today.

Rufus Thomas was a Dee Jay in Memphis radio in the early 50’s as was his best friend, B.B. King. In 1953, Rufus recorded “Bear Cat” for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. The song was an answer to “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton. “Bear Cat” is worth up to $300 but his most valuable record, later recorded by Elvis, is “Tiger Man.” That 45 is valued up to $1,200.00 today.

Donovan, like Elvis, Fabian, Cher and Madonna, is best known by just his first name. Donovan Leitch was a chart topper in the 60’s with hits such as “Mellow Yellow” and “Sunshine Superman.” His most valuable album, “A Gift From a Flower to a Garden,” was issued in 1967 on Epic Records. It contained the hit “Wear Your Love Like Heaven,” which is worth no more than $10.00. However, the two record set in mono of “A Gift From a Flower to a Garden” is worth up to $150.00 today.

The Orlons was one of the most popular groups to come out of Philadelphia, the city that had Cameo-Parkway Records, which released hits by Bobby Rydell, the Dovells, and Chubby Checker. The Orlons was the back up group for Dee Dee Sharp on her mega-smash, “Mashed Potato Time.” Soon, the Orlons had their own hits like “The Wah Watusi” and “South Street.” Their 1963 album, “Not Me” on Cameo Records, is worth up to $100.00 today as is the “Not Me” 45 with its picture sleeve. Both are shown here.