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On August 11,1958, the hit at the top of the Billboard Chart would become the very first rock and roll record to be awarded a gold record by the RIAA, the Recording Industry Association of America. The song is “Hard Headed Woman,” part of the soundtrack from Elvis Presley’s fourth movie, “King Creole.”  The “Hard Head Woman” single, winner of the first “gold record,” is worth up to $75.00 with its picture sleeve. The “King Creole” soundtrack album can fetch $400.00 in mono and $800.00 in stereo.

You might think the “little girl with the big voice” was coined for multi-hit maker Brenda Lee but in this case it refers to Timi Yuro, an early Blue-eyed Soul singer. Her first big hit, “Hurt,” reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. In 1962 she hit big again with “What’s a Matter Baby (Is it Hurting You).” Elvis was one of her biggest fans and recorded her signature song, “Hurt,” in 1976. The Elvis single with picture sleeve can get you $40.00. The album, “Hurt!!! by Timi Yuro was released on Liberty Records in 1961 and can sell for $100.00 today.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Dance Party” was released by King Records in 1958. It featured some of the great Rhythm & Blues artists of the day including Little Willie John singing “Fever,” Billy Ward & the Dominoes doing “Have Mercy Baby,” and the classic “Sexy Ways” by Hank Ballard & the Midnighters. Also featured are Earl Bostic, Roy Brown, Little Ester, Tiny Bradshaw, Otis Williams, Wynonie Harris, and Big Jay McNeeley. A copy is worth up to $150.00 today. Find the value for all albums with various hits by various recording artists on the Mighty John Compilation Album Price Guide, available in the left hand column.

“Best of the Beatles” was released by Savage records in 1965. The cover pictures Pete Best, Stu Sutcliff, and John, Paul, and George. The “Best” in the title refers to drummer Pete Best and not to a greatest hits connotation. From 1960-1962, before being replaced by Ringo Starr, Pete Best played with the Beatles when they were known as the Quarrymen. The album can get you $100.00 today.

It seems strange and unbelievable that with all the classic hits he had, Chuck Berry’s only #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit came in 1972 with “My Ding-a-Ling.”  The closest he came prior to that was in 1958 with “Sweet Little Sixteen” on Chess Records, which reached #2. The “Sweet Little Sixteen” 45 is worth up to $50.00. The 78 rpm version can get you $200.00 and the “Sweet Little 16” EP can sell for $400.00 today.

Neil Young first gained fame with Buffalo Springfield and then as part of one of Rock’s greatest bands: Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Following that he went solo with a very successful career. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, both as a solo artist and as a member of Buffalo Springfield, he released his 9^th album “Comes a Time” in 1978. A single of the title song was issued by Reprise records as a picture disc, now worth up to $300.00. “Comes a Time” by Neil Young is just one of the picture discs you’ll find listed on our Picture Discs Price Guide. It’s available in the left hand column.

One of the true Blues legends was Big John Wrencher, also known as One Arm John after losing his left arm as a result of an auto accident. He was an itinerant musician but best known for his performances at Maxwell Street Market in Chicago. In 1976, Barrelhouse Records released the “Maxwell Street Alley Blues” album. An orange cover with artwork by Robert “Keep On Truckin” Crumb is worth up to $600.00 today.

On August 4,1963 the Beatles appear on the U.S. Charts for the first time when “From Me to You” debuts at # 116 on Billboard. A copy on Vee Jay Records with a black label with a rainbow circle and oval logo is worth up to $700.00. A copy on Vee Jay Records with a black label with rainbow circle and brackets logo can sell for $900.00. A white label promo copy is up to $2,000.00 today.

Hank Ballard was a pioneer and founding father in Rock N Roll and Rhythm and Blues with early ‘50s risqué records like “Work with me Annie” and “Annie Had a Baby.” With his backup group, the Midnighters, he had success in the ‘60s with “Finger Poppin Time” and “Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go.” He also wrote and first recorded “The Twist,” later a giant smash for Chubby Checker. Hank’s version is worth up to $30.00. In 1961, King Records released “Sing Along” by Hank Ballad & the Midnighters. A copy can sell for $100.00 today.

The Coasters tore up the charts in the 50’s with hits like “Charlie Brown” and “Yakety Yak.” But before they were the Coasters, they were the Robins, scoring hits like “Smokey Joe’s Café” and “Riot in Cell Block No. 9.” The 45 of “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” on Spark Records is worth up to $200.00. As the Robins they had just one album, “Rock N Roll with the Robins.” The cover pictures a rock and a roll rather than the actual words. An original copy, released on Whipple Records in 1958, can get you $400.00 today.