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One of the most unusual ways to promote an album happened in 1968 when the Waleeco Candy Company hired a Boston band to cut a commercial. The band known as Flat Earth Society has been recognized over the years as truly innovative and talented. The way to obtain a copy of the album was to send proof of purchase of 6 Waleeco candy bars along with $1.60 to the candy company. It was a pretty good investment as the “Waleeco” album, released by Fleetwood Records, can get you $400.00 today.

Ray Bloch and his orchestra first became famous as the band who played for performances on the “Ed Sullivan Show” when it was known as “Toast of the Town.” The band also played for the “Jackie Gleason Show.” Gleason would introduce him as “the flower of the musical world.” In 1953, Ray Bloch and his orchestra recorded the theme for the Academy Award winner, “From Here to Eternity.” The picture sleeve for the single pictures the film cast including Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Donna Reed, and Deborah Kerr. Released by Coral Records, the sleeve is worth up to $500.00 today.The picture sleeves for 45’s are worth more than the records. You can find the value for over 10,000 picture sleeves. Click on “Mighty John’s Picture Sleeve Guide” in the yellow strip near the top of the page.

The Crests was perhaps the most diverse and racially integrated group in Doo Wop including two black men, a Puerto Rican, an Italian, and a black woman. That female was Patricia Vandross, older sister of Luther Vandross. But when Patricia’s mother refused to let her young daughter go out on tour, the Crests became a quartet. They first caught the attention of record buyers everywhere in 1959 with “16 Candles.” More hits followed like “The Angels Listened In.” That single is worth up to $40.00 but the EP, released on COED Records in 1960, can sell for $1,000.00 today.

The album “Smiley Smile” by the Beach Boys, released in 1967 on Brother Records, was their least successful up until that time. However, over the years it has become much more appreciated and sought after. Recorded in Brian Wilson’s home studio in Bel Air, the quality suffered as a result of not having the high tech gear of Capitol Records’ studio. One of the tracks on the album, called “Vegetables,” features the sounds of Paul McCartney munching on celery. The “Smiley Smile” album in stereo is worth up to $250.00 but a first-pressing mono copy can fetch $500.00 today.

Former Golden Glove boxing champ and fellow student at Humes High School with Elvis, Johnny Burnette was one of the first and most successful Rockabilly singers. It all began in 1955 with “Go Mule Go” on Von Records. An original copy is worth up to $750.00 today. His biggest and most memorable hits were “You’re Sixteen,” “Dreamin,” “Little Boy Sad,” and “Big Big World.” In 1961, Liberty Records released the EP, “Johnny Burnettes’ Hits,” containing “You’re Sixteen,” which was his biggest hit. The EP can sell for $200.00 today.

Ted Cassidy was an American actor best known for playing the butler on TV’s “The Addams Family.” As Lurch, he is famous for the line, “You rang?” Cassidy also played characters on “Star Trek,” “Daniel Boone,” and “I Dream of Jeannie.” However, it is his portrayal or Lurch that lives in memory. In 1965, Capitol Records released the single, “The Lurch.” The 45 with picture sleeve is worth up to $150.00 today.

Weddings and marriage have been often-used themes for some of the classic Doo Wop songs of the 50’s and 60’s such as “To the Aisle” by the 5 Satins, “Three Steps from the Altar,” by Shep & the Limelights, and “Babalu’s Wedding Day” by the Eternals. Perhaps the most successful is “When We Get Married” by the Dreamlovers. It reached the top-10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. A copy on Heritage Records is worth up to $40.00, but their 1960 single, “For the First Time,” on Len Records can get you $500.00 today.

Dead at the age of 29, Hank Williams lives on as a Country music superstar. Born with spina bifada, he was pretty much a loner as a child and found company with the various types of music he heard on the radio. One of those to have a tremendous influence on young Hank was not a Country artist but rather a Blues artist named Rufus Payne. And the Blues are definitely heard in Hank’s songs and voice. His earliest songs were on the Sterling Record label. “Honky Tonkin,” released in 1947 as a 78, is worth up to $1,000.00 today.

The most popular dance crazes of the early 60’s included the Twist, the Pony, the Mashed Potatoes, the Hully Gully, the Swim, the Fish, and the Shimmy. And then there was the Stomp. The 45, “Foot Stomping,” by the Flares, released on Felsted Records in 1961, is worth up to $40.00 while their album “Encore of Foot Stompin’ Hits” can sell for $100.00 today.

The 78 rpm record had pretty much vanished by the end of the 50’s as the 45 became the preferable way to release and hear the music of the day. One of the biggest hits for Ricky Nelson was one of the last Billboard Top 100 hits to be released both as a 78 and a 45. “It’s Late” reached # 9 in 1959. The 45, released on Imperial Records, is worth up to $50.00 with picture sleeve. However, the 78 can sell for $500.00 today. Both versions are shown here.