moneymusic.com

“Piper at the Gates of Dawn,” a title taken from “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Graham, was the debut album for Pink Floyd. Rolling Stone magazine includes it on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It is also regarded as one of the best progressive and psychedelic albums of the 1960’s. Released on Tower Records in 1967, a copy in stereo with an orange record label can get you $350.00. Make that $400.00 for a mono copy.

The Olympics first found fame in 1958 with the top-10 hit, “(My Baby Loves The) Western Movies.” It was a Doo Wop novelty song based on the popular TV westerns of the day. Next up was their dance-craze hit, “(Baby) Hully Gully.” The “Western Movies” 45, released on Demon Records, is worth up to $50.00. Their 1960 album, “Doin’ The Hully Gully,” released on Arvee Records, can get you $200.00 today.

Joanie Sommers’ first hit came in 1960 with “One Boy” from the musical, “Bye Bye Birdie.” But her biggest hit ,“Johnny Get Angry,” hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. She later became a popular guest on TV game shows like “Hollywood Squares” and “The Match Game.” She also became known as the “Pepsi Girl” in the 60’s when she sang jingles for the soft drink. “Johnny Get Angry,” released by Warner Brothers, is worth no more than $20.00, but its one of her lesser-known singles that can bring you the big bucks. “Don’t Pity Me,” released by Warner Brothers in 1965, can sell for $800.00 today.

R. Dean Taylor was a record producer at Motown in 1970 when he wrote and recorded a top-10 Billboard hit on Motown’s Rare Earth record label. “Indiana Wants Me” tells the story of a fugitive being urged to give himself up. But record collectors don’t really want “Indiana Wants Me” as it’s not worth much more than 5 bucks. What record collectors really want is R. Dean Taylor’s first single ,“At the High School Dance.” An original on Audio Master records, released in 1960, is worth up to $500.00 today.

What was the first Rock N Roll record? No one can say for sure but many believe it was “Rocket 88″ by Jackie Brenston (with 19-year-old Ike Turner on piano). It was recorded at Sun Records by the legendary Sam Philips. Released on Chess Records in 1951 on a 78 RPM its worth up to $800.00 today. 1954 copies on 45 RPM are worth up to $5,000.00. Note: Beware, there are counterfeits. Originals have a Delta triangle symbol and number stamped in the trail-off area. Fakes do not. All known counterfeit records are listed and described on the Mighty John Record Appraisal Guide, available in the left hand column on this page.

“The Velvet Underground & Nico” on Verve Records featured among others, Lou Reed, John Cale, & Nico. Born Christa Paffgen, Nico’s gloomy, monotone voice made the music unique. The single from the album was “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” Released in 1966, the 45 can get you $750.00. The picture sleeve is a much bigger collectible. It’s worth up to $5,000.00 today.

One-hit wonders, Question Mark & The Mysterians, might have had just one hit but it has become a Rock N Roll classic. With “96 Tears” they were the first Latino rock band to have a top 40 hit in the U.S.  Question Mark, or (?), in reality was Rudi Martinez. His group’s “96 Tears” album, released on Cameo Records in 1966, is worth up to $100.00 today. But the original 45 on Pa-Go-Go Records can get you $800.00.

By 1966 Elvis movies were so formulated that Elvis wasn’t anxious to do them. An example would be “Spinout.” The single of “Spinout” barely cracked the top 40 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The soundtrack album was released by RCA in mono as well as stereo. Either version is worth up to $50.00 today. But you can add another $50.00 if you have the 12 x 12 bonus Elvis photo that came inside the album. Add another $25.00 if there is a sticker on the cover, as seen here, announcing the bonus photo.

There were two bands in the 60’s who wore colonial outfits on stage. One was Paul Revere and the Raiders. The other was the New Colony Six out of Chicago. Beginning in 1966 they charted 10 times on the Billboard Hot 100. Among their biggest hits are, “I Will Always Think about You” and “Things I’d like to Say.” Their 45 of “Can’t You See Me Cry” is worth up to $30.00 with picture sleeve.Their debut album “Breakthrough” on Sentar Records from 1966 can get you $500.00 today.

Daughter of R & B legend Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas is known as the Queen of Memphis Soul. Her biggest hit came in 1960 with “Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes),” recorded when she was just 15-years-old. Even though the song was released on Atlantic Records and now worth up to $30.00, Carla would soon become the first performer to make a record for Stax Records, a label that dominated the 60’s with its Soul music releases. The “Gee Whiz” album, issued by Atlantic Records, can sell for $200.00 today. The 45 of “Gee Whiz”  originally released on Satellite Records can get you $300.00.