moneymusic.com

Following the breakup of the Beatles, George Harrison released his first solo album, “All Things Must Pass.” Produced by the legendary Phil Spector, the album contains two of Harrison’s biggest hits, “What is Life” and “My Sweet Lord.”  The “My Sweet Lord” 45 with picture sleeve can now sell for $50.00. The “All Things Must Pass” album cover, showing Harrison sitting among scattered garden gnomes, is a reflection of his break from the Beatles. Issued by Apple Records, the 3-record set is worth up to $100.00 today.

On March 24,1966, the Beatles pose for the cover of their next album. The picture shows the Beatles dressed at butchers holding chopped up dolls and raw meat. After much objection, the album is re called and re issued with a non-controversial cover. The album is called “Yesterday and Today.” 1966 stereo copies with the cover showing the Beatles gathered around a trunk are worth up to $150.00, mono copies up to $300.00. Original 1966 mono copies with the “butcher” cover currently hold a value up to $5,000.00 while stereo versions are worth up to $15,000.00, although 3 have sold for $25,000.00 each.

The EP, extended play album, is the size of a 45, usually with 2 or 3 songs on each side. Many can be quite valuable, especially by the Doo Wop groups of the 50’s. The Platters’ EP, “The Platters Sing for Only You,” released by Federal Records in 1956, and the Flamingos’ EP, “Goodnight Sweetheart,” released by End Records in 1959, can each get you $600.00 today.

The second album for England’s Pink Floyd, “A Saucerful of Secrets,” came in the summer of ’68. It was the last album for Sid Barrett and the first for David Gilmour. Released by Tower Records, the value depends on the color of the record label. A striped label makes the album worth up to $100.00, but a copy with an orange label, as seen here, can sell for $300.00 today.

One-hit-wonders have been a major part of the biggest chart-busters in the history of Rock N Roll. In 1960, Billy Bland had his 15 minutes of fame with the Billboard top-10 hit, “Let the Little Girl Dance.” Released on Old Town Records, the black vinyl 45 is worth no more than $25.00. However, a gold vinyl copy can get you $1,000.00 today.

Not all record collectibles are all that old. In 2006, Classic Records released a Led Zeppelin set called “Classic Records”-the Road Case Edition.” The set consists of 48 single-sided 12-inch 45’s, all taken from Led Zeppelin’s first 9 studio LP’s. Released in a custom suitcase carrier, it is worth up to $3,000.00.
Email mightyjohn1971@gmail.com to receive October’s free list of “10 Rolling Stones records totaling over $50,000.00!”

Rolling Stone magazine ranks “We Will Rock You” by Queen at #330 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2009, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Released on Elektra Records in 1977, with “We Are the Champions” on the flip side, the 45 is worth no more than $20.00 with its picture sleeve. However, the 12-inch single, as seen here on the right, can get you $400.00 today.

On March 17, 1957, Elvis Presley outbids the YMCA’s offer of $35,000 and buys the Graceland mansion from Mrs. Ruth Brown-Moore for $102,500. The 23 room,10,000 square foot home, comes with 13.8 acres of land. The king makes some upgrades expanding the living space to 17,552 square feet before moving in. At one time Graceland had been a place of worship used by the Graceland Christian Church named after the builder’s daughter, Grace Toof. Sales from Elvis’ first album help make the purchase possible. Copies of the album, as seen here with front and back cover, can sell for over $500.00 today.

The “Two Virgins” album was the first John Lennon recorded void of any influence from any of the other Beatles. But it is best known for the cover, featuring a completely naked John and Yoko. Like a dirty magazine, it was distributed in a brown paper wrapper. The album with wrapper, as seen here, was released by Apple records in 1968 and can get you $150.00 today.

The title of “Godfather of Rhythm and Blues” goes to Johnny Otis. Born Greek, he said, “I prefer to be black.” He not only discovered Jackie Wilson, Big Mama Thornton, and Hank Ballard; he also recorded one of the biggest hits of 1958 with “Willie and the Hand Jive,” which can now sell for $25.00. In 1957, Dig Records issued the Johnny Otis album, “Rock and Roll Hit Parade.” An original copy can get you $500.00 today. Beware: counterfeits exist. The discs on original copies are rigid and noticeably thicker than the more flexible ones found on fakes. All known counterfeit records are listed and described on the Mighty John Record Appraisal Guide on a flash drive, available in the left hand column on this page.