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In 1964, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller who wrote so many classics like “Jailhouse Rock” for Elvis and “Yakety Yak” for the Coasters, wrote one for a group known as the Ad Libs. That song was “The Boy From New York City,” on the Blue Cat record label, which went top-10 on the Billboard 100. It worth up to $30.00 today. A year later A.G.P. Records release the Ad Libs single, “New York in the Dark.” A copy is worth up to $500.00 today.

What album by the Carpenters is worth up to $150.00? The answer can be  be found on our 5th YouTube video. Here’s the link https://youtu.be/U1kxAHckWP0

Dewey Bunnel of the folk-rock band, America, said that, “A horse with no name” was “a metaphor for a vehicle to get away from life’s confusion into a quiet, peaceful place.” All I know is that it was a # 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. The 45 isn’t valued more than $10.00. The album, “America,” is up to $25.00 UNLESS you have a copy where “A Horse with No Name” is not included. Then the value can jump to $75.00.

Holy Rock and Roll, Batman. What song about the cape crusader can
sell for $400.00? The answer can be found on our 4th YouTube video. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/VRbA2I-UsVU

“Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl” was a hit in 1965 for a band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts known as the Barbarians. The song was a social commentary on the long hairstyles and fashions of the day. It even mocked British bands with lyrics, “You’re either a girl or you come from Liverpool.” The 45, released on Laurie Records, is worth up to $30.00 while the bands only album, “The Barbarians,” can sell for $75.00 today in mono and $175.00 in stereo.

What album by the Beach Boys can get you up to $800.00? The answer can be found on our YouTube video. Here’s the link:   https://youtu.be/tvWDdW4lniM

If there’s one song that represents what rock and roll is all about its “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry. The song really is about its creator. Also, the lyric in the song is “There was a country boy named Johnny B. Goode.” Chuck Berry wrote the original lyric as “There was a colored boy named Johnny B. Goode.” He knew to get radio airplay back in the late 50s, he would have to change colored to country. Another hint that makes the song autobiographical is that Chuck Berry was born at 2520 Goode Avenue in St. Louis. The original 45 on Chess Records is worth up to $40.00. On a 78, the value can jump to $200.00. Both versions are shown here.

What makes Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” album worth up to $500? The answer can be found in our YouTube video. Here’s the link:  https://youtu.be/OM7r4tz8PzA

Location! Location! Location! That phrase describes the necessity of being in the right place to maximize profit. Chancellor Records was in the right place, Philadelphia, and the right time when American Bandstand took off like a rocket in the late 1950’s. Chancellor stars Frankie Avalon and Fabian didn’t have far to go to get to the Bandstand studios where Dick Clark would make them teen idols. In 1960, Chancellor Records put their two stars on one album. An original copy of “The Hit Makers” is worth up to $100.00 today.
What was the first song played on “American Bandstand” when it went national in 1957 and what is it worth today? The answer can be found in our YouTube video. Here is the link:  https://youtu.be/Jinv2H3itV0

Recorded in the basement of St. Bernadette’s Church in New Haven, CT in 1956, the Five Satins’ “In the Still of the Nite” is considered by many as the quintessential doo-wop song of all time and doo-wop records are very collectible. Lead singer, Fred Parris was inspired to write the song while on guard duty in the U.S. Army. On a 45 on Ember Records is worth up to $50.00 while the first issue 78 on Standord Records can sell up to $2,000.00 today. Both issues are seen here.

“Music From Big Pink” is the first album for the Band. They had previously backed up Bob Dylan on his tours in 1966.  The title refers to the color of the house in West Saugerties, New York shared by band members, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson. Released by Capitol Records in 1968, the artwork on the cover is the work of Bob Dylan himself, which no doubt adds to its value of up to $250.00.

What makes Bob Dylan’s “Free Wheelin” album worth $15,000.00? You can find the answer on our YouTube channel. PLUS the values for 9 other records each worth $100.00 or more. Here’s the link:

 https://youtu.be/YxfLE_Z27bY?si=okARAeLecmq2JEyX

The Hollywood Argyles had one of the biggest novelty hits of the early rock and roll era with “Alley-Oop.” The 45 charted for 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number one for the week of July 11, 1960. “Alley Oop” was the first song played on WLS AM Radio in Chicago on May 2, 1960, when it changed format from farm programming to rock and roll. The group got their name from the street location of the recording studio. It was at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Argyle Street. The single on Lute Records is worth up to $35.00. The album can sell for $500.00 today. (Find the values for over a million records in our “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column)

What makes Paul McCartney’s album, “Ram,” worth $5,000.00? You can find the answer on our YouTube channel. PLUS the values for 9 other records each worth $100.00 or more. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/U1kxAHckWP0

“Desperado” is unique among albums by the Eagles. It’s the only Eagles album, released by a U.S. record company, where the members are shown on the cover. “Desperado” is one of their most popular songs, but was never released as a single. Yet it appears on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 greatest songs of all time.” Issued in 1973 on Asylum Records, the album is only valued up to $15.00 unless you have or find a white label promo copy as seen here. Then the value jumps up to $500.00. (Find the values for all promo records that are worth more than the commercial versions released in stores with “Mighty John’s Promo Records Guide,” available in the yellow strip above.)

What # 1 hit by the Beatles can sell for $1,000.00 today? You can find the answer on our YouTube channel. PLUS the values for 9 other records each worth $100.00 or more. Here’s the link:  https://youtu.be/VRbA2I-UsVU

“Shake, Rattle and Roll” by Bill Haley and His Comets is one of most iconic songs of the early rock and roll era. Released in 1954 by Decca Records, the hit spent 27 weeks in the Top-40 on the Billboard charts. The 45 is now worth up to $75.00. The EP up to $400.00 and the LP up to $800.00. The covers look similar but the EP has 4 songs while the LP has 8. (All versions of all records are described in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)