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“The Long and Winding Road” was issued on Apple Records in May of 1970, a month after the Beatles broke up. It was their 20^th and final # 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The single is worth no more than $20.00. The picture sleeve,as seen here, can now sell for $150.00.

(You can find the values for over 10,000 picture sleeves with “Mighty John’s Picture Sleeve Guide,” available in the yellow strip above.)

One of the 1970’s best known Rock bands was Grand Funk Railroad. They took their name from Grand Trunk Western Railroad that ran through their town of Flint, Michigan. With Todd Rundgren as a producer, they had their most successful album, “We’re An American Band.” It’s the same title as their 1973 # 1 hit. Released on Capitol Records, the album with black vinyl is worth no more than $10.00 but almost half of them were issued on gold vinyl and a copy can sell for $50.00 today.

“Elvis in Concert” featured some of his final performances. Released in 1977, the two-disc set was certified Gold and Platinum on October 14 and 3× Platinum on August 1, 2002, by the RIAA. The value depends on the color of the labels on the record. Copies with blue record labels are worth up to $25.00. Copies with black record labels can now sell for $600.00.
(All versions of all records are described in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left hand column.)

”She was sent from down below.” That’s what Ernie K-Doe sang about his mother-in-law. But he should have thanked her for giving him a million-seller that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. Released on Minit Records, a copy of “Mother-In Law” is worth up to $50.00. In 1971, Janus Records released “Here Comes the Girls” by Ernie K-Doe. He could have shown his appreciation for his mother-in-law by giving her a bunch of those singles. A copy can sell for $400.00 today.

Art Kassel started his dance band in 1924 and over the years featured many great musicians including Benny Goodman.  Kassel was a saxophonist and a clarinetist. His composition of “Doodle Doo Doo” can even be heard in the soundtrack of the Elvis movie, “The Trouble with Girls.” In 1947, the Vogue Record Company issued the Art Kassel picture disc, “Queen For a Day.” A copy is worth up to $4,500.00 today. “Queen For a Day” by Art Kassel 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.

In 1963, Mercury Records released the Boris Karloff album, “Tales of the Frightened.” The man who brought Frankenstein’s monster and the Mummy to the silver screen tells creepy tales in that familiar eerie voice just made to bring us chills. Along with creepy music and sound effects, Karloff opens each story with the words “Are you one of the frightened?” A copy of the album can scare up $75.00. In 1967, Decca released the album, “An Evening with Boris Karloff,” now worth up to $300.00.

In 1967, Van Morrison had his first solo hit with “Brown-Eyed Girl.” Two years earlier the Golliwogs came out with their single “Brown-Eyed Girl.” It’s the same title but different song. The Golliwogs would later be known as Creedence Clearwater Revival. But whose brown-eyed girl would you rather have? A record collector would choose the Golliwogs. Van Morrison’s single on Bang Records is worth no more than $20.00 while the Golliwog’s 45 of “Brown-Eyed Girl” on Scorpio Records can get you $250.00 today.

Marv Johnson had his biggest hit in 1959 with “You’ve Got What it Takes” for United Artists.  He was also the first recording artist to have a record released by what would become the giant Motown record empire. “Come to Me,” released in 1959 on Tamla, a subsidiary of Motown, is worth up to $200.00. His first album “Marvelous Marv Johnson,” issued in stereo in 1960 by United Artists, can sell for $100.00 today.

In 1981 Sweet Thunder Records released the album, “Reunited Live,” featuring Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. But the only original members were Valli and Bob Gaudio. During the concert, less emphasis was put on their big hits from the sixties while their more recent seventies hits like “December 1963(Oh What a Night)” and “Grease” were given more attention. An original copy of the album can still get you $200.00 today.

In 1967 20^th Century Fox released the film, “Bedazzled,” starring Dudley Moore and Peter Cook who also wrote the script. In the movie, Cook plays the devil offering Moore seven wishes in return for his soul. Dudley Moore also composed the soundtrack for the movie. An original copy on Decca Records is worth up to $200.00 today. Having Raquel Welch as one of the seven deadly sins sure doesn’t hurt the value. “Bedazzled” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks CD, covering movies, TV shows, and Broadway shows. It’s available in the left hand column.