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One of the biggest instrumental hits of all time came in 1958 with “Tequila” by the Champs who took their name from Gene Autry’s horse, Champion. The band consisted of studio musicians. Their album, “Go Champs Go,” released on Challenge Records, is worth up to $100.00 on black vinyl and up to $500.00 on blue vinyl. A red vinyl copy of the “Tequila” 45 can fetch $1,000.00 today.

Sting parted with the Police in 1984 after the band’s fifth and most successful album, “Synchronicity.” There are a lot of cases where the color of the record label or the color of the vinyl can make a difference in value. But here’s a case where the color of the cover establishes value. Yellow, red, and blue covers are up to $10.00. Gold, gray, and brown are up to $50.00 while the same album with a black and white cover can sell for $100.00 today.

At the age of 13, Thelonious Monk had won so many amateur award contests at the famed Apollo Theater that he was asked to stop entering the competitions. One of the architects of what is known as Be-Bop, Monk is one of the most influential musicians in the history of Jazz. He is one of only three musicians that ever appeared on the cover of Time magazine. The U.S. Post Office honored him with a stamp. Among many of his highly acclaimed albums is “Monk’s Mood.” Released on Prestige Records in 1958, an original copy is worth up to $750.00 today. The 1954 10-inch album “Thelonious Monk Trio” on Prestige Records can now sell for $1,200.00.

Taking their name from Belmont Avenue in the Bronx, the Belmonts led by Dion cranked out the hits in the late 1950’s. They had their first hit with “I Wonder Why” in 1958. Next up was “Nobody Knows,” which hit # 19 on the Billboard charts. Their biggest hit “Where or When” hit #3 in 1959, but they are best known for their second biggest hit “A Teenager in Love.” That 45 in stereo can fetch $50.00 today. In 1959, Laurie Records released the EP “Their Hits” by Dion & the Belmonts featuring their first hit and “A Teenager in Love.” A copy is worth up to $200.00 today.

The Supremes were not overnight sensations. On their first recordings, it was Florence Ballard and not Diana Ross who sang lead. Things were going so poorly that Ross took a job in a Detroit department store. However, when she was put at the front mike, the Supremes would go on to have 12 #1 hits beginning with “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Baby Love.” But the early releases with Florence Ballard as lead singer can be quite collectible. “Buttered Popcorn,” released on the Tamla label, is worth up to $250.00 and “I Want a Guy,” their first single on Motown, can get you $1,000.00 today.

Soupy Sales had the #1 TV show in Los Angeles in the early 60’s. Even Frank Sinatra was a guest. In 1964, Soupy moved his show to New York and was syndicated throughout the country. Famous for getting pies shoved in his face, he also played clubs and Broadway. In 1962, Reprise Records released the Soupy Sales album, “Up in the Air.” That’s not worth more than $30.00 but the single, “My Baby’s Got a Crush on Frankenstein,” contained on the album, is worth up to $100.00 whether it’s a commercial or promo copy.

Dressed as a cowboy on the album cover, Bo Diddley’s 5^TH  album was called “Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger.” The album not only includes the “Gunslinger” single but also “Sixteen Tons,” first made famous by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Bo Diddley was invited on the Ed Sullivan Show to sing “Sixteen Tons,” but he surprised Sullivan on the live Sunday night broadcast by singing “Bo Diddley” instead. Sullivan was not amused. The “Gunslinger” single can sell for $25.00 today but the “Gunslinger” album, released on Checker Records in 1961, is worth up to $200.00 today.

Originally known as the Starlettes, the Angels had their biggest hit with a song they sang as a demo meant for the Shirelles. However, the Angels’ demo sounded so good that their version was released and “My Boyfriend’s Back” was a Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit in 1963. Lesser hits followed like “Dream Boy,” which with its picture sleeve can sell up to $100.00. The same is true for the album “A Halo for You,” containing the single.  Both the 45 and the album were released by Smash Records.

The Buckinghams had 5 top-20 hits. In 1967, they went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the single, “Kind of a Drag,” worth up to $20.00. USA Records, which released the 45, also issued the “Kind of a Drag” album. If you have a copy with 12 songs on it, it’s worth up to $30.00. However, if you have a copy with 13 songs, the value jumps up to $125.00 today.
(All the little things that can make a big difference in record values are described in detail in Mighty John’s “Record Appraisal Guide,” available in the left column.)

Dinah Washington crossed many musical boundaries including Blues, Jazz, Pop, and Rock and Roll. Her biggest hit came in 1959 with “What a Difference a Day Makes.” A copy on Mercury records is worth up to $20.00. A combination of pills and alcohol silenced her amazing voice in 1963. Her debut album “After Hours” on Emarcy Records was released in 1954 and can fetch $400.00 today.

Be sure and request this month’s free list of “10 Records Worth $100.00 or More.” PLUS trivia about the recording artists. To receive your copy, just email mightyjohn1971@gmail.com