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Rolling Stone magazine lists “Folk Singer” by Muddy Waters as one of the greatest top 500 albums of all time. It could have been called “Muddy Waters Unplugged” as it’s an all acoustic album with Muddy Waters and Bobby Guy on acoustic guitars along with Clifton James on drums and Willie Dixon on bass. Released on Chess Records in 1964, the album is worth up to $400.00 today.

Gary U.S. Bonds was as popular during the twist craze of the early 1960’s as Chubby Checker. His hits such as “New Orleans” and “Quarter to Three” are Rock N Roll classics. But like Chubby, Gary capitalized on the twist with top 10 hits, “Dear Lady Twist,” and “Twist Twist Senora. His album, “Twist Up Calypso,” released on Legrand Records, is worth up to $50.00. His first album “Quarter to Three” can sell for $100.00 today.

Who is Leo Giordarno and why does he have a record that collectors seek? What makes his record special is that backing him up, singing falsetto, are Buddy Holly and Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers. The song, “Stay Close To Me,” was not only written by Buddy Holly but also one of his few compositions that he never recorded himself. Released on Brunswick Records in 1959, a copy is worth up to $600.00 today.

The Chantels was one of the first girl groups of the Rock N Roll era. They had their first hit in 1957 with the Doo-Wop classic, “Maybe.” A reformed version of the group scored in 1961 with “Look in My Eyes” and “Well, I Told You,” which was an answer song to “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles. In 1962, Carleton Records released the album “The Chantels on Tour.” A mono copy is up to $100.00. The stereo version, as shown here, is worth up to $200.00 today.

On August 12,1960, Pete Best became a Beatle and for two years, as their fame grew in Hamburg and Liverpool, Pete was the drummer backing up John, Paul, and George. Then, in one of the great unsolved mysteries of Rock N Roll, he was replaced by Ringo Starr. In 1966, Cameo Records released the 45, “Boys,” by Peter Best. The 45, with picture sleeve as shown here, is worth up to $100.00 today.

Paul Anka was one of the biggest teen idols of the 50’s & 60’s with huge hits such as “Diana,” “Puppy Love,” and “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” which today is worth up to $50.00 with its picture sleeve. However, his most valuable record is one that most people have never heard of. In 1966 RCA Records released the Paul Anka single, “I Can’t Help Loving You.” It’s worth up to $250.00 today.

Unlike the Beach Boys, the Astronauts was a surf band from the Midwest, far away from the ocean. Although they never had any big hits, they were more popular in Japan than the Beach Boys. They also appeared in 4 “surf” movies, more than any other surf band. Their 1964 LP’s, “Competition Coupe” and “Astronauts Orbit Kampus,” released by RCA Records, are each worth up to $100.00 today.

The life and legend of Frankie Lymon lives in Rock N Roll history. Beginning with a quick rise to fame and fortune in ’56 with “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” to his tragic death in ’68 in New York at his grandmother’s house, another victim of drugs, Frankie Lymon was the first black teen idol. His EP, “Frankie Lymon At The London Palladium,” released by Roulette Records and featuring “Goody Goody,” his last hit with the Teenagers, is worth up to $150.00 today.

Beginning in January of 1966 the Batman craze exploded on ABC television when Adam West and Burt Ward donned their costumes and jumped into the Batmobile to defend the citizens of Gotham City. That same year 20th Century Fox released the “Batman Theme” by Nelson Riddle. The 45, with its picture sleeve as shown here, is worth up to $400.00 today.

“The Bad Seed,” a thriller from 1956, was a movie based on the play by Maxwell Anderson. The film was about a disturbed young girl who displayed the characteristics of a serial killer. It was nominated for 4 academy awards. The soundtrack, released by RCA in 1956, is worth up to $250.00 today. “The Bad Seed” is just one of the 10,000 soundtracks listed on our Soundtracks CD in Microsoft Word, covering movies, TV shows, and Broadway shows. It’s available in the left hand column.