FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 29, 1999

DEAR JERRY: Recently a Beatles expert was a guest on the Good Morning America TV show. He stated that an original copy of the album “Introducing the Beatles” can now be worth nearly $10,000.

Can you confirm that this statement is true? If it is accurate, who would be interested in purchasing that album for such a large amount?
—Lorraine Felde, Hoffman Estates, Ill.

DEAR LORRAINE: The person you heard may have actually understated the possibilities. Some pressings of “Introducing the Beatles” can fetch in the neighborhood of $12,000.

However, don't quit your day job yet. Most of the copies in general circulation are worth far less, and many that turn up these days are counterfeits that are only worth about ten dollars.

Knowing how to distinguish one issue from another is more complicated with this LP than any other ever made. Fortunately, everything one needs to know can be found in the recently issued “Official Price Guide to the Beatles Records and Memorabilia,” by Perry Cox (House of Collectibles Books). Click here for details and ordering information.

Those lucky enough to have one of the rare pressings will find there is sufficient demand for it. The Cox guidebook even includes a “Buyers-Sellers Directory,” where anxious Beatles buyers are listed.

Since then, I have been told I am wrong, and that Jim did not die in the same plane crash that killed Patsy.

Please set me straight about this.
—Ida R. Todhunter, Winter Haven, Fla. (Lakeland)

DEAR IDA: The plane carrying Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins went down in Tennessee on March 5, 1963.

Just a little over one year later, July 31, 1964, Jim Reeves died in a plane crash, also in Tennessee.

Now set straight is the knowledge that you had somewhat jumbled these two events.

DEAR JERRY: I have been looking for information on a song that came out in the 1960s, titled “Silver Dagger.” It is by a group named the Greenwoods.

“Silver Dagger” is an instrumental that was used by one of the local radio stations as “filler,” such as when leading up to news time, etc.

I have checked through all the books I can find, as well as all the Internet music information sources (by the way, your web site is great), but I can find no reference anywhere to “Silver Dagger.”

Also, I am enclosing a record for you that I released back in 1990, about Desert Storm. It was played on AFRS (Armed Forces Radio Service) all over the world. I even received a thank you letter from Gen. Schwarzkopf.

Many Vietnam War veterans cried when they heard it, and some said they wished someone had written songs like it back when they came home after the war.

I hope you like it.
—Joe Brignone, Tacoma, Wash.

DEAR JOE: “Silver Dagger” is an early 1966 single release by the Greenwoods (Decca 31953), the flip side being “Harlan Breakdown.” As you may have suspected, it did not chart.

Both tunes first appeared on this nine-member folk band's 1964 LP, “Greenwoods - Folk Instrumentals” (Decca DL-4496).

Thank you for the autographed copy of your record, “When Desert Storm Is Over” (Wien 1001).

I suppose that anyone interested in a copy can contact you by e-mail (jbrig@uswest.net) or at P.O. Box 11061, Tacoma, WA.

IZ ZAT SO? During the year 1964, the Beatles placed an astonishing number of songs on the Pop charts — 30 to be exact. It is unlikely this feat will ever be equaled.

Compare this to 1965, with Beatlemaina still dominating, when the boys had “only” 10 chart tunes.