FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 5, 2011

DEAR JERRY: In the 1950s and '60s, I usually bought my favorite records as soon as I became aware of them. As a result, I have a number of hit songs on independent labels, that made it big after being picked up by a bigger company.

Will you list some examples of generally unknown first labels and the ones on which they sold well nationally, with values?
—Kim Zumwalt, Boise, Idaho

DEAR KIM: You got it! By setting the minimum value for first label discs at $100 leaves us with a manageable total of about 80 entries. Otherwise, there are too many to complete by my deadline.

Not included are labels having original versions that are not the same recording as the hit. For example, “Only You,” by the Platters, on Federal is not the same track as the Mercury hit, and does not qualify here.

Alphabetically by artist, here is the title, year, first issue, and NM value, followed by the commercial first pressing 45 for the hit label:

Lee Andrews and the Hearts “Long Lonely Nights” (1957): Main Line ($750) / Chess 1665 ($30)
Lee Andrews and the Hearts “Tear Drops” (1957): Argo 1000 ($500) / Chess 1675 ($25)
    (Argo value is only for the 78 single.)
Lee Andrews and the Hearts “Try the Impossible” (1958): Casino 452 ($600) / United Artists ($25)
Beach Boys “Surfin” (1961): X 301 ($700) / Candix 301 ($200)
Belmonts “Tell Me Why” (1961): Surprise 1000 ($100) / Sabrina 500 ($20)
Rod Bernard and the Twisters “This Should Go on Forever” (1958): Jin 105 ($100) / Argo 5327 ($40)
Big Bopper “Chantilly Lace” (1958): D 1008 ($200) / Mercury 71343 ($30)
Jimmy Bowen with the Orchids “I'm Stickin' with You” (1957): Triple-D 797 ($2,000) / Roulette 4001 ($35)
    (For the other side of the Triple-D single (“Party Doll”), see Buddy Knox with the Orchids)
Jan Bradley “Mama Didn't Lie” (1962): Formal 1044 ($200) / Chess 1845 ($25)
Jerry Butler and the Impressions “For Your Precious Love” (1958): Vee Jay 280 ($5,000) / Abner 1013 ($100)
Capris “There's a Moon Out Tonight” (1959): Planet 1010 ($1,300) / (1961) Old Town 1094 ($40)
Bruce Channel “Hey! Baby” (1961): Le Cam 953 ($100) / Smash 1731 ($15)
Lou Christie “The Gypsy Cried” (1962): C and C 102 ($175) / Roulette 4457 ($25)
Sanford Clark “The Fool” (1956): MCI 1003 ($200) / Dot 15481 ($30)
Cupids “Brenda” (1963): Aanko 1002 ($250) / KC 115 ($50)
Danleers “One Summer Night” (1958): Amp 3 Records 2115 ($100) / Mercury 71322 ($25)
    (Amp 3 mistakenly credits the Dandleers)
Danny and the Juniors “At the Hop” (1957): Singular 711 ($500) / ABC-Paramount 9871 ($40)
Dell-Vikings “Come Go with Me” (1956): Fee Bee 205 ($450) / (1957): Dot 15538 ($40)
Del Vikings Feat. Krips Johnson “Whispering Bells” (1957): Fee Bee 214 ($800) / Dot 15538 ($30)
Duals “Stick Shift” (1961): Star Revue 1031 ($350) / Sue 745 ($45)
Dubs “Don't Ask Me to Be Lonely” (1957): Johnson 102 ($700) / Gone 5002 ($100)
Edsels "Lama Rama Ding Dong" (1958): Dub 2843 ($125) / Twin 700, in 1961 as "Rama Lama Ding Dong" ($25)
Scott English “High on a Hill” (1963): Sultan 4003 ($100) / Spokane (4003)
Falcons “You're So Fine” (1959): Flick 001 ($350) / Unart 2013 ($40)
Five Satins “In the Still of the Nite” (1956): Standord 100 ($500) / Ember 1005 ($50)
Fleetwoods “Come Softly to Me” (1959): Dolphin 1 ($100) / Dolton 1 ($25)
Frogmen “Underwater” (1961): Scott 101 ($250) / Candix 314 ($40)
Bobby Fuller “I Fought the Law” (1964): Exeter 124 ($250) / (1965): Mustang 3014, as by Bobby Fuller Four ($30)
Gallahads "Lonely Guy" (1960): Donna 1322 ($250) / Del-Fi 4137 ($25)
Gentrys “Keep on Dancing” (1965): Youngstown 601 ($125) / MGM 13379 ($15)
James Gilreath “Little Band of Gold” (1963): Statue 600 ($225) / Joy 274 ($15)
Larry Hall “Sandy” (1959): Ever Green 1001 ($150) / Strand 25007 ($25)
Heartbeats "A Thousand Miles Away" (1956): Hull 720 ($300) / Rama 216 ($100)
Jill & Ray “Hey Paula” (1962): Le Cam 979 ($100) / Philips 40084, as Paul & Paula ($10)
Marv Johnson “Come to Me” (1959): Tamla 101 ($250) / United Artists 160 ($25)
Carole King “It Might As Well Rain Until September” (1962): Companion 2000 ($100) / Dimension 2000 ($20)
Kingsmen “Louie Louie” (1963): Jerden 712 ($150) / Wand 143 ($40)
Gladys Knight: see Pips
Buddy Knox with the Orchids "Party Doll" (1957): Triple-D 797 ($2,000) / Roulette 4002 ($35)
Matt Lucas “I'm Movin On” (1963): Renay 304 ($100) / Smash 1813 ($15)
Robin Luke “Susie Darlin'” (1958): International 206 ($350) / Dot 15781 ($35)
    (International value doubles if with picture sleeve)
Mello-Tones "Rosie Lee" (1957): Fascination 1001 ($400) / Gee 1037 ($50)
Miracles Featuring Bill Smokey Robinson “Bad Girl” (1959): Motown G1 ($5,000) / Chess 1734, as “The Miracles” ($75)
Monotones “Book of Love” (1958): Mascot 124 ($500) / Argo 5290 ($40)
O'Kaysions “Girl Watcher” (1966): North State 1001 ($100) / ABC 11094 ($10)
    (North State value doubles if with picture sleeve)
Pastels “Been So Long” (1957): Mascot 123 ($600) / (1958): Argo 5287 ($35)
Paul & Paula: see Jill & Ray
Pentagons “To Be Loved” (1960): Fleet International 100 ($125) / Donna 1337 ($40)
Phil Phillips with the Twilights “Sea of Love” (1959): Khoury's 711 ($600) / Mercury 71465 ($30)
Pips “Every Beat of My Heart” (1961): HunTom 2510 ($800) / Vee Jay 386 ($20)
? (Question Mark) & Mysterians “96 Tears” (1966): Pa-Go-Go 102 ($700) / Cameo 428 ($30)
Quin-Tones “Down the Aisle of Love” (1958): Red Top 108 ($100) / Hunt 321 ($60)
Rays “Shilouettes” (1957): XYZ 102 ($125) / Cameo 117 ($25)
Rebels “Wild Weekend” (1960): Mar Lee 0094 ($125) / (1962) Swan 4125, as Rockin' Rebels ($25)
Regents "Barbara-Ann" (1961): Cousins 1002 ($400) / Gee 1065 ($35)
Rick & the Keens “Peanuts” (1961): Austin 303 ($100) / Smash 1705 ($20)
Robins “Smokey Joe's Cafe” (1955): Spark 122 ($200) / Atco 6059 ($50)
Rock-A-Teens “Woo-Hoo” (1959): Doran 3515 ($100) / Roulette 4192 ($40)
Royal Teens “Short Shorts” (1957): Power 215 ($125) / ABC-Paramount 9882 ($30)
Rumblers “Boss” (1962): Downey 103 ($125) / Dot 16421 ($20)
Sam the Sham & Pharaohs “Wooly Bully” (1965): XL 906 ($225) / MGM 13322 ($30)
Shields “You Cheated” (1958): Tender 513 ($200) / Dot 15805 ($25)
Shirelles “I Met Him on a Sunday” (1957): Tiara 6112 ($500) / Decca 30508 ($35)
Troy Shondell “This Time” (1961): Goldcreast 161 ($100) / Liberty 55353 ($15)
Silhouettes “Get a Job” (1957): Junior 391 ($450) / (1958) Ember 1029 ($50)
Spaniels “Baby, It's You” (1953): Vee-Jay 101 ($600) / Chance 1141 ($250)
Strawberry Alarm Clock “Incense and Peppermints” (1967): All-American 373 ($175) / Uni 55018 ($15)
Students “I'm So Young” (1958): Note 10019 ($750) / (1961): Argo 5386 ($20)
Surfaris “Wipe-Out” (1963): DFS 11 ($4,000) / Dot 16479 ($40)
Carla Thomas “Gee Whiz” (1960): Satellite 104 ($100) / Atlantic 2086, as “Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)” ($20)
Tico and the Triumphs “Motorcycle” (1961): Madison 169 ($100) / Amy 835 ($50)
    (Written and sung by Paul Simon.)
Bobby Vee and the Shadows “Suzie Baby” (1959): Soma 1110 ($100) / Liberty 55208 ($25)
Ventures “Walk-Don't Run” (1959): Blue Horizon 101 ($1,000) / Dolton 25 ($40)
Virtues “Guitar Boogie Shuffle” (1958): Sure 501 / (1959) Hunt 324
J. Frank Wilson “Last Kiss” (1964): Tamara 761 ($100) / Josie 923, as J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers ($10)
Link Wray and the Raymen “Jack the Ripper” (1961): Rumble 1000 ($275) / (1963) Swan 4137 ($35)
Rusty York “Sugaree” (1959): P.J. 100 ($100) / Chess 1730 ($30)

This is what I came up with on fairly short notice; however, we'd love to add more to the list. Please do not be concerned as to what does or does not fit the parameters (when issued, value, different versions, etc.), we'll research all of that. Click here to send us an e-mail.

IZ ZAT SO? Though not a commercial issues, special colored vinyl singles exist of these two singles from the above list:

Jerry Butler and the Impressions “For Your Precious Love” (Vee Jay 354) silver vinyl: $1,000
Robin Luke “Susie Darlin'” (Dot 15781) red vinyl: $1,500