Once again, it’s time for our semi-annual fundraiser here at LouisianaVoice.

Our appeals court hearing on our public records lawsuit against former Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols is scheduled for later this month and there have been expenses related to filing fees.

We need your continued help in keeping an uninterrupted flow of news about our state. We are being asked more and more to look into wrongdoing in the far reaches of the state and that results in expenses.

To help encourage you to contribute this time, I’m doing something I said I’d never do.

I have a huge collection of old country and classic rock ‘n’ roll records, some of which I consider collectibles and fairly valuable. I vowed to hold on to them, CDs, iPods, MP3s and downloaded songs be damned.

But my wife of nearly 48 years tells me:

1. My thousands of 45 rpm records and LPs are taking up far too much room;
2. Every record I have is duplicated by CDs I purchased or burned;
3. If something happens to me (I’m nearly 73), she’s tossing them.

I cannot stand the thought of my prized records ending up in a dumpster. Accordingly, I have decided to part with every last phonograph record.

I am offering the more valuable records for sale as part of our April fundraiser, which begins this week. The rest I suppose will be donated to a used record store or an antique store. It’ll be like saying goodbye to an old friend. But what has to be has to be.

Here is a partial list that might generate some interest:

Elvis Presley Sun records

• That’s All Right b/w Blue Moon of Kentucky (his very first commercial recording);
• Good Rockin’ Tonight b/w I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine;
• You’re a Heart Breaker b/w Milkcow Blues Boogie;
• I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone b/w Baby Let’s Play House;
• Mystery Train b/w I Forgot to Remember to Forget.

I also have hundreds of RCA Elvis records, some of which are promotional copies issued to radio stations and which were not for sale (but now they are), including the four-song EP from his first movie, Love Me Tender. I also have several dozen LP albums by Elvis, including Blue Hawaii and King Creole. Details on other singles and LPs available upon request.

Jerry Lee Lewis Sun original recordings

• Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On b/w It’ll Be Me;
• Breathless b/w Down the Line;
• High School Confidential b/w Fools Like Me;
• Great Balls of Fire b/w You Win Again (two copies);
• Sweet Little Sixteen b/w How’s My Ex Treating You;
• Cold Cold Heart b/w It Won’t Happen with Me;
• Good Golly Miss Molly b/w I Can’t Trust Me. The last two (Cold Cold Heart and Good Golly Miss Molly are disc jockey promotional records on special white labels stamped not for sale.

I also have many Jerry Lee Lewis LP albums and details are available upon request.

Johnny Cash Sun original recordings

• I Walk the Line b/w Get Rhythm;
• Ballad of a Teenage Queen b/w Big River;
• There You Go b/w Train of Love;
• Cry! Cry! Cry! b/w Hey, Porter;
• Guess Things Happen That Way b/w Come in Stranger;
• Next in Line b/w Don’t Make Me Go;
• The Ways of a Woman in Love b/w You’re the Nearest Thing to Heaven;
• It’s Just About Time b/w I Just Thought You’d Like to Know.

The Beatles original records

Several of these records are promotional disc jockey records which makes them collectibles and one of those, a four-song EP (that’s extended play for the uninitiated) that about 20 years ago sold for $11,000. I’ll start with that one.

• Misery and Taste of Honey b/w Ask Me Why and Anna (on the old VJ label, now defunct)(current bid: $100);
• Ain’t She Sweet b/w Nobody’s Child (Atco, a division of Atlantic Records, and a promotional record (current bid: $100);
• The Saints b/w My Bonnie, an MGM promotional “Not for Sale” disc jockey copy. (What makes this record really interesting is that both songs feature Tony Sheridan. He is one of only two non-Beatles to record with the group and he recorded just this one record. The songs were recorded on June 22-23, 1961, on a stage at Hamburg’s Friedrich-Ebert-Hatte school and the Beatles’ fee was 300 marks. Sheridan died in 2013 (current bid: $100).
• Another EP featuring This Boy and Please Mister Postman b/w Roll Over Beethoven and All My Loving (current bid: $100);
• Their first USA release: I Want to Hold Your Hand b/w I Saw Her Standing There (This record is in the original sleeve.) (current bid: $100)
• She Loves You b/w I’ll Get You on the Swan label with the printed message “Don’t Drop Out” on both sides of the record. (current bid: $100)
• Do You Want to Know a Secret b/w Thank You Girl (on the old VJ label) (current bid: $100);
• Twist and Shout b/w There’s a Place (what makes this record especially interesting is that it’s on the obscure Tollie To my knowledge, it’s the original song and the only release by the band on this label.) (current bid: $100)

I also have several Beatles LP albums. Details can be provided upon request.

Buddy Holly

The inspiration for Don McLean’s American Pie died far too soon. I’m fortunate to own five original 45 rpm recordings by him and several LP albums. Here are the five singles:

• True Love Ways b/w Bo Diddley on the Coral label;
• That’ll Be the Day b/w I’m Lookin’ for Someone to Love (on Vogue Coral);
• You Are My One Desire b/w Love Me (on the Decca label);
• Ting-A-Ling b/w Girl on My Mind (Decca);
• Think it Over b/w Fool’s Paradise (on the Brunswick label)

I have many hundreds more, including as only a few examples: Brenda Lee, a couple of other Sun records (one by Charlie Rich), the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Simon and Garfunkel, John Denver, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker, Bob Wills, Kris Kristofferson, and my all-time favorite, Roy Orbison.

I’m not setting a price on them, though I do request a minimum bid of $100 per record listed (Records not on the list above will be sold for less). Instead, I’ll let you bid on them as part of our April fundraiser and the highest bidder will get the record.

So, by making your contribution, you not only will own a collector’s item record (or a complete set), but you will be helping LouisianaVoice continue its expanding investigative reporting so that we can keep you informed about what your elected officials and their appointees are doing with taxpayer dollars.

You may inquire about these or any of my records by emailing me at louisianavoice@yahoo.com.

You may bid on each record individually or for an entire set. The high bid will be listed daily for each record until close of bids Saturday, April 16 at midnight.

The bidding is now open.

For those who simply wish to donate to our fundraiser, you may either pay by credit card by simply clicking on the yellow “donate” button over to the upper right or by mail a check to:

LouisianaVoice

P.O. Box 922

Denham Springs, Louisiana 70727