Hidden Gems: The Stories Behind A Few Of Rockaway’s Rarest Collectables

At Rockaway Records, we’ve spent over three decades unearthing some of the most elusive and extraordinary music and pop culture collectables you’ll ever come across. From mispressed vinyl to tour merchandise that never hit the shelves, every rare item in our collection has a story worth telling. In this blog, we’re diving into the fascinating backstories behind a few of the crown jewels we’ve had in-store — the kind of pieces that make hardcore collectors’ hearts skip a beat.

Original 1960s Beatles Balloon – A Pop Culture Relic from the Height of Beatlemania

By the mid-1960s, The Beatles weren’t just the biggest band in the world — they were a global obsession. Their music dominated the airwaves, their faces filled magazine covers, and their names were licensed onto an astounding range of merchandise. This pink balloon, manufactured by United Industries Inc., is a charming example of that merchandising boom.

Some Beatles balloons were offered as promotional giveaways with items like Lux Soap or Nestlé’s Nesquik, making them both a fun novelty and a clever advertising tool. These collaborations reflect the band’s unprecedented influence — not just in music, but in shaping 1960s consumer culture.

This balloon isn’t just a piece of rubber — it’s a snapshot of a moment when the Beatles’ reach extended into supermarkets, schools, and toy boxes around the world. A playful, rare survivor from an era when no item was too small to carry the Fab Four’s name.

KISS – Original 1980 Aucoin Showbag Demon Hair Comb – Rock ’n’ Roll Merch Madness at Its Peak

In the late 1970s and early ’80s, no band embraced the power of branding quite like KISS. With their explosive live shows, larger-than-life personas, and full face paint, KISS blurred the lines between rock band and superhero franchise — and their merchandise empire reflected that perfectly. This original 1980 Demon Hair Comb, officially licensed by Aucoin Management, was part of a limited-run KISS showbag released during the band’s marketing heyday.

Sold at concerts, fairs, and through fan club promotions, these showbags were packed with all kinds of KISS-themed novelties — from masks and stickers to gimmicky items like this comb, emblazoned with Gene Simmons’ iconic Demon persona. It’s a brilliant example of how KISS leaned into the spectacle of their brand, offering fans not just music, but an identity they could wear, carry, or even style their hair with.

Elvis Presley – Full Set of 66 Original 1978 Trading Cards 

Just one year after Elvis Presley’s passing in 1977, fans around the world were still in mourning — and demand for memorabilia surged like never before. In 1978, a set of 66 officially licensed trading cards was released to commemorate the life and legacy of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll. This complete set captures Elvis in all his glory — from his early days in Memphis to his Vegas-era superstardom — offering a visual timeline of one of music’s most iconic figures.

Printed in vibrant colour with classic 1970s design, each card features a different moment from Elvis’s career: live performances, movie stills, candid backstage shots, and fan-favourite portraits. Much like baseball cards, these were intended to be collected, traded, and cherished — a way for fans to hold onto a piece of Elvis after his untimely death.

SHOP AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF RARE TREASURES HERE