Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Lou Donaldson Blue Note

This is the record: Lou Donaldson, Here ‘Tis, Blue Note 84066.

This one falls into the “if” category:

If it were an original pressing . . .

If it were mono . . .

If it were in mint condition . . .

If it didn’t have a corner clip . . .

If it had a pianist instead of an organist . . .

It it had all or perhaps even any of those characteristics . . .

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Jazz Vinyl, Way Out West

Here’s one we wouldn’t have expected to sell for as much as it did: Bill Perkins, Just Friends, Pacific Jazz 401. This was an original pressing in M- condition and it was offered by the same guy who was offering some other LPs that he purchased from the late Leon Leavitt. Anyway, we’ve tracked this one before in the Jazz Collector Price Guide and the highest price was $128. This one sold for a cool $800. This one is of similar vintage: Playboys, Art Pepper and Chet Baker, Pacific Jazz 1234. This was an original pressing and it was also listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $660. And, while we’re on the West Coast, there is this: Art Pepper Quintet, Discovery 3023. This is an original 10-inch pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover, and it sold for $428.99.

Quickie Quiz

Without looking it up, who are William Huddleston and Theodore C. Cohen?

More Covers: David Stone Martin

Well, we just caught up with some Andy Warhol covers, now how about some David Stone Martin? Let’s start with one of our favorites, covers and music: Lester Young, The President Plays, Norgran 1050. This was an original yellow label pressing. The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $120.50. Here’s another one from Pres: Lester Young, The President, Norgran 1005. This LP was in just good condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It sold for $261. Beats us.

Benny Carter, Cosmopolite, Norgran 1070. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $111.50.

Bud Powell, Jazz Giant, Norgran 1063. This was an original pressing that was

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Catching Up Again: Andy Warhol Covers

Let’s catch up on some Andy Warhol covers.

Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 2, Blue Note 1597. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $482. Frankly, we would have expected it sell for a higher price in this condition.

Thelonious Monk, Monk, Prestige 7053. This was an original pressing with the New York address. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was VG++ as well. The price was $600.

Moondog, The Story of Moondog, Prestige 7093. This was an original pressing with the New York address. The record was in VG+ condition

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Catching Up: Mal, Mobley, McLean, Hubbard

Here’s some more jazz vinyl we’ve been watching. Some high prices, but none for the $1,000 bin:

Mal Waldron, Left Alone, Bethlehem 6045. This is an original pressing, which, like many jazz records on the West Coast, passed through the hands of the late Leon Leavitt at one point. The seller listed this as M- for both the record and the cover and he tells us in this listing that he will be putting more of these types of records on ebay. So, take a look at this one and mark the seller and come back to look for more. This one sold for $759.

Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing. The record was listed in VG+ condition and the cover was just VG. The price

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On the eBay Watch: Some Rare Miles Vinyl

We’re watching a few items closing on eBay in the next few days and here’s one that caught our eye: Miles Davis, Workin’ Celson 25002. This, apparently is an original Italian pressing of the great LP featuring the classic Miles Davis Quintet of John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Normally the European issues of the American LPs don’t have the same cachet — and don’t sell for the same prices — but this one seems to have attracted a following. There are already 13 bids and the price is more than $370.

Speaking of Miles, we’re also watching this: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 1355. This looks to be an original pressing with the rare

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Horace Parlan Blue Note: A Tale of Two Labels

OK, I have to admit, I’m spending a lot of time catching up on the Jazz Collector Price Guide because I’m kind of avoiding other (i.e., paying) work that is far less interesting. My loss — as in a loss of sleep, when I have to eventually catch up on this other work — is your gain. Here are a few more Blue Notes that will be entered into the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Horace Parlan, On the Spur of the Moment, Blue Note 4074. This is an interesting one. One label is New York USA and the other is West 63rd. This record came out right at the cusp of when Blue Note was making the transition. The seller claims it has deep grooves as well as the ear in the deadwax.  It was listed in VG+ condition for both the vinyl and the cover and it sold for $183.50. Is it an original? I would tend to think so, but I’m not so sure. Here’s another copy of the same record: Horace Parlan, On the Spur of the Moment, Blue Note 4074. This one

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Some Odds & Ends: Konitz, Brubeck, Newk

While we’re catching up on adding items to the Jazz Collector Price Guide, we figured we’d share a few more odds and ends with you. This is one you don’t normally expect to sell for more than $300: Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh, Atlantic 1217. This was an original black label pressing in M- condition and sold for $311. I have to give the seller a lot of credit for this one. He took an absolutely crystal-clear picture and he did a very nice job of describing the condition of the LP. It really catches your eye and makes you want the LP. Sometimes, presentation is everything.

Here’s one you almost never see going for a big price: Dave Brubeck Time Out, Columbia 8192. This was one of the most popular jazz LPs ever and

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Jazz Vinyl Updates: Clef, Verve, Norgran

Last week we recorded a bunch of high-end Blue Notes for the Jazz Collector Price Guide, and a batch of nice Prestiges, and even some nice 10-Inch jazz vinyl. So, today, let’s turn our attention to another of our favorite labels — or, in this case, a series of labels. How about some nice Norgran, Clef and Verve LPs? Here are some of items we’ve been watching and will be entering into the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Lester Young, The President, Norgran 1005. This was an original yellow label pressing with the cover illustration by David Stone Martin. It was sold by The Jazz Record Center, so it was bound to get top dollar. This one looked to be in VG++ condition for the vinyl and M- condition for the cover. The price was $320.55.

This is a great record with a great cover: Lester Young and Teddy Wilson, Pres and Teddy, Verve 8205. This one was in VG++ condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It was sold by the seller Herschel78, who had a bunch of nice Verves/Norgrans/Clefs a few weeks ago. This one sold for $316.11. Also from the same seller was this:

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Cool Struttin’ Tops $3,000 (again)

That copy of Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588, that we were watching yesterday? Remember how it was $750 with less than 24 hours to go. It sold this morning for $3,002, making this LP a four-time-entrant in the $3,000 bin. The only other multi-entrant in the $3,000 bin is Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601, which we’ve recorded twice at more than $3,000. To be fair, we don’t watch every single record, and there certainly have been other high-priced records we’ve not logged into the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

On eBay Now: Sonny Clark, Candy, Jackie

Here is some of the jazz vinyl we’ll be watching over the next few days here at Jazz Collector. This one should join the $1,000 bin: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’ Blue Note 1588. This is original pressing and is being offered by Euclid Records. The vinyl is in VG++ condition and the cover is M-. The current price is about $750 with one more day to go. In the past on the Jazz Collector Price Guide, we’ve seen this one sell for as much as $3,750, so we’d expect this one to go up quite a bit over the next 24 hours. Euclid Records had another item close recently for the $1,000 Bin and that was this: Kenny Dorham, Round ‘Bout Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing listed in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. The price was $1,212.

Here’s another interesting one: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This seems to be an original pressing. The seller lists it as VG+, but he does mention a little surface noise in spots. This would tend to depress the bidding, and we’ll see what happens. The start price for this is around $700 and so far there are no bids. There’s a day to go, and we would have to think this record will sell for more than $700 in this condition.

Then there is this: Jackie McLean, 4, 5 and 6, Prestige 7048. This

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WFMU Record Fair: A Brief Report

So I did go to the WFMU Record Fair on Sunday. I’ve attached a picture to prove it. I didn’t buy any records. My goal with Record Shows has traditionally been to find bargains. You often get dealers who don’t know anything about jazz vinyl, and sometimes they under-price the records, and sometimes they are just trying to get rid of records, and sometimes they are happy to bargain so they don’t have to take the records home. There have also been many times where I’ve met collectors who really didn’t know the value of their records, and they underpriced everything that they had. I’ve written here about the guy who had a bunch of original Blue Notes and Prestiges and just priced everything at $5, including a mint copy of

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Sealed Records: To Bid Or Not To Bid?

Here is some more jazz vinyl we’re watching today and through the weekend:

Here’s one that may cause a dilemma: Introducing Lee Morgan, Savoy 12091. This is a sealed record. Is it an original pressing with the red label, or a later pressing with the maroon label? It seems like you’ll have to buy it to find out. The seller has a bunch of Savoys, all in their original shrink wraps, and he hasn’t opened them to determine their vintage. Is it worth the risk risk? This record is now at $50. If it turns out to be an original pressing, unplayed, with a mint cover, what would it be worth — $500, $800, even $1,000? Who knows? Here’s another interesting one from that batch: Mighty Mike Cuozzo, Savoy 12051. Do you think Savoy even issued this with a maroon label? It’s a sealed record, priced at $9, perhaps an original featuring Eddie Costa on vibes. Worth a risk? Perhaps it is.

This seller also has some nice records, including: Mal Waldron, Left Alone, Bethlehem 6045. This

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Jazz In Korea: A Story Goes With It

For those of you who won’t be in New York at the WFMU Record Fair this weekend, we are watching some  jazz vinyl on eBay. Here’s an interesting one with a story behind it: Howard McGhee and his Korean All Stars, Jazz At the Battlefront Volume 1, Hi-Lo 6001. This is an original 10-inch LP. It is listed in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. The current price is a little more than $100 and the seller is Euclid Records, who we hope to see at the record fair on Sunday. Anyway, this is the story behind the record. From what I recall, the great jazz bass player Oscar Pettiford was hired by the U.S. government to lead a group of jazz players to go over to Korea to play for the troops who were stationed there in 1951 or 1952. So he put together a group including Howard McGhee on trumpet, JJ Johnson on trombone, Rudy Williams on tenor sax, Skeeter Best on guitar and Charles Rice on drums. Pettiford, of course, was to be on bass — except something happened. I had heard it was a fight, perhaps in a bar, but my

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WFMU Record Fair Starts Today

Just a reminder, the WFMU Record Fair starts today in New York and extends through Sunday. If you are in the area, it’s definitely worth checking out. If you are attending and would like to share your experiences with your fellow Jazz Collectors, please feel free to comment on this post, or send me an email at al@jazzcollector.com and I can give you your own post. As for me, I’m heading out of town today but will be back in time to attend the Record Fair on Sunday. I won’t have a table, but I’ll be roaming around looking at records, and maybe even buying a few as well. I’ll write a report on my findings sometime after the weekend.

Prestige Day: Jackie, Farmer, Fuller, Webster Young

The past few days we’ve been catching up on some Blue Notes and some 10-inchers. Now it’s time for our old friend Prestige:

Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Pal, Prestige 7068. This one was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it was another one out of the batch from Nautiluso. The price was $896. While we were there, we checked out whether there’s any new feedback on this seller from the amazing collection of a few weeks ago. So far, there’s nothing new to report. We’ll keep looking.

Art Farmer Quintet Featuring Gigi Gryce, Prestige 7017. This was an original New York yellow-label pressing and was offered by Euclid Records. The record was VG++ and the cover was M-. The price was $203.50, which is a bit more than we’ve seen in the past for this record, but certainly well deserved as an early Prestige with some great artists.

Curtis Fuller, New Trombone, Prestige 7107. This was an original New York pressing, also

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Some More Blue Notes, Less than $1,000

Here’s  some jazz vinyl on Blue Note that did not sell for more than $1,000.

Paul Chambers Quintet, Blue Note 1564. This was an original pressing and it was listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The price was just $114.50. That’s pretty low for this record. The last time we followed it in the Jazz Collector Price Guide it sold for more than $1,100, and previously it has sold for more than $600. This was not in M- condition, but you would still expect it to go for at least $300 or so. I think the seller may have overgraded the record, based on the description — VG+ but with “marks that will make some noise.” To me that’s a sign that the record may be VG or worse, so that would probably be the reason for the lower price.

Lee Morgan, The Cooker, Blue Note 1578. This one was listed in VG condition for the vinyl

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Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Ella Sings Cole

I realized the other day I may have a problem with this Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown. And that problem has to do with Ella Fitzgerald. I realized this when I had a bit of free time with the lovely Mrs. JC and she asked me to put on some music. “How about something nice?” she said. Something nice, in her eyes, is usually a nice jazz vocal, or perhaps a Stan Getz on Verve, or Bill Evans Waltz For Debby. Anyway, I put on this LP, Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Song Book, Verve 4001-02, and Mrs. JC was quite pleased, as was I. This is Ella’s first songbook effort and you will not find too many records better than this and there is no doubt about it garnering a place in the top 1,000. What I realized when I put the vinyl on the turntable, however, is this:

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10-Inch Mania: Miles, Getz, Savoy, Serge, Prez

Let’s catch up on some 10-inch LPs we’ve been watching. It’s always interesting to keep an eye on the 10-inchers just to see if the market is holding up. So far, it is, based on these records.

Miles Davis, Young Man With a Horn, Blue Note 5013. The vinyl on this one was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was M-. The price was $510.01. This one was sold by the seller herschel78, who has been putting some nice items up over the past few weeks, including some other 10-inch LPs we’ve been  watching.

Miles Davis Volume 3, Blue Note 5040. The vinyl on this one was listed as VG+ and the cover was VG++. The price was $385.

Stan Getz Plays, Clef 137. This was an original pressing with a nice cover by David Stone Martin. The price was $68. This is a great record, one of Getz’s best.

Leo Parker, New Trends of Jazz Volume 5, Savoy 9018. This one was

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For The $1,000 Bin: A Few More Blue Notes

Here are a few more of the records from the seller Natuiluso that are going into the $1,000 bin and are joining the Jazz Collector Price Guide as of today. They are all Blue Notes.

We had mentioned a couple of other Hank Mobley records previously, and here’s another: Hank Mobley with Farmer, Silver, Watkins, Blakey, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing and it was listed in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It sold for $1,137, which is the first time we’ve recorded this particular LP at more than $1,000, which is also quite interesting to us because we do happen to own a copy in M- condition and $1,000 is language that kind of appeals to us.

Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. We had mentioned that a copy of this record had set the previous high on Jazz Collector at $3,750. This one was in beautiful M- condition, but it feel just short of the previous high price: This one sold for $3,501.

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Mobley LP Sets High For Jazz Collector Price Guide

We’ve been tracking jazz records on eBay for about five years and have built a database of more than 4,000 records. We don’t claim to have captured the sale of every high-priced record on eBay, but we’ve gotten more than our fair share. And, today, we will be entering into the Jazz Collector Price Guide, the highest-priced jazz vinyl we’ve recorded to date, and that is this: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was an original U.S. pressing and it was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $3,805. The previous highest price that we had recorded was for a copy of Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin, Blue Note 1588, which sold for $3,750. It is noteworthy that the Mobley record was sold by the seller Nautiluso, who had that massive collection of about 75 vintage jazz records that were all listed in pristine condition and which generated a little bit of skepticism within the Jazz Collector universe. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for comments on these auctions and we’ll continue to encourage winning bidders to let us know about the condition of their LPs. In addition

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Catching Up: Miles, Cannon — What’s Going On?

Back on eBay after a couple of days’ break. Those auctions we were watching from the seller bobdjukic closed and, while we’re not looking to give this seller any undue publicity, we are quite fascinated with the prices he is somehow able to obtain — even higher than top dealers such as The Jazz Record Center and Euclid Records. We will give a few examples: This one we noted before: Miles Davis, Birth of the Cool, Capitol 762. This is an original British pressing, not even an original U.S. issue. It was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover and sold for an astounding $812.15. I recently sold a beautiful mint U.S. pressing of this record and was happy to get close to $100 for it. Is there something about the British pressing we’re not aware of? Doubt it, but somebody out there in the Jazz Collector world will know if there is. The other thing is, look at this quote from the seller’s description of Birth of the Cool:

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Jackie: Swing, Swang and Not Swingin’

I found my bid on the Jackie McLean record from the big Nautiluso auction last week: Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This looked to be a beautiful original pressing in near mint condition, quite lovely. Anyway, I bid $345, figuring maybe people would get scared off by the magnitude of the auction. It sold for $828. Oh well. I guess I’ll have to stick with my Liberty pressing, electronically re-recorded to simulate stereo. Yuck.

This Weekend on eBay: Clark, Cannon, Miles, Brubeck

Here is some of the jazz vinyl we’ll be watching this weekend on eBay.

Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This is an original pressing. The record is listed in VG+ condition and the cover is listed as VG++. Seems to be a nice copy. The current price is $385 with one more day to go.

The seller bobdjukic is back with a few items this weekend. I don’t know this seller, but he seems to be a bit unpopular among some of the visitors to Jazz Collector. I’ve censored a few comments about him because, as I’ve said, I don’t really want this site to be a forum to air complaints about individual buyers and sellers. But, having said that, there have been a few complaints. In any case, he seems to have some kind of magic system for getting great prices on his records and in getting high viewership. Here’s one of his records this weekend: The Cannonball Adderley Sextet In New York, Riverside 404. This is a

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