Month: January 2011

Kind of Blue For the $1,000 Bin

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A couple of people have sent me notes on this one. I guess it struck a chord (presumably a modal chord): Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 8163. This was a white label stereo promo copy that was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It was the same seller as the one who recently fetched more than $2,000 for the Mobley 10-inch Blue Note. This one sold for $1,338.87. Welcome to the $1,000 bin for probably the most popular and widely available jazz record ever.

While we’re updating the $1,000 bin:

Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was in between VG+ and VG++. It was a reputable seller and the price was $1,815.

This is destined for the $1,000 bin, or the $2,000 bin or perhaps even higher: Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041. This is an original pressing and it is listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. As of this writing it is about $1,250 with three days or so to go.

More Updates For the Jazz Collector Price Guide

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I’ve been spending time this weekend updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide and realized there are a bunch more interesting items we’ve mentioned here but haven’t followed up, so here are a few of them:

George Wallington, Jazz For the Carriage Trade, Prestige 7032. This was an original New York pressing with a record in M- condition and a nice shiny cover in VG++ condition. It sold for $395.

Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter, Imperial 9024. This looked to be an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $350.99.

Lou Donaldson, Swing and Soul, Blue Note 1566. This was one of the recent records sold by the Jazz Record Center. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $544.44.

From that same auction were these:

The Wes Montgomery Trio, Riverside 310. This was an original pressing in M- condition and sold for $305, the highest price we’ve seen for this record.

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Updating Some Later Pre-Liberty Blue Notes

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Here are some “later” Blue Notes we’ve been watching.

Larry Young, Unity, Blue Note 4221. This was an original New York USA pressing with the ear and the Van Gelder stamp. It was in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $231.38.

Pete La Roca, Basra, Blue Note 4205. This is also an original New York USA pressing with the ear and the Van Gelder stamp. It is still in its original shrink wrap and in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was a whopping $494.99, quite a bit higher than the $1.59 Special on the shrink wrap. The way things are going, someday records such as these will be destined for the $1,000 bin, no?

This listing is lacking in information: Grachan Moncur III, Some Other Stuff, Blue Note 84177. This is a stereo pressing, which would seem to diminish the interest and value right off the bat. However, the seller doesn’t mention whether there is an ear or Van Gelder stamp in the deadwax. It is a New York USA pressing. It sold for $61 in what looked to be VG+ condition. Have to believe if buyers knew it was an original it would sell for more: Then again, if it’s not original, would it have sold for this much?

This is another stereo pressing without full information:

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Jazz Vinyl Catch-Up: Two For the $2,000 Bin

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Let’s catch up on some of the jazz vinyl we’ve been watching.

As some of you have noted, this one did sell after all: Hank Mobley Quartet, Blue Note 5066. This was the one that had the start price near $2,000 and was in M- condition for the record and cover. So, welcome to the $2,000 bin: It sold for $2,050.

Also in the $2,000 in is this from the Jazz Record Center: Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro  606. This was also in M- condition for the record and the cover and it sold for $2,025.

How about the Sonny Rollins with the cover on the side: Sonny Rollins, Blue Note 1542. This was a Lexington Avenue pressing with the flat edge. We’re assuming that when the seller took the picture, he turned the cover around to show the name clearly and the opening is really by the yellow, where it belongs. We’re also assuming the winning bidder is assuming the same thing, since the price was $766.

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Watching eBay: Wes, Sonny Clark, Dex & More

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Here is some interesting jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay:

The latest auction from the Jazz Record Center is closing today, with some interesting items, such as: The Wes Montgomery Trio, Riverside 310. This is an original pressing in near mint condition for both the record and the cover. We haven’t seen this record sell for high prices very often, but this one will: It is already close to $175. Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and Lopin’, Blue Note 4091. This is an original pressing with the New York USA labels. It is in M- condition and is priced at more than $300 with a few hours to go. Did you see the Sonny Clark articles referred to by Mike in the Reader Forum? They are terrific. Go to the Reader Forum for the links. Here’s one more: Dexter Gordon, One Flight Up, Blue Note 4176. This is also an original pressing in beautiful condition.  It is currently in the $180 price range.

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Jazz Collector Back In Business (Sort Of)

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There was a time, as many of you know, when I was selling records regularly on eBay to clear out duplicates and winnow down my collection. I was selling so regularly, in fact, that I became both a Power Seller and a “Top-Rated Seller” on eBay under my “nom de ebay” AJdoctor. Nearly a year ago, however, I stopped. I had started a new business – a real one, a one that actually pays the bills – and it started taking off last March, which is when I stopped posting records on eBay. And once I stopped it was hard to get started again. In the meantime, however, I, of course, kept accumulating records. I purchased a collection this summer of mostly traditional records and I purchased another small collection just a few weeks ago, with a bunch of Blue Notes of mostly later vintage. The point is, I still have many, many more records than I either need or have room for, so, as of yesterday, I am back to posting records on eBay. I started with a couple of Blue Notes and even put up some interesting blues records that I purchased in the collection this summer. Here are a couple of samples:

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Jazz Vinyl On eBay: What May or May Not Sell

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Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay for various and sundry reasons:

George Wallington, Jazz for the Carriage Trade, Prestige 7032. This is an original New York pressing that looks to be in extremely nice condition. The record is graded M- and the cover is VG++. I haven’t often seen this record witht he front cover looking so clean. This one is priced at about $180 with nearly three more days to go.

Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter, Imperial 9024. This looks to be an original deep groove pressing in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. This is also in the $180 price range with less than a day to go.

This one has yet to meet the seller’s reserve price: Pete La Roca, Basra, Blue Note 4205. This is an original New York USA pressing with the ear and it is listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover, still in its original shrink wrap. This is just in the $100 range at this point and it will be interesting to see if it catches up to the seller’s reserve.

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Some Weird Happenings in The $1,000 Bin

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I was looking to update the $1,000 bin and came upon this weird item that was mentioned in the Reader Forum: Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was mentioned as an original Lexington Avenue pressing and it sold for $1,925, even though there was no picture of the label and the description of the record was minimal, without even a clear explanation of the condition. How the bidding got to $1,925 on this is hard to believe, except for those of us who watch eBay regularly and know full well that anything is possible. As one of our reader’s discovered, this is actually a United Artists pressing, which means it’s worth maybe $30, depending upon the condition. The seller has only 96 feedbacks, so let’s hope this is an honest mistake and not a scam.

This one looks more legitimate, but a little weird as well: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1668. This one was listed in VG+ condition for the record and VG/VG+ for the cover, although there was a lot of tape damage in the picture and there was also a name written broadly on the label. It sold for $1,900, which is hard to fathom given the pictures of the cover and the label.

This one is definitely legitimate, and quite lovely:

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Jazz Vinyl From The Jazz Record Center

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The folks at Jazz Record Center have a new eBay auction up now. It’s always interesting to watch their stuff because their strong brand name ensures top market value. Here are a few of the records we’ll be watching from this auction:

Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This is an original deep groove pressing that is in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It has a start price of $750 and already has a bidder, so you can expect that this one may be headed for the $1,000 bin.

Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers, Blue Note 1518. This is a West 63rd Street pressing, whereas the original first pressing would have been Lexington Avenue. I’m curious about this second press Blue Notes, which many of our readers think of as originals, because their prices have gone up quite a bit recently. I just bought a West 63rd copy of the first Miles Davis Blue Note, which I’ll be selling at some point, either on eBay or from my basement. This one is in “near-new” condition and already has a bidder at $100.

I’ve always liked this record and I do, fortunately, have an original pressing: Lou Donaldson, Swing and Soul, Blue Note 1566. This one is also in very nice M- condition and has a bidder at a $350 start price.

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Jazz Vinyl on eBay: Mobley, Clark, Trane, Pres, Chet

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Another day, another couple of thousand jazz records on eBay. Here are some of the ones we’re watching:

Hank Mobley, No Room For Squares, Blue Note 4149. This looks to be an original pressing, with the New York USA label and the ear, and it is listed in M- condition for the record and what looks to be VG++ for the cover. You may recall that a recent copy of this record sold for $1,009. I’m sure the seller here, Atomic Records, noticed as well. This one is currently in the $130 range but has yet to meet the seller’s reserve price.

Sonny Clark, Dial S For Sonny, Blue Note 1570. This is an original pressing with the West 63rd label, deep groove, etc., and it is listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The current price is around $425 and there is still one day left on the auction.

This one doesn’t usually go for a big price, but it is in nice condition and it is a promo copy (it’s also a fantastic record, musically): John Coltrane, Live at Birdland, Impulse 50. This has the white promo label and is listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It has one bid, but the price is $198.

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