Month: June 2011

Catching Up on Rare and “Megarare” Jazz Vinyl

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Here are some other items we were watching before we got distracted.

Remember that nice batch of 10-inch LPs? They did quite well. Kenny Dorham Quintet, Debut 9. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was near mint. The price was $430.55. Sonny Rollins Quintet, Prestige 186. This one was also VG++ for the record and near mint for the cover. It sold for $510. Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins, Prestige 187. This was in near mint condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $305. I’d take it at that price if, indeed, I was buying records these days.

Even though this was was described as “megarare” — shades of BobD — it didn’t sell at a start price of about $300: John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was a stereo pressing with the bullseye label. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+.

Back in Action: Updating the $1,000 Bin

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Been so busy around here, haven’t even been on eBay in days. So what have we been missing? Here’s some interesting jazz vinyl stuff.

Donald Byrd, Byrd, Transition 5. This was an original pressing with the booklet. The record was listed in VG condition and the cover/booklet both looked very nice, probably VG++ the way we rank things around here. The price was $1,336.55. I was willing to sell my Byrd’s Eye View on Transition, no booklet, but no one has really taken me up on my offer to shop through my collection in person. Now, I’m starting to pack things up in preparation for the big moves, coming soon — although the “store” is still open.

This one also made it to the $1,000 bin: Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing, quite lovely, and it was in what looked like VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,300. Just seeing pictures of those Lexington Avenue labels gets the heart kind of racing.

While we’re on Blue Note Lexingtons, how about this one from the same seller: J.R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This also looked quite lovely, probably VG++ condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1,200.

 

Where Is Everybody?

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OK, so I did that post the other day, offering to dig deep into my collection to sell rare vinyl, and offering the opportunities to pick up many, many other records for reasonable prices. I expected to be inundated with phone calls and emails. So far, I’ve had one call, from our old friend CeeDee, and one email, from a new reader who doesn’t have much money to spend and may or may not be interested in coming out to Western Nassau county. What gives? What was it about my original posting that has failed to pique any interest from the dozens/scores/hundreds of jazz collectors in the New York area who, you’d figure, would be interested in seeing what was for sale at least out of curiosity? I’m perplexed, but sanguine. It’s not like I’m desperate, but I really thought the phone would be ringing off the hook.

Massive Jazz Vinyl & Collectible Sale — NOW!

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Imagine this: The greatest jazz vinyl store in the world. A cross between Dayton’s of the 1970s and the Jazz Record Center of today. Dozens of original Blue Notes. Scores of additional rare LPs, from Donald Byrd on Signature to Sonny Criss on Imperial to Lester Young on Aladdin. Plus hundreds of less-rare-but-moderately-priced records from the annals of jazz.

Imagine no longer. It is here, it is now and it is happening. For three weeks only.

Welcome to the one-time-only Jazz Collector Record Store.

This is the story:

In three weeks the lovely Mrs. JC and I are moving from our spacious home on Long Island to two locales, our lake house in The Berkshires and a much less spacious apartment in Manhattan. I plan to take as many records as possible with me, but I would like to divest of many records and other jazz collectibles before the moves as well.

I have 2,000 records in my basement for sale. These are mostly later pressings and reissues, but they will be moderately priced. For instance, I have about 50 Japanese and Liberty Blue Notes I will be selling for $10 each. I also have beautiful jazz posters and artwork, hundreds of jazz books, hundreds of jazz magazines, hundreds of CDs. Many are for sale.

Fine, but nothing to go nuts about, right?

I will also be willing to dip into my jazz vinyl collection. Deep into my collection, depending upon the records and the prices. How deep? I’ll consider selling major collectibles, such as an original Jutta Hipp on Blue Note, Kenny Dorham at the Café Bohemia on Blue Note, Sonny Criss on Imperial, Donald Byrd on Signature, Joe Henderson, Andrew Hill, Stanley Turrentine, Blue Notes all. I will not sell my Trane, Rollins, Dexter, Miles, Adderley, so don’t ask. But I may be willing sell some of my McLeans, Hubbards, Fullers or Mobleys. I will even sell my autographed 78 of Moody’s Mood for Love – but only to Don-Lucky because it has been promised to him.

Here are the conditions:

  1. Do not expect bargains. I will sell records from my collection for prices slightly below what you will see on eBay or on the Jazz Collector Price Guide. The advantage is you get to see, touch and, if you want, listen to the record before purchase. There will also be many moderately priced collectibles.
  2. Do not haggle. If you don’t like the price, don’t buy the record. If I tell you I won’t sell it, please put it back on the shelf.
  3. In-person only. I’m not selling these records by mail. This sale is being conducted from my home, by appointment only. My house is quite easy to get to by car or train. Be polite and respectful, please.
  4. No personal checks, no credit cards. Cash and Pay Pal only.

If you are anywhere around the New York area between now and July 14 I strongly suggest you make an appointment. Jason, this would be worth a trip from Massachusetts. Don-Lucky, this might be a time to plan that long-promised trip to New York. Any collectors or dealers from Japan, if you’re in New York, this will be worthwhile. I have thousands of great jazz records and I’m in a mood to cut back. I don’t need the money, it’s just psychological: I want to downsize my life. Once I get settled in my new homes, I imagine my mood will change and I’ll regret selling every single record I sold.

One more warning: There will be a challenge finding dates to fit people in: Because I’m moving, I may not be around a lot the next couple of weekends, but during the week the appointment book will often be clear.

You can e-mail me at the usual place, al(at)jazzcollector.com to make an appointment, or you can call my home office, 516 467-4276. Good luck and I hope to see some of you soon.  For those of you who can’t make it in person, I will be happy to provide updates on Jazz Collector.

 

Tracking Another Batch of 10-Inch Jazz Vinyl

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There’s another really nice set of 10-inch LPs on eBay now, including: Sonny Rollins Quintet, Prestige 186. This is an original pressing with a great cover. The record is in VG++ condition and the cover is M-. The start price is about $500 and there are no bidders yet. If I was in a buying mood, which I’m not, I’d consider this for $500. When will you ever see a clean copy of this record again? The same seller has several more beauties. How about this: Miles Davis With Sonny Rollins, Prestige 187. This is in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is about $300 and, again, there are no bidders yet. One more: Kenny Dorham Quintet, Debut 9. This one is VG++ for the record and M- for the cover. The start price is around $350 with no bidders as of this post. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with these records. How often do you find such nice collectibles in such nice condition? Start prices are high, but . . . .

Watching Some Nice 10-Inch Jazz Vinyl

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Today we shall catch up on that 10-inch auction from the Jazz Record Center that closed yesterday. All in all, considering that the market is relatively soft, I thought these records fetched a pretty good price.

Lou Donaldson and Clifford Brown, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5030. Look at that beautiful cover. The record was M- and the cover seemed somewhere between VG++ and M-. It sold for $522.88.

Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note 5056. This one looked to be in beautiful condition, M- for the record and the cover. It sold for $720.

Lou Donaldson Sextet, Volume 2, Blue Note 5055. This was an original, original first pressing, based on the listings on the back cover of other Blue Note 10-inch LPs, and it was in M- condition all around. The price was $385.

Here’s a non-Blue Note that got a nice price: Billie Holiday Sings, Mercury 118. This was an original pressing with a beautiful cover illustration by David Stone Martin. One of his very best, I’d say. This one was in beautiful condition, M- for the record and the cover. It sold for $260.

 

Catching Up: Byrd, Tenorman, Golson, Cool Struttin’

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Sorry I’ve been out of touch for so long. Now that I’m back, let’s start by updating some of the items we were watching on eBay:

This one had that very high start price: Lawrence Marable, Tenorman, Jazz West 8. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. Not only did it sell, it made it all the way to the $2,000 bin. The price was $2,175.

This one didn’t quite make the $2,000 bin, but it did all right for the buyer and seller: Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill, Transition 17. This was an original pressing sold by Euclid Records and it included the original booklet. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. The labels, as they do with all Transitions, had fallen off. The price was $1,691.88. Euclid also did well on this one: Benny Golson, Gone with Golson, New Jazz 8235. This was an original purple label pressing with the deep grooves. It was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $355, quite a nice price for an LP with Golson as the leader.  Our previous high in the Jazz Collector Price Guide was $335.

This next one was described as an “original” pressing, but upon further detailed reading of the listing, it clearly was not — unless, that is, you consider an “original” Blue Note anything that was issued prior to the purchase by Liberty:

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10-Inch LPs, Jazz Record Center, eBay

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Interesting that the Jazz Record Center has an auction this week fully devoted to 10-inch LPs. I’ve always been a fan of 10-inch records, I think more for the packaging and authenticity — I mean, they pretty much stopped producing them in 1955 — than necessarily for the sound quality, although some people swear by them. My friend Dan swears that the sound on the 10-inch version of The Tal Farlow album, for example, is far superior to the 12-inch version, even the original Norgran 12-incher. Anyway, prices of 10-inch LPs tend to be lower than corresponding 12-inch LPs, so we’ll see how this week’s JRC auction goes. Here are some of the items we’ll be watching

Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note  5056. This one looks to be in M- condition. It has already been bid up to $416 with four bids, so we’re expecting that this is the one that will sell for top price among these listings. Howard McGhee, Volume 2, Blue Note 5024. This one is in M- condition and looks gorgeous in the picture. I own Volume 1, but have never had Volume 2. Probably won’t get this one either. The start price is $250. So far there are no takers, but it’s early. Stan Getz, The Beginning, with Wardell Grey, Seeco SLP7. I have a lot of Getz LPs, even a bunch of 10-inchers, but this is one I’m quite unfamiliar with. Anyone have any info to share on this LP? The one from the Jazz Record Center is in M- condition and already has a bidder at $150.

Placing Hope in a Snipe

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I haven’t been buying records at all and, in fact, I am planning a major sale of records and other stuff from my collection. Keep tuned to this space for details or, if you want a really early start, send an email to me at al(at)jazzcollector.com. But the buying bug never really leaves, does it, and yesterday I was looking at this record Elmo Hope Quintet, Informal Jazz, Prestige 7043, and it looked in nice condition and the copy in my collection is a second pressing of Two Tenors, which, don’t get me wrong, is quite nice and is in perfect condition, but an original is an original and a Prestige is a Prestige and the price was lingering nearly $125 with just a few hours to go so, I figured, why not. And, even though I’m not buying these days I, of course, still maintain a sniping account, just in case, so I put in a snipe for this record in the mid-$300 range figuring I might actually have a chance, given that prices on eBay seem to be a little flat these days. But, alas, ’twas not to be. I looked this morning and the record went to somebody else for $405.02. Perhaps it’s for the best. I can always listen to Two Tenors, right?

Jazz Vinyl Worth Watching on Ebay

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As always, we are watching some interesting jazz vinyl that will be selling (or not selling) on eBay this week. Here are a few samples:

This is another one where the seller is starting with a very high price: Lawrence Marable, Tenorman, Jazz West 8. This is an original pressing that looks to be in superb condition, at least VG++ for the record and the cover. The starting price is $1,800 and there are no bidders.

This is a pretty hefty price for one of the Benny Golson New Jazz LPs: Benny Golson, Gone With Golson, New Jazz 8235. This is an original deep groove pressing and it is in M- condition. It is also being offered by Euclid Records, one of the better known brands in our community. There are already eight bids on this LP and the price is close to $200. Note that the pianist on this date is Ray Bryant who passed away on Thursday.

I have to say, I’m tempted on this one: Elmo Hope, Informal Jazz, Prestige 7043. This looks to be an original New York pressing, although the listing is definitely lacking in details. The condition looks excellent and the price is only $135 and it is ending today. This may call for a visit to my sniping software. Will keep you posted. Of course, publishing my intent on Jazz Collector may not be the wisest strategy, huh?

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