Month: December 2012

Closing out 2012 With Jazz Vinyl

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Here’s an update on some of the jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay as 2012 comes to a close, starting with Johnny Coles, Little Johnny C, Blue Note 4144. This was one of Rudolf’s listings. It was an original pressing and was interesting because it looked as if one side had deep grooves, which seems kind of odd because it was issued after the deep groove era, wasn’t t? This looked like a beauty in M- condition and it sold for $615, so it was not a bad time to be listing this record.

This used to be an item that would regularly sell for more than $1,000 and often more than $2,000, but its value seemed to have been dropping in the past few years: Fred Astaire, The Astaire Story. This is the beautiful bound set that includes the four records, David Stone Martin Prints, photos, booklet and, of course, the original Astaire signature. This one looked to be in beautiful condition and sold for $1,009.

One more that we don’t often track here at Jazz Collector:

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A Few Favorites From the Jazz Collector Era

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Here are a few jazz vinyl records we are watching on eBay from our perch up here in the beautiful and snowy Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. Let’s start with Gene Ammons, Jammin’ in Hi Fi, Prestige 7110. This is not one you see very often. It’s a nice session, featuring Jackie McLean, Idrees Sulieman, Kenny Burrell and a great rhythm section. This one is in M- condition for the record and probably M- for the cover as well. It closes later today and is in the $115 price range.

I was perusing the list and found a few very nice records from fiftiesjazz, which is our friend and frequent guest Rudolf, so you know the records are well taken care of and carefully graded. Here are a couple: Hank Mobley and His All Stars, Blue Note 1544. This is another nice session, featuring Horace Silver and Milt Jackson. This one is rated VG+ for both the record and the cover. This one also closes today and is in the $250 range. Also, Sonny Rollins Volume 1, Blue Note 1542. This is a West 63rd Street pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It closes tomorrow and is now in the $220 range.

One more nice Blue Note while we’re at it:

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More Jazz Vinyl For the $1,000 Bin

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Let’s catch up on some of the rare jazz vinyl records we’ve been watching on eBay, starting with: Charlie Parker, Bird Blows the Blues, Dial 1. This is the first 12-inch jazz record ever and it was issued without a cover. It usually fetches a nice price when it lands on eBay, and this one was no exception. It was in VG+ condition and sold for $1,643.49. There were only two bids, which always makes me a bit suspicious when a record sells for this much money. It’s usually a bidding war that drives prices this high.

This is one that’s new to me, but it got a huge price: Rosemary Squires, My Love is a Wanderer, MGM 3597. Looks like this one was in M- condition for the record an the cover, other than a cutout hole on the cover. Rosemary Squires was a British pop star, and I’m not quite sure what makes this record so valuable and so desired by collectors, that they would drive the price all the way up to $1,580.55. I’m sure someone out there will be happy to enlighten me.

Here’s another for the $1,000 bin:

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A Pristine Selection of Rare Jazz Vinyl

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Just got an email from the Jazz Record Center that they have a new auction up this week, so let’s take a look and see what’s there:

This one has a start price of $2,000, and it’s already gotten a bid, so we should expect quite a high price: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This is an original pressing in what is described as “near-new” condition, perhaps played once. The cover looks to be equally pristine.

Here’s another we wouldn’t mind putting on our own shelves: Elmo Hope, Meditations, Prestige 7010. This is an original New York yellow-label pressing, also in “near new” condition for the record and M- for the cover. The start price is $400 and there are no bidders yet, but there will be.

Bill Evans, Portrait in Jazz, Riverside 315. This is an original deep groove pressing with the small reel logos on the label, as opposed to the larger reels, which I had forgotten was a distinguishing characteristic of Riverside. Someday, perhaps in 2013, I will go through all of the vast research we have accumulated here at Jazz Collector and put together a more definitive guide to what makes an original pressing on various labels. I think the information is here on the site, it just needs to be mined. Anyway, this one is in near new condition and has a start price of $200.

A Jazz Vinyl Christmas

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Merry Christmas everyone. If any of these items are on you’re wish list, you can buy yourself a present now on eBay:

Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Time, Blue Note 4001. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing that looks to be in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It closes later today and the bidding is in the low $300 range.

Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, Peckin’ Time, Blue Note 1574. This is an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It closes tomorrow and the bidding is still very low, just a little more than $100. It may be difficult to get at a bargain price, however, since the seller has a reserve price on it and the bidding has not yet reached the reserve. The seller is aware of market value for the records. How do I know: He has a link to the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

How about a Transition for the new year: Donald Byrd, Byrd Jazz, Transition TLP 5. This is an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It also has the booklet. The bidding closes tomorrow and is stuck at just a little bit more than $100. This one also fails to meet the seller’s reserve at the price. Perhaps Rudolf is right and this is not the best time to be placing records on eBay?

 

 

 

Back in Business Watching Collectible Jazz Vinyl

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Bet you’re wondering if I’m OK. I am. Just been a busy period before the holidays. It’s been so long since I’ve posted on Jazz Collector or even been on eBay that all of the items I was watching are now closed. Which gives me a nice opportunity to give a big review, starting with:

Horace Parlan, Us Three, Blue Note 4037. This was an original West 63rd pressing in what was described as VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It also had the original shrink wrap, if that means anything to anyone. I guess it means the cover was well protected for all of these years. The top bid on this was a very nice one, $1,136. But guess what? It didn’t meet the seller’s reserve price, so it didn’t sell. We’ve seen this one sell for as much as $1,725 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so I guess the seller had certain expectations. I had a copy of this record in very nice condition, mentioned it on Jazz Collector and was offered $1,500 to sell it. I did. Haven’t missed it since, to be perfectly honest.

Similar situation with this one from the same seller: Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. This was an original West 63rd pressing. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover looked to be VG. The top bid was $717 but, again, it failed to sell because it didn’t meet the seller’s reserve price.

This one did sell and I thought it might fetch a higher price: Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This one was in VG++ condition for the record and probably similar condition for the cover. It was offered by one of the top eBay sellers and sold for $1,405. A nice price, but we’ve seen this one sell for more than $3,000 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

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Three for the $1,000 Bin

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I’ve been so busy with real work lately, I’ve missed a lot of nice jazz vinyl on eBay, including some of the heavyweights that regularly occupy the $1,000 bin. Anyway, here’s an update of some items I’ve missed, all of which will eventually find their way into the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. This was an original deep groove pressing with the purple label. It was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover and from the pictures with the listing it looked absolutely pristine. It sold for $2,247.66.

Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. This was an original pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $1,593.88

Paul Gonsalves, Boom-Jackie-Boom-Chick, Vocalion LAE 587. This was an original British pressing that looked to be in M- condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1,783.

Dave Brubeck, 1920-2012

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In case you’re just seeing the news, Dave Brubeck passed away earlier today. Are there any Brubeck records that qualify as real collectibles, say more than $100 in value? In looking at my shelves, I probably have more records by Brubeck than any other artist. Between Fantasy, Columbia, Atlantic and Concord, he had an incredibly prolific recording career. Nice that he was able to achieve the Kennedy Center Honors a couple of years ago while he could still appreciate it.

Pick A Pair of Blue Notes

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Here are a few items we’re watching on eBay this week, starting with: Curtis Fuller, The Opener, Blue Note 1567. This one was sitting at a start price of about $100 for a long time and I thought maybe, just maybe, I might be able to sneak in and get it for a decent price, a decent price being under $300. No such luck. The record is in VG+ condition and the cover is VG and the price is already at $335. It closes later today. The seller did a nice job with the pictures, even (or perhaps especially) the pictures of the bruised corners. To me, the bruised corners make it even more attractive, in some way. It looks more its age and it shows that it has been enjoyed.

This one also has a nice picture to go with the listing: Hank Mobley with Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan, Blue Note 1540. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing and it looks to be in very nice condition, VG++ for both the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $250 range but it has yet to reach the seller’s reserve price. There are still a couple of days to go and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one get into the $1,000 bin.

 

 

Jazz Vinyl That’s New To Jazz Collector

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Just browsing eBay and came upon a few items I’ve never seen before. I’m always impressed, after more than 40 years of collecting jazz records, that there are still records that are new to me, for example:

Perhaps I’ve seen this before, but I dont’ recall it: Miles Davis, Porgy and Bess, Fontana 662.036. This is a French pressing and the seller says it is a 10-inch record, which makes sense if you look at the number of tracks per side. Why were the French issuing 10-inch LPs in the late 1950s, when those wars had already been fought and the 12-inch format had won? And look at the cover — it’s the same picture that’s on the American Milestones. I have to say, this looks like a pretty cool item to me. It has a start price of about $100 and is listed in M- unplayed condition.

Speaking of French pressings: Pierre Michelot and his Orchestra, Round About Bass, Mercury 125 500. This is an original French mono pressing and is listed in EX+ condition for the record (VG+++ in our terms?), and EX for the cover. This is from the same seller as the Miles LP and is also in the $100 range with no bids yet.

This an American record, and I assume it’s jazz because it is listed under jazz on eBay and because it is right in the midst of the Atlantic jazz series, but I’ve never seen it:

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