Cool Struttin’ for $2,700; A Pair of Boxed Sets
Here’s one for the $2,000 bin: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. This was an original pressing that looked to be in M- condition and had beautiful pictures and came from a highly reputable seller. It sold for $2,701.99.
I had a couple of boxed sets I was watching. I have mixed feelings about boxed sets: I like the idea of the packaging and the extended liner notes and all of that, but when I actually look through my records to decide what to play, I rarely look through them and rarely play them. I have a bunch of the Mosaics — probably 50 in all — plus some nice Norgrans and Verves. I suppose if I had more time to listen, and more time to concentrate . . . Anyway, I have this record in a boxed set and was watching it on eBay: Stan Getz at the Shrine, Norgran NG 2000-2. This one was in M- condition of the records — two of them — and VG++ for the packaging. It sold for $280.55. This one also has the advantage of
a beautiful color illustration by David Stone Martin. Here’s another boxed set that didn’t have the same value, but is nice as well: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book, Verve 4010-4. This is the boxed set with all four records. The records — four of them — were in M- condition and the packaging was VG++. The price was $71. I have this one as well and I love the music. Some great Ben Webster and Stuff Smith and Ella in absolutely terrific form. If you haven’t listened to this one lately, it’s worth putting on the turntable or CD player or something if you have the music
2700 Bucks for Cool Struttin’… Could it that maybe, just maybe, there is a chance that for a change it’s not a collector buying, but maybe an investor, assuming that one day, somewhere in time, he’ll be able to sell it again for, let’s say, four or five times the amount he paid for it? I mean, we have all read stories of investors who couldn’t care less about paintings or art, but still they bought them, kept ’em in a vault for years and then sold them again for astronomical amounts. Or could it be that I’m a bit too cynical now? 😉
Mattyman, The Netherlands
the Getz box also has a photo collection in a stiff booklet. Very well done by Phil Stern.
I also play boxes rarely, because it is cumbersome, esp. to takeout one of the discs from the Riverside collections of Monk and Bill Evans.
I see a drop in prices for most Mosaic collections. Of course the slogan “for those who want it all” does not withstand the test of time. Shrewd marketing, no more, appealing to people who start from scratch.
There are a few which are really essential: Herbie Nichols and Freddie Redd and the Chet Baker unpublished concert sides.
Of course, this is a very personal opinion.
I noticed the same on Mosaic,but,re Freddie Redd,there’s one now with no bids,starting at 49.99,and a buy it now for 249.99.And this is the one I miss.Maybe I’m gonna try.The first one.