More Blue Notes, More Big Price Tags
Catching up on some recent eBay sales.
Here’s one that was quite a surprise: Jimmy Smith at the Organ, Blue Note 1525. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. Â Normally the Jimmy Smith Blue Notes have not fetched huge dollars, but something is changing in the Blue Note market: All of the originals are going up in value and even later pressings are starting to sell at collectible prices. This one sold for an eye-popping $511.
May as well stick with some more Blue Notes: Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 1. This one, of course, has the cover illustration by Andy Warhol. The record was
in VG+ condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $532.
Ike Quebec, It Might As Well Be Spring, Blue Note 4105. This was an original New York USA pressing. The record was listed as VG++ and the cover looked somewhere between VG+ and VG++. The price was $236.50.
Horace Parlan, Speakin’ My Piece, Blue Note 4043. This was an original West 63rd deep groove mono pressing. The record and cover were both listed in M- condition. The price was $484.99.
Dexter Gordon, Doin’ Allright, Blue Note 4077. The picture on this one clearly shows a West 63rd Street address. The listing is not clear whether this address is on both sides of the LP. This one was in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It sold for $385.
Bennie Green, Back on the Scene, Blue Note 1587. This was an original deep groove West 63rd Street pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The price was $356.
That same copy of blue lights volume 1 was listed back in december as vg++(item 220529704735), and it sold for $473. I was the second highest bidder on it then. It gets downgraded and then goes for more money! Last week I was offered a second chance offer of this for my bid of $468. I did not take it thinking I could get it for maybe 350.
Perhaps the sheer number of blue notes listed in that auction drove the price up. I still don’t quite get it though.
Were those the ladymixmaster auctions? She had some nice ones to be sure, but as I buy more and more over-graded records I’m increasingly scrutinizing of feedback ratings, of which she has 14 negatives in 12 months. 1000+ positives to her credit but ideally and typically you’ll see maybe 2 or 3 tops from a single difficult buyer. Noting as well the overall 4.5 star ‘item as described’ rating (which I focus on even more than the positive/negative), I can’t help but wonder if the folks who drop $500 on her LPs will be a little let down by what they get. Buying blind is an accepted risk at any (and especially) those prices and it took just a little seed of doubt on her feedback to keep me from jumping in the bidding games. Do you guys worry much about that or are you willing to take your chances?
recently picked up Davis Cup . west 63rd deep groove with ear, has r on label, vinyl nm+ , cover vg++. paid 400. Deal or no Deal??
Great deal. Not on eBay, right?
but the first pressing had no r
change your evaluation?
Japhy: I have 3 albums coming from the lady(mixmaster) and your remarks scare me. I will keep you posted about the quality when they have arrived.
Rudolf — I though you weren’t buying these days (like me — HAH!). Maybe you better make sure your Mrs. JC doesn’t read Jazz Collector. 🙂
Al: you got me! yes, I must admit that every now and then I am stricken by the old vice. My Mrs JC fortunately does not understand/read English and I developed a watertight system to smuggle the records discretely into the house. Anyway, my conscience is clear: I am a nett seller.
the lady(mixmaster) parcel has jus arrived. I am satisfied, everything according to description, and lightning fast shipment.
In the Prestige album (review copy) there was even a business reply card to Prestige anno 1959.
Rudolph – Glad to hear it! Next time I’ll give her more serious consideration. Enjoy your sides!
Japhy I didn’t want to respond up top on this thread and mention the specific seller (wouldn’t want to upset one of my favorite sellers), but you bring up a good point here.
I actually follow the item as described rating more than the feedback as well. It seems accurate because if you win a record as m- and it is a real strong vg++(or ex+?), you aren’t going to immediately leave bad feedback. What if you want to win another record from that seller in the future? So instead of burning bridges when a record is not what I expect(at least one out of five buys from an unknown seller), I just leave a 4 in item as described.