Today’s Blues: Blue Mitchell, and Blue Notes
Catching up on my jazz vinyl watch list on eBay. Here are some of the items I missed, starting with Blue Mitchell, Blue’s Moods, Riverside 336. This was an original pressing with the blue labels, reels and microphone logo, etc. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was VG+. The final price was $540. I know that this record has always been prized among collectors and has gone for pretty high prices, as seen here — higher than most of the Riverside catalogue, except for perhaps Waltz for Debby and maybe one or two others. What I’ve never understood is “WHY?” I know it’s a nice record, but what is it about this particular record that has driven up its value over the years?
This is a Blue Note that’s also seemed to rise in value compared to other records released around the same time:
Dexter Gordon, One Flight Up, Blue Note 4176. This looked to be an original pressing with he New York USA address, ears and Van Gelder. It was listed in M- condition for the record and the cover (same seller as the Blue Mitchell record) and wound up selling for $392.87.
This Blue Note also got a nice price (for the seller, at least): Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address and deep grooves on both sides. It was listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover and wound up selling for $1,247.22.
I think Blue’s Moods is highly regarded because :
1- The session is so fine, with excellent drumming by Roy Brooks and fantastic version of “I’ll close my eyes” among other highlights.
2 – Its’s quartet session, a rare setting for Blue Mitchell
3 – It’s Blue Mitchell, and this guy is an incredible trumpeter, an advanced funky player, a subtle innovator.
4 – This one was in NM condition, the cover seems to have not much ring wear, and it is partcularily hard to get fine condition Riverside…
One Flight Up is sought after because of the incredible “Tanya” on side one.
I had a VG+ original autographed by Dexter. I sold it long ago. (No comment. Thank you).
So at long last it seems to me that finely it is about the music ! We collect sound not labels, it is about our ear first of all and then and only then it is about the RVG ear in the dead wax.
That Blue Mitchell session is wonderful, though I can’t say I’d fork over the necessary funds to own an original these days.
Also, that cover doesn’t appear NM to me. Closer to VG+ or VG++.
The remainder of the group is also very high level, BENNY GOLSON on tenor sax playing as magnificient as ever, CEDAR WALTON on piano in one theme “Studio B” also a great pianist, ART BLAKEY on drums one of the three better usual drummers, the well-known SAM JONES and PAUL CHAMBERS on bass distributing the session and of course the excellent form in which this distinctive trumpeter BLUE MITCHELL is found.