Watching Blue Notes From a New Seller
In between packed boxes, hauling records, driving back and forth between Great Neck, Manhattan and Monterey, Ma., I was actually able to take a peek at eBay and find some interesting jazz auctions that I’ve been watching the past few days. Here are a few:
Ah, the longing . . . how often will I watch this, one of my favorite records, before I finally take the plunge and acquire that original pressing I’ve desired for 20-plus years: Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045. This was an original pressing that was listed in M- condition. It sold for $737, quite a reasonable price, all things considered. It was an interesting auction because the seller, from South Africa, put up a bunch of nice Blue Notes all at once and he had only one feedback rating (at least it was positive). The seller makes the strong case that he is new to eBay, but not to record collecting, and he seems to be knowledgeable. With a more secure seller, this would have sold for more money, right? In the Jazz Collector Price Guide we’ve seen this one sell for more than $1,200. This one came from the same seller:
Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This one was also listed in M- condition. It was listed as having deep grooves, but if I recall my Blue Note stuff correctly, this should only be one side deep groove, right? I’d look it up in Fred Cohen’s Blue Note Guide, but it’s packed up somewhere and it will be weeks before it gets uncovered. Anyway, this one sold for $837, despite the ambiguity and despite the seller’s lack of eBay experience. It’ll be interesting to keep an eye on the feedback as these records make their way towards the ultimate purchasers.
By the way, now that I’m a bit more settled, I plan to resume posting regularly again at Jazz Collector. Thanks for being patient and for keeping things going with your comments and on the Reader Forum.
I’m stunned by the condition the records appear to be in. Clean, sharp, looking astonishingly well cared for. Let’s look at this seller in the future!
Right away I thought about the reissues of Classic Records. They are only to be discovered by the back of their jacket right (Capitol inscription), because the LP looks like an original.
So with records like these, it would always be good to see the back of the jacket.
I don’t have the best of eyes anymore, however I am inclined to echo the thoughts of Katharsis. Something does not quite look right here.
The Classic Reissues don’t have the ear like these claim to have or the RVG. The Kenny Drew says Deep Groove but in the picture of side 1 there is no deep groove. I’m confused a bit but believe these could be the real deal. Somebody got nice prices on these if they are as stated in the auction.
These look original to me, the Classic Records cover images aren’t as high resolution as original pressings, but he mentions that many of these are “flat-edge” records where no flat-edge version was pressed except for the Classic Records reissues.
So, while all of you focus on very expensive blue notes that most folks in this economy can’t afford, which not feature once in awhile Columbia 6-eyes? These record were produced from 1955 until 1962, and there are some great artists on them. My average acquisition price: $1. Sorry to upset the Blue Note fan club, but there are alternatives…..Also it looks like there is an excellent debate going on about whether these are really first pressings….
Case in point. I just picked up copy of Monk Quartet and Big Band in Concert on Columbia 2 eye. Great album, great sound. Also, a nice copy of Paul Chambers 1st Bassman on VeeJay. Another great album at bargain prices. Economy hitting my pocket book, but not my desire for more jazz.
Erich,
There are, of course, many great titles on the six-eye Columbia label from Miles, Monk, Brubeck, Mingus, Lady Day, but these were pressed in large numbers so they are fairly common titles in the bins (as you say your average acquisition price is $1). My understanding was this site is geared more toward the fanatical jazz vinyl collector, which as any collector, focus more on the rare jewels we all are on the hunt for, not the common records we see all the time in the jazz bins. Again, not to dismiss any of the music, as some of my favorite titles were on this (major) label.
sorry Eric if the Blue Note fan club rolls on.
sometimes is difficult to state the originality looking at pics or description on Ebay.
not in this case.
wanna laugh ? look at this one
“Hank Mobley-Lee Morgan “Peckin’ Time” 1959, Mono BLP 1574
VERY RARE Early Blue Note Recording at 47 West 63rd Street Address
An astounding collaboration between two of Blue Note’s most gifted musicians, “Peckin’ Time” showcases the youthful side of Mobley and Morgan most listeners are not familiar with.
Here, on this early recording, you get an offering of more classic bop, not the soul jazz and hard bop on which both musicians made their later reputations. With a rhythm section including
among its ranks Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Charlie Persip on drums, these original tunes soar with the kind of lightness and fluidity found on early
Blue Note LP’s. Remember the “47 West 63rd” inscription on the label! Matrix numbers ILBT 1358/9. Unfortunately, this record does not have the classic Blue Note features like the “ear”
and RVG on the dead wax, or the deep groove on the center label. However, this record is in remarkable condition, near mint, with only a few surface scuffs on playback. This is not
the Mobley and Morgan of “Roll Call” and “The Sidewinder”, but rather a charming revisiting of their roots in the bop idiom.”
comment: 100% positive feedbacks (348), a precise description, but…. it’s Japanese.
maybe early ?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hank-Mobley-Lee-Morgan-Peckin-Time-Blue-Note-1574-Mono-/250863357361?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item3a689f0db1#ht_753wt_1348
Opening at US $9.99 with one bid, but it is worth a laugh Dottore. As they say in advertising, “all sizzle, no sausage”
To be fair, it is a good Japanese pressing (I have one myself) and its worth every cent of $25-30.
To the subject, Blue Note lover that I am, I get a great deal of pleasure from late 50’s early 60’s original pressings on Fontana, Columbia, Prestige Blue/silver trident, London, Esquire and EARLY Atlantic (not their truly horrible seventies reissues) Some great music not to be missed while the search for the good Blue Stuff continues.
I’d like to add that the South African seller who apparently “is new to eBay but knows a lot about record collecting”, does no longer exist on eBay. If you click through on the Freddie Redd or Kenny Drew links that Al provides in the article, you of course see the item sold, but once on that eBay pay you click on ‘see other items’, you get this: “The seller UserID you entered was not found.”. So out of the blue (pun intended) someone pops up offering stunning quality Blue Notes with questionable descriptions, has only one score on his feedback and has now gone without a trace? Something is not right at all. Question is: what happened to this Mr Ricketysmurf from South Africa?
Typo: “…that eBay pay…” should of course read “…that eBay page…” 😉
Matty, I suggest we wait for more feedbacks for mr Ricketysmurf. I could easily enter his e-bay profile, his user ID is still valid 🙂
OK, point taken, but this afternoon it was most definitely different. But still: ‘see other items’ doesn’t give anything, so so far he only had Redd and Drew for sale…
That adds something more to the mistery. I would always count on a visible back cover and not so much on a described “ear”. So I found it suspicious that the photographs were crisp and clear, but the back cover – the only pic to identify the records correctly – was missing.