Watching Some More Second Pressings
Feb 22, 2010 Blue Note
Here are a few items we’ve been watching, none of them an original pressing, each of them selling for a pretty hefty price tag. What I find interesting is that these second pressings of highly collectible records seem to be selling a lot better than original pressings of more moderately collectible records. It seems that certain records are just in demand and second pressings are becoming acceptable to collectors.
Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1534. This was a West 63rd Street pressing. It was listed in VG+ condition for both the cover and the vinyl. The price was $222.50.
Jackie McLean Quintet, Jubilee 1064. This is a reissue of The New Tradition on Ad Lib, although it’s probable not all of the bidders knew this. In any case, this copy was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $182.50.
This next one didn’t get a huge price, but still not bad for a second pressing:
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, The Big Beat, Blue Note 4029. This was a New York USA pressing and it was only in VG+ condition. It sold for $54 — still pretty high considering the condition and the fact that it was not an original. But, then again, it is a Blue Note and its an earlier vintage pressing than Liberty.
Tags: Ad Lib Records, Art Blakey, Jackie McLean, Jazz Vinyl, Jubilee Records, Paul Chambers
February 22nd, 2010 at 6:33 pm
I’ve got a few Blue Note covers without an address on, including The Big Beat which seems to an original 47W6rd DG/RVG/ear pressing (& which I only paid £4.49, that’s currently $7, for my VG+ copy, gloat, gloat). This doesn’t have the ‘Some recent 12″ Blue Note Releases’ at the bottom like the Griffin; the title on the spine is in a white box which also seems a bit unusual.
February 22nd, 2010 at 7:00 pm
The others I have with no address are 4015, 4021, 4055, 4108 & 4124. 4124 is a Liberty press & sleeve, but the others are early (i.e. with ear) pressings with either the wrong labels or inappropriate DGs. 4021 like the Griffin has ‘Some recent 12″ Blue Notes’ on the back, while the others have pics: of the artists in the case of 4015 & of other albums by the artist on 4055 & 4108. Are these original or not?
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:09 am
I have been recording pressing variations on Blue Notes for a couple of months & have found a few that have no addresses on the back cover, original & later pressings seem consistent. There are a number of Art Blakey titles, usually when there is a volume I & II. Donaldson’s Natural Soul & LD+3 also.
March 21st, 2010 at 6:54 am
The sleeves don’t vary on original pressings. And yes, some of them have pictures on the back and some have other titels by the artist on the back. Note: If the record has an ear, it’s an original pressing! But there are first, second etc. pressings, too, which can be distinguished by the DG & labels.