Hank Mobley, No Room For Squares, Blue Note 4149. This looks to be an original pressing, with the New York USA label and the ear, and it is listed in M- condition for the record and what looks to be VG++ for the cover. You may recall that a recent copy of this record sold for $1,009. I’m sure the seller here, Atomic Records, noticed as well. This one is currently in the $130 range but has yet to meet the seller’s reserve price.

Sonny Clark, Dial S For Sonny, Blue Note 1570. This is an original pressing with the West 63rd label, deep groove, etc., and it is listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The current price is around $425 and there is still one day left on the auction.

This one doesn’t usually go for a big price, but it is in nice condition and it is a promo copy (it’s also a fantastic record, musically): John Coltrane, Live at Birdland, Impulse 50. This has the white promo label and is listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It has one bid, but the price is $198.

This one is a beauty and it still has a few days to go: Lester Young, The President Plays with the Oscar Peterson Trio, Norgran 1054. This has a great cover by David Stone Martin and it is an original yellow-label pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It is currently in the $75 range, with lots of time to go.

Chet Baker Sings, Pacific Jazz 1222. This is an original pressing, also with a terrific cover, and it looks to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It has a couple of days to go and is in the price range of $90.

John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was a stereo pressing with the bullseye label. The original mono was black label and the original stereo was green label so this was a second pressing. It was in M- condition and received a top bid of $150.50, which is not bad for a second press, but it still did not meet the seller’s reserve.

This one was another Coltrane, offered by the Jazz Record Center: Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, Impulse 30. This was an original mono pressing with the orange label and the Van Gelder stamp in the dead wax. The price was $151.50. We’ve seen this one sell for nearly $400 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so we’re a little surprised it didn’t get more, considering the reputation of the seller.

When did this one become a collectible that would fetch a price tag of nearly $200: Charles Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Impulse 54. This was an orange label stereo pressing in M- condition. It sold for $178.05. Quite a nice price for this LP, right? I have a stereo copy in my collection also in M- condition, beautiful. If anyone wants it for $175, just send me a note and I will sell it to you.

I almost bid on this one and now kind of regret that I didn’t: Milt Jackson and the Thelonious Monk Quintet, Blue Note 1509. This one was an original Lexington Avenue pressing and it looked to be in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover, although the seller could have been a bit more forthcoming with the grading. It sold for a little more than $100, and

I would have liked it since this is one of the few gaps in my collection of 12-inch Lexington Avenue Blue Notes.

This is a record I have not seen very often: Bill Hardman Quintet, Saying Something, Savoy 12170. This is a pretty late Savoy release but it seems to have the deep red label, based on the picture. This one was in M- condition and sold for about $174.

First the big ones: Walter Davis, Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This was an original pressing and it was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,300. Also, Paul Chambers Quintet, Blue Note 1564. This was an original pressing. The record and cover looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition. The price was $1,032.

Here are a couple that don’t often get collectible prices: Dizzy Gillespie, Afro, Norgran 1003. This was an original yellow label pressing with a cover design by David Stone Martin. It was only in VG condition and sold for $72. That may not be a Blue Note price, but it is still somewhat surprising. Few of the Dizzy record

have cachet as collectibles, even the Norgrans, and this one was not in great shape. Perhaps it is the unusual cover illustration by Stone Martin?

Not sure we’ve covered this one in the Price Guide before: Sonny Rollins, Alfie, Impulse 9111. This seemed to be an original pressing, although it wasn’t clear from the listing, and it seemed to be in M- condition, although that wasn’t clear either. It sold for $51: Not a high-end collectible price, but one that’s starting to creep up. Also on Impulse: John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse 40. This was an original stereo pressing. It was in M- condition and it sold for $197.49. No surprise this LP would get a good price in that condition, but usually the premium is paid for mono pressings.

When did this become a $100 record: Barney Kessel, The Poll Winners, Stereo 7010? This was an original pressing with the black label. The vinyl was in M- condition and the cover was VG++. The final price was $97, so it wasn’t officially a $100 record. Still, I had no idea that Kessel was this collectible. I’m not complaining about it, since I do have all of his records on Contemporary, just a bit surprised by this one. In any case, it will be making its first appearance in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Also premiering in the Jazz Collector Price Guide will be: Bill Jennings, Enough Said!, Prestige 7164. This was an original yellow label pressing with

the deep grooves and it was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $163.50.

We’ve seen this one sell for decent prices before, but never for this much: Wilbur Harden, Mainstream 1958, Savoy 12127. This was an original pressing with the blood red label. It features John Coltrane on tenor, which is why it is a well regarded collectible, at least to these eyes and ears. This copy was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $360.55.

And here’s yet another one that seems to have reached a new peak: Charles Mingus, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, Impulse 35. This was an original stereo pressing with the orange label. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $111.10

Archie Shepp, Four For Trane, Impulse 71. This is an original orange label pressing in nice VG+ condition. It is closing later today and is currently at $40.  Also from the same batch is this:

Yusef Lateef, Jazz ‘Round the World, Impulse 56. This is also an original mono pressing with the orange label. This one is in VG++ condition and is currently at about $25. I knew a knowledgeable collector about 20 years ago who predicted that one day the Impulses would have the same cachet — and the same value — as the Blue Notes and Prestiges. With three or four notable exceptions — John Coltrane with Duke, Coltrane Ballads, A Love Supreme, Oliver Nelson Blues and the Abstract Truth – that prophesy hasn’t come close to coming true. Perhaps someday in the future, but I wouldn’t bet too heavily on it: Although the packaging on the Impulses is great, as is the music (generally), as are the recordings, generally by Rudy Van Gelder. So it’s hard to go wrong, isn’t it?

I would grade this copy in VG+ condition. I have it on the turntable now and it is playing nice, with no surface noise on the three tracks I’ve listened to. I’d also grade the cover at VG+. Copies of this have sold for more than $100 on the Jazz Collector Price Guide. We’ll offer this one up at $45, plus our usual shipping charges of $4 in the U.S., $15 to Europe and $17 to Asia. We have one copy, so first come first served. Good luck.

as for me, well, it’s just not what I like. If you like it, you’ll be able to find this copy on eBay. It is not making the cut of the Jazz Collector Jazz Vinyl Countdown.

This is one I’ve never thought about as a major collectible, but it seems to be getting more popular among collectors, as are some of the other records on the Impulse label: Roy Haynes, Out of the Afternoon, Impulse A-23. This features Roland Kirk as a sideman and is a nice record. Perhaps the value is going up because Roy is still alive and well and playing formidably, keeping the tradition alive. Anyway, this record was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $136.49.

Would you feel comfortable bidding on this record: Dexter Gordon, Our Man in Paris, Blue Note 4146? The seller listed the item as

a “first press” with no details. Then he listed the condition as: “You won’t be disappointed.” Someone asked the questions about the provenance and the condition. For the label he said “NY.” Which to me could be a Liberty with a New York address, or a blue label with a New York address. It did not say New York USA. For the condition he said “E,” which also is nebulous and gives no indication of the real condition of the record or the cover. Want to guess what this sold for? How about $141.50. I know I’m a gambler, but even that would be too steep for my blood.