Watching A Pair Of Heavy-Duty Jazz Collectibles
May 20, 2012 $1000 Records, Autographs, Blue Note, Prestige
My goodness, here’s a jazz collectible to make the heart flutter (my heart, at least): Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants, Prestige 7150. This is an original yellow label pressing, although the record itself is a reissue. No big deal, right? Except this one is autographed by, get this, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. That’s about as an impressing a lineup of jazz autographs as you could get on one record. This one is being auction by The Jazz Record Center so I would be one to trust that the signatures are original. Perhaps Don-Lucky or another autograph collector might shed more light. In any case, the bidding on this one starts at $2,500 and there is already a bid so the record will sell. If I had this one, I’d frame it for sure.
Here we go again: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This is an original original pressing, based on all of our feedbacks and comments last week, and it has the New York 23 on the B Side. This one is in M- condition for both the record and the cover and, based on the seller’s description, it sounds like it’s in amazing shape. The auction closes later today, in about four hours, and the bidding is in the $2,000 range. My guess is that it goes in the $4,000 range. If it was from a seller with more history and more of a reputation using this description it would probably break the $5,000 barrier. Maybe even more. And maybe it will with this seller. We’ll see soon.
Tags: Hank Mobley, John Coltrane Autograph, Miles Davis Autograph, Thelonious Monk Autograph
One for the $3,000 Bin (And A Few More)
May 11, 2012 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside
So how did some of those jazz vinyl auctions we were watching pan out? Thought you would never ask.
Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was an original pressing of one of the rarest and most valuable of all jazz records and it was sold by the most reputable of all jazz sellers, the Jazz Record Center in New York. The record was in M- condition and the cover looked like VG++. We’ve seen this record sell for more than $5,000 in the past on the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Not this time. This one sold for a mere $3,362.
Presenting Ernie Henry, Riverside 222. This was also from the Jazz Record Center and it was an original white label pressing that looked to be in quite lovely condition, M- for both the record and the cover. This one sold for $510. Great cover, isn’t it? Perfection, really, with the great picture and his eyes closed and the scripted typeface with the finger pointing to Ernie. Love it. Great record too.
This seller had a few interesting records from the Prestige New Jazz label, including:
Tags: Ahmed Abdul-Malik, Eric Dolphy, Ernie Henry, Hank Mobley, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Jazz Record Center, Jazz Vinyl, Ken McIntyre
Tracking Jazz Vinyl: New Jazz and A Blue Note
Apr 27, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:
George Wallington, The New York Scene, New Jazz 8207. This was an original pressing with the purple label and the deep grooves. The record was described as looking VG but playing much better, which is often the case with these LPs that were pressed on heavy vinyl in the 1950s. The cover was VG+. The price was $218.50. With some records, you never forget exactly where and how you purchased them. This is one of those records for me. I was in one of my favorite record stores on Long Island, years ago, and there was a 25 cent discard bin. I usually ignored it because it was mostly junk in poor condition. This one day I happened to look through it and, boom, there was this record. I pulled it out, figuring it must have been either cracked or completely scratched up. It was in perfect mint condition. Somebody made a mistake. Whenever I’d go into that record store after that, I’d always make sure to check the 25 cent discard bin. And, wouldn’t you know it, a couple of years later I found an original Prestige Bennie Green LP, also in nice condition. I still have both records in my collection.
Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing, Blue Note 4038. This was an original deep groove pressing and was listed in VG++ condition for the record and M- for the cover. It sold for $407, which is a little bit surprising because we’d expect this record, in this condition, to fetch more than that. Although, to be fair, the $407 is the highest price we’ve seen for this in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. So, the question is, why does this record, an excellent record indeed, not get the same prices as some of the other rare Blue Notes of the same era?
Tags: George Wallington, Jackie McLean
Tracking Some Jazz Vinyl Favorites
Apr 19, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s some more jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay:
Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition. It sold for $550. I recently purchased a copy of this record for $300 in condition that was perhaps a little bit less than VG++. It’s more than I have traditionally paid for records, but I’ve always liked this one. And $300 seemed like somewhere between a fair price and a bargain.
Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness, Prestige 7047. This was sold by one of our regular readers. It was an original New York pressing.The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was M-. Frankly, I thought it would fetch a higher price. For some reason, I’ve been thinking about my Rollins records and I have come to the conclusion that, all things considered, this is my favorite. I love all the quartet tracks and then, of course, you have Sonny and Trane in their primes playing with great passion and respect for one another. And Paul’s Pal to open Side 2 — does it get any better than that? I don’t think so.
Tags: Dexter Gordon, Duke Jordan, Sonny Rollins
Autographed LPs: Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Bill Evans
Apr 18, 2012 Autographs, Prestige, Verve
I was curious to see how some of those autographed records from the Jazz Record Center would do on eBay and the results are now in. There was definitely a strong demand.
Chet Baker Quartet, Jazz at Ann Arbor, Pacific Jazz 1203. This was an original pressing with a Chet Baker autograph on the cover, signed and dated from 1973. The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover was probably VG+. The price was $461.
There were several LPs autographed by Miles Davis in the auction, including: Miles Davis, In Person, Saturday Night at the Blackhawk, Columbia 8470. This was an original stereo pressing with the six-eye logo and it was in M- condition all around: In fact, it was described as being in “amazing” condition. It was signed on the back by Miles in red ink. It sold for $566. Also, Miles Davis, Bags Groove, Prestige 7109. This was a later pressing with the blue labels. This one was signed not just by Miles, but by Sonny Rollins as well. It looked to be in VG++ or M- condition and it sold for $195.50. If I had this cover, I’d get rid of the blue-label record and replace it with one with yellow labels, even a New Jersey yellow label. It would just feel better to look at the cover knowing there was a yellow-label pressing inside. Just part of my own insanity, I guess.
Tags: Bill Evans Autograph, Chet Baker Autograph, Jazz Vinyl, Miles Davis Autograph, Pacific Jazz Records, Sonny Rollins Autograph
Jazz Vinyl, Insanely Rare Or Rarely Insane?
Apr 7, 2012 $1000 Records, Prestige
Here are the results of a few more jazz vinyl auctions we were watching:
Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This looked to be an original pressing with the deep grooves and New York address on the label. It’s always nice to see more pictures, but this one looked legitimate. The record and cover were both listed in M- condition and the bidding ended at $1,027.99.
Here’s a random rare remnant from the insanely rare offerings of bobdjukic: Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1204. This looked to be an original pressing. The condition was probably in the range of VG++ for the record and the cover. The price was $798.77.
Tommy Flanagan, The Cats, New Jazz 8217. This looks like an original pressing with the purple labels and the deep grooves. The record, of course, features John Coltrane as a sideman. The record and cover were both listed in VG+ condition and the price was $381.20.
Tags: Hank Mobley, Jazz Vinyl, New Jazz Records, Period Records, Prestige Records, Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan
Finding Jazz Vinyl To Watch on eBay
Apr 3, 2012 Autographs, Blue Note, Prestige, Verve
Slow time on eBay this week for collectible jazz vinyl. To save time, rather than going through all the listings I’ll often do searches of Blue Notes or high-priced records or other filters to find the items most interesting to the Jazz Collector audience. Using those same filters I always use, hardly anything too exciting or expensive came up for this entire week. Perhaps its a hangover from the bobdjukic auction that seems to have everyone so enthralled. Having said that, there are always items of interest to watch, bid on, envy or all of the above.
Horace Silver, Six Pieces of Silver, Blue Note 1539. This one has the West 63rd Street address which makes it a second pressing, or at least not a first pressing. The record is in VG++ condition and the cover is VG. What makes it interesting is that it is signed by Horace Silver. What’s that worth? We’ll see. So far there are no bidders with a start price around $200.
Here’s a reason to read auctions carefully: Ben Webster Soulville, Verve 8274. This is advertised as an original pressing when it clearly is not. This has the MGM label while an original has the trumpeter label. Nonetheless there is a bid of about $80 on this records. The seller has minimal feedback. Not a good way to get started on eBay.
Tags: Ben Webster, Horace Silver Autograph, Jackie McLean, Jazz Vinyl
Watching Original Jazz Vinyl on eBay
Mar 30, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide
At some point soon I will be updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide. My inclination is to not include some of the recent sales we’ve been watching here, such as Getz/Gilberto and Miles Davis Four and More since they are clearly aberrations and not indicative of the overall market. I think they would tend to give people false expectations as to real market value. What do you think?
In the meanwhile, here are some other jazz vinyl auctions we are watching on eBay.
Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This is an original yellow-label pressing with the New York address. The record and cover are both listed in M- condition. The price is $165.50 and there are more than two days left in the auction. Tempting, although I have a feeling the bidding will definitely surpass the $600-$700 range and perhaps slide into the $1,000 bin. All of which would put it out of reach for me.
Louis Smith, Smithville, Blue Note 1594. This is also an original pressing. The cover
Tags: Hank Mobley, Jazz Vinyl, Louis Smith
Tracking Autographs: Duke, Miles, Sonny, Trane . . .
Mar 26, 2012 Autographs, Prestige, Price Guide
It was interesting watching the recent auctions of autographed vinyl and ephemera from the Jazz Record Center. With autographed items there’s always going to be a question of authenticity but there’s no reason to believe these items weren’t genuine. There are autographs and then there are autographs — I remember a couple of years ago there was an auction of a letter from Bill Evans to John Coltrane that sold for $38,000. There was nothing in this grouping that came close to matching that in either uniqueness or value, but there was some nice prices nonetheless, including:
John Coltrane and Milt Jackson, Bags and Trane, Atlantic 1368. This one, which me mentioned the other day, was signed by Coltrane, Jackson and Hank Jones. It sold for $758. Others: Miles Davis, Early Miles, Prestige 7168. This record is an early reissue, with a yellow label. This also has autographs By Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins. It sold for $377. 89. This is not a record we track often in the Jazz Collector Price Guide because it is not an original but, suffice to say, it would not normally sell for that amount sans autographs. One more: Duke Ellington, Such Sweet Thunder, Columbia 1033. This was an original pressing signed by Ellington. It sold for $191.38. Under normal circumstances, no autograph, this is really like a $10 or $20 record.
Tags: Duke Ellington Autograph, Jazz Autographs, Jazz Record Center, John Coltrane Autograph, Miles Davis Autograph, Milt Jackson Autograph, Sonny Rollins Autograph
Catching Up On Some Rare Jazz Vinyl
Mar 20, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige
Let us finally catch up on some of the rare jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:
The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume 2, Blue Note 1532. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the Lexington Avenue cover. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was VG+. The price was $390. From the same seller, in the same vein: The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume 1, Blue Note 1531. This too was an original pressing with the original cover. It was in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. It also sold for $390. I was watching these records because I recently acquired copies of each of these that are duplicates for me. They are both in VG++ condition for the vinyl and the cover, and they both have the Lexington Avenue addresses on the label, deep grooves, etc. They have the West 61st Street addresses on the cover, so they are a drop less than original originals. I will probably wind up selling these on eBay, unless someone here wants to make me an offer I can’t refuse.
This one received a bid of nearly $2,000, but failed to meet the seller’s reserve price:
Tags: Ad Lib Records, Atlantic Records, Fats Navarro, Giant Steps, Jacke McLean, Jazz Vinyl, John Coltrane, WEbster Young
Focusing on Some Gaps in the Collection
Mar 12, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay. Why is it that we — we collectors, that is — focus much more on what we are missing than on what we have?
Bud Powell, The Scene Changes, Blue Note 4009. This is an original pressing that is listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. I was wondering about the kid in the picture on the cover and went to pull out my copy to see if there was mention in the liner notes but, alas, I do not have an original copy of The Scene Changes, much to my chagrin. This one is already at more than $300 with more than a day to go, so this will not be the copy that fills the hole in my collection.
Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This is an original pressing in VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG for the cover. It has many days to go, is more than $500 at this point, and has not yet met the seller’s reserve price. Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Pal, Prestige 7068. This one is closing today. The record looks to be in VG++ condition, while the cover is VG.The price is about $230. Hmmmm. Not bad. I kind of like that the cover is not perfect. This would fill a gap. I had both of these Jackie records at one time, but sold them.
Tags: Ad Lib Records, Bud Powell, Jackie McLean, Jazz Vinyl
Jazz For A Sunday Morning: KD, Byrd, Blue Notes
Mar 11, 2012 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s some of the jazz vinyl we’ve missed while we were away:
The Arrival of Kenny Dorham, Jaro 5007. This was an original pressing that was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It was a bit of a strange auction — there were only two bids and the winning bid was an even $800. Anyway. There was a lot more interest in this one, with more than 20 bids: Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. This was an original deep groove pressing in VG+ condition, which I’d say was questionable based on the description. It sold for $740.
This one nearly made the $3,000 bin: Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill, Transition 17. This was an original pressing with the booklet. The record looked to be in M- condition, minus the labels, of course, and the cover looked to be about VG++. The price was $2,926.54, which is still staggering to me.
And what would a day in Jazz Collector world be without a few Blue Notes to admire:
Tags: Art Taylor, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Jaro Records, Jazz Vinyl, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Dorham, Transition Records
Vinyl Tracking From the Jazz Record Center
Mar 7, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide, Promo Copies
Here are a few more results of jazz vinyl auctions by the Jazz Record Center last week. Just in case anyone is interested, I have no vested interest in these auctions or special relationship with the Jazz Record Center. I like to watch their auctions as a bellwether because they are probably the most reputable seller in the market.
Working With the Miles Davis Quintet, Prestige 7166. This was an original yellow label pressing with the New Jersey address. It was a review copy in mint condition. The price was $472.35. There was a time when you could get the Miles Prestige records relatively inexpensively, but not anymore.
Here’s another nice one from Prestige: Stan Getz and Zoot Sims, The Brothers, Prestige 7022. This was an original New York yellow label pressing in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. This one has the frame cover. The price was $234.72. How often are you going to find a record like this in this kind of condition? Nice.
Here’s a Blue Note that, surprisingly, did not break into the $1,000 bin.
Tags: Fats Navarro, Jazz Vinyl, John Jenkins, Kenny Burrell, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims
A Piece of Silver, A Tuba and Two Guitars
Feb 24, 2012 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s some of the jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay, starting with: Horace Silver Quintet, Blue Note 5058. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. We’ve seen this one sell for as much as $537 in worse condition in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. This one has a start price of $99 and it also has a reserve. So far there are no bidders and there are only two days to go. I imagine someone will take a chance on this great record, but who knows.
Never figured out why there wasn’t more of a market for this one: Ray Draper Quintet Featuring John Coltrane, New Jazz 8228. This is a nice record, with Coltrane doing Sonny Rollins’ Paul’s Pal, which appears on Tenor Madness, which also features Coltrane. Perhaps it’s the idea of a tuba player as the lead artist. This one is an original pressing and it is listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. The current price is $111 and there’s only one bidder.
Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney, Two Guitars, Prestige 7119. This is an original New York yellow label and it looks to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the vinyl. Wouldn’t mind having a copy of this one, but the price is already out of my range at $292.
Tags: Horace Silver, Jimmy Raney, John Coltrane, Kenny Burrell, Ray Draper
Tracking Some Original (And Not) Jazz Vinyl
Feb 20, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s an update on some jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:
Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. This was an original pressing with the purple label and deep grooves. The record was listed in M- condition, unplayed, while the cover was VG+. The price was $1,691.78, relatively low for this record considering the condition of the vinyl.
Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Bag, Blue Note 4051. This one was listed as an original because it had the ear and Van Gelder stamp and West 63rd address. However, there were no deep grooves. Original? I think not. So what is it worth in VG++ condition where it’s a sort-of-but-not-quite-original? This one sold for $231.38.
Dexter Gordon, Dexter Blows Hot and Cool, Dootone AUL 207. This is another one that looks sort of close to original but may not be. From the picture it does not look like colored vinyl to me, which would add value to this record, right? This one was in VG++ condition for the record and cover and sold for $455. With colored vinyl it sells for over $1,000 and sometimes more than $2,000.
Tags: Dexter Gordon, Dootone Records, Jackie McLean, Kenny Dorham
Jazz Vinyl Today: Signal, Norgran, New Jazz
Feb 18, 2012 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Prestige
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay that is not Blue Note, starting with: Duke Jordan, Jazz Laboratory Series, Signal 101. This is an original pressing that looks to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. You don’t see these too often. This one is priced at about $130 with a couple of days to go.
Here are a couple of nice Norgrans: Lester Young, Lester’s Here, Norgran 1071. This is an original yellow label pressing and it is listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The current price is about $180. Then there’s this gorgeous one with the David Stone Martin cover: Lester Young, Norgran 1022. This one is also an original yellow label pressing and is in VG++ condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The price is about $160. I do have one small nit-pick for the seller, who I believe is Looney Tunes up in Boston, where I have spent many an idle afternoon and many a dollar. I wish they would use the whole picture of the cover, back and front, on their listings. I get the sense the use a scanner, which doesn’t show the whole image. I’d prefer seeing the whole thing as a potential bidder and also, as Jazz Collector, I’d like
Tags: David Stone Martin, Duke Jordan, Eric Dolphy, Jackie McLean, Lester Young, New Jazz Records, Signal Records
Watching Jazz Vinyl Prices on The Rise
Jan 25, 2012 Prestige, Riverside
Been away from eBay for a few days. Here’s some of the jazz vinyl we missed:
Hmm, this one doesn’t normally get the Jazz Collector prices, particularly the stereo version: Jimmy Heath, The Thumper, Riverside 1160. This was the original black label stereo version. The record was in M- condition and the cover was probably VG++. It sold for $163.50 but there were only two bidders, which raises a bit of an alert with me. This one was from the same seller: Cannonball Adderley Quintet at the Lighthouse, Riverside 344. This was an original deep groove mono pressing. The record and cover were in M- condition and, again, there were two bidders. The top bid was $88.
There were still a few more we were watching from the jazz5060/Music Matters auction, including a few that went for quite high prices, compared to what they normally fetch. For example:
Tags: Booker Ervin, Cannonball Adderley, Eric Dolphy, Jimmy Heath, Mal Waldron
Jazz For A Snowy Saturday
Jan 21, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige
Up here in The Berkshires, where it’s snowing and quite lovely. Anyway . . . The folks at jazz5060/Music Matters have been posting quite the jazz vinyl collection on eBay in recent weeks. They have a bunch of nice items up there now, and a bunch more that already sold for very nice prices this week, including: Lou Donaldson, Lou Takes Off, Blue Note 1591. This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and the cover. This one sold for $909.99. I finally, finally, got an original copy of this record for my own collection in that collection I purchased from Canada a few weeks ago. These guys at jazz5060/Music Matters seem to be doing quite well with their prices. Perhaps I need to charge them more (charge them something, actually) for the ad that keeps running here on Jazz Collector.
Sometimes you see these Prestiges go for top dollar, sometimes they go relatively cheaply. This one was top dollar: Gene Ammons All Stars, Prestige 7060. This one was in M- condition for the record and cover and sold for $707.
Tags: Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson
Jazz Vinyl Countdown? HAH!
Jan 12, 2012 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown
I just logged onto eBay and as I was signing in this record was closing: Meet Oliver Nelson, New Jazz 8224. It was an original pressing with the purple label and deep grooves, featuring Kenny Dorham on trumpet. It looked to be in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The price was $157.50. I have an interest in this record because I was just looking at a copy in my apartment, where it is among a batch of original records I have just scored. There was a time, many of you will remember, when I was talking of scaling back my collecting and doing a Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown, but I still can’t seem to give up the habit — addiction? — of buying more records. This batch in front of me is quite cool. On the top is an original pressing of Cool Struttin’ by Sonny Clark and just below that is an original pressing of Soundin’ Off by Dizzy Reece. Someday soon I will share the story of this particular score but, in the meantime, I have some records to clean, including Meet Oliver Nelson on New Jazz, worth as much as $157.50.
Tags: Dizzy Reece, Oliver Nelson, Sonny Clark
Today’s Jazz Vinyl Watch: Prestige, Blue Note(s)
Jan 10, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s some of the rare jazz vinyl we’re watching now on eBay:
Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins, Dig, Prestige 7012. This looks to be an original New York pressing with the gray cover as opposed to the blue cover. I would also assume that this is the “frame” cover, otherwise known as kakubushi. I always preferred the gray cover, of course, since it is the original, and I wonder why Prestige chose to change the color on the subsequent release. Perhaps someone out there knows — Rudolf? This one was in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover and is currently in the $150 price range with more than a day to go.
I am no longer in the market for this record, having just acquired an original pressing. Yay! Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1559. This appears to be an original pressing and the condition seems to be somewhere between VG+ and M-. The start price is around $750 and, so far, there are no takers. The second copy, viewed here, looks to be in slightly worse condition, rated as “excellent” by the seller, although he describes light scuffs and the picture shows a back that has some dirt and wear. If I were wagering, I’d say this record and cover are VG+, the way I grade things. This one already has two bids and is at $404 with six days to go.
Tags: Johnny Griffin, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins
A New Batch of Jazz Vinyl For The New Year
Jan 1, 2012 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide
Happy New Year to everyone. Here are a few more items going into the Jazz Collector Price Guide. No links on these.
Jimmy Raney Quartet, New Jazz 1101. I like this one because of the maroon and white label, which you rarely see. There were just a few 10-inch New Jazz LPs, so they are pretty cool, and pretty rare. This one was probably in VG or VG+ condition for the record and the vinyl. It sold for $157.50.
Now a bunch of Blue Notes:
Lee Morgan, Lee-Way, Blue Note 4034. This was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $600.
Lou Donaldson, Wailing With Lou, Blue Note 1545. This was an original West 63rd pressing in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $688.
Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. Also an original pressing, of course, this one in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1,343.
Dexter Gordon, One Flight Up, Blue Note 4176. This one was in M- condition for the record and VG for the cover. It sold for $200.
Hank Mobley, Soul Station, Blue Note 4031. Record was M- and cover was M-. Price was $1,465.
Tags: Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Jazz Vinyl, Jimmy Raney, Jutta Hipp, Kenny Dorham, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, Zoot Sims
Going Up . . . Up . . . Up . . .
Dec 29, 2011 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside
Here’s some interesting jazz vinyl auctions that closed this week.
We need a new explanation for this one: Horace Silver, Song For My Father, Blue Note 4185. Admittedly this is a great, classic record and this was an original mono pressing in near mint condition for both the record and the cover. Why is there a new explanation needed? Conventional wisdom has said that because of the initial popularity of this record, there has always been a relatively abundant supply of original pressings in decent condition. Conventional wisdom may be changing. This particular copy sold for $405. Our previous high for this in the Jazz Collector Price Guide was $334 and, at the time, we considered that to be an aberration. What’s this?
And this? Gene Ammons, Blue Gene, Prestige 7146. This was from the same seller and it was also in near mint condition for the record and the cover. You’d normally expect this in the $40-$50 range, maybe a drop higher because of the condition. This copy sold for $164.50.
This next one got quite a high price, but not a surprising one:
Tags: Abbey Lincoln, Bethlehem Records, Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
No Holiday For Watching Jazz Vinyl
Dec 26, 2011 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide
It may be the holiday season around much of the world, but eBay never takes a vacation. Neither, apparently, does Jazz Collector. Here is some interesting jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay. We’ll start with the $1,000 been. This one is still for sale: Hank Mobley, Hank, Blue Note 1560. This is an original pressing that’s listed in near mint condition for both the record and the cover. The price is already more than $1,100 and there are still two days to go. This is also a regular to the $1,000 bin: Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. This was an original pressing, deep grooves, purple label, and it was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,415. Merry Christmas for someone. John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This was an original pressing that was either M- or very close to M-, based on the seller’s description. It sold for $1,156.99.
Here are a few interesting items closing in the next day or so:
Tags: Giant Steps, Hank Mobley, Jazz Collector Price Guide, John Coltrane, John Jenkins, Jutta Hipp, Kenny Burrell, Kenny Dorham, Sonny Rollins
Watching Some Prestige Jazz Vinyl
Dec 16, 2011 Jazz Vinyl, Prestige
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay now:
Tommy Flanagan, The Cats, New Jazz 8217. This is an original pressing with the purple labels and deep grooves. It is a relatively early John Coltrane record featuring Trane as a sideman, along with Kenny Burrell. The record and cover are both in M- condition and the price is in the $250 range, but it has not yet reached the seller’s reserve. My personal story with this goes back nearly 40 years when I was doing some record trading with a sax player named David Krieger and I had a broken leg and couldn’t drive and something came up and he had to leave so I was alone in his basement with his entire record collection, including some gorgeous Blue Notes. I could have taken off with a few gems but of course I did not. I can’t ever look at a copy of The Cats and not think of Dave who sadly passed away earlier this year.
This one is a pretty one right in the time frame when Prestige was doing some of its best work:
Tags: Curtis Fuller, John Coltrane, Tommy Flanagan
Rare Autographs: What’s in a Name
Dec 15, 2011 Autographs, Prestige
Perhaps I’m naive, but when I see an autographed record I always assume that it is legitimate and not a fraud. It seems kind of weird to me that someone would try to copy the autograph of a jazz artist to try to inflate the value of the record when, in many cases, the autograph actually devalues the record, another oddity that I will never understand. I was watching this record on eBay: Thelonious Monk, Work, Prestige 7169. This was a yellow label pressing and an “original” in the sense that it was the first pressing of this record, which is a reissue of an earlier record. Normally it would be worth about $50 or so, but this one happens to have signatures on it from both Monk and Sonny Rollins. To me, this is a gem, assuming the autographs are legitimate, which I do. I tend not to collect autographs, although something like this is tempting, so I passed the listing on to one of our loyal readers who does collect autographs. I see from the geography of the winning bidder that our friend did not bid for this. The start price was $500 and there was one bidder. Don-Lucky — what happened? Seems like a good price for this one.
Tags: Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins Autograph, Thelonious Monk, Thelonious Monk Autograph
