Ready for a Risk? How About a Sealed LP
Apr 14, 2010 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
We’ve been watching a seller this week with some sealed records on the Savoy label. These are a risk, since you can’t tell if the pressing is an original with the red label and the deep groove or perhaps a later pressing with the maroon label. The difference in value between these two pressings could be several hundred dollars — or perhaps even more, depending upon the record. While I’m a risk-taker, some of these got a little too high for my comfort level. Here are a couple:
Introducing Lee Morgan with the Hank Mobley Quintet, Savoy 12091. We’ve seen original copies of this record in nice condition selling for more than $500 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so a new, unplayed original would be worth quite a bit. But is this an original? Only the buyer will know if, indeed, the buyer ever opens it. In this case the buyer is spending $161.50 to find out.
This one was also tempting:
Tags: AJdoctor, Art Pepper, Jazzland Records, Lee Morgan, Zoot Sims
Adventures in Jazz Collecting: The Auction, Part 3
Apr 11, 2010 Blue Note, Features, Savoy
Guess what came in the mail yesterday? Remember that Jazz Auction in which I participated a few weeks ago. Well the records are here and now I can tell you how I did. Remember, I bid blind on these records, based on the written descriptions, and I gambled on quite a few of the packages. I was competing with a bunch of sellers/dealers who were at the scene and had the opportunity to physically view the records. Also, I paid an extra 17 percent above what I bid because that was the fee taken by the auction house. In any case, here are the results, part one of three: Live vicariously through me if you please. The prices listed below include the 17 percent extra fee, so they are the amount I actually paid for each package. Also, the listings as I describe them below are similar to the way they were listed in the auction itself.
Wes Montgomery, Full House. Price: $70.20. This is an original blue-label Riverside
Tags: Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, Lem Winchester, Lester Young, New Jazz Records, Roy Haynes, Wes Montgromery
For the Price Guide: Mingus, Bags, Rare Savoy
Mar 1, 2010 Blue Note, Impulse, Savoy
Here are some new records for the Jazz Collector Price Guide:
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
Tags: Bill Hardman, Charles Mingus, Jazz Vinyl, Milt Jackson, Thelonious Monk
On eBay: Some Blue Notes, Curtis Fuller Savoy
I’m sitting here hanging out with the lovely Mrs. JC and whilst she’s chatting on the phone I’ve spent the last hour going through two full days of jazz records on eBay. Here are some of the items I found — far fewer collectibles than I would have expected to encounter over 48 hours, by the way:
Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, Blue Note 1580. This is an odd one: It has the original vinyl, but the cover does not seem to be an original. Does anyone know the vintage of the cover — it has no address on it? The cover is by Andy Warhol, so that has always added to the value of this particular Blue Note. The record and cover are both listed in M- condition. Despite the cover the bidding has already reached more than $240 and the record has yet to reach the seller’s reserve price.
The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 1, Blue Note 1505. This is an original Lexington
Tags: Andy Warhol, Curtis Fuller, JJ Johnson, Johnny Griffin
Nice Records, Very Nice Condition
Jan 18, 2010 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Here’s a couple we’re watching on eBay now:
Eric Dolphy, Out To Lunch, Blue Note 4163. This seems to be an original pressing, although it’s odd that one side is deep groove and the other isn’t. It is from the same seller who was selling all of those pristine records last week, and this looks to be of similar quality: Just beautiful if the pictures are accurate. This one is currently sitting at about and it hasn’t yet reached the seller’s reserve price. You may recall that we at Jazz Collector — okay, me at Jazz Collector — were quite flabbergasted when a copy of this record sold for the astronomical price is $1,524. We think that was an aberration, so it will be interesting to see what this one goes for.
Here’s another rare record that looks to be in very nice condition:
Tags: Eric Dolphy, Lee Morgan
New Ones For The Jazz Collector Price Guide
Jan 5, 2010 Impulse, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Savoy
Here is some more jazz vinyl that will go into the Jazz Collector Price Guide:
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
Tags: Barney Kessel, Bill Jennings, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Wilbur Harden
Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Kenny Clarke on Savoy
Nov 12, 2009 Savoy, The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown
I was going through my records the other day and came up with this interesting discovery: This Savoy LP by Kenny Clarke featuring Cannonball Adderley was issued with two different covers. I discovered this accidentally because I had one filed under Cannonball and the other under Clarke. The one with the better cover — ‘better” in terms of a great picture on the front — is the one entitled Bohemia After Dark Featuring Cannonball. The other one is also titled Bohemia After Dark, but that’s just on the back cover: The front cover just lists it as The Jazz Corner of The Villiage, Cafe Bohemia, Featuring Kenny Clarke. Both are Savoy 12017 and both have the same tracks and liner notes. If I had to guess which was the first pressing, I would have said the second one, the one
Sealed Records: To Bid Or Not To Bid?
Oct 23, 2009 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Here is some more jazz vinyl we’re watching today and through the weekend:
Here’s one that may cause a dilemma: Introducing Lee Morgan, Savoy 12091. This is a sealed record. Is it an original pressing with the red label, or a later pressing with the maroon label? It seems like you’ll have to buy it to find out. The seller has a bunch of Savoys, all in their original shrink wraps, and he hasn’t opened them to determine their vintage. Is it worth the risk risk? This record is now at $50. If it turns out to be an original pressing, unplayed, with a mint cover, what would it be worth — $500, $800, even $1,000? Who knows? Here’s another interesting one from that batch: Mighty Mike Cuozzo, Savoy 12051. Do you think Savoy even issued this with a maroon label? It’s a sealed record, priced at $9, perhaps an original featuring Eddie Costa on vibes. Worth a risk? Perhaps it is.
This seller also has some nice records, including: Mal Waldron, Left Alone, Bethlehem 6045. This
Tags: Bethlehem Records, Eddie Costa, Lee Morgan, Leon Leavitt, Mal Waldron, Mike Cuozzo
10-Inch Mania: Miles, Getz, Savoy, Serge, Prez
Oct 20, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Clef, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Let’s catch up on some 10-inch LPs we’ve been watching. It’s always interesting to keep an eye on the 10-inchers just to see if the market is holding up. So far, it is, based on these records.
Miles Davis, Young Man With a Horn, Blue Note 5013. The vinyl on this one was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was M-. The price was $510.01. This one was sold by the seller herschel78, who has been putting some nice items up over the past few weeks, including some other 10-inch LPs we’ve been watching.
Miles Davis Volume 3, Blue Note 5040. The vinyl on this one was listed as VG+ and the cover was VG++. The price was $385.
Stan Getz Plays, Clef 137. This was an original pressing with a nice cover by David Stone Martin. The price was $68. This is a great record, one of Getz’s best.
Leo Parker, New Trends of Jazz Volume 5, Savoy 9018. This one was
Tags: Aladdin Records, Clifford Brown, GNP Records, Illinois Jacquet, Jazz Vinyl, Leo Parker, Lester Young, Max Roach, Mercer Records, Miles Davis, Oscar Pettiford, Serge Chaloff, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz
Tracking Some Nice 10-Inch Jazz Vinyl
Oct 2, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Savoy
Here are a few nice 10-inch LPs we’ve been watching.
Gigi Gryce and Clifford Brown Sextet, Blue Note 5048. This was a beautiful copy in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $579.
The Amazing Bud Powell Volume 2, Blue Note 5041. This was listed as VG for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The price was $90.97. As someone said in one of the comments recently, the Bud Powells seem to be in less demand than some of the other Blue Notes.
Elmo Hope Quintet, Blue Note 5044. This was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and cover, which is a classic. The price was $305.
Art Blakey, A Night At Birdland Volume 2, Blue Note 5038. This one was also in nice condition — VG++ for the vinyl and M- for the cover. The price was $305. 03.
And yet another Blue Note:
Tags: Art Blakey, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Elmo Hope, Gigi Gryce, Gil Melle, Jazz Vinyl, Jimmy Raney
Catching Up: Dex & A Few For the $1,000 Bin
Sep 29, 2009 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Savoy
Time to catch up on a few more jazz vinyl collectibles, including a few more for the $1,000 bin:
Dexter Gordon Quintet, Dial 204. This was an original 10-inch pressing. The record and the cover were both listed in VG+ condition. The price was about $240. I love these original 10-inch Dials, and the price on this one seemed pretty fair. But, alas, I was not a bidder. Also from Dexter was this: Dexter Gordon, Dexter Rides Again, Savoy 12130. This was an original pressing with the deep groove and the red labels. The seller listed it in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $69.
For the $1,000 bin there were these:
Tags: Art Pepper, Dexter Gordon, Dial Records, Hank Mobley, Jazz West Records, Kenny Dorham, King Records, Lee Morgan, New Jazz Records, Roland Kirk
This Weekend on eBay: Dolphy, Dorham, Dex
Sep 26, 2009 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Savoy
Here are some of the interesting records we’re watching on eBay this weekend.
Eric Dolphy Live at the Five Spot, Volume 1, New Jazz 8260. This is an original pressing with the deep grooves and the purple label. The record is listed as mint and the cover is listed as “near mint minus,” which sounds a bit like a double negative, but we’ll assume it is either VG++ or M-. In any case, the record is selling later today and has a price in the $300 range.
Also from the great Prestige New Jazz label is this classic: Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. This is also an original pressing, with the purple labels and the deep grooves. The seller has his own grading system, but this one looks to be at least VG++ and perhaps M-. The current price is about $800.
The seller Herschel78 is back with a few nice ones, including this beauty:
Tags: Dexter Gordon, Dootone Records, Eric Dolphy, Kenny Dorham, New Jazz Records
Free Bird LP: The Winner Is . . .
Sep 8, 2009 Free Collectibles, Savoy
OK, the summer is over, the living is no longer easy, and it’s time to give away our latest free record: Charlie Parker Memorial Volume 1, Blue Note 12000. This is an original pressing with the deep red label and the deep groove. It’s not in mint condition, but it is quite nice and quite listenable. As we have mentioned many times before, all you have to do to be eligible to win our record contests is to post a comment on the Jazz Collector site — anywhere on the site — from the time the contest begins until it ends. The idea is to encourage visitors to comment on the site. The concept seems to be catching on: This time we have our highest number of eligible contestants, and the amount of commenting on the site is clearly growing (as is the overall traffic, by the way). Anyway, those eligible to win this week’s grand prize are:
Tags: Charlie Parker
Watching The Next Tier: The Bidding Continues
Sep 2, 2009 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
As I’m going through some of the items I’ve been watching on eBay, I’m actually finding less evidence than I expected of this supposed shift into a two-tier market. There is still a lot of high-priced bidding among the non-Blue Note labels and artists. Perhaps it’s just by comparison that the gap is widening because some of the Blue Note/Prestige prices have been skyrocketing lately. We’ll keep watching, but as you guys see evidence of a real drop-off in prices of second-tier labels, please post them on the site as a comment. Here are some items we’ve been watching that may give you an alternate view versus my comments and others of the past couple of days:
Red Mitchell, Bethlehem 38. This was an original red label pressing, deep groove. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $190.93.
Lee Konitz with Marne Marsh, Atlantic 1217. This was an original black-label mono pressing. It looks to be generously graded at VG++. It sold for $149.99.
Here’s one that would support the theory of a developing two-tier market:
Tags: Atlantic Records, Bethlehem Records, Kenny Clarke, Lee Konitz, Marne Marsh, Max Bennett, Mode Records, Red Mitchell, Stan Levey
Another Rare Bird, This Time For the $2,000 Bin
Aug 28, 2009 $1000 Records, Savoy
When we were updating the $1,000 bin yesterday, we came upon this quite rare collectible: Charlie Parker, The Bird Blows The Blues, Dial LP 1. The seller lists this as the “first 12-inch LP ever” and having been issued in 1948. We have heard before that this was the first 12-inch long-playing record, which we’ve never been able to confirm, but we think the original issue was in 1949. It was issued without a cover. The seller here claims there were only 50 copies originally issued, which, of course, sounds like one of those claims aimed at making the record seem rarer than it actually is, which is quite rare. This copy was listed in “VG to VG+” condition and sold for $2,250.
This also gives me another chance to remind you all that we are still running our contest to give away a free copy of
Tags: Charlie Parker, Dial Records
A Couple of Rare Birds, One For the $1,000 Bin
Aug 24, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Price Guide, Savoy
We’re still running the contest to give away a free copy of The Charlie Parker Memorial Album, Savoy 12000. Please comment on the site to be eligible to win. Meanwhile, here are a couple of nice bird collectibles that sold recently on eBay, including one for the $1,000 bin.
Charlie Parker, Alternate Masters Volume 2, Dial 905. This was an original 12-inch Dial, quite rare. It was in very nice VG++ condition and was sold by the seller Herschel78, who has been selling some beautiful items lately. This was fetched a price of $1,350.
Also from Bird is this: The Charlie Parker Story, Savoy 12079. This was an original pressing, with a great cover of a relaxed Bird sitting on a throne. This was from the same seller and was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $150. You don’t often see the Bird Savoys selling for these prices.
Joining Bird in the $1,000 record bin is this:
Tags: Charlie Parker, Dial Records, Louis Smith
Win A Free Collectible: Original Bird on Savoy
Aug 19, 2009 Free Collectibles, Savoy
Okay, we are going to celebrate the impending end of summer with our best give-away to date: This is a genuine collectible, an original pressing of an all-time great LP: Charlie Parker Memorial, Savoy 12000. Yes, this is an original pressing with the red Savoy label and the deep groove. The record is not in perfect condition, but it sounds real nice, with just enough surface noise to certify it’s authenticity as a release from the mid-1950s. This features Bird in a variety of settings, with Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Duke Jordan, Curley Russell and others. It’s a mix of Bird’s Savoy material, from his earliest dates with Tiny Grimes, to his tenor sessions with Miles, to classics such as Steeplechase and Barbados. In order to be eligible to win this record, all you have to do is
Tags: Charlie Parker
Chasin’ The Bird on Savoy
Jul 14, 2009 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Savoy
The other day I posted an item about a 10-inch Charlie Parker LP on Savoy selling for more than $1,300. I mentioned that I’d had two copies of these LP and was never sure which was the original cover. I figured that the one that sold for $1,335 was the original, but was not sure. So here are the two covers, side by side, and I’m still not sure which is original. Based on the packaging, I have a feeling the one on the right is the original. This is not the one that sold for $1,335. The one on the left has liner notes on the back, plus listings of other Savoy releases, including a bunch of 12-inch LPs, all the way up to Savoy 15021. The one on the right has a blank back. It also has the title: New Sounds in Modern Music. So our bet is that the Bird selling for $1,335
Tags: Charlie Parker
Bird 10-Inch Savoy Enters $1,000 Bin
Jul 9, 2009 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Here’s a record new to the $1,000 bin and it’s presence there is somewhat of a surprise to us: Charlie Parker, Savoy 9000. This is a 10-inch LP and I’ll assume it’s the original cover. I have this record with two different covers and was never sure which one came first. The high price tag leads me to believe this is the first cover, and I assume it is the first cover for the rest of the series. It’s also surprising to see a Bird record sell for such a high price, and a 10-inch LP to sell for such a high price, and a Savoy to sell for such a high price. But, all of that notwithstanding, it did sell for a high price: $1,335 to be precise. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG+.
Tags: Charlie Parker
Some Questions on Savoy
We posted that item about Savoy the other day and got the following email from Rich, one of our loyal readers. He poses some questions about Savoy. I figured I’d post the question here, also in the interest of making the results easily searchable. Hopefully this will generate some insight about the Savoy label:
“Did you notice that the Klook’s Clique Savoy from the same seller as the Mobley’s Message 2 just went for a few bucks. I have a good copy. I did not have a chance to bid. Even with a good copy I would have gone to $100 anyway.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Kenny Clarke
Catching Up With Some Nice Savoys
Jun 16, 2009 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Donald Byrd, Jazz Message #2, Savoy 12092. This was an original pressing with the blood red label. It was
Tags: Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan
Problems With eBay?
Jun 10, 2009 Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Not sure if anyone else is having problems with eBay, but I am. As a seller, I often use the Featured Plus tool, which normally allows my items to appear on the first page of any search for Jazz records with the subcategory of 33-RPM. I’e been doing this for years and there hasn’t been a problem. Then, this week, eBay changed it’s view and search functions and all of a sudden my items are not appearing on the first pages of searches anymore and, in fact, I can’t find any search where they are being listed. This is one of the items that’s currently listed as Featured Plus: Introducing Lee Morgan, Savoy 12091. It’s a nice item, already over $100 by the way. Anyway, I’m posting this to see if anyone else is having problems with the new version of eBay, either in searching to purchase items or in listing items. I am a Power Seller, not that being a Power Seller carries that much weight, but I am curious if other people are having problems and if anyone is finding solutions. Also, if anyone can find a search where my Lee Morgan record appears as a featured item, please be kind and let me know. I don’t know about you, but I hate it when eBay tries to fix things that aren’t broken and winds up screwing up a perfectly good system.
Tags: eBay, Lee Morgan
For the Price Guide: Chambers, Nichols, Criss, Trane
Apr 30, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Time again to catch up on adding some new items to the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Here are a few of the records we’ll be adding.
Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1569. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. The price was $660.
John Coltrane, Lush Life, Prestige 7188. This was an original pressing with the yellow label and New Jersey address. It was in M- condition, both record and cover. The price was $274.99
Yusef Lateef, Prayer to the East, Savoy 12117. This was a second pressing with the maroon label. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. It sold for $255. This is the second time we’ve seen a maroon pressing of this sell for well more than $100. Is there something about this record we don’t know?
Tags: Billie Holiday, Clef Records, Herbie Nichols, Imperial Records, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Sonny Criss, Yusef Lateef
Price Updates: Kenny Drew, Hawk, Hank, Pres
Mar 3, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside, Savoy, Verve
We’ve been adding records to the Jazz Collector Price Guide and came upon another beautiful 10-inch LP that sold recently: The Ideation of Kenny Drew, Norgran 29. Look at this beautiful cover illustration by David Stone Martin. This record was in M- condition, both record and cover. It sold for $393.
Also for the Price Guide are:
Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. This was a New York pressing with the second cover. The record and cover were in VG+ condition. The price was $165.20.
Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and Lopin’, Blue Note 84091. This was a stereo pressing with the New York USA label. The record and cover were M-. The price was $179.02.
Tags: Ben Webster, Benny Golson, Coleman Hawkins, Hank Mobley, Ike Quebec, Jaki Byard, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, Lester Young, Lou Donaldson, Miles Davis, New Jazz Records, Sonny Clark, Sonny Rollins, United Artists Records, Zoot Sims
More On the 10-Inchers From Dex, JJ and Silver
Feb 24, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
We’ve been tracking some of the 10-inch LPs on eBay lately, so here’s a rundown of some of the prices. We tend to think perhaps the market for 10-inch LPs is soft but, actually, everything on eBay seems a little soft these days. We had a bunch of inexpensive records up the past two days and most of them didn’t even get a bid. The records we did sell, went for lower prices than we expected. Anyway, here are the 10-inch LPs we were watching and their prices. You can make your own judgments.
Horace Silver Quintet, Blue Note 5058. This was in M- condition, both the record and the cover. The price was a very respectable $255, but that was last week.
Dexter Gordon, New Sounds in Modern Music, Savoy 9003. The record was VG+ and
Tags: Emarcy Records, Horace Silver, JJ Johnson, Joe Gordon