Waltz For Debby Hits The $2,000 Bin
Here’s one I somehow missed: Euclid Records had a sealed copy of Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 9399, which sold recently for $2,034, which is definitely a new high for this particular record. The question I have is this: What does a collector do with a sealed record? If you want to listen to it (presumably) you have to break the seal, and thereby it is no longer a sealed record. So do you just hang on to it and admire it and realize it’s still sealed and find another copy for listening? These are the things we think about here at Jazz Collector.
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I think here you are touching upon the irrational behaviour of collectors. Really, it does not make any rational sense, but just the idea of having something, not touched by others. Leaving the seal in tact, adds to the magic. Somebody who pays over 2000 to have this item sealed, certainly has the music in some form or the other. I would be surprised if the buyer, upon receiving the record, tears off the seal.
My rule of thumb is if I can’t enjoy the lp, why buy it? Besides, for myself, half the fun in finding an opened lp in great shape is knowing that someone loved that lp and took care of it. There’s a story there you don’t get with something that’s never been touched.
Jason, I agree with you, why buy it, if you cannot enjoy? But again, these people who spend 2000 or more, do have the music. They just want to have the object and look at it, at least that is my guess. Or they speculate.
If I find a second hand record in great shape, I am very happy indeed, but I don’t care for the previous owner, whether he loved that LP or not.
This is absurd price, for a very common record, with a poor quality pressing, sealed or not sealed.
But how do you really feel about it Michel?
I was shocked to see the prices for these old Blue Note albums, many of which I once owned. There’s no doubt about the fact that, for the most part, the music is great and the cover art is stunning, but I can’t see paying prices like that. However, now I plan to check out the record bins in any thrift store I go into.