Monk, Blue Notes, Warhol: Another Day on eBay

Monk Jazz Vinyl copyWe’re going to ask our European readers about this one: Thelonious Monk, Piano Solo, Swing 33.342. This is a 10-inch LP that I think is an original French pressing. I’m not sure if it’s a re-issue of Blue Note tracks. I’m not sure of much about it at all, in fact. When I did a Google search, the previous mentions that came up were from postings here at Jazz Collector, showing that the record has sold for more than $500 in the past. This one is listed at M- condition for the record and Ex+ for the cover and is now in the $150 price range with just a few hours left in the auction. Anyone doing a search for this record may be stymied because the seller didn’t realize that the label is “Swing” and not “Wing.” Any background on this rare record would be most appreciated. Awesome cover, by the way.

Meanwhile there are always Blue Notes and more Blue Notes:

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A Pair of Blue Note Originals. Or Not?

Burrell 2 copyHere’s an interesting item now on eBay: Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 2, Blue Note 1597.  The seller, who obviously knows his stuff, describes this as a “rare original US press.” I guess that’s true in the sense that the record was originally pressed in the United States, although that doesn’t necessarily make it a first pressing. This one has the West 63rd Street address, but no deep grooves. There is also no mention of the Plastylite ears. I guess, what is original is in the eye of the beholder or, in this case, the bidder, of which there is one at about $200. In my vernacular I would not call this an original. From what I can see, the cover looks like it might be an original mono cover, although someone out there might know of some aspect that might change that view. In any case, potential bidders may be only interested in the cover anyway, since it is by Andy Warhol and it is presumably in much better shape than the vinyl, which is only in VG- condition.

I am tending to think this one is also not an original original:

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Condition in the Eye of the Beholder

Johnny Griffin Jazz VinylOkay, this is the last catch-up for now, then I will move on to more current listings.

Introducing Johnny Griffin, Blue Note 1533. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. As we are seeing, the prices for records in less than pristine condition seem to be rising, at least if the records are original Blue Notes. This one sold for $710.

Here are a couple of Eric Dolphy records, also in less than pristine condition: Eric Dolphy, Out There, New Jazz 8252. This seemed to be an original purple label pressing listed in VG or VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $177. Eric Dolphy, At the Five Spot Volume 2, Prestige 7294. This was an original yellow label pressing. The record was in just VG condition and the cover was VG+. It sold for $147.50.

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Tracking Some High-End Jazz Vinyl

Jazz Vinyl Afro CubanHere’s some high-end jazz vinyl collectibles we’re watching on eBay, starting with: Kenny Dorham, Afro-Cuban, Blue Note 1535. This looks to be an original pressing, although the seller could certainly be more forthcoming with details. Then again, the seller has a rating of just 98.1 percent, so that could be a warning right there. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG. The bidding is close to $800 and there are still two and a half days left on the auction.

Another Blue Note: Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, Blue Note 1580. This looks to be an original pressing and, of course, it has the Andy Warhol cover. The record is listed in Ex condition and the cover is listed as VG+. The price is in the $400 range and there are more than two days left in the auction.

This looks like a rerun:

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Breaking a Few Records

Blue TrainDidn’t quite get in all of the jazz vinyl auctions I wanted to post from yesterday, so here are a few more.

John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. This was an original pressing. The seller didn’t give it a grade, but from the description is sounded like the vinyl was probably M-. The cover was probably VG++, based on the pictures. It sold for a whopping $3,000. That’s far and away the highest price we’ve ever seen for Blue Train in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Thelonious Monk, Monk, With Sonny Rollins and Frank Foster, Prestige 7053. This was a New Jersey pressing, not an original. The cover also had the New Jersey address. This one has the Andy Warhol cover, which gives it some additional prestige, if you’ll pardon the play on words. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover looked to be VG++ as well. This one was listed by bobjdukic, and he has somehow figured a way to get prices that no one else can match. For this second pressing, he was able to get a top bid of $955.21.

Here’s another Warhol cover from the same seller:

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Feeling Groovy?

Now that we’re back home catching up, here’s an update on some jazz vinyl we were watching on eBay, starting with: Red Garland, Groovy, Prestige 7113. This was an original New York yellow label pressing. The record and the cover were in M- condition. It sold for $516, quite a large number for a Red Garland Trio record. Does anyone out there have knowledge and/or a theory why this one would be so highly prized by collectors. The seller was Atomic Records, so I could have visited the store and waved goodbye to this one last week.

The Amazing Bud Powell Volume 2, Blue Note 5041. This was an original 10-inch pressing. The vinyl as probably VG, based on the seller’s description, and the cover was VG+. Great cover. It sold for $317.

Cliff Jordan, Blue Note 1565. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $799.99. I mentioned that I was perhaps interested in bidding for this, and I do believe $800 is a fair price. But paying top dollar is not how I’ve ever chosen to build my collection, and no sense starting now.

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And Now For the $1,000 Bin

A lot of the records we were watching this past week ended up in the $1,000 bin, starting with the one that has already received a loet of comments from the Jazz Collector audience: John Lewis and Sacha Distel, Afternoon in Paris, Versailles MDEX 12005. This was an original French pressing listed in M- condition for the record and at least VG+ for the cover. It sold, to the surprise of many, for a whopping $2,415.

The Magnificent Thad Jones Volume 3, Blue Note 1546. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing that was listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $1,784. That would be a new high price for any Thad Jones record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1543. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the cover design by Andy Warhol. The record and the cover were both in VG+ condition. We predicted that this one would break the $1,000 barrier and it did, selling for $1,215.

 

 

Bonjour, Mon LPs

Just swung over the eBay and, mmmm, there are some nice records for auction right now. Here are a few, starting with: John Lewis and Sacha Distel, Afternoon in Paris, Versailles MEDX 12005. I know, I know, another European pressing. But this is quite a beauty, isn’t it? And great music featuring Barney Wilen on tenor sax. This one is in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The price is already $600 and, no, I am not bidding on it despite my post yesterday. I may be crazy, but I’m not insane. The U.S. Atlantic pressing will definitely suffice for me.

 Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1543. This is an original pressing with the Andy Warhol cover design as well as the Lexington Avenue labels. This was the last of the Lexington Blue Notes. The record and cover are both listed in VG+ condition and the bidding is in the $315 range with nearly three days to go. It will fetch a hefty price.

The Magnificent Thad Jones Volume 3, Blue Note 1546. This is an original West 63rd pressing with the New York 23 labels. The record is M- and the cover is VG+. Would love to have this but, alas, I will keep searching for a copy that doesn’t cost as much. This one is already more than $400 and there are more than three days left on the auction.

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Playing Jazz Vinyl Catch-Up

Sorry I haven’t posted all week. Been a little crazy and exciting around here. My son wrote and directed a play that opened Off Broadway this week. Reviews have been terrific — here’s the one from The New York Tmes: Being Bullied, Getting Even and Maybe Going Too Far. If you’re in New York, please come see it at the Pershing Square Signature Theater. 

Anyway, back to watching records on eBay. Here were a few that we had been watching when we fell off the grid, starting with: Curtis Fuller, Bone and Bari, Blue Note 1572. This was an original pressing that looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. This one sold for $1,259.56, which is the highest price we’ve ever recorded for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

This one came from the same seller: Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 1, Blue Note 1596. This was an original pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. This one, of course, as the Andy Warhol cover design and art. It sold for $655. I thought it would sell for a higher price.

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Another Batch of Blue Notes For Your Perusal

We’ve got a bunch of Blue Notes on our watch list. Here are a few:

These closed yesterday: Sabu, Palo Congo, Blue Note 1561. I must admit, this is one I’ve never owned in any form, so 1561 has always been a blank in my Blue Note Collection. How is this record? Is it worth a listen? This one was in VG++ condition for the record and VG for the cover. It sold for $811. This one didn’t look quite right to me: Sonny Rollins, Volume 1, Blue Note 1542. It was listed as an original pressing, although it was a West 63rd Street pressing, so it wasn’t quite an original as we define it here. And it looked like the wrong cover for an original. The start price was about $300 and there were no bidders, which seems appropriate.

This one also has no bids and is closing in just a few hours: Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 2, Blue Note 1597. This is an original pressing with the Andy Warhol cover. The record is listed in VG condition with “quite a few surface scratches.” The cover is listed as VG++. The start price is around $200, which is pretty tempting if the cover is, indeed, really VG++.

Here’s another temptation:

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