An Afternoon Soul Stirrin’ in Paris
Jan 16, 2012 Blue Note
Let’s catch up on some interesting jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay.
For as long as I’ve been collecting, it’s nice to know that there’s always something new to learn. Here’s a record I’ve like for a long time: John Lewis and Sacha Distel, Afternoon in Paris. I’ve only owned this as an Atlantic recording, black label, of course, and I frankly had no idea that it was originally issued in France under the Versailles label, Versailles, MDX 12 005. I just checked out the liner notes on my Atlantic pressing and it makes no mention of Versailles. It does mention that Barney Wilen was only 19 years old at the time of the recording, which is pretty incredible considering how well he plays on this record and how mature he sounds. Anyway, this copy was in VG++ condition for the record and M- for the cover, which was the soft cover that seemed to be typical of the European pressings in those days. This copy sold for $630. The highest price we’ve recorded for the Atlantic pressing in the Jazz Collector Price Guide has been $121.
Tags: Atlantic Records, Barney Wilen, Bennie Green, Buckshot La Funke, John Lewis, Sacha Distel, Versailles Records
JRC Auction: A Little Trane, A Few Blue Notes
Dec 8, 2011 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl
It’s always interesting to watch the Jazz Record Center auctions on eBay and the latest is closing today. Here are a few of the items:
John Jenkins and Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price on this was $1,000 and there is a bid on it, so it will be sold and will enter the virtual $1,000 bin.
John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. Here’s a more clear explanation of this than we’ve heard before. Jazz Record Center refers to this as the “pinwheels” label, although we’ve most often seen it described as “bulls-eye.” It is described as an “original deep-groove second press,” which kind of makes sense. It’s still valued among collectors, even though it is not a first press. This one looks to be in M- condition for the record and the cover and is already at more than $170. Speaking of original Coltranes on Atlantic: John Coltrane and Milt Jackson, Bags and Trane, Atlantic 1368. This is an original mono pressing with the red and purple labels, although I’m still not 100 percent sure how to distinguish it as a first pressing. This one is in M- condition and so far there are no takers at $50.
Tags: Atlantic Records, Jazz Record Center, Jazz Vinyl, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane, John Jenkins, Kenny Burrell, Milt Jackson, Paul Chambers
Eyeing Original Jazz Vinyl on The Atlantic Label
Dec 2, 2011 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
I’m a big fan of the John Coltrane Atlantic period. Is there anyone in this audience who isn’t? I mean, Giant Steps, My Favorite Things, Coltrane Jazz — there are classics among them, for sure. Other than the clear black label on Giant Steps as an original mono, it’s never been all that clear to me what makes an Atlantic an original pressing. Deep grooves, heavy vinyl, yes, but the labels have different color combinations. And there’s also the bulls-eye, whether it is black or white. Anyway, I’m pleased that the Jazz Record Center is auctioning a couple of these records this week because they can contribute to the collective knowledge by identifying what is and is not an original pressing. For instance: John Coltrane, Coltrane Jazz, Atlantic 1354. This is described as an original stereo pressing with the green and blue labels. Tell the truth, did you know green and blue was the original label on this? The stereo, to my ears, is the preferred pressing on this one, starting with the great version of Little Old Lady. This original pressing has a start price of $50 and so far there are no takers, but there’s plenty of time left.
Tags: Atlantic Records, John Coltrane
Jazz Vinyl Catchup And Confusion Over Grading
Sep 7, 2011 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note
Let’s catch up on some more rare jazz vinyl that sold recently on eBay.
John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This looked to be an original black label pressing. There were some questions about the deep grooves, since the picture wasn’t clear, but the seller confirmed that there were, indeed, deep grooves on both sides. This one was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $622.70. In the Jazz Collector Price Guide we’ve seen Giant Steps sell for more than $1,000 several times, so perhaps it’s a bargain, perhaps it’s just market changes, perhaps it’s unfamiliarity with the seller.
Jutta Hipp, New Faces, New Sounds from Germany, Blue Note 5056. This was the original 10-inch pressing. It’s one of those listings that confuses me a little on labeling of conditioning. The seller says it looks VG+, but it plays more like Ex and therefore it was graded as Ex. In my thinking I’ve always correlated VG+ with Ex, but it sounds like Ex is more like VG, based on this listing, which I assumed to be a downgrade, but perhaps I’m wrong and it’s an upgrade based on the next item below. The cover was listed in just G condition, which is never very good. The price was $247.50.
Tags: Atlantic Records, George Wallington, Giant Steps, John Coltrane, Jutta Hipp, Progressive Records
Catching Up on Rare and “Megarare” Jazz Vinyl
Jun 30, 2011 10-Inch LPs, Prestige
Here are some other items we were watching before we got distracted.
Remember that nice batch of 10-inch LPs? They did quite well. Kenny Dorham Quintet, Debut 9. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was near mint. The price was $430.55. Sonny Rollins Quintet, Prestige 186. This one was also VG++ for the record and near mint for the cover. It sold for $510. Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins, Prestige 187. This was in near mint condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $305. I’d take it at that price if, indeed, I was buying records these days.
Even though this was was described as “megarare” — shades of BobD — it didn’t sell at a start price of about $300: John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was a stereo pressing with the bullseye label. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+.
Tags: Atlantic Records, Debut Records, Giant Steps, John Coltrane, Kenny Dorham, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins
Watching Some Nice 10-Inch Blue Notes
May 27, 2011 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay:
This seller has some nice 10-inch LPs, including: The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 3, Blue Note 5070. This is an original pressing featuring Hank Mobley and Horace Silver. It looks to be in very nice condition, graded VG++ by the seller for both the record and the cover. This one has a start price of $250 and there are no bidders so far. Also, Lou Donaldson and Clifford Brown, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5030. This is an original pressing also graded in VG++ condition. The start price on this one is $200 and there is one bid as of now. One more: Lou Donaldson, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5021. This is another one that looks great, with a sparkling cover rate in M- condition. Don’t see that too often. The cover is VG++. The current price is $275 and there are more than four days to go.
Speaking of 10-inch Blue Notes:
Tags: Atlantic Records, Clifford Brown, Jay Jay Johnson, Jimmy Giuffre, Kenny Dorham, Lou Donaldson
Catching Up: More Warhol Madness
Apr 7, 2011 Blue Note, Norgran, Prestige, Price Guide
Time to catch up on some jazz vinyl sales on eBay:
This one made the $1,000 bin with plenty to spare: Conte Candoli, Cool Gabriels, Groove 1003. This was an original pressing and, of course, the main feature is the cover illustration by Andy Warhol. The record was VG-, the cover had splits on the top and the bottom, yet it still sold for $1,825. The Warhol market is driving these prices quite high, but this one seems to do even better than the Blue Notes in better condition. It must be harder to find? Or perhaps the Warhol collectors are more enamored with the artwork?
This one was not an original pressing, at least not in the way we think of originals as “first” pressings: Sonny Rollins Volume 1, Blue Note 1542. This one had the West 63rd Street address, plus the deep grooves and ear and all the other markings of an early pressing: But a first pressing would have had the Lexington Avenue address. This one was in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $334. Quick question: I know most collectors prefer Blue Notes over Prestiges in general but, musically, to me the Sonny’s on Prestige are far more preferable and inventive than the Blue Notes. How do other collectibles feel about this?
Tags: Andy Warhol, Atlantic Records, Conte Candoli, David Stone Martin, Jazz Vinyl, John Coltrane, Lester Young, Sonny Rollins, Sweets Edison
Five For the $1,000 Bin
Nov 18, 2010 $1000 Records, Prestige
Haven’t updated the $1,000 bin lately, so here goes:
Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This was an original pressing in M- condition, sold by our friend Steve at Round Again Records in Providence, RI. The price was $1,978. And if you happen to be in Providence, check out A Christmas Carol at Trinity Rep, directed by Young JC, otherwise known as my son Michael.
Lorraine Geller at the Piano, Dot 3174. This looked to be in M- condition and sold for $1,580. I haven’t seen this record, but I had no idea it was such a valuable collectible. Is it any good, or is it just rare?
The next one is good and it’s rare, although it does seem to pop on eBay quite often for an extremely rare record, wouldn’t you say:
Tags: Art Pepper, Atlantic Records, Dot Records, Giant Steps, John Coltrane, Lorraine Geller, Saxophone Colossus, Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan
Jazz Vinyl on eBay: A Little Bit of Trane
Oct 4, 2010 Impulse
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:
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.
Catching Up: A Little Trane, A Little JJ
Sep 8, 2010 Autographs, Blue Note
Sorry for taking such a long and totally unexpected hiatus. I got caught up in things and just never put aside time to post. I won’t do that again. Anyway, I have not forgotten Rudolf’s question about the status of my Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown and I will address that soon, but first let me catch up on other stuff. I had noted the small John Coltrane autograph from the Jazz Record Center when I last posted and I had expectations it would go for a fairly high price, which it did: $491.85. And no, I was not the bidder, although that is certainly something I wouldn’t mind having. I was also watching this one: Jay Jay Johnson Volume 2, Blue Note 1506. This looked to be an original Lexington Avenue flat edge pressing. It was only in VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG- for the cover. Many of the flat-edge Lexington Avenue Blue Notes have been
Tags: Atlantic Records, Giant Steps, JJ Johnson, John Coltrane
Mono or Stereo?
Apr 28, 2010 Jazz Vinyl
Generally I prefer mono pressings of my records, if they are available. I tend to like the sound better and, to me, they are more authentic. There are exceptions, though, and I discovered one the other day. When I was in Academy LPs last week in Manhattan I noticed a copy of this LP: La Vern Baker Sings Bessie Smith, Atlantic 1281. This is a great LP, if you are not familiar with it, featuring a swinging jazz band including Paul Quinichette, Buck Blayton, Sahib Shihab, Vic Dickenson and others. Anyway, I knew that my copy at home was a stereo pressing and the one in the store was a mono pressing with the black label, an original copy, and the price was fair, $20 if I recall. So I purchased it thinking I would upgrade the copy in my collection. I got home, cleaned the black-label copy, put it on the turntable and felt there was something missing. So I took out the stereo copy and it sounded better: Fuller, clearer and crisper. I am not an audiophile and I
Tags: Atlantic Records, La Vern Baker
On eBay: Blue Note, Transition & Hyperbole
Apr 16, 2010 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note
Was watching this later pressing to see if it would sell: John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This was a United Artists pressing. The vinyl was in M- condition, but the cover had a corner clip. The starting price was $44.44 and there were no bidders. Not sure where the market is for these United Artists pressings. I do have a bunch of them and I’m planning to hold onto them. They sound fine, not like the original pressings, but not like the reprocessed stereo editions either.
Here’s an interesting one from our “friend” Bobdjukic: Don Byas, Tenor Sax Solos, Atlantic 11233. This is a 10-inch LP with an interesting cover. The listing notes that it is an uncredited David Stone Martin illustration and, I have to admit, it looks like one for sure. But when this seller says something is “absolutely certain” I tend to wonder. In this case, I think he’s accurate, but it would nice to get confirmation from one of the experts out there as well. The rest of the hyperbole in the listing is a true work of art. Here is some of the language: “One of the rarest jazz albums in existence,” plus “We are reasonably certain that less than four copies
Tags: Atlantic Records, Don Byas, Donald Byrd, Euclid Records, John Jenkins, Kenny Burrell, Transition Records
Giant Steps, Black Label, No DG?
Jan 29, 2010 Questions
Quick question from a reader: A black label pressing of John Coltrane Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311, with no deep groove. Black label, mono, no DG. If it’s not an original pressing, what is it? I’m not asking this as a quiz: I’m asking to find the answer.
Tags: Atlantic Records, John Coltrane
A Couple of New Ones For The Price Guide
Jan 20, 2010 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Price Guide, Promo Copies, RCA
Here are a few items that don’t normally make the Jazz Collector Price Guide:
Sonny Rollins, The Bridge, RCA 2527. This was an original stereo pressing listed in M- condition by a very reputable seller who also owns the best record store on Long Island. Still, while this is an interesting record with an interesting history — the return of Rollins after his legendary practice sessions on the Williamsburg Bridge — it has never really been a collectible item, at least in terms of its selling price. Perhaps it’s starting to move up the ranks: This one sold for $90.99. Not quite Blue Note prices, but a collectible price nonetheless.
Here’s another one we normally don’t track:
Tags: Atlantic Records, Jazz Vinyl, Roland Kirk, Sonny Rollins
Some Odds & Ends: Konitz, Brubeck, Newk
Oct 28, 2009 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Price Guide
While we’re catching up on adding items to the Jazz Collector Price Guide, we figured we’d share a few more odds and ends with you. This is one you don’t normally expect to sell for more than $300: Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh, Atlantic 1217. This was an original black label pressing in M- condition and sold for $311. I have to give the seller a lot of credit for this one. He took an absolutely crystal-clear picture and he did a very nice job of describing the condition of the LP. It really catches your eye and makes you want the LP. Sometimes, presentation is everything.
Here’s one you almost never see going for a big price: Dave Brubeck Time Out, Columbia 8192. This was one of the most popular jazz LPs ever and
Tags: Atlantic Records, Columbia Records, Dave Brubeck, Jazz Vinyl, Lee Konitz, Period Records, Promo, Sonny Rollins, Warne Marsh
A Sonny Clark Not For $1,000; Another Bulls-Eye
Sep 16, 2009 Blue Note
Here are a few interesting records we’ve been watching the past couple of days:
Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. This one looked to be VG++ for the record and mint minus for the cover. Given the prices of Blue Notes lately — and Sonny Clark Blue Notes in particular — this one looked like a cinch to join the $1,000 bin. It didn’t, but it sure came close: It sold for $909.
Back to John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This is the one with the bulls-eye cover. While we’ve pretty well established that this is not quite a first pressing — that would be a black label — this pressing seems to be catching on with eBay bidders. This one was in what we would probably call VG++/VG++ condition and it sold for $457.50. To give credit to the dealer, he notes that it is not as desireable as the black label.
And another Blue Note:
Tags: Atlantic Records, John Coltrane, Sonny Clark
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
More Today on Ebay: Jutta, Jazz West, Trane
Aug 30, 2009 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
Here are a few more nice items to watch today on eBay:
Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House, Blue Note 1515. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record is in M- condition and the cover is VG+. The current price is $630. I’m keeping an eye on this because I have a copy in my collection in similar condition and I’m thinking about selling it. Perhaps I’ll offer it first on Jazz Collector before going to eBay.
Lawrence Marable, Tenorman, Jazz West 8. The record is listed as VG+ and the cover is VG. The current price is $360.
To this listing we say “ugh.” It’s another copy of John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. It’s quite reputable seller, but somehow this myth of the bulls-eye label is being perpetuated. The seller lists this as
Tags: Atlantic Records, Giant Steps, Jazz West Records, John Coltrane, Jutta Hipp, Lawrence Marable
All Things Considered, Some Surprising Prices
Aug 22, 2009 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Riverside
Time to catch up with some of the items we’ve been watching this past week. We will do this in a few posts throughout the weekend. We’ll start with some of those items sold by the seller bobdjukic, who’s clearly got something going on that enables him to get wacky prices as well as staggering numbers of page views.
We’ll start with Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Music, Riverside 1102. This was a later stereo pressing, with that gold stereo stamp that many of the Riverside’s carried. Clearly not an original, which was a white label mono. One time on eBay, an original copy sold for more than $3,000. We chronicled it on Jazz Collector and it created quite a stir. See here. In any case that price for a mono was an aberration, just as we feel the price here for a stereo is an aberration. This copy, in M- condition for the record and cover, sold for $413.55. The seller actually wrote this in his listing: “Monstrously rare stereo pressing, many times rarer than the mono.” Yikes. The other amazing thing about this record: It had more than 1,700 page views in eBay. Yikes again.
Speaking of second pressings, there was the copy of John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was the one with the bulls-eye label, that was characterized as being of the same provenance as the black label. This record
Tags: Arthur Taylor, Atlantic Records, John Coltrane, Johnny Griffin, Thelonious Monk
My Favorite Things: The Winner Is . . .
Aug 18, 2009 Free Collectibles
Time to do the drawing for the winner of the great LP, John Coltrane, My Favorite Things, Atantic 1361. This is a near mint stereo pressing, not an original, but it sounds great and it’s one of the classics, despite the surprising criticisms from some of our favorite commentators. For me, this is a real favorite and one of the first records I fell in love with when I fell in love with jazz. I find the title track powerful and innovative and am a huge fan of the way Trane does “But Not For Me,” with an echo of his Prestige years, but the clear growth he had shown in Giant Steps. And then there is Everytime We Say Goodbye, which Mrs JC and I took for our wedding song. Speaking of Mrs. JC, here she is to select this week’s winner. As most of you know by now, the rules for our contests are simple: All you have to do to be eligible to win
Tags: Atlantic Records, John Coltrane
Today at Jazz Collector: Trane Reigns
Aug 18, 2009 Prestige
This is a busy day here at Jazz Collector, with a particular emphasis on John Coltrane collectibles. Some of the heavy-ticket items we’ve been watching are closing today, including that copy of Giant Steps, which is now more than $200; later today we will be announcing the winner of our contest to win a copy of My Favorite Things; and we are closing our last auctions for a couple of weeks, as we head off for a brief holiday. Have no fear, during the holiday we will still be doing our daily posts, and more, on Jazz Collector. Meanwhile, some of the items closing today.
Art Taylor, Taylor’s Wailers, Prestige 7117. This is an original pressing and the record features an all star lineup of John Coltrane, Jackie McLean and Charlie Rouse, among others. The record is in M- condition and the cover is VG++. The price is now about $450. This is one of those records in the batch being sold by Bobdjukic, which also includes the Giant Steps LP. What I find incredible is
Tags: Atlantic Records, Charlie Rouse, Giant Steps, Jackie McLean, John Coltrane
Giant Steps: Black or Bulls-Eye or Both?
Aug 14, 2009 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
The real reason I was looking at the listings of bobdjukic was the copy he is selling of John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This is a mono pressing with the bulls-eye label. Here’s what he says about the record: “Believed by many to be of the same vintage as the black Atlantic stereo label — in other words, as strangely as it sounds, one of two ‘co-equal’ first pressings.” This depiction is a new one for me, and I’m quite skeptical of its accuracy. A few years ago, I was scolded on this very site for purchasing a bulls-eye stereo copy of Giant Steps, even though I only paid $50. That’s my copy in the picture. The value has subsequently gone up. But this is the first time I’m hearing that anyone believes the bulls-eye and black labels are
Tags: Atlantic Records, John Coltrane
Free Collectible Time: My Favorite Things (Really)
Aug 4, 2009 Free Collectibles
Is it possible someone could be reading Jazz Collector and not own a vinyl copy of John Coltrane’s My Favorite Things? Perhaps we’ll find out, because this is the prize in our next free collectible contest. We have a beautiful near mint later stereo pressing of My Favorite Things, Atlantic 1361, which we will be giving away to one fortunate reader of Jazz Collector in two weeks. This, of course, is a classic record and should be a staple of any jazz collection, even if your jazz collection consists of only five records. But maybe there are readers of our site who are newcomers to jazz and coming to learn, or who have somehow missed out on this record, or who would like a second copy to put in another room of their home, or perhaps one to frame and hang somewhere for perpetual inspiration. I, for one, have copies of this record in at least three different rooms in my house, plus another in my lake cottage. But, of course, I am certifiably insane. Nevertheless, if you would like to win a copy of My Favorite Things for any reason whatsoever, all you have to do is . . .
New To the $1,000 Bin: Giant Steps
Jun 25, 2009 $1000 Records, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
Tags: Atlantic Records, Giant Steps, John Coltrane
Quickie Quiz
Jun 12, 2009 Questions
The Quickie Quiz is back. Here goes: On the album, John Coltrane, Ole, Atlantic 1373, there is an appearance by a musician by the name of George Lane. To my knowledge, George Lane never appeared on any other record. Why is that?
Tags: Atlantic Records, George Lane, John Coltrane
