Closing out 2012 With Jazz Vinyl

Here’s an update on some of the jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay as 2012 comes to a close, starting with Johnny Coles, Little Johnny C, Blue Note 4144. This was one of Rudolf’s listings. It was an original pressing and was interesting because it looked as if one side had deep grooves, which seems kind of odd because it was issued after the deep groove era, wasn’t t? This looked like a beauty in M- condition and it sold for $615, so it was not a bad time to be listing this record.

This used to be an item that would regularly sell for more than $1,000 and often more than $2,000, but its value seemed to have been dropping in the past few years: Fred Astaire, The Astaire Story. This is the beautiful bound set that includes the four records, David Stone Martin Prints, photos, booklet and, of course, the original Astaire signature. This one looked to be in beautiful condition and sold for $1,009.

One more that we don’t often track here at Jazz Collector:

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Sing a Song of 78s

One of our readers has been in a 78-RPM frame of mind recently and has sent me a couple of interesting 78 auctions on eBay, specifically boxed sets. Here’s the latest: Billie Holiday Sings, Mercury C-118. We all recognize this cover from the 10-inch LP of the same title and packaging with the iconic David Stone Martin illustration, but this is a boxed set that includes four 78s. Everything seems to be in about VG+ condition. This is definitely a cool item, particularly if you are into 78s. The price is already more than $200 and the auction closes later today. I do have an issue purchasing 78s on eBay, however, and it has to do with shipping. I’ve purchased 78s on eBay and I’ve sold 78s on eBay and shipping these fragile items in the mail is a challenge. I’ve sent some that I though were packaged perfectly, using recommended packaging material from the industry leader, yet they still broke in the mail. For an item like this, I’d be a little nervous. By the way, I play my 78s on a portable Califone record player, the type they used to use in public schools. The 78s sound really good on them, they are convenient and you can easily buy one for less than $100 on eBay. We haven’t asked this in a while, but are their 78s collectors out there, and how do you handle purchasing/playing your records? Also, what do you collect, and why?

Catching Up With Some Jazz Vinyl Auctions

Let’s catch up on some of the jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay:

Bud Powell, Jazz Giant, Norgran  1063. This was an original yellow-label deep-groove pressing with the cover illustration by David Stone Martin. The record was listed in probably VG++ condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover, although you have to read the descriptions carefully to reach those conclusions. This one sold for $260.99, which is quite a nice price for a Norgran these days. I have a duplicate of this record, but it’s not in quite as nice condition.

Joe Henderson, Mode For Joe, Blue Note 4227. This was an interesting one: It was a factory-sealed pressing. It has all the makings of an original pressing, with the mono cover, the lack of anything remotely Liberty, the right address. But is it an original? Only the buyer will know for sure, presuming he eventually opens the LP to listen to it. This one sold for $215.63. Question to think about: Would it have sold for more money if it had been opened and the seller could guarantee that it was an original pressing?

Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was the one we mentioned the other day:

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Jazz Vinyl Today: Signal, Norgran, New Jazz

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

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On The Hunt: Sonny Clark, Jutta, Prez

Let’s catch up on some more jazz records we’ve been watching on eBay, including these from the Jazz Record Center auction this week.

Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. This was an original West 63rd pressing that looked to be in at least VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,525. We’ve seen Sonny’s Crib and Cool Struttin’ consistently break the $2,000 and even the $3,000 barrier, but this is the highest price we’ve recorded for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.   

Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looked to be in beautiful M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The price was $2,678.

Lester Young Collates Number Two, Clef 124. This was an original 10-inch pressing with the nice cover by David Stone Martin. It looked to be in M- condition for the record

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Watching Some Nice 10-Inch Jazz Vinyl

Today we shall catch up on that 10-inch auction from the Jazz Record Center that closed yesterday. All in all, considering that the market is relatively soft, I thought these records fetched a pretty good price.

Lou Donaldson and Clifford Brown, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5030. Look at that beautiful cover. The record was M- and the cover seemed somewhere between VG++ and M-. It sold for $522.88.

Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note 5056. This one looked to be in beautiful condition, M- for the record and the cover. It sold for $720.

Lou Donaldson Sextet, Volume 2, Blue Note 5055. This was an original, original first pressing, based on the listings on the back cover of other Blue Note 10-inch LPs, and it was in M- condition all around. The price was $385.

Here’s a non-Blue Note that got a nice price: Billie Holiday Sings, Mercury 118. This was an original pressing with a beautiful cover illustration by David Stone Martin. One of his very best, I’d say. This one was in beautiful condition, M- for the record and the cover. It sold for $260.

 

Catching Up: More Warhol Madness

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?

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JRC Auction: Nice Vinyl, Rare DSM Book

We always like to watch the listings from the Jazz Record Center because they generally get top prices and give us a sense of the current state of the market. They have a new auction this week and here are a few of the items:

Cliff Jordan and John Gilmore, Blowing  in From Chicago, Blue Note 1549. This is a West 63rd Street deep-groove pressing, which I would think we be an original, but perhaps not. The listing notes that it is an “early deep-groove” pressing, but doesn’t state that it is an original. Can anyone see anything in the listing or picture that would indicate that this is not a first pressing? Anyway, the record is listed in M- condition and has a start price of $1,000. So far there are no bidders.

Duke Jordan, Flight To Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This one is listed clearly as an “original” pressing and it looks to be in beautiful M- condition for both the record and the cover. The starting price is $750 and there are no bidders yet.

I saw this item and immediately thought of Rudolf:

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Adventures in Jazz Collecting: Red Carraro, Part 1

There was a time, before the Internet and eBay, when jazz record dealers would amass hundreds of collectible records and compile them in lists and send those lists all over the world so that collectors could bid on them, blindly, hoping they would make the top bid and receive a shipment of rare jazz vinyl several weeks later. One of the leading and last practitioners of this fading art was a gentleman, and I use that word purposefully, by the name of William Carraro, known to all as “Red.” I am sad to report that Red passed away in his sleep yesterday morning.

I will tell you more about Red in a subsequent post, but first let me tell you the story of the first time I met Red. It was back in the early 1970s and I had just started collecting jazz records. I was 19 years old. My good friend from childhood Dan Axelrod had also begun collecting jazz records at the same time and Dan was far more obsessive about it than I was, so he was always finding scores before me. He’d call from Philadelphia or Miami, out of breath, describing beautiful Blue Notes

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A Little Clef, A Little Norgran, A Little DSM

Trying to get off Blue Note a little bit and infuse some variety to our posts. Yesterday we added some Prestige and New Jazz jazz vinyl to the Jazz Collector Price Guide, today let’s look at a few from the Norman Granz pantheon.

This one has a very pretty, simple cover design by David Stone Martin: A Recital By Tal Farlow, Norgran 1030. This was an original pressing with the yellow label and the trumpeter logo. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $122.16.

This one also has a nice Stone Martin Cover: Anita O’Day, Collates, Clef 130. This was a 10-inch LP and it was listed in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. The price was a very reasonable $82.

Here’s another nice 10-inch LP:

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Newcomers For the Jazz Collector Price Guide

Here are some records that don’t often make it to the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

I’ve never thought of this record as a collectible: The Standard Sonny Rollins, RCA 3355. This was an original pressing and it was in M- condition. It sold for $122.50. It was a stereo pressing and I’m wondering, perhaps, if it is as much an audiophile collectible as much as a jazz collectible. I’m a big Rollins fan, but this is not among my favorite Sonny LPs.

How about this one: Presenting Red Mitchell, Contemporary 3538. This is an original deep groove mono pressing with the yellow label. The vinyl was listed in M- condition and the

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Updates: $1,000 Bin, Dizzy, Sonny, Trane

Still updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide. It can be a bit tedious, but it’s important, isn’t it? Let’s hope so. Anyway, here are a few items on the extremes: A couple more for the $1,000 bin and a few that normally don’t make the Price Guide but, for one reason or another, have broken through.

First the big ones: Walter Davis, Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This was an original pressing and it was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,300. Also, Paul Chambers Quintet, Blue Note 1564. This was an original pressing. The record and cover looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition. The price was $1,032.

Here are a couple that don’t often get collectible prices: Dizzy Gillespie, Afro, Norgran 1003. This was an original yellow label pressing with a cover design by David Stone Martin. It was only in VG condition and sold for $72. That may not be a Blue Note price, but it is still somewhat surprising. Few of the Dizzy record

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More Covers: David Stone Martin

Well, we just caught up with some Andy Warhol covers, now how about some David Stone Martin? Let’s start with one of our favorites, covers and music: Lester Young, The President Plays, Norgran 1050. This was an original yellow label pressing. The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $120.50. Here’s another one from Pres: Lester Young, The President, Norgran 1005. This LP was in just good condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It sold for $261. Beats us.

Benny Carter, Cosmopolite, Norgran 1070. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $111.50.

Bud Powell, Jazz Giant, Norgran 1063. This was an original pressing that was

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Jazz Vinyl Updates: Clef, Verve, Norgran

Last week we recorded a bunch of high-end Blue Notes for the Jazz Collector Price Guide, and a batch of nice Prestiges, and even some nice 10-Inch jazz vinyl. So, today, let’s turn our attention to another of our favorite labels — or, in this case, a series of labels. How about some nice Norgran, Clef and Verve LPs? Here are some of items we’ve been watching and will be entering into the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Lester Young, The President, Norgran 1005. This was an original yellow label pressing with the cover illustration by David Stone Martin. It was sold by The Jazz Record Center, so it was bound to get top dollar. This one looked to be in VG++ condition for the vinyl and M- condition for the cover. The price was $320.55.

This is a great record with a great cover: Lester Young and Teddy Wilson, Pres and Teddy, Verve 8205. This one was in VG++ condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It was sold by the seller Herschel78, who had a bunch of nice Verves/Norgrans/Clefs a few weeks ago. This one sold for $316.11. Also from the same seller was this:

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Updates: Thad, Beverly Kenney, Evans, Arte & Billie

Here’s an update on some of the records we’ve been watching:

The Magnificent Thad Jones, Blue Note 1527. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $336. A second copy of this record also sold in the last couple of days. The seller described the vinyl as VG to VG+ and the cover seemed to be about VG+. The price of that one was $199.99.

Beverly Kenney Sings For Playboys, Decca D8743. The record was in M- condition — probably unplayed, according to the seller — and the cover was VG+. The price was $399.99, the highest price we’ve seen for any Beverley Kenney record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Bill Evans, New Jazz Conceptions, Riverside 223. This was an original pressing with the white label as well as the first cover. The vinyl was in M- condition and the cover was listed as VG+. The price was $709.99.

We had mentioned yesterday the Arte Shaw LP on Clef:

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Today on eBay: Tadd, Zoot, Fuller, Miles, et al

We’re back from The Berkshires after our successful gig in the Monterey General Store and it’s time to get back to the ever-lasting grind that is eBay. We took a look at listings over the next couple of days, and it’s actually pretty quiet out there, although our friends at Euclid Records have a few nice items closing today. Here’s some of what we’re watching:

Tadd Dameron, Fontainebleau, Prestige 7037. This is an original New York pressing that is in M- condition for both the record and the cover. This one is not usually among the higher-priced early Prestiges, but the bidding is already at $162, which is nice to see for a nice record.

Zoot Sims and Joe Newman, Locking Horns, Rama 1003. This is a rare record on a rare label. The vinyl is listed as M- and the cover is VG++. The price is nearly $300, with more than an hour left.

Miles Davis, Miles, The New Miles Davis Quintet, Prestige 7014. This is the album that introduced John Coltrane to

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Price Updates: Roy & Diz, Tal, Stone Martin, Drew

Time to catch up on some of the items we were watching earlier in the week. We’ll do another of these catch-ups tomorrow or Monday when some of the high-tagged Blue Notes close.

We don’t often see Dizzy Gillespie among the higher-priced LPs, but here was a nice one that was sold earlier this week by Euclid records: Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge, Roy & Diz #2. This record was in M- condition, both record an cover, and sold for $145. No doubt helping the value of the LP is the great illustration by David Stone Martin.

Also featuring a David Stone Martin illustration is The Tal Farlow Album, Norgran 1047. This was also sold by Euclid and was also in M- condition. It sold for $83, not bad for a quality record like this in today’s market. Seems that within the Norgran/Clef/Verve pantheon there are still bargains to be found. Also, please take a look at our earlier post on this album Today on eBay: Tal, Drew, Kenny Dorham, True Blue. I had mentioned that my good friend Dan Axelrod was a good friend and protege of Tal, and he shares some personal insight about the album that’s worth reading.

Speaking of Kenny Drew, that copy of The Kenny Drew Trio, Riiverside 224, that

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Nice Norgrans at High (But Not Blue Note) Prices

We’ve been watching a few records on the Norgran label on eBay and we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the continued strong market. Here are a couple of the records we’ve been watching:

Johnny Hodges, Dance Bash, Norgran 1024. This was an original pressing in M- condition, both record and cover. It has a beautiful cover illustration by David Stone Martin. The price was $274. This is one of those Norgrans that, instead of the trumpeter logo, has the logo of the couple dancing, also designed by David Stone Martin. I’ll post a copy in a later posting. I still owe Rudolf  a post on the David Stone Martin book, which I will also get to later.

Stan Getz, Interpretations Volume 3, Norgran 1029. This was also an original pressing (with the trumpeter logo) and also has a cover designed by David Stone Martin. This copy was in M- condition, both record and cover, and sold for $274.

Then there was this item from Ben Webster:

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Catching up With a Few More Warhol Covers

We’ve been watching prices for albums with covers by Andy Warhol. Here are a few more that sold recently on eBay:

Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, Blue Note 1580. This was an interesting one in that the record was listed as in only G+ or VG- condition, which means it is probably something most of us wouldn’t put on our turntables. The cover was listed in VG+ condition. It sold for $311.

J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding and Bennie Green, Trombone by Three, Prestige 16-4. This was an original pressing and a very rare 16-RPM LP. It was in VG++ condition, both the record and the cover. The price was $290.

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Price Updates: Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Duke Pearson

Some more for the Jazz Collector Price Guide:

Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1204. This was an original pressing in M- condition, both record and cover. The price was $610.

Phil Woods, Pairing Off, Prestige 7046. This was an original pressing with the New York label. The record and cover were M-. The price was $338.

Bill Evans, Moonbeams, Riverside 428. This was an original pressing with the blue label.

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Today on Ebay: DSM, Duke Jordan, Kenny Drew

Here are some of the interesting items we’re watching on eBay today:

We showed he Kenny Drew cover on Norgran earlier today with the beautiful illustration by David Stone Martin. Here’s another: Bill Harris Collates, Clef 125. This is another 10-inch LP. The record is VG+ and the cover is listed as M-. The current price is $37. 

A seller in Canada is offering a nice copy of Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. He lists the vinyl based on each side: One side if VG+ and the other is VG++. Do any of you find this helpful as a buyer? For me, I would automatically think of the record as VG+, regardless if one side is better than the other. The cover for this is listed as M-. The price is currently around $350.

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Today on eBay: Tracking Some 10-Inch LPs

I was watching the discussion about 10-inch LPs elsewhere on the site (click here) when I started doing my daily perusal of eBay and came upon a nice batch of 10-inch LPs being sold today by Euclid Records. We’ll see what this records eventually sell for but, if current price is any indication, maybe there’s something to the theory that interest in 10-inch LPs is declining. Of course, these things often run in cycles as well. Here are some of the items worth watching today:

Jay Jay Johnson, Blue Note 5028. This is a 10-inch LP featuring Clifford Brown being sold by Euclid Records. The record is in M- condition and the cover is VG+. The current price is just $67, which doesn’t mean it won’t sell for a lot more. Also from Euclid on the 10-inch front: Dexter Gordon, New Sounds in Modern Music, Savoy 9003. This is an original pressing. The record is VG+ and the cover is VG++. The current price is about $30. 

Also for sale today is a nice copy of a record we expect to sell for more than $1,000:

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Collectible Catch-Up

Here are updates on some of the items mentioned here in Jazz Collector the past few days. We’re not including links, since there are links to each of these in previous posts. We will be entering all of these into the Jazz Collector Price Guide this weekend, so please take a look. 

Mary Paich Quartet Featuring Art Pepper, Tampa 28. This was an original mono pressing, red vinyl, in M-/M- condition. Price: $700

Elmo Hope, Informal Jazz, Prestige 7043. This was an original New York pressing. The record was VG++ ad the vinyl was only in G condition. Price: $261.90

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Today on eBay, Nov. 20, 2008

Here are some interesting items closing today on eBay: Most of you have probably noticed this one, since it’s a featured listing: Curtis Fuller Volume 3, Blue Note 1583. This is an original pressing. It seems to be in VG+ condition, both record and cover. This one has Sonny Clark on piano and is a pretty nice collectible. The current price is $340. 

If you’re desperate for a copy of Eddie Costa, House of Blue Lights, Dot 3206, there’s one closing soon on eBay for a Buy-It-Now price of $420. The record is M- and the cover is VG+. 

Euclid Records is back again with some nice items, including this one: Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet, Prestige 7020. This is an original New York pressing with the original orange cover. Careful readers will note that Jazz Collector recently posed the question to our audience on the orange cover versus the yellow cover and one of our readers reminded us that if it’s orange it must be original. This one is in near mint condition and is currently priced at $629. 

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Back in Business, Part 2

OK, so we’re starting to get back into the blogging rhythm, shredding some of the cobwebs. Here are a few more items Jazz Collector is watching on eBay: Euclid Records has a couple of nice Anita O’Day Norgran records closing soon. This one, Anita O’Day Sings Jazz, Norgran 1049, is in M- condition and is now priced at $105.50. Note the beautiful cover illustration by David Stone Martin. And this one, An Evening With Anita O’Day, Norgran 1057, is also in M- condition and is priced at $124.50. We’re personally more partial to this one, since it features the presence of Tal Farlow in his prime on several of the cuts. We’ll keep an eye on both of these and see what happens.  We missed the Anita O’Day movie when it was out this past summer, but we heard it got great reviews. Anyone out there see it. Wanna share with us?

 

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