Tracking Some Jazz Vinyl Favorites

Here’s some more jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay:

Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition. It sold for $550. I recently purchased a copy of this record for $300 in condition that was perhaps a little bit less than VG++. It’s more than I have traditionally paid for records, but I’ve always liked this one. And $300 seemed like somewhere between a fair price and a bargain.

Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness, Prestige 7047. This was sold by one of our regular readers. It was an original New York pressing.The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was M-. Frankly, I thought it would fetch a higher price. For some reason, I’ve been thinking about my Rollins records and I have come to the conclusion that, all things considered, this is my favorite. I love all the quartet tracks and then, of course, you have Sonny and Trane in their primes playing with great passion and respect for one another. And Paul’s Pal to open Side 2 — does it get any better than that? I don’t think so.

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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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Blue Noting on eBay

I tentatively put all my original Blue Note together on two shelves, in catalogue order, and I must say it is a nice way to organize them. It does make me notice some of the holes in the collection, but it also makes me appreciate how many I have. Here are a few I’ve been watching on eBay that could fill holes in my collection, but the prices . . .

Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and M- for the cover. It sold for $755. I do own this record, a Japanese pressing, which is not on the shelf with the originals.

This one I have, but could use a condition upgrade, one of my favorites: Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This one was in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover and sold for $833. It’s interesting how the market has changed since I started doing Jazz Collector nearly 10 years ago and began recording prices. When I started, this record routinely sold in the $300 to $400 range in this condition. Now, it rarely goes for less than $600 in this condition and has already passed $1,000 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. That seems fairly typical of the collectible Blue Notes — prices doubling over the past few years.

How To Organize Your Jazz Vinyl . . . Who Knows!!??!!?

I’m thinking of reorganizing my records (again). I’d love to have all my Blue Notes in one place and all my Prestiges. Not necessarily in number order — then I’d feel compelled to fill in every number — but at least by artist, by label. It works for Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside, Verve, but what about the off labels — the RCAs and Columbias and Atlantics, and the smaller ones like Bethlehem and Transition. Do you want them all categorized by label in your collection? And can you ever find anything? It’s an endless conundrum, right? Once I had them organized by label and I didn’t like it. Now I have them alphabetically, but not all in the same place. It’s complicated, but I segregate original pressings from before 1970 from any non-original pressings and all pressings after 1970. It may be wacky, but that part works for me. Anyway, I’m thinking about this because I have a few new Blue Notes to incorporate into my collection and because when I watch on eBay my eyes often go straight to the Blue Notes, and I would like to capture that same feeling in my collection. For instance, here are some of the records I’m watching now:

Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This is an original pressing that looks to be in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. Great record, right? This one is more than $500 already with a few days to go.

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Tracking Prices in an Alternate Universe

Let’s catch up on some of the jazz vinyl we were watching last week. Remember that copy of Miles Davis, Steamin’, Prestige 7200, pictured a few items below?   That was the one from bobjdukic and it was in M- condition, an original New Jersey pressing? It sold for $760. Wow! I’ll put it in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but it’s hard to imagine that this will now be the going rate for this record. This guy seems to have a customer base that’s in an alternate universe from the customer base buying jazz vinyl from every other seller on eBay. There are many examples, but look at this one as well: Stan Getz, Imported From Europe, Verve 8331. This isn’t even an original pressing and he was able to get $122.50 for it. It leaves me somewhat speechless, but someone, somewhere, was willing to pay the price.

This is from a different seller and more in line with current market realities: Duke Jordan, Flight To Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd label, deep grooves, ear, etc. It was listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $741.

This is a nice record:

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eBaying This Week: JR,Trane and More

Another week, another 7,000 or so jazz records on eBay. Here are some of the ones we’ll be watching for you at Jazz Collector:

As noted, the lovely bobdjukic is back with a lot of superbly hyped records, including: J.R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This looks clearly to be an original pressing and it is listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It closes at the end of the week and is already at $510. This will certainly be in the $1,000 bin soon. From the same seller, among others, is John Coltrane, Lush Life, Prestige 7188. I mention this because I have a friend looking for a nice original pressing of this record. This one looks to be in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It is now at $100. I’m sure you all know the great story behind this record, about the trio side which was only a trio side because Red Garland forgot to show up for the date.

This is from another seller: Lee Morgan, City Lights, Blue Note 1575. This one looks to be VG++ for the record and perhaps VG+ for the cover, although part of the top right corner is off. The current price is $485 and there are about three days left.

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A Potpourri Of Collectible (And Not) Jazz Vinyl

Here are some odds and ends we’ve been watching:

Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1543. This was an original pressing with the Lexington Avenue address, the last of the Lexington Blue Notes. It also has the cover by Andy Warhol. The seller has his own grading system and he labeled the record and cover in the VG++ range, but based on the description of the record and his system, it sounded to me like the record was more like VG and the cover was somewhere between VG and VG+.  It sold for $510.

I’d have thought this would see more action, but it didn’t: Stan Getz, Interpretations, Norgran 1000. This was an original pressing with the deep grooves and yellow label and it was listed in M- condition for the vinyl. The cover looked to be about VG+. The start price for this was $50 and there was only one bid and it sold for $50. Someone got a great record for a nice price.

Here’s another great record often available at a nice price: Sonny Stitt, 37 Minutes and 48 Seconds, Roost 2219. The early Stitt Roost LPS like this and Sonny Stitt and the New Yorkers feature

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Jazz Vinyl Update: Richardson, Monk, et al

Here’s some jazz vinyl we were watching over the weekend:

Jerome Richardson, Roamin’ With Richardson, New Jazz 8226. This was an original pressing that was listed in VG++ condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $305. Looks like a new seller on eBay who will be posted some more items in the next few weeks.

Thelonious Monk, Prestige 7027. This looked to be an original pressing with the kakubushi cover. It looked to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $250.

This seller from South Korea sold some nice records this weekend, including: Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The vinyl was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $638. Also, Curtis Fuller, Volume 3, Blue Note 1583. This was also an original pressing and this one was in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $421. Finally, Art Farmer, Donald Byrd, Idrees Sulieman, Three Trumpets, Prestige  7092. This was an original New York pressing in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $344.

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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Catching Up: More Blue Notes & Prestiges

We’re updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide, and here are some odds and ends we’ve been watching:

Here’s a Blue Note you don’t see too often: Harold Vick, Steppin’ Out, Blue Note 4138. This was an original New York USA pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $373.

Someone on the Reader Forum was looking for Booker Ervin records. Could you go wrong with this one? Booker Ervin, Groovin’ High, Prestige 7417. There wasn’t much description in the listing, but there was just one bidder and the price was $9.99. This won’t make the price guide, but it probably made one collector quite happy.

The price on this also seemed a bit low: Lee Konitz, Prestige 7004. This was an original New York yellow label in VG+ condition for he record and the cover. It sold for $87.59.

Here’s a few more Blue Notes:

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For the Price Guide: Duke Jordan, Dex, Jackie

Some more for the Jazz Collector Price Guide. I’m keeping pretty busy with this stuff. 

Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was M-. The price was $589.90.

Leonard Feather Presents Bop, Mode 127. This was an original pressing in VG++/VG+ condition. The price was $80.

Warne Marsh, Music For Prancing, Mode 125. This was also an original pressing in VG++/VG+ condition. It sold for $68.

Dexter Gordon, One Flight Up, Blue Note 4176. This one already has received some discussion on the

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Price Updates: Duke Jordan, Miles, Gonsalves

Here are some new items for the Jazz Collector Price Guide:

Kenny Dorham and the Jazz Prophets Volume 1, ABC Paramount 122. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition. The price was $405.

Introducing Wayne Shorter, VeeJay 3006. This was an original pressing. The record was M-. The cover was VG++, with a cutout hole. The price was $141.50.

Gil Melle, Gil’s Guests, Prestige 7063. This was an original New York pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $200.

Miles Davis, Dig, Prestige 7014. This was an original New York pressing with the grey cover. The record and cover were VG+. The price was $125.95.

Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original West 63rd Street

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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: Jordan, Gonsalves, Melle

Here are some of the items worth watching on eBay today: Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This is an original deep groove mono pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG++. The current price is about $330. 

Paul Gonsalves, Cookin’, Argo 626. This is an original pressing. The record is VG++ and the cover is VG+. The current price is $150. One of the reasons I’m watching this is because I have a copy of the same record in similar condition and I’m thinking of selling it. So, if somebody out there is interested, just let me know by commenting on the site or sending me an email to al(at)jazzcollector.com. 

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