This week’s theme: Jazz records recorded on Feb. 4. Featured artists include Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Billy Taylor, Hal McKusick, Art Farmer, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Phil Woods, Jon Eardley, Paul Chambers, Red Garland, Philly Joe Jones, Louis Smith.
Here are some jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay:
Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and Lopin’, Blue Note 4091. What caught my eye about this one is that the seller kept referring to him as “Sonny Clarke” in the headline and in the text. I mean, can you look at the album cover? If potential buyers have alerts for Sonny Clark or if they are doing searches, would they not find this LP? Interesting question. This one was in VG condition for the record and M- for the cover. It was an original mono pressing. It sold for $289. My bet is that the misspelling did not impact the final price.
Hal McKusick, Bethlehem 16. This was an original pressing with the deep red label and deep grooves. The record was VG+ or perhaps a little better and the cover was VG++. The start price was $275 and when I looked at this there was one bidder. I was a bit surprised anyone was interested at that price so I kept an eye on it to see if the bidding would go higher. It didn’t.
Lee Morgan, Lee-Way, Blue Note 4034. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing that was in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. As I’ve watched this record through the years, it’s typically topped out in the $500 range, although we’ve seen one in the Jazz Collector Price Guide sell for $847. I expect someday we’ll see this regularly in the $1,000 bin given the quality of the recording, vintage, personnel, etc. Not yet. This one sold for $757.
We can’t spend too much time on eBay this morning because we have to watch the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, which is very exciting. But we’ve be able to cull through the next 24 hours worth of jazz collectibles, to bring you a few gems that are being offered today by various sellers. Foremost among these sellers is Euclid Records, which always seems to come up with some goodies. Here are a couple: Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge, Capital 742. This is an original pressing. The record is M- and the cover is VG++. The current price is $294. Also from Euclid is Serge Chaloff, Boston Blow-Up!, Capital 6510. This also seems to be an original pressing. The record is M- and the cover is VG++. The current price is $33. Goes the presence of Sonny Clark on Blue Serge make that much of a difference in the value between these two records?
Also coming up today on eBay are:
We have a bunch of records we’ve been watching that we’ll be adding today to the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Here are some of them, without links, since many of these have appeared with links in previous posts:
Thad Jones, Detroit-New York Junction, Blue Note 1513. Two copies of this sold recently. One was a Lexington Avenue pressing that was in M- condition, both record and cover. It sold for $776. The other copy was also a Lexington Avenue pressing, but it looked to be in VG+ condition. It sold for $423.
The Magnificent Thad Jones Volume 3, Blue Note 1546. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG. Price: $338
Bennie Green, Walking Down, Prestige 7049. This was a yellow label, New York address copy. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. Price: $225.50
Jon Eardley Seven with Zoot Sims, Prestige 7033. This was an original New York pressing. The record and cover were both in VG++ condition. Price: $515
When we started the newsletter last year, a few readers gave us a hard time for paying $50 to get a stereo copy of John Coltrane Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311, with the bulls-eye label. Well, here’s a copy in worse condition that recently sold for $129.17.
Here are some of the other items that we’re loading into the Latest Prices and Price Guide for Jazzcollector.com
Hal McKusick, Triple Exposure, Prestige 7135. This was in near mint condition and sold for $371.60. This is a higher price than we’ve seen before, but the record looks very clean.
Here’s one that broke the $200 price range: Joe Henderson, In ‘N Out, Blue Note 4166. Price: $215.50
And another one that came close: Beverly Kenney Sings for Johnny Smith, Roost 2206. Price: $190.50
