A Trio of Rare Jazz Vinyl From the ’50s
Sep 6, 2012 Blue Note
Here are the results of some jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay:
Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter, Imperial 9024. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $810.
J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was somewhere between VG and VG++, which means the seller said it didn’t look so great but it sounded great. Gotta love those old Blue Notes. The cover was a clear VG. The price as a clear $787.
Betty Blake Sings in a Tender Mood, Bethlehem 6058. This is another one I’ve never seen or heard. How is it? It features Zoot Sims, Roland Alexander and Mal Waldron, among others, so I imagine it is quite interesting. This one was in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $735.55
Tags: Bethlehem Records, Betty Blake, Cole Porter, Imperial Records, J. R. Monterose, Sonny Criss, Zoot Sims
Perusing Jazz Vinyl on eBay
May 8, 2012 10-Inch LPs, Riverside
Was perusing eBay this morning, taking a break from my real work, and these are some of items I stumbled upon:
Coleman Hawkins, The Hawk Flies High, Riverside 233. From my experience, we don’t see too many Coleman Hawkins records garnering collectible prices these days. We only have a few mentions of Hawk in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. So I was surprised to see that the bidding for this record had already surpassed $150, closing later today. I was surprised again to see that the record was not an original pressing — it has the blue label as opposed to the white label. It is in nice condition, however, M- for the cover and the record.
This record was closing just as I was perusing, not that I would have bid on it: Charlie Mariano With His Jazz Group, Imperial 3006. This was an original 10-inch pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It was sitting at $95 with three minutes left and wound up selling for $180. It also had more than 150 page views, which surprised me. Glad that people are still interested in 10-inch Charlie Mariano records.
Tags: Bill Evans, Charlie Mariano, Coleman Hawkins, Imperial Records, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Jazz Vinyl
A Tale of Two Sonnys
Dec 12, 2011 Blue Note
I’m proud of myself. I’m up in the country and I have some time and it’s relaxing and I put a couple of records on. First I put on Sonny Clark’s Cool Struttin’, which is a great record that I hadn’t listed to for years. Then for some reason I put on Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter on Imperial (both reissues, unfortunately). And I was listening and it was right after Cool Struttin’ and I was thinking, hmm, the pianist on the Sonny Criss record sounds like Sonny Clark. So I looked on the liner notes and, zip, nothing. Oh I hate it when liner notes don’t list the musicians. Thank goodness for the Internet. I googled the record and within seconds I found out, indeed, it is Sonny Clark on piano. For those of you keeping score, the other sidemen are Larry Bunker on vibes, Buddy Woodson on bass and Lawrence Marable on drums. Nice record and I can’t tell if it’s my pressing, but the recording is very tinny. Any of you out there with the original?
Tags: Imperial Records, Sonny Clark, Sonny Criss
eBaying: Criss, Trane, Tenorman
Jul 12, 2011 $1000 Records, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
Here are some interesting jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay:
We were somewhat surprised to see this one in the $1,000 bin, considering that the market seems a bit down these days: Sonny Criss, Go Man, Imperial 9020. There were 28 bids, which is a lot. It was a very reputable seller, the record was in M- condition, and the cover was VG+. The price was $1,259.
This one was only in VG condition for the record and the cover, yet is still nearly made the $1,000 bin: Lawrence Marable, Tenorman, Jazz West 8. This one even had audible scuffs. Nevertheless, it sold for $909.99.
One of my all-time favorite records, in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover: John Coltrane, Soultrane, Prestige 7142. This one sold for $338.99
Tags: Imperial Records, Jazz West Records, John Coltrane, Lawrence Marable, Sonny Criss
More Updates For the Jazz Collector Price Guide
Jan 30, 2011 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside
I’ve been spending time this weekend updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide and realized there are a bunch more interesting items we’ve mentioned here but haven’t followed up, so here are a few of them:
George Wallington, Jazz For the Carriage Trade, Prestige 7032. This was an original New York pressing with a record in M- condition and a nice shiny cover in VG++ condition. It sold for $395.
Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter, Imperial 9024. This looked to be an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $350.99.
Lou Donaldson, Swing and Soul, Blue Note 1566. This was one of the recent records sold by the Jazz Record Center. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $544.44.
From that same auction were these:
The Wes Montgomery Trio, Riverside 310. This was an original pressing in M- condition and sold for $305, the highest price we’ve seen for this record.
Tags: Dexter Gordon, George Wallington, Imperial Records, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Kenny Drew, Lou Donaldson, Sonny Clark, Sonny Criss, Wes Montgomery
Jazz Vinyl On eBay: What May or May Not Sell
Jan 25, 2011 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay for various and sundry reasons:
George Wallington, Jazz for the Carriage Trade, Prestige 7032. This is an original New York pressing that looks to be in extremely nice condition. The record is graded M- and the cover is VG++. I haven’t often seen this record witht he front cover looking so clean. This one is priced at about $180 with nearly three more days to go.
Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter, Imperial 9024. This looks to be an original deep groove pressing in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. This is also in the $180 price range with less than a day to go.
This one has yet to meet the seller’s reserve price: Pete La Roca, Basra, Blue Note 4205. This is an original New York USA pressing with the ear and it is listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover, still in its original shrink wrap. This is just in the $100 range at this point and it will be interesting to see if it catches up to the seller’s reserve.
Tags: Cole Porter, George Wallington, Hank Mobley, Imperial Records, Pete La Roca, Sonny Criss, Sonny Rollins
A Veritable Cornucopia of 10-Inch Jazz Vinyl
Jun 4, 2010 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note
As is our usual custom, we were perusing the jazz vinyl listings on eBay this evening and we happened to notice an unusually large number of interesting 10-inch LPs for sale, some of which we shall share with you henceforth, including:
Kenny Dorham, Afro-Cuban, Blue Note 5065. A beauty, no? This one is in M- condition for the record and what looks to be VG+ for the cover. The current price is around $225 and there are three days to go.
Here’s the next one up in the 10-inch Blue Note catalogue: Hank Mobley Quartet, Blue Note 5066. This is an original pressing, of course,and the vinyl looks to be M- and the cover somewhat close to M-. The current price is $338 and there are also three days to go.
Another 10-inch Blue Note? Why not. Here’s The Amazing Bud Powell, Blue Note 5003. This is an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It is being offered by Euclid Records and is currently at about $115.
Here’s the one on the list that will probably sell for the highest price:
Tags: Bud Powell, Charlie Mariano, Charlie Parker, Dial Records, Euclid Records, Hank Mobley, Imperial Records, Jazz Record Center, Kenny Dorham
Price Updates: Steve Lacy, Pres, Sonny Criss
Sep 17, 2009 Blue Note, Clef, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
Here are some interesting items we’ve been watching the past couple of days.
Steve Lacy, Soprano Sax, Prestige 7125. This was an original pressing with the New York label. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG++. The price was $130.50.
Illinois Jacquet, Jazz Moods, Clef 662. This was an original pressing and it was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $89.50.
Lester Young, Lester’s Here, Norgran 1071. This was an original yellow label. The record was listed as VG+ and the cover was VG++. The price was $121.
Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter, Imperial 9024. This was an original pressing that
Tags: Clef Records, Illinois Jacquet, Imperial Records, Lester Young, Sheila Jordan, Sonny Criss
A Pair for the $2,000 Bin & A Pair of Surprises
Sep 16, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Riverside
As we mentioned the other day, there has been an overflow of $1,000 records. Here are a few more, including a couple for the $2,000 bin:
Lee Morgan, City Lights, Blue Note 1575. This one was pointed out earlier by one of our readers. It was in M- condition by a credible seller and it was an original pressing. It sold for $2,655.
Barney Wilen, Tilt, Swing Vogue LDM 30.058. This was an original French pressing. The record ws what we would call VG++ and the cover was M-. This one sold for $2,250. This one is not new to the $2,000 club: It has previously sold for $2,700 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Sonny Criss, Jazz-USA, Imperial 9006. This was a surprise to see in this category, simply because
Tags: Barney Wilen, Bill Evans, Imperial Records, Lee Morgan, Sonny Criss, Vogue
For the Price Guide: Dolphy, Jackie, Criss, Kamuca
Jun 26, 2009 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
Time to catch up on some recent collectible items on eBay and update the Jazz Collector Price Guide, which has now surpassed more than 4,000 entries, each one, I’m proud to say, hand-entered and hand-selected by yours truly. Here are a few more I’ll be hand-entering this weekend:
Eric Dolphy, Last Date, Fontana 681008ZL. This is the original Dutch pressing. The record was listed as M- and the cover as VG++. It sold for $661. Also from Eric Dolphy, Outward Bound, New Jazz 8236. This was an original deep groove purple label. The record was M- and teh cover was VG++. The price was $283.
Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was listed as VG++ and the cover as VG+. The price was $547.11.
Sonny Criss, Jazz USA, Imperial 9006. This was an original pressing. The record was listed as
Tags: Art Farmer, Donald Byrd, Eric Dolphy, Fontana Records, Imperial Records, Mode Records, Richie Kamuca, Sonny Criss
For the Price Guide: Chambers, Nichols, Criss, Trane
Apr 30, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Time again to catch up on adding some new items to the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Here are a few of the records we’ll be adding.
Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1569. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. The price was $660.
John Coltrane, Lush Life, Prestige 7188. This was an original pressing with the yellow label and New Jersey address. It was in M- condition, both record and cover. The price was $274.99
Yusef Lateef, Prayer to the East, Savoy 12117. This was a second pressing with the maroon label. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. It sold for $255. This is the second time we’ve seen a maroon pressing of this sell for well more than $100. Is there something about this record we don’t know?
Tags: Billie Holiday, Clef Records, Herbie Nichols, Imperial Records, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Sonny Criss, Yusef Lateef


