A Convention of Jazz Record Collectors. Really.

I saw a note that the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors is meeting this weekend in New Orleans. Sounds like it may be fun, with classic films, live jazz and, of course, dealers selling records. I’m not a member of the organization and I don’t know anyone who is. Seems kind of funny, I guess, that I do this site called Jazz Collector and there’s an association of jazz record collectors and I don’t know anything about it. The explanation, I think, has to do with the way I’ve always approached this lovely hobby and the way most of you in the Jazz Collector community seem to approach it as well, and that is: We seem to enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and the hunt tends to be a relatively solitary endeavor. I remember when I used to go recording hunting with my friend Dan and there was always a battle for the best records: Who saw it first, who wanted it most, who just had to have it, who would be willing to pay more. At some point I  realized it was more fun to go hunting by myself and then tell him about the scores after the records were safely ensconced on my shelves. The idea of joining an association of collectors never had that much appeal. Here at Jazz Collector we can share

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Guest Column: The Blue Note Guide, One More Time

With apologies to the author for my tardiness, here is an excellent guest column looking once again at Fred Cohen’s guide to Blue Note records. A version of this was previously published by the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors and Bill was gracious enough to do a new version for us here at Jazz Collector. I’m sure this will provoke much food for thought.

Vinyl Coverings, by Bill Schweitzer

The Blue Note Original Record Guide

Some mention of Blue Note Records appears in almost every column I’ve written for the IAJRC,. It is the single most discussed, collectible, and expensive LP label in jazz. There are Web sites and books dedicated to the music, packaging variations, photography and history. The nature of an “original” issue, with seemingly unending anomalies, has been debated in minute detail. Not without cause. An “original” can fetch astronomical prices on Ebay and elsewhere. So, if you’rebuying or selling, it’s important to know what is or isn’t a true “original.” Help has arrived.

Fred Cohen, long time IAJRC member, has just published  “Blue Note Records: A Guide For Identifying Original Pressings”, a Jazz Record Center Publication. At $45 it’s available at Jazz Record Center, 236 west 26 Street, #804, NY, NY 10001, or on the Web at jazzrecordcenter@verizon.net.

It’s been a long time coming and worth the wait. The objective of the book is to be a guide for determining original pre-Liberty issue Blue Notes (to BST 84252). With much acknowledged help, Fred has succeeded admirably. For 90 percent of the catalog, we now have a definitive model of what is an original issue. This is a great tool for sellers and buyers alike. However, it may also bring tears to the eyes of some folks who paid big bucks for a record only to find

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