More Jazz Vinyl For the $1,000 Bin
May 16, 2012 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl
Time to update the $1,000 bin and there is quite a lot to update, not counting some of the ones we’ve watched recently, such as the Hank Mobley 1568 and others from the recent Jazz Record Center auction. Here goes:
Paul Gonsalves, Boom-Jackie-Boom-Chick, Vocalion 587. This was an original British pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,593.88.
Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address and it was in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1,578.99.
This was a surprise to sell for such a high price tag: Clifford Brown Memorial Album, Blue Note 1526. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the framed cover. It was in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,567.
Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This was an original pressing. The cover was VG+, but the record was in VG or worse condition, based on the seller’s description. It sold for $1,376.11.
Finally, here’s one we meant to include from the Jazz Record Center auction because it was actually in the $3,000 bin:
Tags: Ad Lib Records, Clifford Brown, Jackie McLean, Jazz Record Center, Jazz Vinyl, Lee Morgan, Paul Gonsalves, Tina Brooks, Vocalion Records
One for the $3,000 Bin (And A Few More)
May 11, 2012 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside
So how did some of those jazz vinyl auctions we were watching pan out? Thought you would never ask.
Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was an original pressing of one of the rarest and most valuable of all jazz records and it was sold by the most reputable of all jazz sellers, the Jazz Record Center in New York. The record was in M- condition and the cover looked like VG++. We’ve seen this record sell for more than $5,000 in the past on the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Not this time. This one sold for a mere $3,362.
Presenting Ernie Henry, Riverside 222. This was also from the Jazz Record Center and it was an original white label pressing that looked to be in quite lovely condition, M- for both the record and the cover. This one sold for $510. Great cover, isn’t it? Perfection, really, with the great picture and his eyes closed and the scripted typeface with the finger pointing to Ernie. Love it. Great record too.
This seller had a few interesting records from the Prestige New Jazz label, including:
Tags: Ahmed Abdul-Malik, Eric Dolphy, Ernie Henry, Hank Mobley, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Jazz Record Center, Jazz Vinyl, Ken McIntyre
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
Real Original Originals (In Nice Shape, Too)
May 7, 2012 Blue Note, Riverside
Here’s one that will sell for quite a lot of money this week: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This is an original original pressing and it is being offered by the Jazz Record Center, which describes it as a “the original hybrid deep-groove RVG-stamped ‘P’ pressing.” This is a lot to take in, but the key word is original. The record looks to be in M- condition and the cover probably around VG+. There are close to three days left in the auction and the bidding is in the range of $1,125. It will continue to rise. We’ve seen this record sell for as much as $5,600 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, the highest price we’ve ever recorded for any single record.
What are some of the other items we’re watching from the Jazz Record Center auction. Glad you asked:
Tags: Argo, Ernie Henry, Hank Mobley, J.C. Heard, Jazz Vinyl, Johnny Griffin
Autographed LPs: Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Bill Evans
Apr 18, 2012 Autographs, Prestige, Verve
I was curious to see how some of those autographed records from the Jazz Record Center would do on eBay and the results are now in. There was definitely a strong demand.
Chet Baker Quartet, Jazz at Ann Arbor, Pacific Jazz 1203. This was an original pressing with a Chet Baker autograph on the cover, signed and dated from 1973. The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover was probably VG+. The price was $461.
There were several LPs autographed by Miles Davis in the auction, including: Miles Davis, In Person, Saturday Night at the Blackhawk, Columbia 8470. This was an original stereo pressing with the six-eye logo and it was in M- condition all around: In fact, it was described as being in “amazing” condition. It was signed on the back by Miles in red ink. It sold for $566. Also, Miles Davis, Bags Groove, Prestige 7109. This was a later pressing with the blue labels. This one was signed not just by Miles, but by Sonny Rollins as well. It looked to be in VG++ or M- condition and it sold for $195.50. If I had this cover, I’d get rid of the blue-label record and replace it with one with yellow labels, even a New Jersey yellow label. It would just feel better to look at the cover knowing there was a yellow-label pressing inside. Just part of my own insanity, I guess.
Tags: Bill Evans Autograph, Chet Baker Autograph, Jazz Vinyl, Miles Davis Autograph, Pacific Jazz Records, Sonny Rollins Autograph
Jazz Vinyl, Insanely Rare Or Rarely Insane?
Apr 7, 2012 $1000 Records, Prestige
Here are the results of a few more jazz vinyl auctions we were watching:
Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This looked to be an original pressing with the deep grooves and New York address on the label. It’s always nice to see more pictures, but this one looked legitimate. The record and cover were both listed in M- condition and the bidding ended at $1,027.99.
Here’s a random rare remnant from the insanely rare offerings of bobdjukic: Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1204. This looked to be an original pressing. The condition was probably in the range of VG++ for the record and the cover. The price was $798.77.
Tommy Flanagan, The Cats, New Jazz 8217. This looks like an original pressing with the purple labels and the deep grooves. The record, of course, features John Coltrane as a sideman. The record and cover were both listed in VG+ condition and the price was $381.20.
Tags: Hank Mobley, Jazz Vinyl, New Jazz Records, Period Records, Prestige Records, Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan
Finding Jazz Vinyl To Watch on eBay
Apr 3, 2012 Autographs, Blue Note, Prestige, Verve
Slow time on eBay this week for collectible jazz vinyl. To save time, rather than going through all the listings I’ll often do searches of Blue Notes or high-priced records or other filters to find the items most interesting to the Jazz Collector audience. Using those same filters I always use, hardly anything too exciting or expensive came up for this entire week. Perhaps its a hangover from the bobdjukic auction that seems to have everyone so enthralled. Having said that, there are always items of interest to watch, bid on, envy or all of the above.
Horace Silver, Six Pieces of Silver, Blue Note 1539. This one has the West 63rd Street address which makes it a second pressing, or at least not a first pressing. The record is in VG++ condition and the cover is VG. What makes it interesting is that it is signed by Horace Silver. What’s that worth? We’ll see. So far there are no bidders with a start price around $200.
Here’s a reason to read auctions carefully: Ben Webster Soulville, Verve 8274. This is advertised as an original pressing when it clearly is not. This has the MGM label while an original has the trumpeter label. Nonetheless there is a bid of about $80 on this records. The seller has minimal feedback. Not a good way to get started on eBay.
Tags: Ben Webster, Horace Silver Autograph, Jackie McLean, Jazz Vinyl
More Rare Jazz Vinyl, More High Prices
Apr 2, 2012 Blue Note
Here’s an update on some jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay, starting with: J.R. Monterose in Action, Studio 4 SS 100. This looked to be an original pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. This auction is saying that there were 250 copies of this record printed, although for some reason I recall an earlier posting with a 500 number. Regardless of 250 copies or 500 copies, there aren’t that many to be had, so this record often winds up in the $2,000 bin these days, as has this copy, logging in at a cool $2,215.
This is one I missed from the bobdjukic auction: Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage, Blue Note 4195. This looked to be an original pressing with the ear, NY USA address and RVG stamp. It was described as “monstrously” rare because it was a mono pressing. Anyway, I’m pointing it out because of the price, which was $821.21, way more than we’ve ever seen for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. In fact, more than double the previous high. And you seem to want me to include these aberrations in the Price Guide? I guess I will, even though I don’t necessarily agree.
Tags: Herbie Hancock, J. R. Monterose, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Jazz Vinyl
Watching Original Jazz Vinyl on eBay
Mar 30, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide
At some point soon I will be updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide. My inclination is to not include some of the recent sales we’ve been watching here, such as Getz/Gilberto and Miles Davis Four and More since they are clearly aberrations and not indicative of the overall market. I think they would tend to give people false expectations as to real market value. What do you think?
In the meanwhile, here are some other jazz vinyl auctions we are watching on eBay.
Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This is an original yellow-label pressing with the New York address. The record and cover are both listed in M- condition. The price is $165.50 and there are more than two days left in the auction. Tempting, although I have a feeling the bidding will definitely surpass the $600-$700 range and perhaps slide into the $1,000 bin. All of which would put it out of reach for me.
Louis Smith, Smithville, Blue Note 1594. This is also an original pressing. The cover
Tags: Hank Mobley, Jazz Vinyl, Louis Smith
Fairly Common LPs, Uncommon Prices
Mar 27, 2012 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Verve
Many of you in the Jazz Collector audience complain about the seller bobjdukic, but you have to give the guy credit – whatever he does, he is able to get prices that no one else can dream of. I’m watching several of his auctions now and am pretty amazed at where the bidding is going. He must have regular customers who trust him and are well satisfied with what he delivers. Here are a few cases in point: Stan Getz, Getz. Gilberto, Verve 8545. Was there a more popular, more widely produced jazz album in the 1960s? Could you waltz into any record store now (if you can find one) and find a copy of this record in reasonable condition? This one has 11 bids and is currently priced at $219 with more than a day to go. Miles Davis, “Four and More,” Columbia 2453. Again, this is a great record, but not all that uncommon. This one has been bid up to more than $100. Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago, Mercury 60134. This is a stereo pressing. Again a great record, but not that hard to find, even in nice condition. This one has been bid up to $178.50.
Tags: Cannonball Adderley, Jazz Vinyl, Joao Gilberto, Miles Davis, Stan Getz
Catching Up On Some Rare Jazz Vinyl
Mar 20, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige
Let us finally catch up on some of the rare jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:
The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume 2, Blue Note 1532. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the Lexington Avenue cover. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was VG+. The price was $390. From the same seller, in the same vein: The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume 1, Blue Note 1531. This too was an original pressing with the original cover. It was in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. It also sold for $390. I was watching these records because I recently acquired copies of each of these that are duplicates for me. They are both in VG++ condition for the vinyl and the cover, and they both have the Lexington Avenue addresses on the label, deep grooves, etc. They have the West 61st Street addresses on the cover, so they are a drop less than original originals. I will probably wind up selling these on eBay, unless someone here wants to make me an offer I can’t refuse.
This one received a bid of nearly $2,000, but failed to meet the seller’s reserve price:
Tags: Ad Lib Records, Atlantic Records, Fats Navarro, Giant Steps, Jacke McLean, Jazz Vinyl, John Coltrane, WEbster Young
Picturing Some Blue Notes
Mar 13, 2012 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note
Here’s some more jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:
When you’re selling on eBay a picture is worth not just a thousand word but potentially a thousand bucks or so. The seller of this record was able to get a great picture of the cover: Hank Mobley, Soul Station, Blue Note 4031. It has to help generate interest, right? I mean, you look at the picture and you can picture the record in your collection. This was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $1,802.01. That’s the highest we’ve ever recorded for this LP in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, although the record has gone over the $1,000 mark several times.
This seller had the three 10-inch Gil Melle records on Blue Note, including: Gil Melle, 5 Impressions of Color, Blue Note 5063. This one was in VG++ condition for the vinyl and M- for the cover. It sold for $179.05. As for the other two: New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5020 was in VG++ condition for the record and the cover and did not attract a single bidder at a start price of about $150; Volume 2, Blue Note 5033, had a single bidder and sold for $149.99.
Tags: Gil Melle, Hank Mobley, Jazz Vinyl
Focusing on Some Gaps in the Collection
Mar 12, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay. Why is it that we — we collectors, that is — focus much more on what we are missing than on what we have?
Bud Powell, The Scene Changes, Blue Note 4009. This is an original pressing that is listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. I was wondering about the kid in the picture on the cover and went to pull out my copy to see if there was mention in the liner notes but, alas, I do not have an original copy of The Scene Changes, much to my chagrin. This one is already at more than $300 with more than a day to go, so this will not be the copy that fills the hole in my collection.
Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This is an original pressing in VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG for the cover. It has many days to go, is more than $500 at this point, and has not yet met the seller’s reserve price. Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Pal, Prestige 7068. This one is closing today. The record looks to be in VG++ condition, while the cover is VG.The price is about $230. Hmmmm. Not bad. I kind of like that the cover is not perfect. This would fill a gap. I had both of these Jackie records at one time, but sold them.
Tags: Ad Lib Records, Bud Powell, Jackie McLean, Jazz Vinyl
Jazz For A Sunday Morning: KD, Byrd, Blue Notes
Mar 11, 2012 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s some of the jazz vinyl we’ve missed while we were away:
The Arrival of Kenny Dorham, Jaro 5007. This was an original pressing that was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It was a bit of a strange auction — there were only two bids and the winning bid was an even $800. Anyway. There was a lot more interest in this one, with more than 20 bids: Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. This was an original deep groove pressing in VG+ condition, which I’d say was questionable based on the description. It sold for $740.
This one nearly made the $3,000 bin: Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill, Transition 17. This was an original pressing with the booklet. The record looked to be in M- condition, minus the labels, of course, and the cover looked to be about VG++. The price was $2,926.54, which is still staggering to me.
And what would a day in Jazz Collector world be without a few Blue Notes to admire:
Tags: Art Taylor, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Jaro Records, Jazz Vinyl, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Dorham, Transition Records
Vinyl Tracking From the Jazz Record Center
Mar 7, 2012 Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide, Promo Copies
Here are a few more results of jazz vinyl auctions by the Jazz Record Center last week. Just in case anyone is interested, I have no vested interest in these auctions or special relationship with the Jazz Record Center. I like to watch their auctions as a bellwether because they are probably the most reputable seller in the market.
Working With the Miles Davis Quintet, Prestige 7166. This was an original yellow label pressing with the New Jersey address. It was a review copy in mint condition. The price was $472.35. There was a time when you could get the Miles Prestige records relatively inexpensively, but not anymore.
Here’s another nice one from Prestige: Stan Getz and Zoot Sims, The Brothers, Prestige 7022. This was an original New York yellow label pressing in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. This one has the frame cover. The price was $234.72. How often are you going to find a record like this in this kind of condition? Nice.
Here’s a Blue Note that, surprisingly, did not break into the $1,000 bin.
Tags: Fats Navarro, Jazz Vinyl, John Jenkins, Kenny Burrell, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims
Guest Column: A Score For the Ages
Mar 6, 2012 Guest Columns
We haven’t had a guest column in a while, but here’s a good one from a reader who asks that we refer to him simply as Scott. Enjoy.
It started with a broken turntable. The new turntable my wife bought me at the HiFi shop some three years ago sat unused, not properly set up, broken. I know, I know. Just too busy. High stress military career, moving, a combat tour in Iraq, and two teenage boys got in the way of my budding interest in vinyl. The day finally came and the turntable was fixed. Off I went to the estate sales as usual. Not to find vinyl, but to search for tube HiFi gear or vintage speakers.
This particular sale — just last week — was in a 1930s Tudor of perhaps 3,500 square feet. The owners had obviously lived there since the ‘50s. A sweep of the house revealed no tube equipment, no speakers, and nothing much else of interest. I did note several stacks of records against the wall of one of the bedrooms upstairs. I now had a turntable so I went to look. I sat on the floor next to another fellow and asked him what was good. He talked about the Riverside label and we chatted. He picked out several and cut his stack to ten records, paid, and left. The stacks were almost all ‘50s jazz with hip covers. I selected ten, paid the lady the two bucks a record, and went home and played one.
The first record I put on was Helen Merrill (yeah that one). I loved it. I put on another. This one a Blue Note. Wow. Cool. Remember, I didn’t know a Blue Note from a blue bird, but I do know what I like. I went back and bought another 18 just because I liked them including 11 first-issue deep-groove, Blue Notes including BNs 1509, 1518, 1537, 1578, 1537, 1540, 1513, 1545, 1560, 1544, 1560, 1562. Remember, I have no idea what these LPs are selling for.
Read the rest of this entry »
French Zoot, Miles Smiles & An LP That Is Hipp
Mar 6, 2012 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note
After all these years of collecting and visiting record stores, I still get a kick out of seeing records I’ve never seen before. Case in point: Zoot Sims All Stars, Barclay 84019. This looks to be an original 10-inch French pressing with a really nice looking cover and label. The seller describes the vinyl as being in M- condition, and the cover is probably VG++. The start price is about $200 and there are five days to go.
Speaking of European pressings, I had never seen this cover of Miles Davis, Porgy and Bess, CBS 62108. Think about how many candid shots of Miles you’ve seen where he’s actually smiling. Here’s one. Very nice cover. This is a stereo pressing listed in VG++ condition for the record and cover. So far there are no takers at a mere $19.
From the time I saved the record to when I started writing this post, a gap of about 15 minutes, the price of this record shot up by several hundred dollars: Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House Volume 1, Blue Note 1515. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record is in VG condition and the cover is VG++. The price is now more than $600 and will probably keep on rising.
Tags: Barclay, Jazz Vinyl, Jutta Hipp, Miles Davis, Porgy and Bess, Zoot Sims
Catching on On Some Interesting Jazz Vinyl
Mar 5, 2012 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Riverside
When I last left eBay, about a week ago, here were some of the items I was watching:
Thelonious Monk, Brilliant Corners, Riverside 226. This was an original pressing with the white labels. It was listed in VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover and I recall the seller as being very reputable from previous dealings, as buyer and seller. As I was packing my records to move, I noticed that my copy of Brilliant Corners was a blue-label pressing and it was in maybe VG+ condition. I put this one on my watch list to potentially bid on it, not just as potential fodder for Jazz Collector. I think I would have gone to at least $180 for an original pressing. This one sold for $100, so I missed out.
I also had my eye on this for my own collection, but I knew the price would go way beyond my comfort zone — and it did: Lee Morgan Sextet, Blue Note 1541. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing and the vinyl was in M- condition. The cover was VG+. It sold for $1,475. One of these days I’ll find a reasonable copy for the right price. Right?
Tags: Herbie Hancock, Jazz Record Center, Jazz Records, Jazz Vinyl, Lee Morgan, Storyville Records, Thelonious Monk, Toshiko Akiyoshi
Back In the Business of Jazz Collector
Mar 4, 2012 Jazz Vinyl, News
Sorry I haven’t posted all week. I have moved, once again, this time in the city and I’ve been quite busy, as you can imagine, packing and unpacking records. We have moved from one small place into another small place and decided to keep just one record cabinet with room for about 1,500 records. You can see it in the picture, and perhaps make out a record or two — I see Jackie McLean, Lights Out and also the Cecil Payne on Signal. Anyway, I had to go through the process of weeding out and deciding which records to keep in the apartment, and which to move to other locales. I decided to keep the collection in the city focused primarily on original pressings from the 1955 to 1970 era, and to weed out some of the vocals to make this portion of the collection more bop/hard-bop specific. I also had to remove some of the traditional artists, such as Louis Armstrong and Count Basie, in order to have enough room for the records I wanted to keep here. I also nixed the idea of organizing the records by label and continue to have them alphabetically by artist. This way I’m less compelled to keep around records and artists in which I have less interest, either musically or as collectibles. Anyway, I don’t want to get into all of that, just wanted to explain why I’ve been absent from my post and my posting at Jazz Collector. But I’m back now, ready to once again explore, unearth and expound upon the hidden and not-so-hidden treasures of the Jazz Collector world.
Tags: Jazz Vinyl
Guys and Dolls and Jazz Vinyl
Feb 14, 2012 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Price Guide, Verve
Sorry I haven’t posted for a few days, but, judging by the comments, you guys seemed to do pretty well without me. In any case, I return with some items I’ve been watching on eBay, starting with some jazz vinyl that seems to indicate the clear split in the market between the super-collectibles, i.e., original Blue Notes et al, and the many other records that were collectible at one time but seem to have lost some of their market/cachet. Starting with Eddie Costa, Guys and Dolls Like Vibes, Coral 57230. This was an original pressing, in VG++ condition for the record and probably about VG+ for the cover. We’ve covered this in the past for the Jazz Collector Price Guide and it has sold for as much as $136. The seller did not do himself any favors by failing to mention in his listing that the pianist on this date was Bill Evans. It’s also a terrific record. There was one bidder who got this record for $30. From the same seller was Johnny Hodges and Duke Ellington, Back to Back, Verve 8317. This was an original pressing with the trumpeter label in M- condition for the vinyl and probably the same for the cover. Again, there was one bidder and a price of $30. Is there so little interest in Hodges and Ellington these days? One more, also Guys and Dolls by the Manhattan Jazz All-Stars, Columbia 8223. This was an original stereo pressing inVG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It is also a nice album, was somewhat collectible at one time, and features Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Dave McKenna and others. This one didn’t get a single bid at $20.
Tags: Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Eddie Costa, Guys and Dolls, Jazz Vinyl, Johnny Hodges
Some Stereo Jazz Vinyl, Some Big Prices
Feb 4, 2012 Blue Note, Riverside
Yes, as Mike F notes on another post, did you see the price of that Bill Evans Explorations record we were watching from the Jazz Record Center? It was a stereo pressing, black label original. It sold for $896. Great record, but that’s a pretty incredible price. It shows that the market for some of these collectibles is just so elastic. If someone wants the record, and he wants it in mint condition, the price is not necessarily an issue. I looked at all of the other results from this Jazz Record Center auction and none seemed quite so out of the ordinary as this one, although there were also some top prices paid for some nice records, including: Bobby Hutcherson, Dialogue, Blue Note 4198. This was an original mono pressing in M- condition. It sold for $491. Also, Jackie McLean, One Step Beyond, Blue Note 84137. This was an original STEREO version in M- condition. It sold for $237.50. That’s pretty high for a stere pressing, even an original, isn’t it? One more: Blue Mitchell, The Thing To Do, Blue Note 84178. This was also a stereo pressing, an original, and it was also in very nice M- condition. The price was $233.50. I guess the market for original Blue Note stereo pressings is now getting more interesting as well.
Tags: Bill Evans, Blue Mitchell, Bobby Hutcherson, Jackie McLean, Jazz Vinyl
A Couple for The $1,000 Bin, And one for the $66 Bin
Jan 17, 2012 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Norgran
There were a bunch of interesting jazz vinyl auctions that closed last night, to wit: Red Rodney, Signal S 1206. This looked like an original pressing in perhaps VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover? The seller uses a wide variety of grades that don’t necessarily correspond to the grading language we typically use, so it’s up for interpretation. Hopefully the buyer will be pleased. This one sold for a whopping $1,825.55.
Her’s one for the $2,000 bin: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This was an original pressing that looked to be in M- or VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $2,111. There was another copy of this record that we mentioned the other day, Blue Note 1590, that was in just VG- condition for the record and cover. We wondered about the eventual price for a record that may not be all that playable. The price was $237.65
How the market has changed through the years: Johnny Hodges, Castle Rock, Norgran 1048. This was an original yellow label pressing. It was in VG+ condition for both the record and the vinyl. It sold for $66. When I started collecting jazz, there seemed to be much more interest from collectors in the original Norgrans. A different era, I guess — but also an opportunity to pick up some of these very nice records at reasonable prices.
Tags: Jazz Vinyl, Johnny Hodges, Lee Morgan, Red Rodney, Signal Records
Monday Morning Blue Notes
Jan 16, 2012 Blue Note
Lot of interesting jazz vinyl we’re watching now on eBay, so let’s get right into it. This one is closing fairly soon: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. What’s the market for a rare record like this in not very good condition, actually in VG minus condition? So far the bidding on this one has topped $125. I’d love to have this record back in my collection — yes, I sold a pristine copy 20 years ago — but not in this condition. If I can’t listen to the record, I don’t necessarily need to own it just to fill a space in the collection.
This one is in better condition, but hard to actually give it a grade based on seller’s description. My guess from the description and pictures that it’s what I would grade a VG+ for the record and the cover: Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1559. This one has already topped $800. As I mentioned recently, I am now the proud owner of an original pressing of this record, after all of these years of collection. Amazing how rare these things are, when you think about it. I could have paid top dollar over the years, I guess, to acquire a copy of this record, but in the normal course of things — going to record stores, record shows, garage sales flea markets, looking for records in most cities across the U.S. — in more than 40 years I had never come across an original copy of this record, and many others, for what I considered to be a reasonable price at the time.
Tags: Cliff Jordan, Jazz Vinyl, John Gilmore, John Jenkins, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Burrell, Lee Morgan
A New Batch of Jazz Vinyl For The New Year
Jan 1, 2012 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide
Happy New Year to everyone. Here are a few more items going into the Jazz Collector Price Guide. No links on these.
Jimmy Raney Quartet, New Jazz 1101. I like this one because of the maroon and white label, which you rarely see. There were just a few 10-inch New Jazz LPs, so they are pretty cool, and pretty rare. This one was probably in VG or VG+ condition for the record and the vinyl. It sold for $157.50.
Now a bunch of Blue Notes:
Lee Morgan, Lee-Way, Blue Note 4034. This was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $600.
Lou Donaldson, Wailing With Lou, Blue Note 1545. This was an original West 63rd pressing in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $688.
Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. Also an original pressing, of course, this one in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1,343.
Dexter Gordon, One Flight Up, Blue Note 4176. This one was in M- condition for the record and VG for the cover. It sold for $200.
Hank Mobley, Soul Station, Blue Note 4031. Record was M- and cover was M-. Price was $1,465.
Tags: Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Jazz Vinyl, Jimmy Raney, Jutta Hipp, Kenny Dorham, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, Zoot Sims
Monday Morning Blue Notes
Dec 12, 2011 $1000 Records, Blue Note
Let’s catch up on some jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay. I was up in Providence this past weekend and I held this record in my hands: Jutta Hipp At The Hickory House Volume 1, Blue Note 1515. This was on auction from Round Again Records and it just closed. The record was in VG condition and the cover was VG+ to VG++. Although I have a copy of this record at home, and although I have many Lexington Avenue Blue Notes, there is definitely something magical for me holding one of these original pressings in my hands. It’s like a piece of rare art. This copy sold for $460. I’m going to keep an eye out for more records from Round Again. The store owner, Steve, says he’s trying to work on a deal with some guy who’s been buying records at garage sales for years.
Here are a couple of Blue Notes in better condition and thus in the $1,000 bin: Curtis Fuller, The Opener, Blue Note 1567. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing and it was listed in M- condition for the record and M- or VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,007. From the same seller came Curtis Fuller, Bone and Bari, Blue Note 1572. This was also an original pressing, also in M- condition for the record and VG++ or M- for the cover. This one has Sonny Clark on piano, so it sold for a bit more: $1,136.
Tags: Curtis Fuller, Jazz Vinyl, Jutta Hipp
