More Adventures . . . Or Just Misadventures?

Today we have various jazz vinyl that has caught my eye for various reasons, starting with Miles Davis, Miles, The New Miles Davis Quintet, Prestige 7014. This looks to be an original New York pressing with the green cover, although it’s hard to tell if it is the frame cover from the picture, but the seller says that it is. The seller also says the cover is VG++, which doesn’t look quite accurate to these eyes. The record is listed in VG+ with “a touch of light surface noise in spots.” The start price is around $280 and there are nearly five days left on the auction. So far there are no bidders. When I started collecting, this was considered a real rarity, John Coltrane’s first recording with Miles. And, indeed, this record has made it into the $1,000 bin several times. I’m wondering if there will be interest in this record. If not, will it be because of the condition or will it be because it is not on Blue Note? I’m sensing it may be a combination of the two. But I could be wrong and the bidding will become heated at the last minute, as it so often does on eBay. Read more

Two Reds and a Blue (Note)

This one fetched quite a nice price on eBay: Marty Paich Quartet featuring Art Pepper, Tampa 28. This was an original pressing with the red vinyl. It was listed in Ex condition for both the record and the cover, and the seller certainly posted some nice clear pictures. The final price was $1,181. That’s the highest price I recall seeing for this record, although there was one in Popsike that I must have missed that sold for $1,225.

Then there was this one that didn’t get a bid at all: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This looked to be an original West 63rd Street pressing, unless I’m missing something. The seller’s description was all over the place in terms of the condition. At one point he said it was strong VG+, then VG. He also mentioned the word “pops,” which is not something you want to hear unless

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Getting a Boot, Indeed

marty paichSo the other day I’m walking my dog Marty in the neighborhood. Regular readers will recognize Marty as my lucky charm companion on the two collections I’ve bought in the past two years, the Irving Kalus collection and the Bruce M. West collection in Baltimore. We take our normal route up Broadway and turn down 83rd Street towards West End Avenue. The street is lined with tables of people selling all kinds of wares. Lots of junk from their homes, it seems. I stop at the first booth and ask the woman what’s going on. It’s a block association sale, she says. I look down and see a box of records. The first record is a Woody Herman record on Capital. Well, I have to look of course. So there are these Woody Herman and Benny Goodman records and I’m flipping and it seems pretty clear there’s nothing there for me, when all of a sudden I see the record pictured at the right. An original pressing of Marty Paich,I Get a Boot Out of You. I didn’t have my glasses. I couldn’t see the condition. I couldn’t see the price.

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Vinyl For the Jazz Collector Price Guide

Sonny Rollins Jazz VinylAnd here’s more jazz vinyl from the newly updated (we hope) Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Not sure how we missed this one, but, to be fair, there’s been quite a large number of copies of this record on eBay lately, particularly one considered to be quite rare: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This one had the West 63rd Street address on both labels, but not the New York 23. So it is considered rare but less rare, original but less original. This one was probably VG+ for both the record and the cover. It sold for $2,456.

Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. This looked to be an original New York pressing with the original cover design, although there was no mention of the frame, or kakubishi cover. This one was in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $332. Here’s another Rollins from the same seller: Sonny Rollins, Moving Out, Prestige 7058. This was also an original New York pressing. The record was M- and the cover was just VG. This one sold for $472.

You don’t see this one too often, at least not with the red vinyl:

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Bass Really on Top

Paul ChambersWow, some of these Blue Notes being sold by Atomic Records are setting new standards, including: Paul Chambers, Bass on Top, Blue Note 1569. This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $2,024. We’ve seen that one break the $1,000 barrier, barely, once before in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but never did it break into the $2,000 bin, until now.

Here are a few that didn’t sell at all, starting with Mal Waldron, Mal2, Prestige 7111. This was an original pressing listed in VG+/VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. There was spirited bidding for this one, and the top bid reached $500, but it was not high enough to reach the seller’s reserve price.

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A Jazz Vinyl Trio for the $1,000 Bin

Here’s some high-end jazz vinyl we’ve missed in the past couple of weeks:

Marty Paich Quartet Featuring Art Pepper, Tampa 28. This was sold by the same seller who claimed exclusive access to the best of Leon Leavitt’s collection and was selling some other high-end items a few months ago. This one was an original pressing with the red vinyl and it was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $2,000, on the nose. Hmmm.

Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, Peckin’ Time, Blue Note 1574. This was listed as an original pressing in M- condition for the record and the cover. It sold for an even $1,300 and there was only one bid. Hmmm.

Dave Bailey Sextet, Bash!, Jazz Line. This one is quite rare, with Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Tommy Flanagan on piano. It was listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $1,111. No Hmmm for this.

Updating the $1,000 Jazz Vinyl Bin

Sorry for taking so long between posts. I had a ton of work on my real job, but no excuses. I promise to do better. So, let’s catch up on some of the records we missed while we were off in the real world.

I had my eye on this, but the price was too high even if I had been paying attention: Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craft, Blue Note 1582. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. I was looking at this with a couple of days to go and the price was relatively low. I thought, given the condition, perhaps it might be worth a snipe. It wound up selling for $1,125. However, I do have hope for acquiring this record in the future. I’ve got an idea I may be getting a copy for my birthday one of these days. How did I finagle that? I’ll tell you in another post this week.

John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. This was an original pressing that looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,602.77.

Whilst we’re perusing the $1,000 bin, here are a few more:

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Updating The Price Guide, Part 2

Here are some more items we’ll be loading into the Jazz Collector Price Guide today:

Jackie McLean and Company, Prestige 7087. This was an autographed original New York pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. Price: 418

Horace  Parlan, Headin’ South, Blue Note 4062. This was a New York USA pressing — not original — and was in M- condition. Price $371

Zoot Sims and the Modern Art of Jazz, Dawn 1102. This was an original mono pressing. The record and cover were in M- condition. Price: $105.01

We were watching this one to see if it had much value as a collectible. Apparently not: Dexter Gordon, Live at the Amsterdam Paradiso, Catfish 336-337. This was a double LP with the records VG++ and the cover VG+. Price: $30.53

Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, Blue Note 1580. This was an original West 63rd

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Today on Ebay, January 15, 2009

After a week of slow days, it was quite a pleasant surprise to log on today and find a large number of nice collectibles to watch, and perhaps even a couple on which to place a bid or two. So, without further ado, here are some items for the Jazz Collector files, and, eventually, for the Jazz Collector Price Guide:

Thelonious Monk, Monk, Prestige  7053. This is an original pressing with the cover art designed by Andy Warhol. The seller provides some interesting background on the cover. For instance, it notes that the cover was hand-written by Warhol’s mother, which we never knew. For the seller, it always pays to have nice detailed information like this. This record, which looks to be in M- condition, is currently priced at $540. 

Miles Davis, Bags’ Groove, Prestige 7109. This is listed as a yellow label. We asked the seller which address and it is a New Jersey address, so be aware. The record and cover both seem to be in VG+ condition. The current price is about $50. 

Dave Bailey Quintet, Reaching Out, Jazztime 003. This is an original pressing. The record seems to be in M- condition and the cover looks about VG. The current price is $305. 

Here’s one that wouldn’t normally hit our radar screen, but we’re sure some of you Jazz Collector readers out there will be interested: Albert Ayler, New York Eye and Ear Control, ESP 1016. This looks to be in M-/VG++ condition. The current price is $91. 

Here are a bunch more from today:

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