Record temptation came and went. The Blue Note 78s from the Jazz Record Center sold for $910 and, by the time the auction came around, I had forgotten all about them. I seem to be less obsessive in my old age. I think this is a good thing. The Lovely Mrs. JC certainly does. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have topped $910 even if I had remembered. There was also this odd item from the same auction: Rare Blue Note Salesman’s Folio. This was a spiral-bound portfolio with promoting Blue Note releases from August 1967, with a “salesman’s demonstration record.” I have to admit, I’ve never seen one of these. It sold for $1,009.99. Imagine if there was a pre-Liberty portfolio, or one from the ‘50s? Read more
Tag: Sonny Clark
Jazz Vinyling on eBay
Time once again to clear out the eBay watch list, starting with a few from that Jazz Record Center auction from a couple of weeks ago: Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This was an original pressing with the New York 23 labels. The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover was probably the same. The final price was $2,276. For the record, there have been copies of Sonny’s Crib that have sold for more than $3,000 in the past, according to Popsike. There was also a copy of Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. This was also an original pressing, probably in VG++ condition for the record and maybe VG+ or slightly better for the cover. The final price was $2,025.
Classic Blue Notes from Jazz Record Center
Our friends at the Jazz Record Center have quite an auction closing this week, including several of the rarest of the rare Blue Notes, starting with Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This is a deep-groove West 63rdStreet pressing, no New York 23 label, but it is still considered an original. This one looks to be in VG++ condition for the record and probably VG+ or VG++ for the cover, depending upon how the buyer might feel about a “professional restoration” and a “lightly audible scratch.” This bidding on this one has already surpassed $2,000 with three days of bidding to go.
Here’s another one already in the $2,000 bin: Read more
True Blue, Sonny’s Crib and More
Let’s catch up on a few other rare jazz records we were watching on eBay and, without expressing inordinate surprise, we will start with Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The seller did not follow established norms in his description, basically saying “amazing sound and few imperfections.” Imperfections, it seems, would be in the eye or ears of the beholder. The beholder, in this case, is the person who bid $2,025 for this record. As a point of observation, there were definitely imperfections in the cover, including a tape repair, that would probably put it in the VG category, maybe VG+ on a good day. Read more
Potpourri: Rare Jazz Vinyl, Bill Evans Tributes
Time to catch up on a few items from our watch list on eBay, starting with John Coltrane, Soultrane, Prestige 7142. This was an original New Jersey yellow label that looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. When first first looked at this on Jazz Collector, it had a start price of $200 with no bidders. In the end, it wound up selling for $618, which is pretty near the top price was Soultrane. I was pleased to see Rudolf’s comment on the last post because I wholeheartedly agree that this is my favorite of the Coltrane’s on Prestige. If we watch this space long enough, I’m pretty sure we’ll see the day when a mint copy of Soultrane ends up in the $1,000 bin.
The Sonny Clark record, Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588, which turns out not to have been an original pressing Read more
Of Market Value and Music Value
Back on eBay and wanted to first catch up on some of the items we were watching last time, starting with George Wallington, New York Scene, New Jazz 8207. This was the one from the Jazz Record Center and the bidding was at close to $800 when we wrote about it. The record wound up selling for $2,000, well surpassing the previous top price paid for this record, according to Popsike. I still find it fascinating that certain records have a strong appeal to collectors, i.e., value, while other records of the same era, perhaps by more prominent artists, have less of an appeal. Off the top of my head, I’ll use Sonny Rollins Plus Four as an example. This is a great record, featuring ground-breaking artists in their prime, on Prestige, yet it has never come close to the $1,000 mark, let alone $2,000. I’m sure I can come up with other examples, but you get the drift. I’m sure it has to do with supply and demand and all of that and perceptions of what is “rare” and what isn’t, which, I guess, is one of the nice things about having sites like eBay and Popsike to monitor the market and see on a daily basis what actual market value looks like. Back in the dark ages before the Internet, most of us were probably operating in the dark, not quite understanding the market value of what we were collecting. I guess we were focusing on the music that we loved.
Rare Jazz Vinyl, For Thousands of $$$ or, Perhaps, 25 Cents
I have more stories to tell, including a return engagement at Spike’s Record Rack in Catskill, but I feel I must get back to the business of looking at collectible vinyl on eBay before I do so. Nothing too exciting — no new collections — just some random stuff. So let’s get on with some eBay watching first and do the story-telling later in the week. If it’s eBay, there must be an expensive Sonny Clark record selling for thousands of dollars somewhere. This week it is Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588, courtesy of our friends at the Jazz Record Center in New York. This looks to be in really nice condition. Based on the description, my grade would be M- for the record and VG++ for the cover. There are nearly two days left on this auction and the bidding is now in the $1,100 range. We have consistently seen this record in the $3,000 bin and, at least once in the rarified $5,000 bin. I’m setting the over/under on this copy arbitrarily at $4,100.
A Day for Sonny Clark (Not to Mention Sonny Clarke)
I’m back. The good news is the major book project I’ve been working on is finally complete and the book will be published in the next few weeks. That should free up more time for me to spend on Jazz Collector. The bad news is I’ve made promises like this before and failed to keep them. We’ll see how it goes. It’s only been in the last few months or so that I’ve really slacked off, so perhaps I just need a little inspiration, like buying a collection, maybe? Also, I’m wide open to other people writing for the site, as Clifford has done in the past, so if you’re interested you can just drop me an email, alatjazzcollector.com. In the meantime, I want to thank our loyal reader Japhy for reminding me to get back into the fray by sending me a link to the $7,300 Sonny Clark Leapin’ and Lopin’, which has already been the subject of a post here, but which made me realize how long it has been between posts for me. Anyway, on to rare collectible jazz vinyl on eBay.
Leapin’, Lopin’ and Lunacy
After last week’s diversion, I see I am being prodded to get back to the regular business of tracking the market for rare jazz vinyl, and so I will start with a note and link from our friend Clifford, subject: Sonny Clark WTF. Clifford writes, “Hey, Al. Here’s one for the ages (maybe). I’d gladly let my copy go for just $5000!” And the link is Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and Lopin’, Blue Note 4091. This was an original mono pressing with the New York USA address. The record and the cover were in just VG+ condition. The final price was $7,300. As Clifford so eloquently put it: WTF! There were 21 bidders and 44 bids and the price went from a reasonable $563 to a ridiculous $7,300 in the last moments. I would guess that two bidders both had a strategy of putting in humongous bids just to assure that they would get the record and, voila, they ran up against one another. How else could we explain a VG+ copy of this record selling for that price? Read more
Back to Business, Back to Blue Note
I’ve been off eBay for a while, tending to other business, so to get reacclimated and grab a quick look at what’s going on, I did a search of some of the highest priced jazz records now up for auction. Naturally, all of the top listings came up Blue Note. Here are a few, starting with Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This is an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The record is listed in VG+ condition and the cover is VG++. It looks like a nice solid copy. The bidding is now in the $475 with more than two days left on the auction. Given today’s market, I would expect this one to break into the $1,000 bin.
This one is already headed for the $1,000 bin, and might wind up all the way into the $3,000 bin, if, indeed, such a bin actually exists: Kenny Dorham, Round Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looks absolutely pristine from the photos, as if it had been preserved in laminate from 1956. The seller lists it as M- for both the record and the cover. The bidding has already exceeded $1,500 and there are more than five days left on the auction.
April is Jazz Month
