Watching eBay: Blue Train, Sonny Plus Four
Mar 3, 2010 Blue Note, Norgran, Prestige
Here are some records we’re watching now on eBay:
The same seller that has the copy of Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568 with a start price of almost $3,000 also has this: John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing and it is listed in VG++ condition. The start price is about $900. It’s interesting to watch this and the Mobley because the seller obviously decided to go with a high start price rather than put the record up with a reserve price. I actually prefer it this way as a buyer, but as a seller I’m not sure which is the best way to get people to bid.
I’m watching this one because it’s mine: Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. This one is a New York pressing with a New York cover. The cover is not the kakubushi frame, but it’s hard not to consider this an original pressing with both
Tags: Charlie Ventura, Hank Mobley, Jazz Vinyl, John Coltrane, Kakubushi, Mary Ann McCall, Sonny Rollins
Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Sonny 10-Inch Prestige
Feb 17, 2010 10-Inch LPs, Prestige, The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown
How do you place a value on an album like this: Sonny Rollins Quartet, Prestige 137? Here’s my story: I purchased a copy of this record about 25 years ago as part of a large collection. It is quite, quite rare, Sonny is one of my favorite artists and it has this great cover picture of him from the early 1950s with slicked-back hair and a wisp of a mustache. A real beauty, right? However, the copy I owned was in pretty poor shape and a few years ago I picked up a near mint copy on eBay for $200. Actually, it was advertised as near mint and it’s not near mint, but that’s another story. So I’ve been sitting with two copies of this record, one in poor shape, and as I’ve been trying to weed doubles out of my collection, I’ve put this one aside and avoided making a decision. For some reason, this week
Tags: Dayton's, Sonny Rollins
More Blue Note Favorites, Courtesy of Downbeat
Feb 10, 2010 Blue Note
I did that post earlier today and mentioned that Downbeat had done a whole feature asking various artists about their favorite Blue Note records. I was able to dig up my copy of the magazine — I don’t have a subscription anymore, but I had purchased this one on the newsstand because of the cover. It was from March of 2009. The cover, as you can see, has Joe Lovano with his favorite Blue Note: Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Free For All, Blue Note 4170. It’s quite gratifying to see his picture with a vinyl pressing, and a mono vinyl pressing at that and perhaps even an original mono pressing. Inside, the magazine asked a variety of other jazz artists to name their favorite Blue Notes as well. Here are their replies:
Tags: Andrew Hill, Art Blakey, Bobby Hutcherson, Dexter Gordon, Donald Byrd, Downbeat, Eric Dolphy, Freddie Hubbard, Freddie Redd, Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, JJ Johnson, Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano, John Coltrane, Larry Young, McCoy Tyner, Sheila Jordan, Sonny Clark, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter
Catching Up: Walter Davis on UA, Jackie, Sonny
Feb 4, 2010 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
Here are a few items we’ve been watching on eBay. Given our recent interest in later pressings, particularly Blue Notes, we were curious about this record: Walter Davis, Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. An original pressing of this would normally sell for more than $1,000, and we’ve recorded one instance of this record fetching $2,000 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. This record was not of that distinctive lineage: This was a United Artists pressing, similar, unfortunately, to the one in my collection. It sold for $34, which seems about right, unless you’re the seller bobdjukik and can somehow sell it for $400 or more.
This was from the same seller, but it was an original: Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This one was in VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG or VG+ for the cover. The price was $273.60.
Here’s one of my favorite Sonny Rollins records, at a reasonable price:
Tags: Contemporary Records, Jackie McLean, Jazz Vinyl, Sonny Rollins, United Artists, Walter Davis Jr.
Are Later Pressings on The Rise?
Feb 2, 2010 Blue Note
Read the rest of this entry »
I’m still gathering my thoughts to write the final chapter in my Confessions of a Vinyl Addict but in the meantime, I’ve noticed something interesting: For many of the rare records, it seems even early pressings that are not originals are increasing dramatically in value. We saw a few week ago several of the United Artists Blue Notes selling for more than $400, but those were clearly an aberration created by a seller who seems to have discovered some kind of new method of record sales based on the P.T. Barnum theory of a sucker being born every minute. We’re not talking about those $400 United Artists Blue Notes. But here’s one we were watching this week that was clearly not an original pressing: Sonny Rollins, A Night At the Village Vanguard, Blue Note 1581. This one has the New York USA label, so
Tags: Jazz Vinyl, Sonny Rollins, Village Vanguard
On eBay Now: Duke, Fuller, Newk
Feb 1, 2010 Jazz Vinyl, Prestige
In addition to having an occasional existential crisis, I have also been putting some interesting items on eBay that are worth watching. Here are a couple:
The Complete Capitol Recordings of Duke Ellington, Mosaic MD 5-160. I got this a dozen years ago and never even opened it, so I figured it might be time to sell it. The CDs are unopened and the price is close to $100. Also: The Complete Blue Note/UA Curtis Fuller Sessions, Mosaic MD3-166. Similar situation as the Duke, with the CDs unopened. This one is currently at $50, but I’m hoping it goes for a lot more.
I had this one hanging in a frame above my desk: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This is an original New York pressing. It is
Tags: Capitol Records, Curtis Fuller, Duke Ellington, Mosaic Records, Sonny Rollins
Updates: $1,000 Bin, Dizzy, Sonny, Trane
Jan 28, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Impulse, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran
Still updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide. It can be a bit tedious, but it’s important, isn’t it? Let’s hope so. Anyway, here are a few items on the extremes: A couple more for the $1,000 bin and a few that normally don’t make the Price Guide but, for one reason or another, have broken through.
First the big ones: Walter Davis, Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This was an original pressing and it was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,300. Also, Paul Chambers Quintet, Blue Note 1564. This was an original pressing. The record and cover looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition. The price was $1,032.
Here are a couple that don’t often get collectible prices: Dizzy Gillespie, Afro, Norgran 1003. This was an original yellow label pressing with a cover design by David Stone Martin. It was only in VG condition and sold for $72. That may not be a Blue Note price, but it is still somewhat surprising. Few of the Dizzy record
Tags: Blue Note, David Stone Martin, Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz Vinyl, John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman, Paul Chambers, Sonny Rollins, Walter Davis
Some Top LPs That Didn’t Sell
Jan 22, 2010 Blue Note, Prestige
We usually keep track of records that sell on eBay. Here are a few records that did not sell. Why? Because they did not meet the seller’s reserve price. We will probably see these records back on eBay either with a lower reserve or no reserve at all. I know many of you refuse to bid on records that have a reserve, but I’m open: If I bid my price and it doesn’t meet the seller’s reserve, so be it. Actually, I do get a bit angry, truth be told, and I am circumspect of that seller in the future. So maybe I’m not as open as I would like to be.
This first one is a record we’ve been watching quite a bit lately: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was a New York pressing. It wasn’t pristine. The vinyl was described as having a few marks and the cover was noted as having a small tape repair. The top bid was $1,554, which was below the reserve price.
Here’s another Prestige: Curtis Fuller, New Trombone, Prestige 7107. This was an original New York pressing. The record was
Tags: Curtis Fuller, Jazz Vinyl, Paul Chambers, Sonny Rollins
A Couple of New Ones For The Price Guide
Jan 20, 2010 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Price Guide, Promo Copies, RCA
Here are a few items that don’t normally make the Jazz Collector Price Guide:
Sonny Rollins, The Bridge, RCA 2527. This was an original stereo pressing listed in M- condition by a very reputable seller who also owns the best record store on Long Island. Still, while this is an interesting record with an interesting history — the return of Rollins after his legendary practice sessions on the Williamsburg Bridge — it has never really been a collectible item, at least in terms of its selling price. Perhaps it’s starting to move up the ranks: This one sold for $90.99. Not quite Blue Note prices, but a collectible price nonetheless.
Here’s another one we normally don’t track:
Tags: Atlantic Records, Jazz Vinyl, Roland Kirk, Sonny Rollins
Bird & Newk for the $1,000 and $2,000 Bins
Jan 18, 2010 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
Two of those Sonny Rollins LPs we were watching passed the $2,000 barrier: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was an original pressing in near mint condition from a reputable seller in Italy. The final price tag was $2,850. Also: Sonny Rollins Volume 1, Blue Note 1542. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing, also in near mint condition. This one sold for $2,025.22. Breaking the $1,000 barrier was:
Tags: Charlie Parker, Dial Records, Jazz Vinyl, Sonny Rollins
On Ebay: Newk & Jenkins, Blue Note & Prestige
Jan 17, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige
Here’s another one headed for the $1,000 bin: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This is an original pressing that looks to be in near mint condition by a seller in Italy who has solid feedback. There are about 14 hours to go and it is already at about $1,800. The seller has five rare Rollins LPs on eBay now, also: Sonny Rollins Volume 1, Blue Note 1542. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing that also looks to be in near mint condition. The current price is more than $500, but it has not yet reached the seller’s reserve.
Here’s another seller with some nice Blue Notes on eBay today, including: John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This is an original pressing with
Tags: Jazz Vinyl, John Jenkins, Kenny Burrell, Sonny Rollins
Rare Sonny Rollins & Kenny Dorham Available Here
Jan 13, 2010 For Sale
Okay, here’s an interesting one for you. Back in the early 1970s there was this this guy in New York who had a massive collection of audio tapes that he would record from radio broadcasts. For a while he would issue these tapes on bootleg LPs under a variety of names. I have at least a couple of dozen of these issues, under labels such as Alto Records and Ozone and Session Disk, by a large number of artists such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins and many others.
He also, apparently, had tapes that were never issued in any format — and we’ve discovered one of them here. Not only that, but it’s quite a legendary performance by a legendary group of artists: Max Roach with Sonny Rollins and Kenny Dorham, recorded Dec. 12, 1956 at the Cafe Bohemia just seven months after the tragic accident that claimed the lives of Clifford Brown and Richie Powell.
This is the story: One of our friends and faithful Jazz Collector readers visited with the guy who had the tapes back in the 1970s and made a copy, on a reel-to-reel tape, of two
Tags: Max Roach, Sonny Rollins
Price Updates: Newk, Cliff Jordan, Johnny Griffin
Jan 12, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
Here’s some more jazz vinyl for the Jazz Collector Price Guide:
Sonny Rolins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was an original New York pressing with the yellow label. Based on the description we would rate the vinyl as VG+ and the cover as VG+. Considering the overall condition, this one sold for a pretty hefty price tag: $1,705.
By comparison, based on the condition, we thought this might fetch a higher price: Cliff Jordan, Blue Note 1565. This was an original pressing in at least VG++ condition, perhaps M-, based on the description. We expected it to certainly break into the $1,000 bin, but it fell just short. It sold for $939.
This one did not fall short of the $1,000 bin:
Tags: Cliff Jordan, Johnny Griffin, Sonny Rollins
On Ebay Now: Blue Notes of Note
Jan 8, 2010 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Price Guide
There’s some nice Blue Note jazz vinyl on eBay now, including:
Louis Smith, Here Comes Louis Smith, Blue Note 1584. This looks to be an original pressing with the vinyl in VG++ condition and the cover just VG-. The seller goes out of his way to provide some nice clear pictures of the cover, which we always appreciate. This one is only $58 with more than a day to go, but the seller has a reserve price and it has not yet been reached. I know many of you are not fans of auctions with reserve prices, which is something to consider when listing jazz vinyl.
Cliff Jordan, Blue Note 1565. This is also an original pressing and it looks to be in VG++ condition, at least, for both the vinyl and the cover. Actually, it’s probably closer to M- than VG++, based on the description. The current price is $315 and there’s more than a day to go with no reserve. I would
not be surprised to see this one sell for more than $1,000.
Tags: Clifford Jordan, Johnny Griffin, Louis Smith, Sonny Rollins
A Tale of Two Covers
Dec 14, 2009 Album Covers, Blue Note
I’ve never been one to collect European pressings of original American LPs but I have to admit my heart fluttered a bit when I was browsing eBay this morning and came upon this: Sonny Rollins, Worktime, Esquire 32-308. Now this is an awesome cover. The drawing is reminiscent of David Stone Martin. I, frankly, hadn’t seen this cover before so I’m hoping someone out there has more knowledge about it and can share it. I just think it’s a terrific cover all the way around, and clearly some bidders on eBay agree with me: The record and cover are in about VG condition and the price is already more than $300 with 10 bids. It will be interesting to see what this goes for, and to learn more about it as well. I did a quick Google search and didn’t find anything, but I’ll take a longer look later if no one in the audience has the info.
Another record with a very interesting cover closing today is:
Tags: Esquire Records, Joan Miro, Sonny Rollins, Storyville Records, Toshiko Akiyoshi
Prestige Day At Jazz Collector
Nov 28, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
Let’s catch up on some of the Prestige jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:
Sonny Rollins, Moving Out, Prestige 7058. This was an original New York pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover and the seller has a good reputation. The price was $197.50. This one has Kenny Dorham and Thelonious Monk. We would have expected a higher price.
Webster Young, For Lady, Prestige 7106. This was an original New York pressing as well. The record was only VG, while the cover was M-. The price was $213.50.
Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Prestige 7294. This was an original yellow label pressing with
Tags: Charles McPherson, Cliff Jordan, Eric Dolphy, New Jazz, Phil Woods, Sonny Rollins, WEbster Young
Rollins in Concert; Memories of the Village Gate
Nov 10, 2009 Jazz Memoirs, News
I don’t get out to see live jazz nearly as much as I would like. It’s tough when most of your favorite musicians are dead. Someone did send me a link, however, to let me know that Sonny Rollins is giving a concert in Tarrytown, NY, on Dec. 6. This is one I will make every effort to attend: Don’t know how many more chances there will be to see Sonny and, the truth is, his playing is still amazing. I saw him at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival a couple of years ago and he was creative, inventive and full of energy and musicianship. This is a benefit concert for an environmental group and for a premium ticket of $500 you get to meet Sonny. There was a time when you could see Sonny in a club and just chat
Tags: Art D'Lugoff, Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins, Village Gate
For the $1,000 Bin: Newk and Hank
Nov 9, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
Whilst we were at the theater this weekend, or watching football, a few more records on eBay sauntered into the $1,000 bin, neither for the first time. They were: Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1204. This was an original pressing and it was listed in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. The price was $1,285. We’ve seen this previously sell for $2,000 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Also re-entering the $1,000 win was this: Hank Mobley, Hank, Blue Note 1568. This is the one we were watching that had a starting price of just about $2,000. It was an original pressing. The vinyl was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was listed as VG+. The starting price was $1,999.99 and that was the sale price as well. Sometimes I’m skeptical if a record gets only one bid, but this
Tags: Hank Mobley, Period Records, Sonny Rollins
Some Odds & Ends: Konitz, Brubeck, Newk
Oct 28, 2009 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Price Guide
While we’re catching up on adding items to the Jazz Collector Price Guide, we figured we’d share a few more odds and ends with you. This is one you don’t normally expect to sell for more than $300: Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh, Atlantic 1217. This was an original black label pressing in M- condition and sold for $311. I have to give the seller a lot of credit for this one. He took an absolutely crystal-clear picture and he did a very nice job of describing the condition of the LP. It really catches your eye and makes you want the LP. Sometimes, presentation is everything.
Here’s one you almost never see going for a big price: Dave Brubeck Time Out, Columbia 8192. This was one of the most popular jazz LPs ever and
Tags: Atlantic Records, Columbia Records, Dave Brubeck, Jazz Vinyl, Lee Konitz, Period Records, Promo, Sonny Rollins, Warne Marsh
Prestige Day: Monk, Webster Young, Dolphy, Jug
Oct 3, 2009 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Price Guide
Let’s catch up this morning on some Prestige LPs we’ve been watching. There was a time when we pondered the idea of owning the entire Prestige Yellow label catalogue but, thankfully, we’ve give up that particular obsession.
Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins, Prestige 7075. This was an original New York pressing with the promo stamp on the label. It was in M- condition and it was sold by the seller hershel78, who’s been selling some beautiful records lately on eBay. This one sold for $500.
From the same seller was this beauty: Webster Young, For Lady, Prestige 7106. This was an original New York pressing and it too was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $482.77.
Here’s one that definitely set a new high price:
Tags: Eric Dolphy, Gene Ammons, Jazz Vinyl, New Jazz Records, Sonny Rollins, The Five Spot, Thelonious Monk, WEbster Young
The Sound of Sonny Rollins: The Winner Is . . .
Sep 23, 2009 Free Collectibles, Riverside
Okay, it’s time to announce the winner of Jazz Collector’s latest giveaway. This time, you may recall, we are giving away a copy of Sonny Rollins, The Sound of Sonny, Riverside 241. This is not an original pressing and is an OJC pressing. Yet it is in near mint condition and it is great jazz vinyl featuring some fantastic Rollins from the mid-1950s. We had put this up as a way of honoring Rollins in the wake of yet another snub by the Kennedy Center Honors. Anyway, as with all of our giveaways, all you have to do to be eligible to win is to comment on the Jazz Collector site, anywhere, in response to anything, as long as the comment is made during the duration of the contest. The eligible contestants this time are:
A Bargain At Under $1,000?
Sep 16, 2009 $1000 Records, Prestige, Price Guide
If a record should sell for more than $1,000, perhaps this would fit the bill: Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness, Prestige 7047. This was a beautiful, New York pressing in mint minus condition, for both the record and the cover. Sonny and Trane together, an early Prestige, great cover. It’s got it all. This one sold for $832. As great a record as this is, this is the highest price we’ve ever recorded for it. The previous high in the Jazz Collector Price Guide was $543. I actually think this one would have sold for a higher price with a better picture. Someday soon we will be adding a copy of this to the $1,000 been, we are quite sure.
Tags: John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins
The Incredible Rise of the $1,000 Jazz Record
Sep 14, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside
The $1,000 bin truly doth runneth over days. It’s quite an interesting phenomenon.
Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1534. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. A few years ago, I bought a copy of this on eBay in similar condition for about $300. At the time, I thought I was overpaying. A few weeks ago I sold a separate copy on eBay for about $325. It was in nice condition, with a VG+ cover. This was not a record I ever expected to see in the $1,000 bin. This copy sold for $1,313.
Here’s another one I never expected to see sell for more than $1,000: Cannonball Adderley, Somethin’s Else, Blue Note 1595. This is a nice record, but has never been among the higher-priced Blue Notes. The highest price we had previously recorded for this in the Jazz Collector Price Guide was around $400. This copy was in mice M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,475.
This one almost entered the $2,000 bin:
Tags: Art Pepper, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Chet Baker, Hank Mobley, Johnny Griffin, JR Monterose, Kenny Dorham, Paul Chambers, Sonny Rollins
Jazz Collector Honors Sonny With FREE Record
Sep 10, 2009 Free Collectibles, Riverside
Okay, if the Kennedy Center won’t honor Sonny Rollins, we will. In honor of Sonny’s recent 79th birthday on Monday, we will be giving away a free copy of one of Sonny’s classic LPs from the 1950s: Sonny Rollins, The Sound of Sonny, Riverside 241. Of course, this is not quite an original pressing: It is an OJC reissue. Still it is a great record, it’s in near mint condition, and it’s available free. As with all of our contests, we have one copy of the record and we will hold a drawing to determine the winner. In order to be eligible all you have to do is comment somewhere on the Jazz Collector site between now and when the contest closes, on September 21. You can comment anywhere — perhaps you want to weigh in on whether you agree with me that Sonny is being short-changed by not receiving a Kennedy Center honor. If you comment on the site between now and September 21 we’ll put you in the running for the contest. It’s as simple as that. By the way, if you want to see a funny out-take from my attempt to photograph the record, read the rest of this article.
Kennedy Center Honors: Where’s Sonny?
Sep 10, 2009 News
If you were to honor one living jazz musician for his lifetime contributions to the music who would it be? To me, the answer is simple: Sonny Rollins. He is one of the all-time greats, a constant innovator, a true master. So I was a bit disappointed again this morning to see that the Kennedy Center, which honors individuals for their contributions to the American performing arts, had once again chosen not to recognize Sonny. They did choose a jazz musician this year, and a deserving one, in Dave Brubeck. But to choose Brubeck over Rollins is, to me, a real stretch. I looked up the list of prior winners and out of 168 previous honorees there were eight who could be considered jazz musicians, or at least jazz-affiliated musicians. The awards were first issued in 1978 and the honoree must be living, so that precluded such likely honorees