Jazz Vinyl Price Update: Jackie, Newk Et Al
Aug 13, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide
I have a couple of hundred items to enter into the Jazz Collector Price Guide and I’m hoping to find some time this weekend. As I’ve been perusing through the entries this morning, I found a few that I never updated on the site, so here they are. No links on these, by the way.
Jackie McLean, Alto Madness, Prestige 7114. This was from about a month ago. It was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $932. A copy of Jackie’s Pal sold for more than $1,500 last week. There’s definitely been something that has stirred some higher prices in the past couple of weeks.
Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This was an original pressing that was in VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG for the cover. The price was $610.. This was an original pressing that was
Tags: Cliff Jordan, Jackie McLean, Jazz Vinyl, Sonny Clark, Sonny Rollins
Today’s $1,000 Bin: Newk, JR, Sun Ra, Cliff Jordan
Jul 11, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige
Let’s update the Jazz Collector $1,000 bin, shall we?
Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The selling price was $2,125. That’s the third highest price we’ve ever recorded for Saxophone Colossus in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Check out this one: J. R. Monterose, In Action, Studio 4 SS 100. This was an original pressing and we know this is a rare record from previous descriptions. If you missed those do a search above on J. R. Monterose and you can read all about it. What’s interesting about this listing is the seller’s rather detailed yet still unclear description of the condition. It seems to me, if I were bidding on this record, I would expect it to be in VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG for the cover. I’m thinking the winning bidder and those bidding it up, actually may have felt it was in better condition because
Tags: Cliff Jordan, J. R. Monterose, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Jazz Vinyl, Sonny Rollins, Sun Ra
On eBay: Mingus, Newk & Unplayed Records
Jul 5, 2010 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay:
Charles Mingus and Thad Jones, Jazz Collaborations Volume 1, Debut 17. This is an original 10-inch LP and it is in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. Quite hard to find this LP in this condition. The seller is Euclid Records, which has been posting quite a collection of rare 10-inch LPs the past couple of weeks. Anyway, this one closes in about 15 hours from this post and is still in the $100 range.
This one has a buy-it-now price of $2,800 and is currently at $1,000 in the bidding but has not yet reached the seller’s reserve price:
Tags: Charles Mingus, Cliff Jordan, Debut Records, Jackie McLean, Sonny Rollins, Thad Jones
On eBay: Three More Tenors
Jun 24, 2010 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Prestige
Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. This is a New York pressing with the first cover. I would assume the cover is a kakubushi cover, but if I were to actually bid on this record — I won’t — I would definitely ask first. This is a great record, of course, with Clifford Brown and Max Roach and this copy is in M- condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. This is also listed as a promo copy and I’m not sure if that does anything to enhance the value. Anyway, this one is at about $230 with less than two days to go.
Here’s a nice 10-inch Blue Note:
Tags: Aladdin Records, Frank Foster, Lester Young, Sonny Rollins
Newcomers For the Jazz Collector Price Guide
Jun 23, 2010 Clef, Price Guide, RCA
Here are some records that don’t often make it to the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
I’ve never thought of this record as a collectible: The Standard Sonny Rollins, RCA 3355. This was an original pressing and it was in M- condition. It sold for $122.50. It was a stereo pressing and I’m wondering, perhaps, if it is as much an audiophile collectible as much as a jazz collectible. I’m a big Rollins fan, but this is not among my favorite Sonny LPs.
How about this one: Presenting Red Mitchell, Contemporary 3538. This is an original deep groove mono pressing with the yellow label. The vinyl was listed in M- condition and the
Tags: Contemporary Records, David Stone Martin, Flip Phillips, Red Mitchell, Sonny Rollins
Catching Up: Sahib, Serge, Newk, Woods
May 23, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige
This one almost made the $2,000 bin: Sahib Shihab and the Danish Radio Jazz Group, Oktav 111. This was an original Danish pressing. What was most amazing about this listing was the number of views it received — more than 1,600. It was listed so that it came up on the first page when you would do a search of jazz vinyl, but still, 1,600 views is quite a lot for any record. Also, I have to plead my ignorance about this LP: I’ve never seen it before and know nothing about it, so if anyone has insight to share, please feel free to do so. The record seemed to be in VG++ condition, close to M-, and the cover was also about VG++, based on the description. The price was $1,952.60.
This one seemed to get top dollar: Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge, Capitol 742. It was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it was sold by Euclid Records. The price was $364.88. Finding these records in such
Tags: Capitol Records, Euclid Records, Jazz Vinyl, Phil Woods, Sahib Shihab, Serge Chaloff, Sonny Rollins
And A Bunch More Blue Notes & Prestiges
May 17, 2010 Blue Note, Prestige
While I’m cleaning my eBay queue and updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide, here are a few more Blue Notes and Prestiges for your perusal. No links here and also the prices have been rounded. Some good stuff:
Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This was an original West 63rd pressing in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. The price was $589.
Lee Morgan, City Lights, Blue Note 1575. This was an original pressing. The record and cover looked to be in VG++ condition. The price was $1,058.
Sonny Rollins, Movin’ Out, Prestige 7058. This was an original New York yellow label. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG++ as well. The price was $283.
Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition for
Tags: Barbara Lea, Duke Pearson, Jackie McLean, Lee Morgan, Louis Smith, Moondog, Sonny Clark, Sonny Rollins, Tina Brooks
Lee, Newk, Pepper For the $1,000 Bin
May 15, 2010 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Prestige
Here are a few recent eBay sales we missed:
Lee Morgan, Volume 3, Blue Note 1557. This was an original West 63rd pressing that looked to be in VG+ condition, perhaps a little better, but not nearly mint. It sold for $1,704.
Here’s another copy of Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition. It sold for $1,425.
Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. Based on the description it sounds like this record was VG+, although it was listed as VG++. The price was $1,300.
Pretty cool so far: Three records for the $1,000 bin and none of them
Tags: Art Pepper, Barney Wilen, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk
The Answer To The $1,000 Question
May 8, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige
That last item on $1,000 records didn’t get much response, to my surprise, but Rudolf and Robert were definitely on track thinking about looking under “Mo” in their collections. Based on our quick and unscientific perusal of the $1,000 bin within the Jazz Collector Price Guide, these were the artists that come up with the most different records:
Tags: Charlie Parker, Hank Mobley, Kenny Dorham, Lee Morgan, Sonny Clark, Sonny Rollins
Adventures in Jazz Collecting: The Auction, Part 5
Apr 12, 2010 Features, RCA, Verve
All right, let’s do some more of this Jazz Auction stuff. So, by this point in the auction I have purchased eight lots and I am clearly on a roll and forgetting about the 17 percent surcharge and figuring, “What the heck, I’m already paying for shipping, let’s buy some more records.” And so I did.
Gerry Mulligan, Seven LPs. Price: $46.80. Why? There is no good answer to this question. I certainly have all of these LPs, and probably don’t even want to keep all of these LPs, and there is probably not that much of a market for these LPs on eBay. The best of the records, from a collectible standpoint, is The Gerry Mulligan Songbook on World Pacific. There’s also a nice Mulligan on Emarcy with Zoot Sims. There’s a copy of Mulligan and Stan Getz on Verve, but it’s an MGM pressing. Really, there was no rhyme or reason to bidding on these — and actually winning — other than the adrenaline rush of buying more records.
Sonny Rollins, Three RCA Victor LPs and Lester Young For LPs. Price: $93.60. This fits into
Tags: Gerry Mulligan, Lester Young, Sonny Rollins
Sonny Live and Well: Better Late Than Never
Apr 1, 2010 Autographs
We’re doing some housekeeping here at Jazz Collector and in cleaning out email we discovered some interesting items that our friend Don-Lucky sent to us all the way back in December. Don-Lucky drove down from Canada to see Sonny Rollins in Tarrytown and what follows are some souvenirs from his trip, which he graciously shared with us and which we in inadvertently put into a hold file and ignored for lo these many months. This first item is a New York pressing, by the way:
Next up are some photos that are a bit more current:
Tags: Jazz Video, Sonny Rollins
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