DG, or Not DG
I’ve been off eBay for a few days and I would once again thank Clifford for filling in. It’s always great to see so much interest in his posts, particularly since he covers an area of the jazz collector world that is pretty foreign to me. Anyway, before I left I had a watch list on eBay, and here are some of the items I was watching, starting with: Herbie Hancock, Takin’ Off, Blue Note 4109. This one had a comment in the listing that caught my eye. It looks like an original pressing with the New York USA label, ears, Van Gelder in the deadwax, et al. The seller says that there is a deep groove on side 2. I had thought the pressings after around this era no longer had deep grooves, but apparently I was mistaken. I looked at my copy and there seems to be some kind of groove, although not nearly as pronounced as the one in the picture on this listing. I looked it up in Fred Cohen’s book and it does seem that an original pressing of Takin’ Off does have a deep groove on side 2. Anyway, it’s very hard to get all of the DGs straight, even, apparently, when you’ve been blogging about this stuff for nearly 10 years. Anyway, this one was probably in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $521.
Eric Dolphy in Europe, Volume 1, Prestige 7304. This was an original pressing with the yellow label and New Jersey address. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover looked to be about VG+, based on the picture, with some ring wear and fraying at the bottom. The record sold for $344, about what you would expect, right?Elmo Hope, Informal Jazz, Prestige 7043. This was an original yellow label New York pressing. The vinyl was described as being “in EX shape, given its age.” I don’t know about you, but that type of qualifier always makes me a little hesitant/skeptical. The cover looked to be about VG+. The final price was $564.54.
Here’s one you don’t see too often, and one that has still eluded my collection: Introducing Freddie Redd, Prestige 197. This was an original 10-inch pressing that was probably in VG+ or VG++ condition for the record and maybe VG or VG+ for the cover, with seam splits on the top and spine. There was a single bidder and the record sold for about $200.
Well-lit photos on the playing surface of that Informal Jazz reveal some pretty visible nicks — I would assume it’s around a VG for the record. Glad to see you back, Al!
Yeah, I’m seeing quite a lot of little micro scuffs from stacking around the edges of that Informal Jazz. Would expect a bit of crackle at the start of that one
With a mono cartridge the noise of these 50s pressings is reduced significantly.
I don’t get worked up about deep grooves or non-deep grooves on New York USA Blue Notes. I feel it’s more of an issue for 47 w 63rd pressings. My mono copy of “the sidewinder” has a deep groove on both sides – go figure!?
mark, mine does not have any DG. but, like you, i do not worry too much by that era about DG, especially for a record like sidewinder, where they probably had every press firing on all cylinders to meet demand!
I have a NY mono Sidewinder copy which has a blank label on one side ! They were obviously manning all of the pumps when that one was created.
looks like that Hancock link also goes to the Dolphy…
The phrase “given it’s age” is usually bad news. Age has NOTHING to do with a grade. Any lp graded “EX given it’s age” I immediately assume is one full grade lower at least. It also tells me that the seller doesn’t understand how grading works.
Talking about deep groove labels, please I need your assistance: I noticed in my collection that some Columbia 6 eyes records (Davis KOB, Mingus ah um etc.) do not have deep grooves labels but they have 1A or 1B codes in trail off. In your opinion, these records are later pressings or maybe they were produced in different record plants? Thank you for your answer