Rare Jazz Vinyl: A Question of Condition
I had my eye on this one to see if it would sell: Jutta Hipp, At the Hickory House, Volume 2, Blue Note 1516. This was an original pressing with the Lexington Avenue label. So, it was listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. Except . . . the record had a few light surface scratches and played with some surface noise. So maybe the vinyl condition gets downgraded a notch. And then . . . the cover has a seam split ton the top with visible damage, so that gets graded down at least a notch, perhaps two. Then the question becomes how much do you trust a seller when there’s a clear discrepancy and the start price for the record is more than $900. The answer on eBay was “not enough,” since nobody bid. The record is back for sale with a lower start price, barely, of about $900.
Here‘s another:
Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 9399. This looks to be an original black label stereo pressing. This is an album for which I prefer the stereo version and I was actually thinking of bidding on this, with a start price of $199. I have an original mono and a Japanese stereo and typically when I listen, which is often, since this is The Lovely Mrs. JC’s favorite record of mine, I listen to the Japanese pressing. But when I looked closely at this listing, it mentioned minor surface noise. On some records, minor surface noise is only a minor distraction, but Waltz for Debby is a record I want to be clean, no pops, clicks or static if it can be avoided. So, I shall pass.
Here’s one more with slight surface noise and a high price tag: Sonny Rollins, Worktime, Prestige 7020. This is an original pressing with the New York label. The seller mentions the pink color on the cover. Is that definitely a thing? I have a copy with the pink cover, and I have another copy with a yellow cover. The pink is the one without the spine, so I guess that one is the original original. In any case, this listing mentions surface noise on both sides, and is still looking at a minimum bid of $1,200. So far there are no takers with more than two days left on the auction.
Al – I have a copy of both the pink and green 50th St. versions of 7020. The pink version has the frame cover while the green variation is laminated which is usually indicates a later release.
I haven’t seen a copy of 7020 with a yellow cover however the original release of Sonny Rollins 7029 was yellow with 7020 misprinted on the cover and was quickly withdrawn.
sellers that hedge their bets like that are out to get big paydays for mediocre-condition records and then be able to say “sorry it was all in the description” when they get called on it. i avoid those weasel words like the plague.
I’m with g the fish. That Jutta Hipp sounds like it’s VG/VG to me.
@gregory the fish. Well said, by reading the description and the not smart euphemisms, you understand it is most likely a trash. Needless to look at those rounded corners.
I can see the scratches on “Detour Ahead” in the LP photo of the Evans auction. Ouch.
Woody/Al. No yellow versions of 7020 exist. The misprinted 7020, for 7029, was orange/grey. After this was corrected into 7029, the kakubuchi unlaminated cover was still orange/grey, only to become later yellow blackish laminated with spine text.
The laminated green version of 7020 has a spine text.
Sorry. I confused my colors. Should have been careful with research instead of relying on my memory, which is getting more faulty as it gets older.
I miss Jazz Collector.
So do I. Thank you Japhy.
…. and so do I.
Fred had a great auction with some amazing treasures in it and not a sound from our friend Al 🙁
There was even the Coltrane (maybe signed but Fred claimed not) test pressing of ‘A Love Supreme’ that we didn’t get into a debate over. Huh?
That ALS test pressing sure made it’s way around the block! It sold in 2016 for $300, then the seller thesoundofblue was offering it for $20K before JRC sold it for $5k.
He is probably writing the next installments of “Misadventures in jazz Collecting”
Guess I’ll drop by once a month to see if this blog continues … oh Al, … we need ya back!