Insanely Rare Jazz, and More
Here are a few odds and ends we’re watching on eBay now, starting with Roland Kirk, Triple Threat, King 539. It must admit, when I saw the listing for this record I had a certain seller in mind because of the all caps JAZZ HOLY GRAIL DG ORIG INSANELY RARE. But it was the normally rational Euclid Records with the listing, so perhaps there is some contagious bobdjukic virus spreading across eBay. In any case, this holy grail is listed as VG- for the record and VG+ for the cover. There are four days left on the auction and the record is getting close to the $400 mark.
Jimmy Raney, A, Prestige 7089. This is an original yellow label pressing with the West 50thStreet address. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG+. The start price is about $100 and so far there are no bidders with the auction closing later today. Surprised there is not more interest in this record yet, since Raney was one of the top bop-inspired guitarists of the era and this is, after all, an original Prestige.
Speaking of original Prestige records, there is Mal Waldron, Mal 3, Prestige New Jazz 8201. This looks to be an original purple label deep groove pressing. The record looks to be in VG condition and the cover VG+, with the shrink wrap. Bidding is in the $125 range with several days left on the auction.
Toshiko Akiyoshi, The Toshiko Trio, Storyville 912. This looks to be an original pressing. The record is listed in VG+ condition and the cover VG++ with a 5-inch seam split, so that makes it VG+ in the eyes of this potential buyer. There also seems to be a stamp on the cover. This one has a start price of about $170 and so far there are no bidders.
A pity indeed for the Raney album which deserves more attention. Good music, nice art work. A possible explanation, may be the fact that it is a re issue of 10″ PrLp 199 and NJLP 1101?
The Waldron is an essential one. The shrink is a retail shop gimmick and not authentic. The violet label is a second, the first being the yellow/black stars label. The RW stamp is a factory cut out marking.
Could the photography be any worse for that Raney auction? I bet that’s part of the problem.
Euclid has been blowing out some serious rarities lately, including two (!) copies of the Black Unity Trio, everybody’s favorite free jazz grail…
Yes indeed, hyperbole from an unexpected corner re the Kirk lp. Used to have this on Bethelem pressing. Used to have is a mantra of mine these days it seems.
Anyway, agree with Mr. Clifford on designating the two Black Unity trio lps “everybody’s favorite free Jazz grail…”. Maybe I should trying selling my copy again.
you’ll definitely get bites on selling Black Unity Trio. I would love a copy but at the rate it goes for these days, can’t really compete.
I always thought that Roland cover was so cool looking. I’d love to own one, but then again I’d like to own a lot of stuff I never will.
I have noticed in the last 2 years that there appears to be a trend in selling rare jazz records that are in BAD shape are bringing big $$$ and also re issues are commanding big $$$ also. You people know darn well that in the past these records would be unsalable to the collector. What the heck is going on ! I hope in the future that being on my knees crate digging below the record rack will not cost me an arm and a leg….pop, hiss and skip. Art
not really a trend, seems to be a fixed uptick.
I just bought the Raney, based entirely on the comments in the column and thread. Hope it’s good!
And speaking of insanely rare jazz, has anyone noticed this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Donald-Byrd-Jazz-Transition-5-LP-ORIGINAL-Mono-BEAUTIFUL-W-Insert-Clean/202565296107
Mr. Allen,
talk to me
re Black Unity Three.
lennibukowski at America on line dot com
Sincerely,
lennib
VG+ with a 5-inch seam split? Seems awfully generous to me, Al.
That Kirk is appears to be a re-listing. Same copy sold by Euclid on November 25 for $885. I suspect that the “minor noise/ticking” probably isn’t so minor.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Roland-Kirk-Triple-Threat-King-539-JAZZ-HOLY-GRAIL-DG-ORIG-INSANELY-RARE-/202501480674?hash=item2f260760e2%3Ag%3A51AAAOSwPeVb6y09&LH_ItemCondition=3000&nma=true&si=zTMrAcQfhDw4%252FDkDbjvHlEowVeY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Is “Hall Daniels Septet” on Jump records considered one of those original “insanely rare” jazz records? It (and Duane Tatro on Contemporary records) was one of my holy grails and I bought a copy a couple of weeks ago.
I hate the holy grail slogan used by sellers underestimating the intelligence of potential buyers.
The Hal Daniels Septet is a pretty rare album in the lovely Jump version with its blue vinyl and tasteful cover design. Of course, the music, with alternates, can be found on Zim records.
Music wise, the Tatro seems more unique. Never ever similar music has been written and published since. The album at the time (1957) was also issued by Vogue U.K. I don’t know whether the album made it to the OJC series. The Tatro is not rare in absolute terms. But I cherish my CR and Vogue copies and personally rate them as holy grail, with the emphasis on personally.
The really rare jazz record are not always the most collectable. I’d like to own a NM copy of Lorraine Geller at the piano on DOT. It’s truly rare and collectable, but nowhere near many orginal Blue Note from the same era.
I have yet to see an original copy of Lorraine Geller at the Piano. They must exist somewhere.
Rudolph, I completely agree. Anytime I use the term “holy grail”, it is in reference to my personal want.
I am very pleased to read about “ holy grail “ records that are NOT Blue Note ! The 2 mentioned are incredible and vastly underrated musically. I also have never seen the Geller disc. By the way has anyone seen the elusive Liberace plays Monk ? Pop,hiss and click Art.
An “personnal holy grail” was Harold Baker Quartet “the broadway beat” on King 608. I just found a VG copy on Discogs. Bought it as filler after years or hunt. In fact plays crisp, clear and NM and cover is beautiful. Absolutely pleased with this one, and i love this forgotten music. A holy grail for 17 $.
$100 for Raney is fair if the desc is accurate. Most sales are below $100. Pictures were awful.
Byrd In Flight isn’t THAT rare, is it? I feel like I’ve seen all kinds of copies floating around.
I agree with Rudolf on the use of Holy Grail ,” beauty is in the eye of the beholder “methinks. I also agree with Art that it is nice to hear about items that are not Blue Note. Some of my prize items are Ahmad Jamal Plays on Parrot , Al Hibbler on Marterry ( because of the story behind why that label had to be scrapped by the Chess brothers ) Tommy ” Madman ” Jones , A Different Sound on M and M and the three Argo Kangaroo split-paks ( Griffin , Lateef and Heard) . None of them will break the bank but all are unique and have a special place in my collection.
The Lorraine Geller on Dot is a mythical album which I never saw in real. If I am correct it has a cover with elegant blue or green ladies’ shoes.
Dot is not my favourite label, but I have a Dot album which is very nice. Don Bagley on bass is the leader. The great thing about the album is Jimmy Rowles. He is such a fine pianist. Impeccable taste. Shelly Manne is the third of the trio. Not a holy grail, but worthwhile to look for.
Indeed Rudolf ! And of course, Eddie Costa, « The house of blue lights » !…and the « persuasive sax » of Russell Procope. Regarding the famous kangaroo cover, i have the JC Heard (nice album, by the way) ! I have yet to come across the two others. The pleasure is in the hunt.
Michel says with respect to the Lorraine Geller LP: “It’s truly rare and collectable, but nowhere near many original Blue Note from the same era.”
It is interesting that things have flipped over the past 15 years or so. When I was fairly active looking for jazz LPs on ebay in the late 1990s through 2002 or so, Lorraine Geller would have been consistently outpricing almost any (if not all) BN. A NM copy would be pretty solidly in the many $100s to $1000 range then. And I got a NM OG 1566 for $66 in 1998. The whole BN value thing just blew out of proportions. Like there is no anything else out there to collect…
Ilya : couldn’t agree more !
Agreed. There are a ton of great old records out there without the BN label. What I find fascinating is that even some of the records that have blasé jazz (if there is such a thing), they have some of the finest album jackets I’ve seen. So, there is that………….
On December 27, 2016, I bought an NM copy of the “Lorraine Geller at the Piano” on the Wind label [WLP-3102] for $7.99 at Amoeba Records in San Francisco. The album has the original Dot cover and liner. A clerk had just put it out and I grabbed it. It plays beautifully! Don’t know anything about the Wind label.