True Blue, Peanuts and More
Today we have some random jazz vinyl from our eBay watch list, starting with a record that has already surpassed $3,000 in bidding, Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and cover. The bidding is at $3,156 with five days left on the auction. So far there are six bidders and 14 bids. In the past few months we’ve seen a copy of True Blue sell for $6,643 and yet another copy sell for $5,779, according to Popsike. Perhaps this one will end up in similar rarified territory.
Whilst on the subject of Blue Notes, I have a question from a reader regarding DMM pressings from the 1980s. It is not a subject of which I have any knowledge, other than what I read on Jazz Collector, but I recall seeing recent comments about these pressings a couple of weeks ago from Maarten Kools, so I am hoping perhaps we can share our collective knowledge and wisdom.
“Hello Al, I’m a big fan on your site. For a while I have been picking up any 80’s Blue Note DMM reissues when I find them in decent shape and priced right. Many sealed and some promos (cover has gold stamp, label is normal). I find the sound quality really good for the most part. I prefer the DMM’s over many reissues thru the years, especially mastered by Walley/Capital versions. I have noticed over the past 6 months that the used Ebay/discogs prices for the DMM reissues are starting to rise. A year ago I could get a nice Blue Note DMM on Ebay for around $20. Now, they seem to be selling $40 or more for nice copies. Do you have any background on these reissues? I assume they were analog cut. Any background would be greatly appreciated. There’s not a lot of info on the web.”
Here’s a collectible that looks pretty cool to me: John Lewis and Sacha Distel, Afternoon in Paris, Versailles MEDX 12005. Thus is two one-sided, white label test pressings, with what looks to be an original cover. The records are listed in VG+ condition and the cover is VG++. My high school French is not getting me through the listing, although the language “2 tics” seems pretty clear. This one closes in nearly two days and has a start price of around $200, with no bidders.
Finally, there is A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring the famous Peanuts characters, original soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi, Fantasy Stereo 85019. I, for one, had no idea this was a record of any collectible interest, but it has 42 bids and is currently sitting at $295. My question is: Are the bidders jazz people or Peanuts people? I have to admit having soft spot for the music, but not a $295 soft spot.
On the Guaraldi, I would say neither jazz nor Peanuts people — it’s an iconic record, and $300 isn’t out of the range of believable for a clean copy (albeit this one may not be).
I didn’t realize schmalz was so expensive …
There’s a massive scratch on the Brooks 4041 LP cover – the ‘Blue Away’ square in the second column/second row has a clearly visible irregular horizontal scratch in the upper half of that rectangle. That would immediately knock the LP cover out of the ‘EX’ rating level for me. Does no one else see that glaring divot?
The Peanuts record is iconic, and honestly the only record of that level of commercialism that is really well-done, in my opinion. I would love to have a copy, but winter is the wrong time to search for one. I have many fond memories of the Peanuts Christmas special and the music is heavily featured throughout.
Is there such a thing as “Peanuts people”?
Todd, the Brooks cover I would rate as a VG+. You are right about the scratch and there’s also some shmutz on the back slick, a bit of age toning and light corner wear. I’ve learned to be wary of EX when it comes to European grading.
Looking at some of the True Blue seller’s nice LPs and the Mobley All Stars 1544.
From what I can see that is not a frame cover and not the original inner should be blank and not printed. I suspect say that this is probably an early 2nd pressing…and the asking price much too high? What do you think?
yeah, it’s a second pressing with much later inner. The price is a bit enthusiastic.
The Guaraldi has 104 versions on Discogs including a pressing last year ,must be very iconic in some circles. I will stick my original mono version of “A boy named Charlie Brown ” gatefold with the 12 original colour prints by Shultz ,plus ,it is only the jazz trio playing not all the other commercial fluff.
For a great Christmas album I dig out the Bobby Timmons on Prestige , play it every year, wonderful !!!
Re 1544. Seller pretends frame cover, but from his detailed pictures I conclude the absence of a frame. The New York 23 labels and flat edge would indicate a first pressing. The inner, of course, should be blank. Many collectors though, at that time, would change inners even without thinking.
So now the question is frame or not?
I have an all round first issue and Consider this album to be one of Hank’s best. No fan of Bags, I admire Hank’s tone, fully adapted to his front partner. His tone is so airy, ideal to match the vibes sound.
I would ask seller for more detailed pictures highlighting the frame.
no frame at all on that cover, and no pic of the purported flat edge. I’m doubtful.
Absent the frame, let’s assume it is not what would be called authentic first press, though the sale price concludes so (!). Sonically, based on your experiences and history of listening to your lps, what could a listener expect to notice as different between a first and second press? Is there a pattern of audio degradation from a first to second BN press that you can identify from your own recordings, JC Family?
Daryl, I think they would sound more or less identical….maybe an edge towards the first press since the stamper would be “fresher” – at least theoretically. But for you experts how much should it affect the value? Is the early 2nd press like 50% of a true first?
$6200 for True Blue is nothing to sneeze at. Yipes.
Welcome to America… a saxophone playing junkie can’t raise a dime but when he’s dead his record brings $6200. Merry Christmas …
I wish I was eBay right now and getting 10% of this sale.
I think it is great that these LP’s are selling for $6,000 +
Soon , we will be talking $10,000 + bin for these records.
Real estate baby ! Onwards and upwards !
$6200 for a True Blue in Exc. condition… it would have to be stone mint for me at that price
Funnily enough, the original pressing of that Charlie Brown Christmas album is pretty rare. The music is iconic and is everywhere (I actually live in the same town Charles Schultz was from, so I hear it regularly and am exposed to Peanuts stuff regularly, but I understand that ‘Linus and Lucy’ is a pretty popular song elsewhere, particularly around this time of year), and the Charlie Brown Christmas Special is similarly iconic and popular and has been for a very long time, but apparently Fantasy had problems selling the soundtrack at first. I’m not sure what exactly the deal is, but this record is a major pain in the ass to find. I personally love the music- commercial isn’t necessarily bad, and regardless of how you feel about Guaraldi, he knew what he was doing- and thus tried to get my hands on an original pressing awhile back. It took me years. I had an easier time finding a bunch of Blue Note rarities than I did finding that. I had 1568 before I had that. Sure, there are a few other factors at play here- there are people that collect Peanuts memorabilia that undoubtedly have this record and have thus removed copies from the market that’ll remain off the market until their kids inherit and sell off their estates, plus I think there’s a tendency for people to hold onto rarities rather than sell them when the value of the rarity is lower rather than higher (likely due to knowing they may not see it again but won’t get that amazingly much from letting go of it), which is why if you go on Discogs right now you can choose from 4 copies of True Blue provided you have over $3,000 to dish out, but not a single person is selling an original issue of A Charlie Brown Christmas- but it is actually rare. There are other Peanuts records with the crew on the cover and with Guaraldi playing his Peanuts-style tunes, but they tend to go for, well, peanuts compared to this one. The Charlie Brown Christmas special album is considered by many to be both the best example of Guaraldi’s Peanuts compositions and also his best work in general (along with also being considered one of the best Christmas albums ever made), and the original pressing is significantly harder to find than the other records he put out doing music for various Peanuts specials, thus the price.
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