Random Vinyl with Random Musings
Time to clean out my watch list in time for the holiday weekend. Some of this stuff goes back a few weeks (or more) but I kept them in the queue thinking that someday I would do exactly what I am doing now. Here goes, starting backwards, from May there was Howard McGhee, Dusty Blue, Bethlehem 6055. This was an original mono pressing that was listed in VG condition for the record and G for the cover. It was in pretty bad shape, yet it sold for nearly $500. I don’t understand what it is about the record or condition that warranted that kind of price, with a bidding war to boot, so perhaps someone here can elucidate me.
I was watching this copy of the original 78-RPM recording of Billie Holiday, Strange Fruit/Fine and Mellow, Commodore 526. It was at $225 when I did the post and wound up selling for $255. I just checked Popsike and, oddly, a copy sold on June 19 for $1,000. And another copy sold on May 9 for $810. The $1,000 and $810 copies were in better condition than the $225 copy, as you might expect. And further into my watchlist was still another copy of Strange Fruit that looked to be in near mint condition and this one sold for $331.
One of my all-time favorites that I never get tired of listening to: Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. This was an original New York yellow label with the original framed cover. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG. The final price was $775.75
John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This was an original West 63rd Pressing. The seller confidently declared that this was “easily one of the top ten Blue Note 12-inch LPS in existence.” The seller was bobdjukic so you can draw your own conclusions as to the veracity of that statement. The record was listed as VG+ and the cover as VG++. The final price was $2,381.
From the same seller: Roland Kirk, Triple Threat, King 395-506. This was, according to the seller “one of the rarest jazz albums in existence . . . copies in good condition of this monster rarity are all but unknown.” This one was in VG condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The final price was $841.
Here Comes Louis Smith, Blue Note 1584. This was an original West 63rd Street mono pressing, with the ear, deep grooves, Van Gelder et al. The record and cover were in M- or VG++ condition. The final price was $1,500 and there was only one bidder. I am usually a bit skeptical about records that sell with just one bidder, but $1,500 is not an unreasonable price for this record. My skepticism with one bidder is that the seller could have a shill to get the bidding started at a high asking price and then find that no one else is interested because the start price is so high. Same seller and same situation with Johnny Coles, Little Johnny C., Blue Note 4144. This was an original New York USA pressing, also M-/VG++ , also just one bidder, with a final price if $500. One more single bid winner from the same seller: Lou Donaldson, Sunny Side Up, Blue Note 4036. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing with the original cover. Similar condition, M-/VG++. Final price was $1,000.
This record has risen a lot in value since we have been watching records on eBay: Charles Mingus, Mingus Ah Um, Columbia 8171. This was an original stereo pressing with the six-eye label. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was VG. The final price was $239.50.
I wrote about this one skeptically as well: Wayne Shorter, Speak No Evil, Blue Note 84194. This one was pretty well trashed, graded in G+ condition. I even titled the original post “Shorter Shilling.” Turns out there was one bid at $495. I think my original instinct was on target, but you never know. Someone may have really wanted a trashed copy of a semi-original Blue Note. The other one I was watching at the same time, Wayne Shorter, JuJu, Blue Note 4182, in just VG condition for the record and the cover, sold for $621. With five bids and five bidders, this one seemed legit, albeit a bit pricey.
Watch list is still not emptied so to be continued . . . .
What I know from a collecting fruend is that this McGhee record is very hard to come by, and can fetch quite a price price when it’s a pristine copy.
It doesn’t explain 500 bucks for a very iffy record.
$2380 for the Blue Note 1573 Wow ! a near mint copy only got half that price just last year, but then again he is not a well known seller like Bob, what is it about bob’s auctions ? i mean he does not play grade his records
I recently got a NM UK parlophone issue of that “dusty blue” for $125; it’s a great record.
The Howard McGee record is pricey for a few reasons. First, it was released only once in 1961 and then disappeared for decades. It is a fantastic session, with a killer lineup (Including Bennie Green, Tommy Flanagan, Pepper Adams, and Ron Carter) and a balance between McGhee originals and standards both new (“The Sound of Music”) and old “I Concentrate on You”). It has the kind of easy warmth and mellow pacing that is reminiscent of Dorham’s Quiet Kenny or Morgan’s Candy or some of Chet Baker’s early Riverside LPs.
The mono is rare enough, but the LP also appeared in both mono and stereo, which was de rigueur for Bethlehem at the time. As someone who owns both, I can tell you that unlike many early stereo editions the stereo copy is quite wonderful and expansive.