Jazz Collectors’ Items
My eBay watch list is filled with Blue Notes and Prestiges today. Gee, what a surprise. Let’s start with Miles Davis, Collectors’ Items, Prestige 7044. This looks to be an original New York yellow label pressing, listed as M- for the record and EX for the cover. The auction closes in about a day and the bidding is in the $320 range. From the same seller is Miles Davis and Milt Jackson, Quintet/Sextet, Prestige 7034. I never really noticed that Milt Jackson was listed as a co-leader until I started typing this post. Miles in big letters and the cover picture, Bags not quite as prominent. I wonder why Jackson was even mentioned on the front cover in that it is clearly a Miles section. Perhaps this was a time when the Modern Jazz Quartet was getting some buzz in the market? Anyway, this is another one listed in M- condition for the record. The cover also looks M-. Bidding is in the $135 range and the auction closes in about a day.
Kenny Burrell, Prestige 7088. This is an original New York yellow label. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG++. The bidding is in the $350 range with three days left on the auction. From the same seller is Donald Byrd, Fuego, Blue Note 4026. This is an original West. 63rd Street pressing, listed in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. Bidding is in the $150 range.
This listing reminds me of an email I received recently that I’ve been hesitant to share. But let me share it, anonymously, and see if the commenters on the site have the same reaction that I did: “I have Fuego by Donald Byrd. The labels have Inc. and the R and the vinyl has the ear. The record jacket says that the record is BST 84026 but the etching in the dead wax does not have an 8, it says BN-LP 4026. Is this mono or stereo? In other words the etching overrules the info on the jacket.”
Thoughts?
Regarding the Fuego, I don’t quite get it. If the guy has the LP he can just play it to see if it’s mono or stereo? What does the label say? Ig the label says stereo and the etching is mono (wothout the “8” prefix) then the label is probably wrong. The etching is usually the truth unless a mistake has been made in the cutting/mastering.
I have an OG stereo Fuego and the etching indeed has the prefix “8”, the ear deep groove and all the trimmings. He has probably a mono LP in a stereo cover.
I agree, Anders. If it was a stereo disc, he would notice the words “STEREO” on the labels, I’m sure. I’m betting it says “Microgroove”.
Mono records in a stereo jacket is a somewhat common error, and stereo labels on a mono record a less common error. But I’ve never encountered a mono matrix info on a stereo record (or vice-versa for that matter).
Mismatched album cover and vinyl isn’t necessarily an error. People have been Frankensteining records over the years constantly in order to have the best vinyl with the best cover. It could be an error, but we shouldn’t give credit to the pressing plant, lest discogs be overrun with a ton of new variant listings. To the point about mono vs stereo, no new suggestions. Play the damn thing.