Author: Al

10-Inch LPs, Jazz Record Center, eBay

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Interesting that the Jazz Record Center has an auction this week fully devoted to 10-inch LPs. I’ve always been a fan of 10-inch records, I think more for the packaging and authenticity — I mean, they pretty much stopped producing them in 1955 — than necessarily for the sound quality, although some people swear by them. My friend Dan swears that the sound on the 10-inch version of The Tal Farlow album, for example, is far superior to the 12-inch version, even the original Norgran 12-incher. Anyway, prices of 10-inch LPs tend to be lower than corresponding 12-inch LPs, so we’ll see how this week’s JRC auction goes. Here are some of the items we’ll be watching

Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note  5056. This one looks to be in M- condition. It has already been bid up to $416 with four bids, so we’re expecting that this is the one that will sell for top price among these listings. Howard McGhee, Volume 2, Blue Note 5024. This one is in M- condition and looks gorgeous in the picture. I own Volume 1, but have never had Volume 2. Probably won’t get this one either. The start price is $250. So far there are no takers, but it’s early. Stan Getz, The Beginning, with Wardell Grey, Seeco SLP7. I have a lot of Getz LPs, even a bunch of 10-inchers, but this is one I’m quite unfamiliar with. Anyone have any info to share on this LP? The one from the Jazz Record Center is in M- condition and already has a bidder at $150.

Placing Hope in a Snipe

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I haven’t been buying records at all and, in fact, I am planning a major sale of records and other stuff from my collection. Keep tuned to this space for details or, if you want a really early start, send an email to me at al(at)jazzcollector.com. But the buying bug never really leaves, does it, and yesterday I was looking at this record Elmo Hope Quintet, Informal Jazz, Prestige 7043, and it looked in nice condition and the copy in my collection is a second pressing of Two Tenors, which, don’t get me wrong, is quite nice and is in perfect condition, but an original is an original and a Prestige is a Prestige and the price was lingering nearly $125 with just a few hours to go so, I figured, why not. And, even though I’m not buying these days I, of course, still maintain a sniping account, just in case, so I put in a snipe for this record in the mid-$300 range figuring I might actually have a chance, given that prices on eBay seem to be a little flat these days. But, alas, ’twas not to be. I looked this morning and the record went to somebody else for $405.02. Perhaps it’s for the best. I can always listen to Two Tenors, right?

Jazz Vinyl Worth Watching on Ebay

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As always, we are watching some interesting jazz vinyl that will be selling (or not selling) on eBay this week. Here are a few samples:

This is another one where the seller is starting with a very high price: Lawrence Marable, Tenorman, Jazz West 8. This is an original pressing that looks to be in superb condition, at least VG++ for the record and the cover. The starting price is $1,800 and there are no bidders.

This is a pretty hefty price for one of the Benny Golson New Jazz LPs: Benny Golson, Gone With Golson, New Jazz 8235. This is an original deep groove pressing and it is in M- condition. It is also being offered by Euclid Records, one of the better known brands in our community. There are already eight bids on this LP and the price is close to $200. Note that the pianist on this date is Ray Bryant who passed away on Thursday.

I have to say, I’m tempted on this one: Elmo Hope, Informal Jazz, Prestige 7043. This looks to be an original New York pressing, although the listing is definitely lacking in details. The condition looks excellent and the price is only $135 and it is ending today. This may call for a visit to my sniping software. Will keep you posted. Of course, publishing my intent on Jazz Collector may not be the wisest strategy, huh?

A Few For the $1,000 Bin

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So what’s been going on at eBay? Here are some recent interesting sales of jazz vinyl:

Lee Morgan, Indeed, Blue Note 1538. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing that was listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It was among that batch of records that were originally listed with a very high start price and then re-listed with lower start prices but undisclosed reserve prices. This one was originally listed at $2,500 and eventually sold for $2,450.

This one got a nice price, right: Cannonball Adderley, Somethin’ Else, Blue Note 1595. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,352. That’s the highest price we’ve ever recorded for this item in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Not bad for what seems to be a down market.

Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079.This was an original New York pressing, another one with the “EX” grading system, which I’m still not sure how to interpret into the one I use. VG++, perhaps. The cover was VG+. The price was $1,324.

 

Watching Some Nice 10-Inch Blue Notes

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Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay:

This seller has some nice 10-inch LPs, including: The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume 3, Blue Note 5070. This is an original pressing featuring Hank Mobley and Horace Silver. It looks to be in very nice condition, graded VG++ by the seller for both the record and the cover. This one has a start price of $250 and there are no bidders so far. Also, Lou Donaldson and Clifford Brown, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5030. This is an original pressing also graded in VG++ condition. The start price on this one is $200 and there is one bid as of now. One more: Lou Donaldson, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5021. This is another one that looks great, with a sparkling cover rate in M- condition. Don’t see that too often. The cover is VG++. The current price is $275 and there are more than four days to go.

Speaking of 10-inch Blue Notes:

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eBaying With Thad, Sonny Clark, Vice-Pres

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Here’s some jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:

The Magnificent Thad Jones, Blue Note 1527. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the flat edge. The record was in VG condition and clearly had some issues with surface noise based on the seller’s description. The cover was VG+. The opportunity to own an original Blue Note is always enticing. This one sold for $261, not at all unreasonable, but I didn’t pull the trigger. Perhaps next time.

That copy of Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576, finally wound up selling. If you recall, this one was in great, mint condition, but it was not an original. It had the West 63rd label but no deep grooves. The seller was able to get $399.99. More power to him.

This one seems to perhaps be a bit over-graded based on the seller’s description, but it is still a nice original collectible in nice condition. Paul Quinichette, On the Sunny Side, Prestige 7103. This one sold for $213.50.

A Few For the $1,000 Bin

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Shall we update the $1,000 bin? Why not.

No surprise on this one: Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. This was an original pressing. The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was VG++. This one sold for $1,606.

I’d have loved this one from the same seller, but, alas, it is not an amount I spend on individual records: Cliff Jordan, Cliff  Craft, Blue Note 1582. This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,555.

Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing. The record was listed in VG+ condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $1,025.

eBay Watching: Blue Notes, Prestige

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Which jazz vinyl shall we watch on eBay today? Here’s a few of note.

This one is quite tempting to me, since I do not own an original: Mal Waldron, Mal/2, Prestige 7111. This looks to be an original New York pressing and it has the presence of John Coltrane. The record looks to be what I would grade as VG++ and the cover is M-. There are a few days to go and the price is in the $150 range. When I see records such as these I have to remind myself that I am getting rid of records, not acquiring them. It is a tough sell to myself, however, since the joy is in the hunt.

This one is also strangely tempting to me, even though it is not an original: Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. The copy in my collection is a black and blue Liberty stereo. Yuch. This one is not an original because it doesn’t have the deep grooves, but at least it has the West 63rd Street address. It wouldn’t give me the creeps every time I would look at it in my collection. But, alas, the start price is about $400 and that’s a little too steep for me for a non-original, even a great record like this in beautiful condition.

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A Tale of Two Blue Notes

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We were quite interested in those two Curtis Fuller Blue Notes from the same seller. Look at this one: Curtis Fuller, The Opener, Blue Note 1566. This was listed as a “rare mono pressing,” which it may be, but it still a pressing from the 1970s or 1980s with the United Artists labels. We’ve seen these often in the $20-$30 range. This one sold for a pretty whopping $91.10. A new pricing trend or just a creative listing and a gullible buyer? You make the call. Perhaps someday this UA pressings will be worth hundreds or thousands. You never know, perhaps this is a good investment. I’d rather pay $500 or so for the original, but that’s me. Speaking of which . . . from the same seller came: Curtis Fuller, Volume 3, Blue Note 1583. This one looked to be an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and M- for the cover. It sold for $500. We’ve seen this one sell for more than $1,400 before, so that’s quite a comedown. Karma?

eBaying Strategies & A Few Blue Notes

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Sorry I haven’t been posting as often as usual. Lots going on here. If anyone want to fill some of the void, we always welcome guest columns. In the meantime, eBay goes on whether we post or not, and this week there are some sellers with many, many big-ticket items. Here are a few we’re watching:

Somebody in the comments complained about the start prices from the records from this seller, including: Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This one has the West 63rd Street address and ear, but it doesn’t look like any deep grooves. This is one of the ones that causes consternation among collectors, right? DG or not DG, that is the question. If I recall Fred Cohen’s explanation, this could have one side DG and be an original, or it could also have no DGs and be an original? Perhaps someone can look it up. In the meantime, this copy is in M- condition for the vinyl, is VG++ for the cover and has zero bids at a start price of $1,200. If you click this item, look at the seller’s other auctions and you’ll see a potpourri of fantastic collectibles, all at high start prices, all without bids (so far).

Here’s another seller with some nice items, including: Curtis Fuller, Volume 3, Blue Note 1583. This looks to be an original pressing based on the description. The record is VG++ and the cover is M- and the price is a bit over $200 now and has not yet met the seller’s reserve. If you look at the seller’s listings, make sure you read them carefully. I noticed he’s selling another Curtis Fuller Blue Note that is listed as a “rare mono pressing” and is a United Artists pressing. It is already more than $50.

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