Author: Al

A Period Piece and More

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As a collector, I have always tended to focus more on musicians than on labels. So, for example, it was more interesting to me to have original Coltrane, Miles or Cannonball records, than to focus on the Blue Note, Prestige or Riverside catalogues. Anyway, the key artists for me have been the key artists for many of you – Miles, Trane, Clifford Brown, Monk, Dexter, Sonny Rollins, and a few more. One of the records that has somehow slipped my grasp after all of these years of jazz collecting is this one: Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1204. This is an original pressing listed in VG condition for the record and the cover. The start price is $500 and so far there are no bidders. I haven’t been buying in a while, but a record like this would be of interest for sure and would fill in that one Newk hole in my collection. And I always liked that cover.
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Jazz Records: One of a Kind! Too Good To Be True! Amazing Bargain$!

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I’m sure all of you get stopped in your tracks at times by weird listings on eBay or other outlets. Here are a few from my list, starting with Lester Young, Norgran MG N-1022. I’ve noticed this on eBay for at least a couple of months. I can’t imagine why it hasn’t sold yet. The buy-it-now price is only $250,000 U.S. dollars or, as we might say here in the states, a cool quarter of a million. Apparently what makes the record this valuable is the stamp that states: “For Demonstration Only Not For Sale.” This is what the seller says about this record: “Our extensive research shows that this may well be the only such demonstration copy in the world or the only surviving one, as there is no record of another such demonstration-only copy ever being sold and there is no catalogued example of it with even similar demo stamp designation or any of the professional vinyl websites.” The seller won’t show full pictures of the cover due to “confidentiality purposes.” I’m not going to make any catty comments, beyond the fact that I’m sharing this with you in a post about weird listings. I looked at the copy in my collection and it is a beauty, definitely from the collection I bought in Baltimore because the previous owner, Bruce M. West, kept his records in mint condition and put the date or month he acquired it in small ink on the back cover. The date was 5/56. Alas, there is no “For Demonstration Only Not For Sale” stamp on my copy, so I guess I will have to put off my retirement. That wasn’t too catty, was it? Read more

Still Here, Still Watching That Jazz Vinyl

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Whew, it’s been a long time  between posts. Sorry about that. All is well, but there’s been a lot going on here. I’m even back in New York City for a bit. Set up a new turntable here and brought some records back to the apartment, mostly duplicates. Haven’t been following eBay closely, but I should be back in regular action, such as it is, starting today. So, let’s look at some of the jazz records and auctions we’ve missed along the way, starting with Hank Mobley Sextet, Blue Note 1560. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing with the deep grooves, ear, etc. The record and cover both looked to be in M- condition. The final price was $3,036.23. Read more

New Year’s Vinyl

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This record seems appropriate for the time of year: Vice Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Fantasy 85019. This looked to be an original stereo pressing. The record and cover were listed in EX condition. The final price was $355. I always liked the music for the Peanuts gang, but I never did own this record. And still don’t. I guess it’s the season because I was watching another copy at the same time. This copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas was listed in VG++ condition for the record and EX for the cover. The final price was $227.50. Read more

High Tide for Jazz Vinyl

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Ella and Louis, Verve 4003. This was an original pressing with the orange and yellow label. It was listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The seller was Carolina Soul. The final price was $465, the highest we’ve ever seen for Ella and Louis. Music doesn’t get any better than this, IMHO. Pretty good cover too, wouldn’t you say? I didn’t realize this had become this highly valued as a collectible but, hey, if I didn’t have a copy of this record I’d be fine to pay the going rate. Maybe even sell one Blue Note and get two or three copies of Ella and Louis, just in case.

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Whims

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I’m back watching eBay and it’s really hard not to return to the Blue Notes, particularly in light of the discussion on the previous post, but let’s resist the temptation and start with one from a few weeks ago: Booker Ervin Quintet, Cookin’, Savoy 12154. Someone, I think it was Gregory the Fish, mentioned that the bottom may be collapsing on some of the non-Blue Note, non-Prestige pressings from the ‘50s. I don’t doubt that it may be happening, as GTF is far more active in the market than I am these days. However, I must say I’m not seeing it from some of the records I’ve been watching on eBay and this is one of them. It was a second pressing with the maroon label. The seller identifies it as a second pressing. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG+. The final price was $788.99. I’ve had a copy of this record for years, also with the maroon label, and I used to wonder if, perhaps, maroon was the original label, since I had never seen a red label in person. But, eBay has cleared that up and, indeed, if you have a red label of Cookin’, you have an original.

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More Love (And Higher Bids) For Blue Note 4200 Records

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I was watching the latest auction from the Jazz Record Center, so let’s get into another Blue Note day, starting with Sam Rivers, Contours, Blue Note 4206. This was an original New York USA pressing with the Van Gelder stamp and “Audition Copy” stamped on the back. The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover was probably VG++. The final price was $754. From what I can see on Popsike, this is the second highest price for this record, or any Sam Rivers record. Several years ago, a copy of Contours sold for $810. Read more

Lexingon Avenue, to West 63rd, To St. Louis

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Let’s look at various items sitting in my watch list for various reasons, starting with The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume One, Blue Note 1505. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was probably in VG+ condition and the cover was probably VG+ as well, based on the pictures. The final price was $610. I flagged this one because my recollection was that this record wasn’t among the Blue Notes you would expect to see in the $1,000 bin, being a pre Van Gelder Blue Note that was a compilation of music originally issued on 78-RPM or on 10-inch vinyl. I wasn’t surprised to see the $600 price tag because nothing would surprise me these days and because, hey, it’s an original Lexington Avenue Blue Note, and just holding one of these in your hands is a thrill. Not to mention the presence of Clifford Brown and Charles Mingus, among others, on the record. I did check in with Popsike and discovered that The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume One has, indeed, had a presence in the $1,000 bin, selling for more than $1,500 back in 2010, well before the most recent market spike. Read more

Lou, Red, Mr. PC and Everything is Beautiful

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Just a sittin’ here watchin’ some rare jazz vinyl on eBay. Let’s start with Lou Donaldson, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5021. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. I had this record once, but I don’t have it anymore because I sold it 30 years ago. It’s an old familiar refrain that involves a sunken boat. In any case, I spotted this copy on eBay because the seller’s listing said “BEAUTIFUL COPY” in ALL CAPS and it caught my eye. But the listing has the vinyl in VG or VG+ condition and the cover n VG+. BEAUTIFUL COPY, as always, is in the eye of the beholder. The auction closes in five days and the opening bid price is $200, with no takers so far. Read more

Red, Trane and More Moose the Mooche (This Time With Trane)

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The inbox isn’t empty and, in fact, there was a pleasant surprise to share, but I will save it to the end because . . . well, you’ll see. Anyway, this time we will start with our friend Japhy, under the subject “A new garland for Red!” with a link to: Red Garland, A Garland of Red, Prestige 7064. This was an original New York label. The record was in VG+ condition, the cover was only VG. The final price was $1,375. I will give Japhy the honor of putting this into perspective: “Hi Al. Wanna keep goin’ with the crazy? Here’s a new all-time high for a Red Garland (as a leader) record: $1,375 for A Garland of Red. According to Popsike, that’s $375 more than the prior leader, All Morning Long, which sold for $1k back in 2012. The prior high for this particular side was $760 in 2011.” Read more

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