Author: Al

Blue Note Records That Are, Ahem, “Essential”

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Fats: Not Essential

I thought we might have some fun with this. As I mentioned in a previous post, Blue Note is issuing new vinyl releases to commemorate its 75th anniversary. I was perusing my online version of The New York Times last evening and came upon this article, asking “Which Greats Were Left Off the Blue Note 100?” I hadn’t realized the first time around that Blue Note was issuing this records in any particular order and I assumed all along (and still do) that it was mostly a commercial venture and they would be issuing those records that they believe will sell the most copies. However, you can see in The Times article that they are considering these albums to be “essential,” which, of course, is a marketing ploy — but also a chance for us to talk about some of the Blue Note records we consider to be “essential” that are not on this list. Somehow, I don’t see a lot of readers of Jazz Collector putting records from Brian Blade Fellowship, Robert Glasper, Stefon Harris or Madlib on our lists of essential Blue Notes, and that’s if we’ve even heard their music, which, I have to admit, I have not. Anyway, here is the complete list, following by a comment or two from me:

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Inventions, Dimensions and High Prices

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herbie hancock jazz vinylReaders are sending me results of auctions and posting them on the site. Here are a few to share:

From CeeDee, this comes out of his “priced out again” department: Herbie Hancock, Inventions and Dimensions, Blue Note 4147. This looked to be an original New York USA pressing in VG++ condition for the record and just VG for the cover. There were more than 20 bids and the price ended up at $449.

Another reader sent this link: Wayne Shorter, Speak No Evil, Blue Note 4194. His object was that this was described as an original pressing, and sold as if it was an original pressing — yet, despite the presence of the New York USA labels and the Van Gelder, there were no Plastylite ears. This one was in probably VG++ condition for the record, with no discernible description of the cover. It sold for about 323 euros, or nearly $450.

This one is linked an an earlier post:

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Some Surprises From Jazz Record Center Auction

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gerry mulligan jazz vinylOur friends at the Jazz Record Center had an auction last week and here are some of the results:

Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges, Verve 8367. This was an original pressing with the trumpeter logo and it was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. I was surprised to see this one sell for $148.37. Neither Hodges nor Mulligan is typically all that collectible, and this is one of the later Verves among those with the trumpeter logo. Any theories as to why this would sell for nearly $150? Is the market shifting back to Verves a little?

I’ve never seen this one before: Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, A Nite at Carnegie Hall, Black Deuce. This was the full set of 78s capturing the historic September 29, 1947 concert. As noted in the listing, this was a pirated record release, but it was the first of the issues in any form. The set looked to be in excellent, near mint condition. They sold for $688.

This one almost made it into the $2,000 bin:

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Condition in the Eye of the Beholder

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Johnny Griffin Jazz VinylOkay, this is the last catch-up for now, then I will move on to more current listings.

Introducing Johnny Griffin, Blue Note 1533. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. As we are seeing, the prices for records in less than pristine condition seem to be rising, at least if the records are original Blue Notes. This one sold for $710.

Here are a couple of Eric Dolphy records, also in less than pristine condition: Eric Dolphy, Out There, New Jazz 8252. This seemed to be an original purple label pressing listed in VG or VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $177. Eric Dolphy, At the Five Spot Volume 2, Prestige 7294. This was an original yellow label pressing. The record was in just VG condition and the cover was VG+. It sold for $147.50.

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And Yet Another Jazz Vinyl Update From eBay

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trumpets jazz vinylI am going to get through my Watch List and update the Jazz Collector Price Guide. I really am. I think. I will post a few more in a second, but first I want to point everyone’s attention to the comment from the buyer of the Hank Mobley Blue Note 1568. Perhaps we will less ready to throw stones, those of us who who live in vinyl houses. It is also not often that we get comments from female readers, so welcome to Caroline.

Now, onto the Watch List and the Price Guide:

Art Farmer, Donald Byrd and Idrees Sulieman, Three Trumpets, Prestige 7092. This is an original New York pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and perhaps a drop less for the cover. It sold for $338.58. I happen to have a spare copy of this record sitting in my closet, if anyone is interested. I also have a spare copy of this one: Lou Donaldson, Swing and Soul, Blue Note 1566. This was an original pressing listed in VG condition for the record. The cover looked like it was probably VG+. The record sold for $127.50.

This one fetched quite a nice price, breaking into the $1,000 bin:

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Vinyl For the Jazz Collector Price Guide

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Sonny Rollins Jazz VinylAnd here’s more jazz vinyl from the newly updated (we hope) Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Not sure how we missed this one, but, to be fair, there’s been quite a large number of copies of this record on eBay lately, particularly one considered to be quite rare: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This one had the West 63rd Street address on both labels, but not the New York 23. So it is considered rare but less rare, original but less original. This one was probably VG+ for both the record and the cover. It sold for $2,456.

Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. This looked to be an original New York pressing with the original cover design, although there was no mention of the frame, or kakubishi cover. This one was in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $332. Here’s another Rollins from the same seller: Sonny Rollins, Moving Out, Prestige 7058. This was also an original New York pressing. The record was M- and the cover was just VG. This one sold for $472.

You don’t see this one too often, at least not with the red vinyl:

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A Unique Way of Listing (And It Pays Off)

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monkI’m preparing to update the Jazz Collector Price Guide so I’m going through my watch list and catching up on some items I may have missed, starting with: The Unique Thelonious Monk, Riverside 209. This was described as an original white label pressing in VG+ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The listing was quite weird in that there were no pictures of the actual record or cover. Instead, there was a canned picture that looked as if it came off the Internet. No harm, at least to the seller. This one wound up selling for $531. That’s the highest price we’ve ever seen for that record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Maybe it pays to not post pictures, huh?

Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland Volume 1, Blue Note 1521. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was probably in VG+ condition and the cover was M-. This one sold for  $510.

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A Few More For the Jazz Collector Price Guide

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flanaganHere’s some more jazz vinyl from the watch list, then we will attempt to put some of these into the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Is this yet another copy of Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134 from Atomic Records? Someone mentioned that they had seen feedback on the previous listing, so the assumption that this is a second copy. Hard to believe. It took me 42 years to find one copy, and they end up with two. This one was in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $2,850.

John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This looked to be an original West 63rd Street deep groove pressing. The record was in VG+ condition and so was the cover. The price was $676.66.

Jackie McLean, A Fickle Sonance, Blue Note 4089. This was an original mono  pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $338.

This one did not sell and has been relisted:

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Breaking the Bank

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cool struttin'Back to the insanity. There were a lot of comments on this record on the previous post, but let’s just put it in here for the record, slight pun intended: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was the one that had the New York 23 on one side, satisfying the most precise collectors of original pressings. There was definitely debate over the condition, but it seemed like the cover was at least VG++ and the vinyl was probably VG++, although not everyone would agree with that. Where everyone would agree, I presume, is that this one fetched quite a high price: $5,223.45. That’s not the highest price we’ve ever seen for this, or any other record, but it’s right up there in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

As staggering as I find the Mobley, this one, to me, is even more telling of the state of jazz collecting in this era of eBay: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. As I noted previously, Read more

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