Author: Al

A Newk 10-Inch LP, Prized Stereo Blue Notes

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sonnyI should watch this record on Jazz Collector each time it appears on eBay, just so I can put the picture of the cover on the site: Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk, Prestige 190. This is an original 10-inch LP in Ex+ condition for the vinyl and VG for the cover. I would think the record plays really well to be graded Ex+. As you may tell from the longing in my first sentence I do not own a copy of this record. But I would love to. This one is in the $110 range with less than a day to go, although it hasn’t yet reached the seller’s reserve price.

Herbie Hancock, Takin’ Off, Blue Note 84109. This looks to be an original stereo pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. Not sure how the stereo compares with the mono, either in sound or in collectibility, but, for me, I’m quite content to have the original mono pressing. This one closes sometime today and is in the range of about $105 with eight bids.

Eric Dolphy, Out To Lunch, Blue Note 84163. The seller does a nice job of presenting/packing this one, with the nice picture and the original inner sleeve. Makes it look attractive, wouldn’t you say? This is a stereo pressing, looks like an original, with the ear, Van Gelder and New York USA label.  Bidding closes tomorrow and is already over more than $200. So, IMHO, the nice packaging seems to help.

 

 

A Trio of Rare Jazz Records To Start The Week

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thadHere’s some rare jazz vinyl we are/have been watching on eBay:

The Magnificent Thad Jones Volume 3, Blue Note 1546. This was an original New York 23 pressing in M- condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $1,136. This is the first time we’ve ever recorded this record in the $1,000 bin in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, although, admittedly, we don’t update the guide as often as we used to.

Chet Baker, Quartet and Sextet, Music LPM 2094. This is an original Italian pressing, very rare, very nice music. The record and the cover are both in M- condition. The bidding is now in the $200 range with three days to go, but the price hasn’t yet hit the seller’s reserve.

Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This is a West 63rd deep groove pressing without the New York 23. The record is in probably VG+ or maybe VG++ condition, while the cover is VG. The price is in the $250 range with three days to go.

 

 

 

Goin’ up, Up, Up

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LeeLet’s catch up on some of the items we were watching and which generated some interest among the Jazz Collector community.

Wynton Kelly, Kelly at Midnight, VeeJay 3001. This was the stereo pressing in M- condition. Most of us, it seems, were quite surprised when the bidding on this approached the $400 range. It ended up selling for $565, with 24 bids and what seemed to be three serious bidders.

A Swinging Introduction to Jimmy Knepper, Bethlehem 77. This was an original pressing in M- condition. This is the one that has Bill Evans as a sideman. When I wrote about this record, there were no bids at a start price of $135. By the time the auction closed the bidding had reached $338. Coincidence?  I don’t think so. I would think the post had something to do with generating interest, particularly spotlighting Evans as a sideman, which the listing failed to do.

I had a feeling this one would break into the $2,000 bin, and it did: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This was an original deep groove West 63rd Street pressing in M- condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $2,225.

 

Back To The Serious Business of Rare Jazz Vinyl

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LouEnough frivolity with quizzes and fo figures, it’s time to get back to the serious business of watching jazz vinyl on eBay.

Lou Donaldson, Lou Takes Off, Blue Note 1591. This is an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The seller points out that this record is getting very difficult to find now. In my view, finding an original copy has ALWAYS been very difficult. I’ve been collecting for more than 40 years now and I just got a clean original last year. The auction for this one closes in three days and the bidding is in the $150 range.

Think this will sell? I don’t: Miles Davis Plus Horns, Prestige 7025. This is a New Jersey pressing in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. The start price is around $250 and it’s hard to see that for a second pressing. There are four days left, so it will be interesting to watch.

If you’ve ever wanted to own one of the rarest jazz LPs of all time, here’s your chance: Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad-Lib 6601. This is an original pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover and, according to the seller, it plays great (with some surface noise). It just came onto eBay with a start price of about $700 and a buy-it-now price of $2,000. It will sell: The question is whether someone will step up with the $2,000 before the auction ends. My guess? Yes.

 

Quickie Quiz

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This is a complete non-sequitor from what we mostly do here these days . . . but, I was in my storage unit the other day and I noticed a box full of old magazines I hadn’t looked at in years and I stuck them in the car and drove them up to the country and now, when I am supposed to be working, I am looking at old magazines and procrastinating. And I came to this Downbeat from December 1967 and on the cover was the announcement of the Jazzman of the Year. And I thought to myself, hmm, if you would have given me 20 guesses I would have never come up with that name. So, I will put it out there to all of you in the Jazz Collector audience. Want to guess who Downbeat named as its 1967 Jazzman of the Year? No peeking: We are on the honor system here.

Four Blue Notes For the $1,000 Bin

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Goin' Up -- That's for sure

                    Goin’ Up — That’s for sure

Let’s look at some rare records that we may have missed on eBay:

Louis Smith, Smithville, Blue Note 1594. This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,250. That’s not quite the highest price we’ve ever recorded for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but it’s definitely up there.

This one got a lot of mentions in the comments, but I wanted to point to it specifically in a post so anyone doing a search can easily find it: Freddie Hubbard, Goin’ Up, Blue Note 4056. This was an original pressing that seemed to be in VG+ or better condition for the record and M- for the cover. It sold for, ahem, $1,259. Whenever I’ve thought of this record I’ve thought of it as Goin’ Up, Up, Up based on the front cover, but that’s just a design element, isn’t it? Took me a while to figure that out.

John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. Despite the condition, it still sold for $1,113.

Not sure how this one slipped by us from a couple of months ago: Read more

Collectibility in the Eye of the Beholder

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I imagine this is a great record, but someone needs to refresh my memory as to why it is so highly coveted by collectors that the price for this is now nearly $400 and will likely exceed $500 or much more when all is said and done: Wynton Kelly, Kelly at Midnight, Vee Jay 3001. This is a stereo pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. Is it the stereo pressing and the “stereophonic” lettering on the cover? Vee Jays usually don’t have this type of cachet, nor do Wynton Kelly trio records.

Think this one will sell? Presenting Ernie Henry, Riverside 222. This is a blue label pressing so it is not an original, which would have the white label. The record and cover are in VG+ condition. The seller has set an opening bid of about $200 and so far there are no bids at all, with the auction closing later today. My take: If it was in M- condition as a blue-label second press it might sell for $200, but in VG+ condition, I have my doubts.

While we’re not on Blue notes, here’s another:

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E-Baying With Knepper, Evans and Blue Notes

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I have quite a long watch list on eBay right now, so let’s get right to it. This is a record I’ve never seen before and, frankly, wasn’t even aware existed: A Swinging Introduction to Jimmy Knepper, Bethlehem 77. This is an original pressing with the red label and deep groove. I took a quick look at the personnel and was surprised to see the pianist listed as one “B. Evans.” I would have thought that the presence of Mr. Evans would have brought this record to my attention before. Perhaps it has and I just forgot about it. It wouldn’t be the first time. In any case, it’s got a great cover, it’s got Bill Evans on piano and it’s an original  pressing from 1957. Also, it’s in M- condition. I would think there’d be a strong collectible market for this. We’ll see. So far there are no bids at $135, but there are still three days left to go before the auction closes.

Here are a few Blue Notes on our radar:

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A Few for the $1,000 Bin

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I must update the $1,000 bin this morning because it swelled up somewhat unexpectedly over the weekend.

Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 399. This was an original promo pressing with the white label. The record was probably VG++ or maybe M- and the cover looked to be about VG+. It sold for $1,151. Wow.

Donald Byrd, Byrd’s Eye View, Transition 4. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. What’s more, it not only had the original booklet, the labels were actually still attached, which is almost unheard-of for an original Transition. This one sold for $1,044. This seller had a couple of others in the $1,000 bin, including: Kenny Dorham, Round ‘Bout Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looked to be in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,335.  And . . .  Read more

A Couple of Events for Jazz Collectors

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Allow me to lay off eBay for a moment to inform you of a couple of upcoming events that may be of interest. Coming up first is the Jazz Record Collector’s Bash, June 21 and 22 in Iselin, New Jersey, at the Hilton Woodbridge. It has been many years since I attended one of these but, hey, there are jazz dealers with records for sale, so it’s always worth a shot. They also show films and have other activities. I do have a fondly remembered record score at one of these events, a story I have told, probably whenever I’ve written about the event before. The crux of it is there was this guy with a bunch of nice records, many Prestiges and Swingvilles, and a 10-inch Sonny Criss on Clef, and they were all $5 each and I was the first one to arrive at his table. ‘Nuff said.

I also received my notice and contract for the WFMU Record Fair, which will take place

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