10-Inch Mania: Miles, Getz, Savoy, Serge, Prez
Let’s catch up on some 10-inch LPs we’ve been watching. It’s always interesting to keep an eye on the 10-inchers just to see if the market is holding up. So far, it is, based on these records.
Miles Davis, Young Man With a Horn, Blue Note 5013. The vinyl on this one was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was M-. The price was $510.01. This one was sold by the seller herschel78, who has been putting some nice items up over the past few weeks, including some other 10-inch LPs we’ve been watching.
Miles Davis Volume 3, Blue Note 5040. The vinyl on this one was listed as VG+ and the cover was VG++. The price was $385.
Stan Getz Plays, Clef 137. This was an original pressing with a nice cover by David Stone Martin. The price was $68. This is a great record, one of Getz’s best.
Leo Parker, New Trends of Jazz Volume 5, Savoy 9018. This one was
listed in VG++ condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The price was $99.
Sonny Stitt, New Trends of Jazz Volume 1, Savoy 9014. This was also VG++ for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The price was $41.99.
Max Roach With Clifford Brown in Concert, GNP Volume 7. This was in VG+ condition for both the record and cover, although it could have been higher since the listing was a bit ambiguous. Anyway, the price was $105.49.
Here’s one that’s new to us: Serge Chaloff and Oscar Pettiford, New Stars, New Sounds, Mercer 1003. We’re not familiar with the label — it looks like Prestige but, with the “New Stars, New Sounds” moniker it sounds like Blue Note. Anyway, this record was also one of those that was either VG+ or VG++. It sold for $73.90.
Finally, there is Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet, Battle of the Saxes, Aladdin 701. This 10-inch LP was listed in VG+ condition for both the vinyl and the cover. The price was $626.
Al: Mercer Records, I believe, was a venture of Mercer Ellington in the early fifties. At least one 10″ Mercer album was re-issued in Europe on French Vogue in the LD – series. The company folded in the ifties before the advent of the 12″ LP.
There is no relation whatsoever with Prestige/New Jazz, although the presentation of the covers was similar (no liners, front in text only, no pictures) to early Prestige.
Mercer Records was short-lived. Started by Duke and named after his son. Mercer was 30 yrs old at this time and was a force of his own in jazz, tho never to rise very far. I used to collect original jazz lps. Got rid of them when CD’s came out. Somewhere along the line I acquired 21 Mercer 78’s. Still have them. Should anyone be interested e mail me.