A New Year’s Jazz Vinyl Treasure Trove
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. It’s been a while. I will spend the next couple of days catching up on eBay, starting today with some items we missed while we were hibernating over the holidays. First up is one of our all-time favorites: John Coltrane, Soultrane, Prestige 7142. This was an original yellow label pressing with the New Jersey label. The seller was the Jazz Record Center and the record and cover were both listed in M-, near-new condition. The final price was $902. This was the highest price we’ve ever seen for Soultrane, confirmed by a quick link over to Popsike. Only a matter of time before we see this record in the $1,000 bin. Why not? I mean, it’s Coltrane and, IMHO, the best of all his Prestige records.
From the same auction there was A Night at Birdland Volume 2, Art Blakey, Blue Note 1522. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the original cover. Oh, what a beauty, in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The final price was $921.99. While we’re there, here’s it’s companion: A Night at Birdland Volume 1, Art Blakey, Blue Note 1521. This was also an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the original cover, also in pristine condition. Final price on this one was $898. One more: The Trio, Hank Jones, Kenny Clarke, Wendell Marshall, Savoy 12023. This was an original red label pressing listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. The final price was $233.50. This is probably the first time we’ve ever written about this record here at Jazz Collector. Not one you often see, and certainly not in this condition or at that price point.
Moving on to other sellers: Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing with the deep grooves, ear, etc. The record was listed in VG condition and the cover VG+. Pictures showed some cover issues, but perhaps not to earn a lower grade? Blue Notes, these days, are in the eye of the beholder. This one sold for $861.99.
And one for the $1,000 bin: Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 2, Blue Note 1597. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing with the cover design by Andy Warhol. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was Ex (VG++?). The final price was $1,400.
Al: I wish you a swinging New Year. You made a tremendous first step into the new year by highlighting “Soultrane”, everybody’s favourite of Trane’s Prestige output. For your guidance, a while ago I sold a first pressing NM copy for some € 1100 in a private deal. Don’t worry, a spare copy is there. I always liked to have extra copies of top albums.
The Blakey quintet albums 1521/2 are lovely indeed, but I sold them to stick to the original 25 cm format. I love those ten inchers.
Open Sesame or True Blue? 4040 or 4041? The difference basically is between Duke Jordan or McCoy. Money wise, the difference is enormous. Strange. Can anyone explain ?
I believe the price difference between Open Sesame and True Blue is because there was only one pressing of True Blue until the Japanese King while Open Sesame had the original in ’60, the Liberty repress in ’66 and the UA repress of ’72 before the Japanese King.
Happy New Year Al. Hope to see your posts regularly in this new year.
i wanted to start with Happy New Year , Al!, ..somehow the recent developments the USA tell me this ain’t no happy times…
I do follow the news on foot from Amsterdam, but i think this platform is about beauty and joy, so let’s not hesitate : Happy and Healthy 2021 Al , and all of you here on Jazzcollector.
And what our greatest dutch writer ever, said , in bad times in our life there is only one thing to do::
courageously forward (Gerard van het Reve)
Happy (belated) New Year Al ! Hope you and the family had a great Christmas holiday.