A Pair of Blue Notes, A Pair of Prestiges
Monday morning, so let’s catch up with some jazz vinyl auctions we were watching over the weekend, starting with a couple of Blue Notes: Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045. This was an original pressing in Ex condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $987. Long-time readers will know that this one is still near the top of my want list and also that I would never pay $987 for a copy. It’s nice to have holes in the collection so that there always remains excitement in the hunt, at least for me. Just filling in all the blanks by paying top dollar on eBay is a valid way to build a great collection, and it’s probably a great investment as well, given how prices for collectible jazz records keep rising. But it’s never been my choice in how to build a collection. This following record, in fact, is one I had in my collection and sold because one of our readers here at Jazz Collector made me an offer I couldn’t refuse: Horace Parlan, Us Three, Blue Note 4037. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing with the promo stamp. It was listed in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1,078.99.
From Blue Note to Prestige:
Miles Davis, Relaxin’, Prestige 7129. This was an original yellow label pressing with the New York address. The record was listed in Ex condition and the cover was M-. The record sold for $481.88. Zoot Sims Quartets, Prestige 7026. This was also an original New York yellow label in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $199.99 with just one bidder. I have a sense this would have sold for more if the seller had more experience and a higher rating.
Sorry to hear that the proverbial “white whale” got away again Al… As you noted though, it’s great to have a few of those LP’s still on your list, even with a collection as vast as yours. Another great reson to collect Jazz… No matter how much music one has, we would trade it all for a little more ! 🙂
A “white whale”,indeed. BTW,I heard that the recent HUGE US lottery win of $600 million(yes,that’s right) was won by a fresh-faced 19-year kid. Any chance of any of those dollars going for rare Blue Notes on Ebay? Of COURSE not!
And that,my friends,is the way of the world…
Aaaah Shades of Redd…Never listened to it in years (i have it only on CD). Just listened it yesterday after your post, Al ! I found it very “Tina Brooksish”…And i realized that actually Tina plays on it. Never took great care of this one, but in fact, it is a very fine session.
@ceedee, I think that the probability that some dollars out of the most recent lottery win would go for rare jazz records is as high as a the probability to win $600 million – very low, but there is a chance! I am suprized how many young people are starting to collect records – not only jazz, also classic or rock (I am located in Europe). I strongly believe that the market for collectible records will remain strong…
There was another copy of Shades of Redd on ebay in nice condition at the same time:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/230978471801?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_6457wt_1112
May I ask the readers of this forum to comment on seller’s comments regarding the pressing? I do not own F Cohen’s book and from the attached pictures I would call it a first pressing …
Gandi : I looks like it was the first press. Anyway, no picture of side 2, so…
Thanks Michel, I specifically meant this comment from the seller: ” The inner lable which is pictured uses the word “Microgroove” which indicates that it was pressed between 1962 and 1966…”
As 4045 was issued in 1960 this comment would indicate that this pressing is early but not first. Nevertheless I have never heard of the word “microgroove” being the indicator of the pressing time…
Don’t all monaural (non-stereo) Blue Note pressings from the Lexington Ave label onward say “33-1/2 Microgroove” ? (1955 through 1972). Sounds like the seller was mistaken on that one…