A Rare JAzz Vinyl Quartet
Here’s a nice 10-inch Blue Note you don’t see very often: Tal Farlow Quartet, Blue Note 5042. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The seller describes the record as being in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The pictures of the record look horrendous. I assume that is just the flash, but as a seller, you’ve got to be more careful when posting pictures. This has a start price of $99 and there are no bidders. Not sure if that is a function of the start price being too high or the poor quality of the pictures. I’d like this record, but not sure I’d be willing to take the chance.
Here’s another one that appeals to me: Elmo Hope, Meditations, Prestige 7010. This is one of the few early Prestiges I don’t own. The record and cover are both in Ex condition, which translates to VG+ in my lingo. It’s an original New York yellow label. There’s shrink wrap and a price label, and I don’t quite know what to make of that because they weren’t using shrink wrap when the record first came out. Probably doesn’t mean anything. There are 10 bids, but it’s still only in the $100 range, which would be quite a bargain for this record. Of course, the price will go up, but by how much? We’ll see tomorrow.
This one is from the same seller as the Elmo Hope and it is closing soon, so the auction will probably be over by the time many of you read this: Art Pepper, Surf Ride, Savoy 12089. This is an original pressing with the blood red label. From the description it sounds like the record and cover are also VG+. The bidding just went past the $400 mark.
To close out today’s post let’s look at another one to break my heart: Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craft, Blue Note 1582. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing and both the record and cover are described as near mint and, from the picture of the cover, you get the sense that is quite accurate. Bidding is in the $700 range with about a day and a half left. For some reason, I think we may be welcoming Cliff Craft into the $2,000 bin.
Love this Tal 10″. I’m fortunate to own a nice original copy, need to spin it soon. Such a great version of “Lover” and the harmonics on “Flamingo” get me every time. I think I paid about $40 on eBay for mine about 2 years ago, very lucky grab
I most likely am wrong, however it seems the Hope has plastic shrink wrap, unusual for this vintage of an lp?
Love the Cliff Craft lp, musician gave me his lps decades ago in Detroit, all were well played, and this was among them. Sounds magnificent even with the occasional scratch and surface noise.
Time to ask,when the 10″is really the 1st pressing does that make the 12″ the 2nd? Of course I’m referring to records which have a 10″ copy.O.K. Collectors lets here what you have to say.
If the 12″ has extra material I would call the 12″ a different record culled from the same or similar sessions, and thus the 12″ could have original and subsequent pressings.
Lennib – You’re correct, Riverside wasn’t shipping any records at that time with an exterior protective sleeve. The type of shrink wrap in the photo wasn’t used in production until some time in the 60’s.
Art: I would call the 10″ a 1st pressing and the 12″ a reissue of the same material. Even if it has extra tunes. For example “Afro Cuban” by Kenny Dorham, the 10″ is the original 1st pressing with the original 1st art cover. The 12″ is a reissue of the same material, 2nd art cover + some extra tunes, which to me doesn’t belong on the same record as the other Cuban-influenced stuff. Same with “Surf Ride” by Art Pepper on Savoy, a reissue. The two original 1st pressing 10 inchers were issued on the Discovery label.
@ Fredrik: technically speaking, a case could also be made for the originally Art Pepper 78’s on Discovery being the first pressings with the Discovery 10 inches a second release.
Rob: the 78’s only consists of tunes from the first (DL 3019) of the Discovery 10″ LP’s, right? The other one (DL 3023) consists of tunes which was first released in the 10″ format, thus a 1st pressing. But, true, the first pressings of the other tunes are on the 78’s. Good point. But, to be honest, I collect only 1st pressings of 33’s and 45’s and don’t count the 78’s in at all.
Al, sometime ago you asked about a 10 inch Parker. I have a Dizzy G. On Allegro with Bird. Interested? I’ll send it to you– you can have it for free or a nominal sum (I don’t collect 10 inchers.)
Seriously, who are these people who buy “Surf Ride” for over $500. This market is getting over-hyped at warp speed.
I watched a Princeton video recently and recall the speaker talking about how they haven’t been buying lots of records lately because, well, they aren’t out there like they used to. The Eugene record show is next month and it will be interesting to see what the jazz selection will be like. It was pretty thin last year, although I did get a Mingus on Jubilee. (Small victory). The best find on the trip was a Curtis Counce “Exploring the Future” at House of Records (in Eugene).
JOK: Hopefully the same people who buy my Surf Ride for $500 if I put it up for sale!!
Crazy Times. Just sitting on the sidelines unable to buy anything in months.
Yes- most people around the world are aware of Ebay and secondary sites. A sale of a collection like that of Dr Wong will receive attention and change the minds of many who thought that selling a collection a single record at at time was not worth their time. I occurred to me that I should list a few records with “Dr Wong” in the listing title then indicate in the description that my sale represents a second chance at purchasing a rare and valuable record !
I frequent shows in my area and I have noticed that the supply of desirable records has declined. A quick chat with dealers indicates that fewer collections are available, there is more competition for what is available and if the dealer acquires a valuable record it will be be sold on Ebay for top dollar. Several dealers (storefront and show gypsies) have told me they don’t want to risk handling wear by having too many people examine a valuable record. Much easier for them to sell on-line and have cash in hand within a few days of listing.
That shrink may have been added to old stock in 60s, which suggests that Hope album could be a later pressing.
Hi Al. Finally you got the Shades of Redd?
Hello, fairly new to this site. My late Grandfather was a jazz musician…….I have thousands of vintage LP’s that were left behind. I have no clue as to what is valuable or not, I need help sorting all these thousands of old Jazz records
I live in New York City, the Boro of Brooklyn…..PLEASE HELP