Comments on: A Stamp, A Failed Bid, Some Cool Autographs

By: Joe L

Joe L — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:20:09 +0000

Rudolf- as always, thanks for the great story.

By: don-lucky

don-lucky — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 19:29:44 +0000

Glad I checked back on this one, thanks for the rest of the story Rudolf. Personally, I long for a simpler time when buying Blue Note LP’s was a gentlemen’s pursuit. LP’s were bought for the music, sold at a fair price, and you could still deal direct from the owner.

That said, I don’t miss the required patience, waiting in anticipation of those order arrivals. Although at $3.75 (+Shipping) I would gladly waive the convenience of Paypal & reassurance of a tracking number any day !

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 17:43:03 +0000

don-Lucky: it is fascinating indeed. In the fifties and early sixties, Blue Note worked with an official and exclusive importer for all sales into the Netherlands. This guy (Munnikendam in Amsterdam) was the sole importer. Munnikendam showed less and less interest in supplying special items (Herbie Nichols, Hank Mobley, Thad Jones, Sonny Clark and other artists not selling well). Munnikendam only had stocks of big sellers like Blakey, Jimmy Smith and H. Silver. As you know, Blue Note issued catalogues with the whole range 1500-1600 albums marked available, unlike Prestige who continuously deleted items. So, exasperated by this situation I wrote a letter to Blue Note saying that catalogue numbers x, y and z were impossible to obtain in my country and asking whether I could buy them directly. The reply from Alfred was immediate and short: they would supply the whole catalogue at a unit price of $ 3.75 per album, excl. cost of shipment. I think I ordered three or four times to complete my missing BLP albums. I would order, Blue Note would send an invoice, I would pay via I.M.O. and got the albums at my home adress. Very cool indeed.

By: don-lucky

don-lucky — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:16:58 +0000

Rudolf, you are the first person I have ever heard mention that they purchased their Blue Notes first hand from Alfred Lion ! This sounds like the start of a great posting topic… Did you deal with him via phone, mail or in person ?

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:45:05 +0000

Herbie Nichols: Al’s peculiar pressing. I have had the same. Lex adress on labels and rear cover, ears etc. but one feels it is not an original. The différences: no kakubuchi, no flat rim and lighter vinyl. I got mine from Alfred Lion around 1963. My feeling: they just did a pressing run with the materials at hand, at that particular moment.

By: don-lucky

don-lucky — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 16:29:09 +0000

…I think you dodged the preverbal bullet on that Phil Woods LP Al. The cover was most questionable indeed, especially the seams and stains on the back cover.
As for the signed JATP program… Great collector piece, and the autographs appear legit. The buyer certainly got it for a bargain price considering the star studded line-up of signatures.

By: Geoff.

Geoff. — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 22:45:20 +0000

The Phil Woods was out of my range also, better luck next time, Al.