A Tale of Two Blue Notes
The Blue Notes remain through the roof. Here’s a new one for the $1,000 bin: Clifford Brown Memorial Album, Blue Note 1526. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing and it was listed as “very close to mint” condition. It sold for $1,280.50. Our friend Rudolf recently put this on a list of expendable Blue Notes. So what do you think about this price?
This one came from the same seller: Thad Jones, Detroit-New York Junction, Blue Note 1513. This was also an original Lexington Avenue pressing and it was also listed as near mint. It sold for $692.02, not quite half of the Clifford, but pretty close. Who knows why? That is a rhetorical question by the way, although if some thinks there is an answer, be my guest.
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1526: the Lex. version of this album with the dark blue bottom is quite rare. Maybe, at the time of issue, collectors were still satisfied with their 10″ originals. So few were pressed. The re-issue with the white bottom and light blue lettering is much more common. I sold that one recently for a price between 200 and 300 (NM).
Now the N.Y. Detroit Junction for 700 only, is a shame. I noticed that Thad Jones is not as popular as say Lee Morgan, although one could argue (with Mingus) that he is a major talent, comparable to Clifford Brown. But not that much appreciated by the Blue Note buying public, which explains the relatively low price. I had 2 copies of 1513, one with the yellow/white stripes going up from bottom left to top right and one with the stripes going down from top left to bottom right. I sold one for ard 500 euros 1 1/2 year ago, so at the same level as this one. I wish to add that the 3 Blue Note Thad Jones albums in my collection are amongst my most favourite.
Rudolph makes a couple good points. But I think there’s a simple expanation which is that Clifford just carries more “jazz cache” than Thad Jones. Great as Thad is, he’s simply not nearly as famous as Clifford. Clifford has that unique jazz lore around him (like Charlie Parker) as a genius who died too young. Add to that the fact that it’s a BN Lex and it’s probably not such a surprising price gap.
I agree wuth Rudolf? Less than 700 for this one (from bullsite !)is correct price. I probably would have bid if the economical situation was not so stressed…Those Thad Jones are very fine, and definitely 1513 is one of my favourite Blue Notes
By the way…have you noticed how many rare Blue Notes are still available on Ebay…i think they will still be available in many years.
michel, i agree with you… i have the idea that all those ‘super rare’ records are available almost every month … Mcleans ad lib, over-ccccc, dexter G blows hot and cool, True Blue,Mobley BN’s etc etc…
on the other hand, i haven’t seen much of jutta hipp at the hickory house, Bud powel Blue Notes, jj Johnson BN’s, Gil Melle patterns in jazz, kenny burrel 1543, etc etc…
are those albums even more scarce or isn’t anybody interested??
…I find that buying LP’s on e-bay is similar to the stock market or fine art auctions for that matter. Certain artists can be in the spotlight one minute, and forgotten the next depending on the current trends and availability. I am sure you guys have noticed that many buyers are collecting merely for investment potential, attempting to turn a quick profit by picking up a “bargain” here and there, and then we see the same LP resurface in a few months when the market spikes, as in the case of Hank Mobley’s 1568. The increased inventory on e-bay of these rarities most likely reflects recent record high prices of a given LP or artist and everyone jumps on the proverbial bandwagon. For many collectors and opportunistic investors, it’s a good time to sell. Especially for those collectors out there who purchased their copies originally for a few bucks at a flea market (or even on ebay a few years ago) and are starting to ask themselves “what am I saving them for ? Now is the time to sell !”
Unfortunately, this means that many of the other great artists out there (See Maarten Kools comment above) end up sitting on the shelf until it’s their time to shine again…
I’ve had this impossible little fantasy of tagging the supposed super rare sales, like geese, with a pencil mark inside the cover. ( I suppose one could track buyers and sellers on ebay.) Anyway, the point is that I’ve also been suspicious of quick turnovers…like a True Blue sold in ’08 being reauctioned in 2010. Or else, maybe Maarten is right and they actually aren’t as rare as legend would suggest.
don-lucky’s comparison with the stock market is striking. I must admit that sometimes I am tempted to try my luck and put one of these monsters up for sale, esp. since I have the material on Mosaic anyway (the complete Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley etc).
Also, I am sure, if I put them on sale in, say 5 or 10 years, they will not fetch the same high prices as nowadays.
Interesting point Rudolf…I often wonder if suceeding generations will place as much value on these great Jazz LPs and perhaps most importantly, the music itself in the years ahead. Will our cherished collections be disposed of curbside long after we are gone or will they continue to out perform traditional portfolios ? Could this be the “golden age” of eBay for us collectors as poor performance in the worlds stock markets made many of us turn to a more tangible investment strategy in the wake of a “Bull market”. One that we can physically hold and enjoy the benefits of each and every day of our lives, despite the state of the economy with hopes that it may become a legacy to pass along to our children. Perhaps if we had to liquidate someday, at least we can rest easy in the consolation that these relics are in all respects a rare commodity in a digital age.