A Tale of Two Blue Notes
I did not get the Milt Jackson Blue Note 1509. When I wrote the post yesterday there was only one bidder at $200, so I figured it may not go for that much. I put in a snipe bid of about $280, but right after I wrote the post there were two new bids and the price went up to $235 quickly. I left the snipe where it was and the record wound up selling for $306. I could have bid higher and perhaps gotten the record. It’s a nice one, in M- condition, and it would have fit quite snugly in my collection. C’est la ebay.
As someone else pointed out, the Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Blue Note 4003, sold for $1,125, making it the first time this record has entered the $1,000 bin in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. The record and the cover were in M- condition. We think of this as one of the more common of the Blue Notes because it was quite popular and successful and re-issued but, clearly, original pressings in this kind of condition are still quite hard to come by or else this would have never fetched such a high price.
4003 described as MInt for the record, and Mint- for the cover. Always a bit wary of sellers describing 50 year old items as Mint (basically brand new)… I hope the buyer is happy.
BLP 4003, like 1595 and 1577, were sold in big numbers. But since the music is so damned good, they were also played a lot by the owners. So to find a M or NM copy is rare. Tony makes a good point there. But then, if really the quality is M or mint-ish, they must logically fetch a high price.
A copy of 4003, worth over a thousand bucks… Phew… Thankfully I managed to lay hands on a copy of 4003 for 56 Euro, which at the current rate is 76 Dollar. Both the LP and cover are in stunning condition. Granted: the labels have the New York USA on it and no deep groove, so it’s obviously a later but still pre-Liberty pressing, but the trail off etchings are identical to a true 1st pressing as described in Fred Cohen’s book. The only sad thing is that the cover of my later pressing is not laminated. Apart from that, marvellous pressing and sound quality for less than 80 bucks! 😉
That cover has to be one of the most beautiful album covers of all time. Absolutely stunning.
Few weeks ago I got 4003 for 60$: NM record in VG++ cover, West 63rd, ear and deep groove on both sides … the only issue is the R (inc.) but it is not worth 1000$ for me. I believe the sellers offering many nice and rare records at the same time are getting the bonus of many page viewers (“view other seller’s items”) increasing the chance for high bids… I recommend patience …
QUIZ: in a short spell of time (’58/’59) we hear Lee with Benny (4003), then with Hank (on Jazzcorner of the World 4015/6), and finally with Wayne (4029), all under the leadership of Buhaina. Which drummer accompanied Lee and one of these three tenor saxophonists in a composition called “Blues on my mind”?
This could only be Philly Joe?!
Philly Joe Jones, November 17, 1958
Benny Golson and the Chicagoans, United Artists
lee, benny, ray bryant,Percy heath, pjj
United Artists UAL 4020
of course!
For me, this record epitomizes the exemplary collaboration between these two pals of the Dizzy big band outfit.
I found a copy at Stereo Jack’s in Cambridge recently for $20. The cover is in immaculate condition, it literally looked as if it just came out of the shrink wrap. The record however left a lot to be desired, a few dings and a hybrid pressing to boot. I have a VG+ 63rd deep groove in a less than desirable cover however, so I just did a switcheroo.. I’m a happy camper.
Nice Andy–that worked out!
“Benny Golson and the Chicagoans, United Artists
lee, benny, ray bryant,Percy heath,pjj”???
And the PHILADELPHIANS?
Here is an interesting article about the person who took the photograph which was used for the cover: http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/archives/2003/01/Rhapsody-in-black-and-white/print/
‘m so sorry!
Philly, of course.
Bill – nice find with that article! And definitely a great cover…and, lest we forget, great music…..
Gee, everybody has been sleeping, only Bill woke us up.
Bill, what a great article. Thanks for posting it.
Great article indeed. Strange to read that Paul Hoeffler had to contact the record company himself to get paid for the use of his image on the CD reissue of Moanin’. I mean, from day one Paul Hoeffler’s name with the copyright “c” was printed on the back cover, you’d think they knew and just pay him. And then still: only 500 bucks for an album that has been reissued so many times?
Great article. Thanks for the link.
http://www.paulhoeffler.com not working for me though…