Another Jazz Vinyl Potpourri
Time once again to clean out many of the older items sitting in my watch list. Let’s start with this nice 10-inch French Vogue LP: Henri Renaud Quintet with Gigi Gryce and Bobby Jaspar, Vogue 174. This was an original pressing in Ex condition for the record and near mint for the cover was sold by the seller fiftiesjazz, better known among Jazz Collector aficionados as Rudolf, who is an expert on the French Vogue label, as evidenced by this article from our archives of about 10 years ago, “A Comprehensive Guide to French Vogue.” This copy sold for about $202. From the same auction was Thad Jones, Mad Thad, Period 1208. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. The final price was $1,569.44. One more: I have to admit, I have never seen this record: Bill Hardman Quintet, Saying Something, Savoy 12170. This was an original pressing with the blood red label. This copy looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The final price was $362.
Here’s one from the Jazz Record Center that ended up in the $1,000 bin: Mal Waldron, Mal-1, Prestige 7090. This was an original New York yellow label that looked to be in M- condition for the record and M- or VG++ for the cover. The final price was $1,009. For the record, pun intended, we checked with Popsike and that is the highest price recorded for this particular record. Mal 2, Prestige 7111, the one with John Coltrane, has sold for a high price of $1,400. Left Alone, the Mal Waldron record on Bethlehem, has sold for a high price of $1,625.
We were watching this kind of weird copy of Herbie Nichols Trio, Blue Note 1519. The consensus seemed to be that this was a Liberty pressing using older labels. When we spotted the record on Jazz Collector the bidding was in the $85 range. It wound up selling for $233.28. I have one of similar vintage but with Lexington Avenue labels. It has no deep groove, but it does have the ear and the RVG stamp. Wonder what that would sell for?
I meant to write about this earlier: McCoy Tyner, The Real McCoy, Blue Note 4264. This was an original Liberty pressing with the Van Gelder stamp. It was probably in M- condition for the record and cover and was sold by the Jazz Record Center for $810, which seemed quite high to me. I checked the Jazz Collector archives and came upon this article from 2014 “Really, McCoy?” in which readers were surprised that a copy sold for as much as $171. I will say that the $810 is a new high point for The Real McCoy, nearly double the previous high. Must be inflation.
Speaking of inflation, I also saved a few from an early June Jazz Record center auction because I couldn’t believe the prices. Here are:
Wardell Gray, Los Angeles All Stars, Prestige 147, 10-inch LP, VG++ condition or so for the record and the cover. Price: $799.
Art Farmer Quintet, Prestige 181, 10-inch LP, VG++ condition or so for the record and the cover. Price: $850.
Finally, to close the book on a crazy auction we were watching a couple of months ago,
Gigi Gryce and His Big Band, Jazztime Paris featuring Clifford Brown, Blue Note 5049. Final price: $1,253.44
Those Savoys with the Harvey covers were elusive. Had most at one time, however majority were of the maroon label variety.
And that’s a nice price tor the Thad Jones Period label lp. 40 years ago I thought I made out like a bandit when I got $40.00 for my copy
Who are Jimmy and Eddie Jones? That Thad looks really nice, not only in terms of cleanliness and rarity but also, ahem, sonic content.
Hi Clifford,
Jimmy Jones – piano – played on records by Sonny Stitt, Milt Jackson, Ben Webster and the two Ellington Is Forever lps by Kenny Burrell, as well as a bunch of Emarcy Lps. He straddled the Swing to Bebop schools. I believe he was backup piano for both Duke Ellington and Count Basie in the 50s and 60s which is how he got to record with Thad. He made a great trio record (10″) in France in 1954.
Eddie Jones – bass – ubiquitous mainstream player in the fifties who played with Basie at this time.
Thanks; Jimmy Jones does now ring a bell.
Jimmy Jones and Eddie Jones play on a great Beverly Kenney Roost 2218 lp called “Beverly Kenney with Jimmy Jones and “The Basie-Ites””. Also includes Joe Newman, Frank Wess, Freddie Green, and Joe Jones. Her three Roost lps are definitely worth searching for in good condition.
Is that the same Jimmy Jones who accompanied singers such as Sarah Vaughan in the 1950’s? Very tasteful!
Bill L. Yes, it’s the same guy. Tasteful is a good description.
Listened to Mad Thad on YouTube; it’s an excellent album. I’ll have to seek out a reissue.
Clifford, there is a British pressing of Mad Thad on Nixa records released in the 50 s. Quite hard to find but a lot cheaper than the original.
In my opinion pressing and sound quality is very fine.
Jan, thank you for reminding me of the existence of the Nixa. I sold this one a long time ago. The sleeve is green with a lovely picture of Thad and the record title in yellow.
Audio quality equal or even better than the Period.
My ranking of Thad Jones albums is simple. The three Blue Notes are the absolute top. Strangely enough they are not amongst the Blue Notes which fetch the highest prices. Just after this threesome come the two 10″ Debuts, re issued on Debut 127 and later on red wax Fantasy Debut.