Back in Action: Rare Newk, Redd, Jackie
I’m back. Haven’t looked at eBay in a couple of weeks, so that’s where I’m going to start: Sonny Rollins Quintet, Esquire 20-080. This is a 10-inch British version of the 10-inch U.S. LP Sonny Rollins Quintet Featuring Kenny Dorham, Prestige 186. I’ve never owned either the U.S. or U.K. pressing, so this copy looks extraordinarily cool to me. It is listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is in the $200 range and so far there are no bidders, with five days left on the auction. Tempting, I must say.
And then there is my old nemesis:
Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing listed in Ex condition for both the cover and the record. For some reason, I have trouble interpreting “Ex,” but I always assume it is like VG+, which is almost a catch-all because the range is so broad. I’ve bought VG+ records that play without a trace of noise, others that are full of static. Anyway, the bidding on this one is close to $500 with more than two days left. I almost got my hands on a copy of this in the past two weeks. It’s a long story that I will save for when I have more time, but I was in the running to buy a collection and lost out in the end, even though I had the highest bid. I know you hate these teases, but it’ll be a good story, once I figure out how to tell it. Give me a couple of weeks, till the dust settles and I calm down.
The weird thing with Shades of Redd is that I can get it basically any time I want. It is sitting on eBay just about every week. I just have to pay market value, and it’s a pretty safe investment because, in nearly 50 years of jazz collecting I’ve never seen the prices of original Blue Notes go down. So I can buy it and not torture myself with chasing down collections. Not only that — I won $900 at the racetrack a few weeks ago, so I could put that money towards the record. But, I guess I still appreciate the thrill of the chase more than the idea of paying top dollar for an original pressing.
Here’s another nemesis, while I’m at it: Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This is an original pressing that looks to be in VG condition for the record and G condition for the cover. Bidding is in the $400 range with more than two days left. I had an original copy of this record in VG or VG+ condition. You know the story: I sold it for $500 to buy a boat, the boat sank in a hurricane, and I’ve never been able to replace the record at a reasonable price. Again, I could pay top dollar. Again, I choose not to pay.
I didn’t realize that Rollins was 10″…interesting…very interesting.
Peter_A are you still interested in selling that cover for Mobley’s 1540?
I was hoping we’d hear your views on the new Coltrane upon your reemergence.
Hi, Chris. I listened to one album, but not the other. So far, It’s great, but I wanted to take more time with it. What about you? Have you listened yet? Anyone else?
Good sound, strong performances — definitely feels like a rehearsal rather than a cohesive album, but it’s worth owning. I’m not too into the flimsy packaging (even on the ‘deluxe’ issue) and the liner notes are quite abbreviated. But all in all I’m glad this was released.
I haven’t picked it up but I love when this type of thing happens, lost then found. Al, I feel uneasy admitting this, but I’ve seldom “felt” Coltrane. I’ve read your praises and know of his stature, but I just haven’t connected with him they way I wish I would. I do enjoy Prestige 7105 very much but still don’t own a copy of Blue Train. What the hell, that’s strange to admit. I would like to watch Chasing Trane.
I would not chase that copy of “Shades of Redd”; has some serious discoloration issues on spine and too. Like it sat exposed to sun for years. Spine should be red like the front cover…
Sorry above comment should be “spine and top seam”
@Mark
The spine on the first pressing cover “Shades of Redd” is white not red. I know because I owned two copies, both spines snow white. Indeed the red color on top seam is faded, I observed the same phenomenon on both copies I owned and my theory is that it is a friction wear (probably from the outer sleeve), even though the cover is laminated.
Anyway I will give more feedback once this one arrives, I was lucky to place the winning bid 🙂
@ Al
my experience with EX records is sightly different, most of them were just a “blue note” below NM that is why I hope this one will be my final upgrade 🙂
I sold a VG+ copy for 800$ some years ago, it played amazing but had some writing on the cover & label which I hate on my records 🙁
@Mark
Now I see what you meant regarding teh spine, light discoloration at the edge , I will inspect it closely. BLP 4045 is one of my top 10 Blue Note, the only one I do not own first mono pressing – if this is the only imperfection, I will not look for an upgrade.
Wow. i didn’t know there was a 4045 with a white spine and one with a red. I assume they’re identical in every other way?
I can’t remember you guys…what was the word on the seller CarolinaSoul on Ebay? They’ve got a bunch of stuff up that I’m currently looking at.
I think Mark is right with spine color: red as front cover, at least mine is red.
@Juancho CarolinaSoul is legit, but I would not go too low on their grading matrix either.
The 10″ Rollins on Esquire did not sell and was relisted.
Thanks, Clifford. Looking hard at jackets, and pretty much ruling out anything below VG/+.
yeah, VG+ is about the lowest I’d go, Juancho.
I am following this item, which remains unsold after repeated relistings.
This is a very cool album, whether on Esquire, on Prestige (lovely picture of Sonny), or in 12″ version ‘Movin’ Out’.
Is this lacklustre situation for a top item to be attributed to the Summer season? I really don’t understand buyers’ reluctance.
Rudolf. I feel like the cover is overgraded. I’d call it VG. This of course makes me suspicious of the grade of the record. Perhaps other bidders feel the same?
Rudolf, I wonder if we are seeing a saturation point for all titles other than the highest grade items, causing two tiers … the majority tier where items go unsold or for much lower prices, and the minority tier of “unicorn” items. There is so much churn with lower grade titles that maybe the base of buyers is now primarily interested in the “final upgrade” or “investment” items. And it could be the summer season as well, with vacations interrupting the momentum.
Fellow travelers , perhaps WE should create new definitions of the following ; collectability , listenability, and affordability . As long as (YOU GUYS) don’t start kicking us bent over crate diggers while searching the bins I’m perfectly o.k. with the free market insanity. Click, hiss and pop . Art
The two tier market is already there, both in terms of top condition vs mediocre and ‘holy grail’ vs average. Agree with cover grading of this Rollins, VG at the best.