Back in Action??????? Really????????

Well, what do you know? I felt like going on eBay today. It’s kind of a bleak, rainy day here in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, I’m caught up on my work, taped my radio show yesterday (Roy Haynes, Memorial, Part 2), and I’m sitting at my computer and thinking to myself, man, you haven’t been on eBay in a long, long time. Months, I would guess. If any of you regular readers are still out there, what have I been missing? Here’s what I’m seeing today

Not a good start as I pore through some of the higher priced jazz vinyl. The first is Walter Davis Jr., Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This is an original pressing with the West 63^rd Street address. Great record. I, for one, have never owned an original pressing of this record, but I did purchase a United Artists copy from my old friend Red Carraro for $10 back in the 1970s or 1980s. I still have it. This copy on eBay looks totally beat. The seller didn’t have the nerve to describe the condition. But he did have the nerve to put a price of $1,500 on the record.

Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1534. This looks to be an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The seller has graded the record as VG+ or VG++. He’s also graded the cover at near mint. The picture shows a cover that is probably closer to VG, with a seven-inch seam split. So, looking at the cover and the seller’s grading, I, for one, would have a hard time being confident that the record is either VG+ or VG++. But the seller says he has lowered the price by $500 and $300, so for just $1,150 this could be yours.

Finally, after passing United Artists Blue Notes at prices of $1,000, here we come to a seller who knows what he is actually doing: The Jazz Record Center. I like this one J.R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is already past $500 with five days left to go in the auction, and more than 125 views in the past 24 hours.  This record has sold for more $2,000 in the past. Based on the condition of the record, and the reputation of the seller, I, for one, wouldn’t be surprised to see it get up there once again.

OK, now that I’ve found the Jazz Record Center auction, let’s see what else they have.

Thelonious Monk, The Unique, Riverside 209. This is an original white label pressing. The record and cover seem to be in around VG++ condition. I don’t know if I am pleased or displeased to see this listing. The copy I have of this record stinks. The record has surface noise and the cover has tape. I’ve played several tracks on my radio show/podcast and have always been disappointed. I promised my listeners, assuming I have listeners, that I would replace my copy with a better one. So I should be pleased, right? I mean, here’s a nice copy from a reliable seller. But, man, I haven’t bought a record on eBay in years and have always tried to avoid paying top dollar. A conundrum, no? I have a feeling I know what I’m going to do with this one, especially with Christmas coming up. And please don’t remind me that I’m Jewish and don’t celebrate Christmas. MYOB.