Back in the Vinyl Saddle Again
TWO WEEKS!!!! The longest I’ve ever gone without posting. Weren’t any of you, aside from Mac, worried about me? I didn’t go anywhere, just took an unexpected and unscheduled break. Now I’m back, but only for a few weeks. I have a two-week vacation coming up in October. Anyone interested in doing some guest hosting for a couple of weeks? Send me an email and we’ll see what we can do.
In the meantime, let’s get back to eBay and see what’s going on. This was on my watch list the last time I looked and now it has sold: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. This was an original pressing with the west 63rd Street address, deep grooves, etc. The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was only VG, but it still sold for $2,081. There was also this one for the $1,000 bin:
Walter Bishop Jr., Speak Low, Jazztime Records 002. This was an original pressing listed in VG+ condition for the record and Ex for the cover. It sold for $1,247.
And here are a few that are on eBay now:
Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041. This is an original pressing that looks to be in about VG or VG+ condition for the record and probably VG+ or better for the cover. There are more than three days left on the auction and the bidding is in the range of $1,275.
This one is from the same seller: Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing listed in M- condition for the record and Ex- for the cover. The bidding is now just over $1,000 with three days left.
Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. This is an original pressing. The record is M- and the cover is VG++. Obviously a very nice copy of a very rare record. This one closes in four days and has a start price of $1,200. So far there are no bidders.
Welcome back!
I’ve never bought from Fidelity Matters, but they have some great stuff, although wasn’t the cover of the first pressing of Chet Baker sings black and white?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chet-Baker-sings-1st-mono-Pacific-DG-framed-cover-feat-Lawrence-Marable-NM-/111763498689?hash=item1a059fa6c1
JRR’s grading is pretty conservative – I’ve had good luck with some (admittedly cheaper) buys.
Sold a VG+ copy of Nelson’s “Straight Ahead” for $60 several years ago and thought I might be fleecing the buyer at a high price… clearly not!
GST I think the pacific jazz 10″ had the black and white picture while the 12″ always had the colors. I picked up a copy of this record a year or so ago and I think played it once. It didn’t do much for me.
Steve B good call on the 12″. I didn’t even notice that. Which copy do you have? I’d be interested in the 10″.
With regards to the “Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530” – I emailed the seller, because I could not tell if the LP cover was ‘framed’ or not. The seller replied that it is *not* a framed cover. So unfortunately, it’s not a true first pressing. Which made me sad, because I would have purchased it if it was…
Steve B – you are correct – the Chet Baker Sings 10″ is black and white (with light blue / turquoise script) and the photo includes Russ Freeman. The 12″ features the color-bar cover and the photo has been cropped and centered to feature only Chet.
Kinda weird so there is a second pressing of Jutta Hipp and Zoot?
Other than the UA I had no idea
The original 12″ of Chet Baker Sings is on Pacific Jazz proper, not the later World Pacific label.
Jutta Hipp graded EX- With tape along the spine(most likely covering a split)
Aaron – good spot. That is definitely a second pressing the 12″ Chet Baker sings.
I have the original 12 inch Chet Baker sings (PJ-1202) and it is black and white.
Hi JOK – We are talking about PJ-1222
Caroline: I doubt that the Jutta Hipp cover is not framed. Cohen’s book says the original has a framed cover and I’ve personally never seen another variation of this album between the first 1957 pressing and the United Artists early ’70s pressing, and I say that having run the gamut on popsike and eBay numerous times. Dare I say the seller is unable to identify the frame?
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I wonder why Al said the Tina Brooks looks to be in VG/VG+ condition. Was it maybe because of the seller’s explanation for their grading system?
That tape on the spine of the copy of 1530 really ruins the cover though, doesn’t it! 🙁 (I don’t personally believe any kind of EX grade should be attached to a cover with that kind of an issue, but to each his/her own.) I suppose the sound quality of the record is the most important thing at the end of the day though so it will probably be cherished by the winner regardless.
That is one of the hottest collections I’ve seen on the ‘Bay in a long time. I’ll bet that copy of Tender Feelin’s sells for $1250-1500 USD.
If you look at the back of the Jutta and Zoot you can see it is a framed cover. My copy is not an obvious frame cover when looking at the front
For what it’s worth, I’ve seen a flat edge Lexington press of 1530 with a non frame jacket that clearly had the safety notch at the center of the top seam. The address on the back of the jacket was also the Lexington address. Certainly the frame jacket is the earlier of the two.
How about that, Jim. I’m doing some research now and it appears that the earliest pressings without framed jackets, were released in February 1957, three months after 1530 was released. I’m gonna guess that the records contained within either a framed or non-framed copy of 1530 are indistinguishable. For all we know, there was a second pressing of the album three months after it was originally released. You first pressing fundamentalists, be my guests and go nuts with that stuff! 😉 Makes no difference to me.
Mike: I think the idea is that the ‘frame’ only applies to the front of the jacket. All the LPs from this era appear to have the same type of ‘frame’ you see on the back of the Hipp album in that photo.
Sorry about that: I meant that while 1530 was originally released in February 1957, the first non-frame jackets appear to have been released in May of that year.
Caroline: You would have *purchased* the album? Them’s fightin’ words! You’re that sure you would have had the high bid? We’re not worthy…
@Rich – I agree that it’s highly likely that the vinyl would be indistinguishable between the frame cover and the first non frame jacket that was probably supplied only a few months later. Ah…the nuances of Blue Note collecting :-).
Rich/Mike/others: When I emailed the seller, they were already clearly aware of the variances of early Blue Note framed vs. unframed LP jackets and ‘first original’ vs. just ‘original’ definitions. The seller clearly stated to me that this LP jacket is definitely not a framed front. They also do not say in their eBay advert that it is a ‘first original’ – only that it is an ‘original mono’ pressing. So I think the seller has been crystal clear, both in the nomenclature of their eBay ad and their email to me regarding precisely what this LP jacket is, and is not. But everyone is right – the tape just **ruins** it – Rich, I meant to type that I would have purchased it if it had been a true ‘first original’ as notated by Cohen – and there was no stupid tape. So sad. 🙁
Caroline, fantastic job with your research! I have never heard of this particular case before, and I would have missed it…good job dotting all your i’s and crossing all your t’s.
Also, it’s quite amazing that Cohen’s book seems to be right on the money time and time again, and that it appears to be 100% accurate. I can’t begin to imagine how many of these records he’s come into contact with to have this much information as accurate as it is.
Cool Struttin’ is an amazing record. I can’t understand, though, how anyone could pay $2000 for this album when Music Matters Ltd. re-issued this, remastered from the original tapes in stereo on 180 gram. I have no ties to Music Matters, just really love the reissues they have been putting out.