Back to Blue Note
If yesterday was a Prestige day, let’s make today a Blue Noter, starting with Here Comes Louis Smith, Blue Note 1584. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The bidding is in the $175 range with about four days to go. We were watching a different copy of the same record a few days ago and that one was in just VG condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It wound up selling for $561, so I would expect this one to fetch a higher price. Will it enter the $1,000 bin? Could be. According to Popsike, the highest recorded price for this record is $1,514. Not owning an original copy of this record myself, I haven’t listened to it in a long time. When I put a record on the turntable, I usually prefer an original pressing. But perhaps I will make an exception. After all, the personnel includes one of my all-time favorite alto players, none other than the infamous “Buckshot La Funke.”
Dexter Gordon, Dexter Calling, Blue Note 4083. This looks to be an original New York USA pressing. Based on the description the record and cover both look to be in VG++ condition. The bidding is getting close to $300 with more than a day left on the auction. Getting back to Popsike, to my surprise, this record has sold for more than $1,000 at least once, with a top price of $1,045.
Bennie Green, Walkin’ and Talkin’, Blue Note 4010. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing in Ex condition for the record, which I translate into VG+ using my terminology, and VG+ for the cover. The bidding is in the $170 range with more than two days left on the auction.
This is another one we were watching: Clifford Brown, New Star on the Horizon, Blue Note 5032. This was an original 10-inch pressing listed in VG- condition for both the record and the cover. At the time I wrote the original post the record was sitting at $50 with 13 bids and three hours left on the auction. I speculated the price would go up and it did, all the way to $265. Not bad for VG-, right?
Zero comments? Hello out there? Is the site working?
I was watching Rick Beato’s YouTube video today: “Why Do People Hate Jazz”. He’s a record producer and jazz guitarist, who has been around long enough to have firsthand perspective on this. He notes that in the early nineties, music fans began to turn away from jazz. For several reasons, he states that people can no longer relate to jazz. In other words, musical tastes, at least in the States, have turned away from the sophisticated music that love to hear and collect.
Al,sorry for the the long delay…. I just kept on playing that great record with Ronnie Peters playing great. Alto ! One of my favorite Milt Jackson records.
As a leader, Louis Smith had two recording careers: Two LPs for Blue Note in the 1950s, some sideman jobs, and 12 for Steeplechase between 1978 and 2004. I have one or two of the Steeplechases but neither Blue Note. Steeplechase, of course, doesn’t count as a “collectible” label. Smith’s first Blue Note was recorded for the Transition label but not released, so actually Blue Note recorded only one Smith album. IMO, the “Smithville” title is stupid.
That Smith could go high, being a clean copy with that white cover has to be rare. I own it on a Toshiba/EMI pressed cd, it sounds great and is of course, a great record.
I picked it up at a Borders Outlet (remember those?) about 12 or 13 years ago, about $5 sealed.
Just friends on Steeplechase is superb btw
There are plenty of Blue Note releases that sell for high dollar which musically I don’t think are worth it however I really like “Here Comes Louis Smith”. The playing is excellent. I’m sure this record will sell for high dollar and I will continue to enjoy my Japanese pressing since I will never be able to partake in the eBay bidding wars.
For those who want to hear the music on this album without paying the likely high price, the full album is on You Tube for FREE!
I remember buying this on CD when it came out in the Connoisseur series, 20 years ago. I don’t recall any of it, must dig it out and try again.
Have both Louis Smith Blue Notes on CD, although almost all my CDs are in storage and unaccessible. May go over to YouTube and listen to it again, may not, but I don’t recall being particularly bowled over by the music. That’s okay though as they can’t all be knockouts.
With prices as they are, don’t seem like many are buying Blue Notes for the music, rather some intrinsic value. Maybe in a frame on a wall like a doubtful Leonardo.
if i had the money, lennib, i’d be buying many blue notes for the music. 4/5 are knockouts in my opinion.