Back to Business, Back to Blue Note
I’ve been off eBay for a while, tending to other business, so to get reacclimated and grab a quick look at what’s going on, I did a search of some of the highest priced jazz records now up for auction. Naturally, all of the top listings came up Blue Note. Here are a few, starting with Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This is an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The record is listed in VG+ condition and the cover is VG++. It looks like a nice solid copy. The bidding is now in the $475 with more than two days left on the auction. Given today’s market, I would expect this one to break into the $1,000 bin.
This one is already headed for the $1,000 bin, and might wind up all the way into the $3,000 bin, if, indeed, such a bin actually exists: Kenny Dorham, Round Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looks absolutely pristine from the photos, as if it had been preserved in laminate from 1956. The seller lists it as M- for both the record and the cover. The bidding has already exceeded $1,500 and there are more than five days left on the auction.
Sonny Clark, Dial S For Sonny, Blue Note 1570. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record is listed as M- and the cover is listed at VG++. Also looks like a very nice copy. The bidding for this is now in the $300 range with five days left. I’ll be surprised if this one also doesn’t end up in the $1,000 bin.
Cannonball Adderley, Somethin’ Else, Blue Note 1595. This is listed as an original West 63rd Street pressing, but the seller surprisingly doesn’t include a picture of the labels. The record is listed in VG++ condition and the cover as VG. There are three days left on the auction and there are no bids at a start price of $800.
Sonny Rollins Volume 2, Blue Note 1558. This has some of the trappings of a first pressing, and is listed as such by the seller, but a fairly routine review of the listing will show that it is something other than a first pressing. One side clearly has deep grooves and the West 63rd Street address. The other side has a New York USA label and may or may not have deep grooves. It is hard to tell from the picture. Weird. Anyway, the record looks nice, but the seller doesn’t give a clear description or grade as to the condition. He is looking to get $500 or more for this record, as that is the start price. Hmm.
That Dorham looks pristine, though I’m not seeing a frame on the cover. Vinyl might not be flat edge either though it’s hard to tell. Should still fetch a pretty penny in that condition.
$500 for that Rollins is ridiculous – not seeing any deep groove side 2 and the cover looks like it might not be laminated either, with some edge wear to boot. Even if the vinyl’s NM I’d be surprised if it’d ever go much higher than $200.
That Adderley is starting at $800, not $300. Sheesh.
(At least for me) the cover of the Dorham does not bear the famous “kakubuchi”. Probably not a flat edge (at least for me). Will go for the big money but it is justified (at least for me) given its exceptionnal condition. I would be happy to have the money to bid on this without starving the daughter…. And here’s is a Blue Note that is clearly not overrated (at least for me) 😉
Thanks, Clifford. Updated the text in the post. My taping fingers must be getting rusty. Er, I mean my typing fingers.
Dorham is definitely not flat edge: the label area is raised (visible in the very last photo of the label, where there is a reflection spot), while flat edge would have been “flat” label area as well. Nor, it’s a “frame lines” cover: although unprinted, the spine seems to be wide. Also, the front looks too glossy.
However, look at the third photo. I have never seen ON THE BACK of the cover a type of a “frame line” that is visible along the top edge. An assembly error, where the “frame” ended up on the back???
After reading Al’s description of Sonny Rollins Volume 2 Blue Note BLP 1558, I checked my copy, which is a first pressing. Comparing my labels with those of the auction copy. mine do not have an “Inc.,” the address has “New York 23” and no “U.S.A.” There is also no registered mark at the bottom of the labels. The back cover slick is pasted in such a way to leave a dark border on all sides from the overlap of the front cover.
I once bought a blue note from a seller who did not provide a label picture. he described it as “original” and the price was low so I decided to test ebay a little.
sure enough, Inc/R on a copy of 4015. So i open a “not as described” case. the seller fought back with BS about how it was made during original ownership of blue note, but ebay sided with me. i was amazed. but there is a small light for y’all.
That Dorham looks like an amazing copy even with a beaded rim and weird cover anomaly. Bet it’ll do some wallet damage.
Dorham: It has at least one frame line, so does it qualify as a frame cover? My copy has three frame lines on the front and two on the back. There are quite a few variations are of the framed (‘Kakabuchi’ in Japanese) Blue Note covers.
Paul S – Blue Note framed covers have an apparent visible frame on three side because of the way the three layers of cardboard were glued together in production. The framing is only visible on the 3 sealed sides not the opening edge. Even if the framing isn’t visually evident on the 3 sides a cover with a Lexington address is either framed or not.
That Freddie Hubbard has no ear and NY labels so quite far from original…..
Shaft, no, Al linked a DG 47 West copy with ear, but that auction ended (sold for $ 1913!) so it looks like eBay automatically redirected the link to an NY copy buy-it-now (‘The listing you’re looking for is no longer available. Check out this similar item we found for you.’).
Aha thanks Cellery – that is indeed strange behaviour from eBAy….
But still….the other ear-less Freddie is up at $413 for a Liberty press…!
That sure was a pretty copy of Open Sesame though. Unfortunately my bid was way short. Goes to show you what conservative grading and good pictures will get you.
eBay is making it harder and harder to look up completed auctions.
Cellery – I found that if you click on the word “listing” in that message it sends you to the completed listing.
Bill – Thank You!!
With my dyslexia I never saw that “listing” in the blue bar and hadn’t been able to find completed prices for the last couple of weeks.
Just found an autographed copy of Green is Beautiful Blue Note 1970
Any idea of the value?
Would there be interested in this item?
Thx