Blue Notes, Real and Surreal
Here are a couple of jazz vinyl listings sent to us by loyal readers for your perusal.
CeeDee sent this one: Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $371. Not bad, right? Except this is a UNITED ARTISTS pressing. I know we’ve commented on some of these before, but this is really surprising, isn’t it? I had the United Artists pressing and the cover was pretty flimsy and the record sounded fine, but nothing special. I think I sold mine for $20, and was happy to get that. Ah well.
Michael send us a heads-up on this one, under the subject “this should be a doozy:” Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This is the original original pressing, with the New York 23 on one side and the West 63rd on the other. The record looks to be in VG++ condition, based on the seller’s description, and the cover is probably close to M-. There are more than eight days left on this auction and the bidding is already in the $2,400 range. Certainly one to watch.
i’ve grown to like 1568 as an album more and more, so it’s fun to watch people lose their minds over it as a collecible. this is, indeed, one to watch.
are the united artists pressings of any of these blue notes rare at all? i know in general they are not…
The UA mono pressings of 1500 series titles are pretty rare around here. The thing I don’t understand is why they are so desirable as they are not pressed from RVG stampers and have noticeably inferior sound. The Liberty mono pressings on the other hand are typically from RVG stampers and sound great.
Aaron : yes, the UA pressings obviously sounds inferior. But for instance, i have a UA press of Jutta Hipp, and this record sounds very fine in spite it is not a RVG. Moreover, the Jutta Hipp has never been reissued by Blue Note before the UA period. So, when you have a UA press, you can consider it as a second press, still very collectable. This can explain why fine copies now commnand high prices.
Agreed about the UA pressings, and it’s worth noting that they’re not even Van Gelder mastered.
Anybody else think it’s weird that the seller of that 1568 doesn’t have anything else worthwhile listed? It’s just junk… and then that “grail.”
Also kinda funny that the other 1568 up right now is listed as “1560.” Wonder if that will affect the price?