Filling Up the $1,000 Bin
Catching up on the eBay jazz vinyl watch list. Let’s start with one that was sent to me by Japhy: Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This was an original deep-groove. West 63rd Street mono. The record and the cover were both in VG++ condition. The final price was $1,650. Japhy’s note was titled “Swinging for the fences,” and he did my homework for me: “A new high of $1,650 for Jackie McLean Swing, Swang, Swingin’ in reported VG++/VG++ condition. Prior high was $1,283 back in 2005.” Speaking of “Swingin’” new highs, we were watching this one the other day:
Dexter Gordon, A Swingin’ Affair, Blue Note 4133. This was also in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. I had predicted that this copy would set a new high for A Swingin’ Affair. The final price was $707. And the final answer? Yes, it did set a new high. The previous high, per Popsike, was $705.
There are a bunch of records from the $1,000 bin sitting in my watch list. Some of these go back a couple of months. Let me clean those out as a first step in shrinking the list:
Dizzy Reece, Star Bright, Blue Note 4023. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record and cover were both rated in M- condition. The final price was about $1,091.
Donald Byrd, Byrd in Hand, Blue Note 4019. This was also an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record and cover looked to be in M- condition. The final price was $1,175.
Grant Green, Idle Moments, Blue Note 4154. This was an original New York USA pressing, probably in VG+ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The final price was $1,302.
John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing that looked to be in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. The final price was $1,915.
Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Pal, Prestige 7068. This was an original New York yellow label. The record and cover looked to be in about VG+ condition, with a promo stamp on the back. The final price was $1,137.
Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition, and the cover was graded as VG+. The final price was $2,247.
Introducing Johnny Griffin, Blue Note 1533. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record looked to be M- and the cover was VG+. The final price was $2,045.
Sonny Clark, Dial S for Sonny, Blue Note 1570. This was an original West. 63rd Street that looked to be in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. The final price was $2,605.55.
Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill, Transition 17. This was an original pressing without the booklet. The record was graded in VG++/M- condition and the cover was VG+. The final price was $1,775.
Hank Mobley Quartet, Blue Note 5066. This was an original 10-inch Lexington Avenue pressing. The record and cover both looked to be in VG+ condition. The final price was $1,625.
Horace Parlan, Us Three, Blue Note 4037. This was an original West 63rd promo copy. The record was VG and the cover was VG+. The final price was $1,200.
Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. This was an original New York yellow label. The record sounded like VG+ condition and the cover VG, based on the seller’s descriptions. The final price was $2,862.
BTW, I got an email from a guy who has a collection that belonged to Bob Scobey, the Dixieland trumpeter who died in 1963. He sent me pictures that were mostly 78 RPM records, with a few 10-inch LPs sprinkled in. He says he has a lot more photos. The collection is in the Los Angeles area. If anyone is interested, send me an email and I’ll put you in touch.
Very funny , i have a NM Swing Swang Swinging DG, ear and all that…. i recently offered it for sale on IG for half that price, with an even better cover (in fact mine is factory fresh). Had absolutely O inquiries. Will eventually keep it. ?
@Michel The amount of people on ebay are probably 1000 till 100000 more than the followers on your IG account
it’s a question of numbers… But somebody could have been lucky!!
Sell it on ebay and you fetch 700 $
Michel, what’s your IG handle?
I am interested in the knowledge of the JC community related to labels and the audio quality of such, a question inspired by the Byrd lp above on Transition–whatever label that is. So, if you had to rank the general audio quality of the desirable labels, regardless of engineer, how do you rank New Jazz or Dial in relationship to BN, Prestige, Impulse and more? Related follow up: is any Japanese re-issue better than other countries’ pressing reissues? 🙂 Follow up #2: where does ECM fit in all of that? 🙂
You know…every time you put a post on these high-quality jazz gems, it’s ALWAYS after the auction is over. It’s as if you and your collector friends are afraid that someone else who has deep pockets might outbid you. Well, I’m here…and I’ve figured out a way to gain access to information. And I have my snipe software ready…and the money to purchase these records.
@d.love Even better than just buying records because one can, is establishing relationships with dealers and collectors across the globe where buyers and sellers are happy doing business. Even better than that is trading. Now, doing this is very hard nowadays, but not impossible, and it is fun. For me, that is the preferred route, but I will also bid to win on records. Happy hunting.
D. Love – did you figure out that you can search on eBay at any time? Is that what you figured out? ::eye roll::
Oh I’d buy that from you Michel. Hit me up @gstvinyl
Having dealt with ebay auctions, fellow collectors, and dealers, I much prefer auctions. Working with dealers is unfun, and a surefire way to get ripped off, at least compared to traditional ebay auction prices (the gold standard). Trading with other collectors is a guaranteed way for at least one of the parties to walk away unhappy and regretful.
@Paul Everyone’s mileage may vary when it comes to dealing with people, so I see how negative experiences can leave a sour taste. I have been collecting vinyl for a long time, and I enjoy dealing with people directly, but that may just be a personal preference. I also love eBay for the selection, convenience and protection.
Regarding working with dealers as unfun, I am not sure what you mean. Ebay best respected sellers…are dealers. As far as ensuring a happy outcome when trading, that requires trust; which takes time to build, and not everyone will pan out as good trading partners.
yeah, I mean, I keep a mental list of people I never want to deal with again. And I keep a list of people who are honest and have good stuff to sell/trade. It all works out in the end.