Jazz Vinyl From Europe, U.S., and a Wish List
Another day, another batch of rare jazz vinyl from eBay. Let’s start in Europe with Barney Wilen, Tilt, Swing LDM 30.058. This looks to be an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $300 range and there are four days left on the auction. This has been a high-end collectible since I began watching eBay many years ago and has sold for more than $1,000 several times, including a high of $2,700, according to Popsike. I’ve never owned this record, nor have I heard the music. In fact, if it weren’t for eBay, I probably wouldn’t know about it. I’ve always been impressed whenever I’ve listened to Wilen, so I imagine it is collectible not just because it is rare, but because the music is also first rate. Oui?
Eric Dolphy in Europe, Debut 136. This is the original Denmark mono pressing, listed in VG/VG+ condition for the record and Ex for the cover. Bidding is in the $235 range with less than a day left on the auction. This seller, vinyl-house-uk, has a lot of nice records closing soon on eBay, including Kenny Dorham, Whistle Stop, Blue Note 4063. This is a mono pressing with the RVG and the ear. I’m a little hesitant to call it a first pressing because the seller doesn’t mention the deep grooves and the pictures don’t seem to show the deep grooves. This is a knowledgeable and reputable seller and he is calling it an original first US press, so perhaps it is me missing something and not the seller?
Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 399. This is a mono pressing with the green label. The copy that I own and listen to also has the green label, and I can vouch for the quality of the pressing. This one is in VG+ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover, which is in shrink wrap. The bidding is getting close to $200 with a little more than a day left in the auction. For the record (pun intended), I do have an original blue label Waltz For Debby, but the condition isn’t great and this is a record I listen to often, it being the very favorite of The Lovely Mrs. JC out of all the records that I own. So the blue label is for posterity and the green label is for listening. Seems to work just fine.
I don’t have an original copy of this record after many years of searching: Lou Donaldson, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Blue Note 1537. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record is listed in VG condition, with the proviso that it “looks” VG, but sounds better. That is often the case with these original Blue Notes, in my experience. The cover is VG- and it looks it. Bidding is in the $180 range with more than a day left on the auction. I’ll still be looking for a cleaner copy. After acquiring Shades of Redd last year, this record may be at the top of my wish list, along with the Cliff Jordan Blue Notes.
TILT is indeed a great artistic success. As far as I know, it was never re issued in vinyl. A cd exists, in the same black/white photo sleeve series as Bobby Jaspar’s.
there are Japanese reissues of Tilt. Fantastic album indeed.
also I don’t think Whistle Stop had the DG — came out in the NY USA era, though with 47W labels.
Vinyl-house-uk uses the term “original” loosely at times.
My copy of Whsitle Stop has a double DG. Its very believed as rare. Some scholars from the Harvard chair of Blue Note studies will expertise this one as a first…or not….
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tommy-Flanagan-Kenny-Burrell-John-Coltrane-Prestige-New-Jazz-NJLP-8217-/303869292329?hash=item46c0056f29%3Ag%3AP9wAAOSw5w5gGGCM&nma=true&si=Ad9GKEtvFAiwnvyBcBh2vK3%252BtBQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Hissy recycled vinyl later New Jazz press and not laminated cover don’t seem to prevent big bids.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Werner-Rosengren-Swedish-Jazz-Quartet-US-Jazzland-JLP-26-Deep-Groove/303865746276?hash=item46bfcf5364:g:KpsAAOSw7dZgFH2c
You can buy it right now for less than 20 $… apparently seems better to spend 180 $
I seem to recall vinyl-house-uk was involved in an episode where they sold a BN title for a record price. The sale did not go through. Then they tried to sell the LP again using the “record price” as justification for their opinion that the market had moved up for this title. They also claim to have a process to restore old covers. Digging deeper sees references to a charity or foundation. I realize they are in the UK, but if associated tax laws are similar to the US, paying out a nominal amount of assets each year towards charitable causes means the majority of activities occur tax free.
rl1856 you are correct, I believe this is the record in question https://www.popsike.com/Hank-Mobley-Hank-Mobley-Stunning-US-First-Press-Blue-Note-BLP-1568-RVG/271872769323.html
Anyone see the price they got for a (not) original Portrait In Jazz?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bill-Evans-Trio-Portrait-In-Jazz-Original-US-Riverside-RLP-12-315-Mono-/284169241824?hash=item4229ce84e0%3Ag%3AYEUAAOSwZNRgGFMs&nma=true&si=rKU7nC3WiQea%252BNODNF4zrgLKo1U%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Michel, how right you are. It has taken me ages to find a non hissy first pressing of which the characteristics are:
Broad spine, laminated front, an occasional $ 3.98 price sticker rear, or a new $ 4.98 glued on top of the initial $ 3.98. Broad (or large) Deep groove purple labels, purple in light shade (pinkish in a way, rather than dark purple). Sleeve 1/2 cm. smaller than the reprint, the inside should have a white paper lining, which often will show browning, but not the bare/crude brown of non treated carton.
The album is fantastic, but the question is, can one expect Vinyl House, or the average bidder, to know these characteristics?
The Vinyl House blokes just show their “high precision bla bla pictures and that’s it.
Michel, had a closer look at the Cats album. It has the ominous red RW stamp which was used by Prestige for a cheap re print run, hiss guaranteed. They would come without inner sleeve and factory sealed in tight cellophane.
Rudolf, I’d been wondering for some time what that RW stamp meant. My best guess that was that it was short for “review,” which made me wonder if it was some kind of promo indication. Thanks for the info!
I don’t have anything to back this up but was always under the impression the RW stamp stood for Record Withdrawn, one for the cutout bins.
Can we talk about this seller’s offerings:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Curtis-Fuller-The-Opener-LP-1567-47-W-63rd-RVG-DG-Ear-dk1/203274368150?hash=item2f5418b496:g:ecYAAOSwcvFgHFQs
They are putting up some pretty desirable titles like Thad Jones’ second Blue Note, The Opener, Jordans Jenkins Timmons, all with high opening bids and noticeable cover issues. The discs themselves seem clean, but is it just me or are these opening bids (now listed as best offer prices) a bit high?
I don’t know what RW stands for, but in my experience all RW stamped copies I came across, are cheap, hissy reproductions.
Kevin: review copies were marked “not for sale” or similar. Without exception they were high quality (first) pressings, whereas RW stands for a product at the end of the production cycle.
Rudolf – Because they’re usually “hissy”, I thought that RW stood for “Really Worn”.
Just saw that Chick Corea died. Damn. I’ll try to do a post tomorrow. He was the first famous person I ever interviewed when I was just starting out as a journalist.
I would love to see the JC Family honor Chick Corea by discussing/ranking their favorite records he was a part of! Folks might add what was unique about his playing. 🙂