Jazz Vinyl Gems, Some With a Little Tarnish
Finally, back on eBay. Contrary to my last experience a few weeks ago when I asked the question Where’s The Action?, I’m actually seeing quite a bit of activity this week, from buyers and well as sellers. Let’s start with Kenny Dorham, Afro-Cuban, Blue Note 5065.This is an original 10-inch pressing listed in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover, although the picture of the back cover might call that grade into question for discerning buyers. But the seller stands by his listings, and any bidder can see the picture and judge for himself. There are seven bidders and the price is in the $160 range with a little more than a day left on the auction.
Speaking of Kenny Dorham and 10-inch LPs, there is this: Sonny Rollins Quintet Featuring Kenny Dorham, Prestige 186. I type this with a pang of disappointment, for this is a record that has always eluded me, and it would be very nice to have a copy, especially in my pared-down collection, where each record has a little more meaning. But, alas, the cover is just too beat up for me to be pleased with the record, even though the vinyl is listed in VG+ condition, especially at the start price of $300 or the buy-it-now of $390. I pass.
This one seems to be in really nice shape: Miles Davis, Volume 1, Blue Note 1501. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record is listed as VG+ and the cover as VG, yet I look at the pictures of the cover and it looks pretty nice, save for some damage at the bottom of the sleeve opening. If I didn’t have a clean copy, I’d take a shot, with a start price of $355 and a buy-it-now of $455.
Curtis Fuller Quintet, Bluesette, Savoy ST-13006. This looks to be an original stereo promo copy with the red label. I noticed the Savoy logo on the cover is unusual. Is that a logo they adopted for stereo pressings? In any case, the record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG+ with a spine repair. Bidding is in the $200 range and the auction closes in one day.
Savoy logo is the same on the cover of the rare mono, which I happen to own (VG, I’m told).
Url: https://www.discogs.com/release/7986908-Curtis-Fullers-Quintet-Blues-ette
I dunno. I saw Gryce Rat Race go for $150 last week. I snoozed and missed the action on Sonny Criss OG Jazz – USA, which went today for $66. I think there’s some softness to the hysteria.
I had a copy of the Fuller, same cover. Nice record that I perhaps shouldn’t have let go…
If memory serves me well, and these days it rarely does, there were a few Savoy lps in that number series which had such a distinctive label mark.
Now, if I still had lps, I’d look, but since I sold ‘em all, it’s a moot point I guess.
Anyway, hope my postings to this forum, being a recordless former collector, don’t annoy those who still are actively collecting. It’s funny, way back in 1962/63 when I began listening more to Jazz, it was the music, not the pressing, matrix, various variations, that drew me in. Only later did I become aware of such intricacies, and such information was all passed on by other collectors, no Internet arsenals of information.
It’s a brave new world I guess.
Re: Austin’s comment. The “rat race blues” was a hazy slight second pressing that had a skip near the end of one side. It initially sold for $389 but obviously was returned and the seller relisted it. The Sonny Criss was only VG and from the sound clips was full on snap crackle pop. I think that same seller sold a Mobley “workout” in mono that sounded pretty bad to my ears anyways.
To follow up on Lennib’s comment, I was in a Copenhagen used bookstore early last week, a place I’d been before last time I travelled in Denmark. The owner was a jazz buff and I remembered a good conversation with him about Mal Waldron and also the South African bassist Johnny Dyani. Anyway, the owner wasn’t there this visit but I talked with the college kid working there. They had the Prestige discography and the Riverside discography, both hardbound books, fairly priced due to their limited print runs and rarity. I mentioned that these days I can find everything I need and more via DIscogs, all on my handheld device… a brave, new world indeed.
Mark, thanks for clarifying. There were a fair number of us watching those listings anyway. When the only other eBay listing for Jazz – USA is, and has been, at $400, we may lower our standards. Of course, someone on Reddit found a copy in Indiana for $5 a few weeks ago…..
Wow, a blood red DG stereo Blues-Ette! That one’s pretty damn rare. Maroon stereo isn’t too hard to find, but this is only the second blood red DG I’ve ever even seen a picture of …
Hey, Al. I’m watching this listing and found another Savoy logo for you.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/195885988425
By the way, I’m catching up with your site’s history: reading from 2005 forward. In 2009 at the moment.