Jazz Vinyl Today: Jackie, Newk, JJ, Booker Little
Let’s catch up on some jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay, shall we?
I expected this to fetch a higher price but, as I said earlier, I think the picture of the back cover was out of synch with the description: Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing, Blue Note 4038. This was listed in M- condition and sold for $331.
This is a real nice record that doesn’t have the cachet of a Blue Note or a Prestige, but has excellent personnel, a nice cover, deep groove, etc.: Booker Little Four, United Artists 4034. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. The price was $118.25.
This is one of those that can stir up more debate about what, exactly, is an original pressing:
Sonny Rollins Volume 1, Blue Note 1542. This one had the West 63rd Street address, with the deep grooves and RVG. In my mind this is not an original pressing, because the first batch of these that came out of Blue Note had the Lexington Avenue address. I know it’s an early pressing, but not a first press. Does that make it less collectible? Absolutely. This one sold for $300 in VG+ condition.
Finally, there was this: The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Volume One, Blue Note 1505. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the flat edge. It was in M- condition for the record and VG+ or VG++ for the cover. It sold for $233.50. Does this mean the market prices are coming down? Perhaps, but as we’ve seen for years, the market is cyclical and prices on eBay are always dependent upon who happens to be bidding at that particular moment. For example: In the Jazz Collector Price Guide we have one incident of this record — without the deep grooves — selling for more than $1,500. That, to me is an eBay aberration.
Well, Al, reading what Sonny and Jay Jay fetched, I might as well give up bidding on the one that I had my eye on: Duke Pearson “Profile” Blue Note 4022…
At first it was at $39.99 so I cautiously bid 60 and from that moment on it went up, up and away, ’cause we’re already looking at 200 Bucks… And 150 Bucks is my personal limit, so there you have it: the rookies like me can buy Blue Note CDs for cheap anywhere and build a great collection of superb music in a heartbeat. But to add a few of these beautiful first vinyl pressings to what I call my Blue Note “shrine” is simply too expensive. So as said before: focus on “diggin’ in the crates”!
Mattyman, The Netherlands
PS: that Duke Pearson 4022 looks so friggin’ tempting!!
The Booker Little album auctioned was not the original pressing. Original has a red label.This was the second press.
Michel — you are right. I was careless in reviewing the listing. If the second press sold for around $120, would an original fetch much more?
I don’t know…mine is also a second press ! 🙂
I know the expressions: eyes roll to heaven, faint wilting smile, but I was delighted to win a Duke Pearson “Profile” auction for a “Division of United Artists” 1970-3 Blue and white label mono reissue, grand expense of about $25.
Not as cheap as a CD I admit, but I believe I will get nearly as much listening pleasure per dollar as the deep pockets that walked away with the real deal.
I am constantly suprised how good some of these second/ third generation reissues can sound on a good system, certainly compared with King/Toshiba/UA all-blue, French and Capitol Manhattans, all knocked into the proverbial cocked hat.
Lexingtons simply aren’t a realistic aspiration, so the search for affordable quality continues.
This one would make even Jackie roll over in his grave… (May he rest in peace) How could someone sell a copy of The New Tradition like this… Beware, it’s not for the faint of heart !
Ebay Item number: 330473056120
http://cgi.ebay.com/JACKIE-MCLEAN-NEW-TRADITION-OG-ADLIB-6601-LP-RARE-RVG_W0QQitemZ330473056120QQcategoryZ306QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DMRU-11233%252BUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D230524410569%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5589071617920783326
That’s not half as shameful as the seller’s grading, which appears to be, shall we say, “liberal”. There was a comment elsewhere on the site here the other day about the cojones it takes to describe an item one way and then show a picture that’s so contradictory. This here Jackie is a textbook case of ‘buyer beware’!
I’m curious ’bout the 100 pressed.
I would like to know how many of us got one,at least in a decent shape.
I’m the first.
THERE IS A RISK THAT RECORD CAN PLAY WORSE THAN IT LOOKS., he says. Normaly that would be nice of a seller to say, but here you are sure it is true.
I have one . VG-, almost unplayable. I bought it for 13 dollars at a car boot-sale.
Dottorjazz — i’m sure i’ve seen more than 100 of these on ebay alone in the past few years.
Agreed : this Mclean on AdLib was obviously pressed in far more than 100 copies !!
I’ve counted 33 NM to decent AdLib copies on Popsike…
thanks,that’s what I thought.
Indeed it’s the record in worst conditions I’ve ever seen.Don’t think it will find a lover.
HA! Yeah, I saw the McLean listing and had to pinch myself-makes you wonder what a “poor” cover looks like,huh? And you can have it NOW for only 1,ooo big ones. He’s all heart! Seriously,though-ck the feedback which is revealing to say the least. “Just say no!”,indeed.
This AdLib listing is very interesting. We now have the unique opportunity to buy a trashed record that may play even worse than it looks, a the decent price of 1000$, from a very reputable seller with 92 % positive. Its a wonderful world…