Just Another eBay Day
Here are a few jazz records we’re watching on eBay, starting with The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume 2, Blue Note 5057. This is an original 10-inch pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $175, the auction closes in more than three days and so far there are no bidders.
John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This is an original deep groove black label pressing. The record and cover are both in VG+ condition. There’s about five hours left in the auction and the bidding is in the $350 range.
Speaking of rare records by female artists, as we were a couple of weeks ago: Toshiko Akiyoshi, Her Trio, Her Quartet, Storyville 918. This is an original deep groove pressing in Ex condition for the record and VG for the cover. It closes in about 13 hours and, so far, has no bids at a start price of $200.
Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, Peckin’ Time, Blue Note 1574. This is a West 63rd deep groove pressing without the New York 23 on the labels. It is in M- condition for both the record and the cover. Pricing is at about $560 with more than two days left to bid.
I don’t own Giant Steps in any vinyl form, but I just listened to it, and what an album! One thing: I’ve read some comments on this site earlier about the original black Atlantic label having DG or non-DG and both are actually 1st pressings. Once and for all, is this true? What is that based on? And which one is the rarest and most coveted?
Giant Steps was released in January 1960 which was right as the black label was being phased out. The “bullseye” label was introduced in 1960 and only used for only a very brief time (all I’ve seen have a DG and were most likely only pressed at one plant). Before the end of the year this was replaced by the “white fan” label which can be found with or without a deep groove. Around this time some pressing plants were switching to dies that did not press a deep groove. Throughout the 60’s, Verve for instance, used a pressing plant on the west coast that pressed a deep groove while their east coast pressings from the same time did not. It is presumed this was the scenario with DG/non-DG Atlantic pressings of this era as more than one black label pressing of Giant Steps would be highly unlikely considering the the short life of the label at this point.
I have Giant Steps its a Atlantic recording in mono on a London label where does this label sit in the pecking order ? music is great whatever label
Geoff: you have the best of all worlds. London label had superb audio qualities. Moreover the authentic 1960 U.K. version is hard to find, since pressed (by Decca U.K.) in smaller quantities than Atlantic in the U.S.
Thanks for that Rudolf made my weekend have got several of the big names on the same label
–> Aaron, thanks for the information. I think I’ll look for the DG version anyway, as it feels more genuine with the DG in some strange way, when you can choose like this.
The seller of the Jay Jay Johnson has no other photos than a snapshot of the front cover, something I don’t understand. Says a lot of the trustworthiness of the seller, I think.
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Now if you look at how this seller showcases his Bill Evans New Jazz Conceptions, then at least you can bid ‘with confidence’.
I actually have a NON DG Black Atlantic original Giant Steps. I also feel the DG versions to be more Original, although it’s not and probably harder to turn up than the Non DG, but every time i dig this FANTASTIC record out I’m always a little disappointed by the DG no being there. Silly egh??
It’s actually a really dished copy, with a minty Sleeve! but like the Blue Note pressing of this era plays really well….although pretty noisy on “Naima”
But just to own an original copy of this truley epic record gives me joy. It actually gives me goose bumps
every time I hold the LP! Sad! 😉