Kind of Blue For the $1,000 Bin
A couple of people have sent me notes on this one. I guess it struck a chord (presumably a modal chord): Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 8163. This was a white label stereo promo copy that was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It was the same seller as the one who recently fetched more than $2,000 for the Mobley 10-inch Blue Note. This one sold for $1,338.87. Welcome to the $1,000 bin for probably the most popular and widely available jazz record ever.
While we’re updating the $1,000 bin:
Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was in between VG+ and VG++. It was a reputable seller and the price was $1,815.
This is destined for the $1,000 bin, or the $2,000 bin or perhaps even higher: Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041. This is an original pressing and it is listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. As of this writing it is about $1,250 with three days or so to go.
When Kind of Blue was reissued on CD for the Sony Music Legacy series, it was made clear on the album cover that for the first time they had corrected the pitch on the first three tracks of the original album release. Musicians who wanted to play along with the album noticed this from day one. Apparently the pitch error was caused due to a tape machine that ran a bit too fast during the final mix down if I’m correct. This means that although this copy will end up in the 1K bin, it is still a copy with the first three tracks in the wrong speed. Of course pitch control on your turntable will take the problem away, but still. Or am I just down talking my “cognitive dissonance” ? 😉
Oh, and one very interesting and quite shocking read about master tape vault management from an altogether super informative weblog: http://sunraarkive.blogspot.com/2008/12/labels-strive-to-rectify-past-archival.html -Truly folks, it’s a stunning read. It also adds so much more to the value of all those records that we have in our collections!
“Kind of Blue” is really one of the best selling jazz LPs in history. But I always thought that – according to that – there are not that many LPs around. To some point, they even were quite rare. This record is a stereo-version. So I don’t know if they’re more or less common, but the promo-issue could be quite scarce?!
@Mattyman: Festinger would be proudof you 😉
Thanks for the link though, I’ll check it later, when not working!
You’re right, Katharsis! 😉 And indeed that link (that I’ll cut and paste here for everyone to CLICK HERE on) is an absolute and, as said, shocking read!
Could the stampers 1AC & 1AE have anything to do with the high price?
By the way, MANY interesting Blue Note auctionned those days..
Regarding this Kind Of Blue, the high price is exlplained by 1) The historical importance of the record 2) The fact that it is a Stereo Promo white label, very sought after 3)The mint condition 4) the two fortunate guys that desperately wanted it.
Joey D,
I doubt the 1AC & 1AE stampers have anything to do with the price, my regular stock copy has earlier 1AA stampers for side one and later 1BB for side two.
Thanks again dottorjazz and everyone else for the Thelonious Monk Misterioso advice.
I just bought a USA original and it’s great!
I’m now interested in getting an original UK pressing of Misterioso (if such a thing exists) and came across this one that sold in last Nov on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120640443777
Does anyone know what year this UK pressing was made?
Here’s a (blurry) close up of the label:
http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/zoot2006/?action=view¤t=ThelMonkMist2.jpg
It looks like it might be a Fontana press. I have an original 50s UK press of Brilliant Corners but that is on the London American series which makes me wonder if this UK pressing is later – maybe early 60s?
Any help at dating this would be most appreciated.
I guess to simplify – my question is when was Misterioso first pressed in the UK or Europe?
Thank you.
Speaking of matrix numbers for CL-1355 Miles Davis Kind of Blue: Does anyone out there have any solid reference on what the original first pressing matrix numbers for this LP are ? I’ve often heard it was -1A both sides, but som many copies have an extended variation such as -1AJ (On the MONO) or -AD/-1AE (On the MONO Promo)…
Riverside was pressed and marketed by Fontana in the U.K. and on the continent. UK and continental – (Dutch) pressings exist. They came out in the early sixties and are of a very good quality, mostly better than their US equivalents.
don-lucky,
Looking at just the first page of matrix numbers for mono white label promos of CL-1355 Kind Of Blue on Popsike got:
1A/1C
1D/1G
1D/1H
1G/1D
1H/1D
Thanks Aaron ! This one has always been a bit on an enigma… I just checked my own copies now that I am home, and my MONO copy has the matrix -1AK / -1AK and my white MONO “Demonstration” copy has -1D / -1G… There seems to be very little pressing information written about this one, and for Columbia Records in general I find.
…I guess the other “tells” with CL 1355 are a six-eye DG press, with a cover that has Cannonball’s name incorrectly spelt as “Adderly” instead of “Adderley”, and side two of the record label with All Blues before Flamenco Sketches, compared to the way they were listed on the back cover. (& some some say we need to get out more ! Heh heh)
Thank you very much Rudolf.
…Just to clarify on that last one, the back of the original CL-1355 cover lists the side two songs incorrectly ordered… The label itself is correct. (What can I say, I am typing on my iPhone) I also noticed that the side two label on the white mono demonstration copy has the tracks listed in reverse order to match the back cover as well… That is, ‘All Blues’ last.
That’s interesting to read, but I don’t get the sense. Is the one with Adderly and the mixed-up tracks the first pressing?
The matrix-numbers on that one are 1A / 1G.
I’m sorry, these were the matrix numbers of my copy.
Looking through ebay produces some other matrix numbers on different copies.
What the heck?
The misspelling of Adderley (Adderly) on the front cover and the reversed order of the side two songs on the back cover appeared that way for over twenty years. The first version to correct this was the blue rimmed digital remastered version that came out in the 80’s. The reversed order side two songs on the label on the other hand appeared only for a very short time on the earliest six-eye pressings.
dude isnt there also a WLP of kind of blue thats white label w/ red 6-eyes
Chewy, that’s the mono.
Kind of Blue – New Zealand made
Sorry to bother, but do you have any info on this album? …
Its listed as a charity auction on one of our local websites … as being
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue – Coronet – Phillips NZ – 1958 – KLP 893
Do you or any of your readers have any info on this particular Miles Davis album? I cant seam to find any info on it?
It has a red wine purplish hexagonal coronet label , but it was lithed in New Zealand for for “the Australian Record Company Ltd”
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=357038023
I have this album. You can buy it from me for $500. I love this album. (The record is good. the album is used. It is my own copy,) I purchase it in 1969 when I saw him for the first time at Key Stone Corner Jazz night club in San Fransico. He made me cry and jump for joy at the same time like only good music can. He was the greatest of the greats. Mary
maryabing#yahoo.com
Mary, if you bought a new copy in ’69, it’s probably a later issue ..maybe worth 30 bucks max.
Hi I have a 6 eye deep groove mono copy with a 1AE/1D stamp. Also Adderly is mis-spelt and the tracks on side 2 are reversed, any thoughts on whether is is rare or not?
I have a MONO copy of Kind of Blue (first press MONO 360 sound stamped on label. My copy is marked on side 1 XLP47324-1AJ and in side 2 XLP-47325-1CC
Cheers
Antonio
Antonio,
Your mono copy of Kind Of Blue is not a first pressing if it has “360 Sound” on the label. That label was first used in 1966, seven years after it was released, the first pressing is on the “six-eye” label.
I am helping my 88-year-old father go through some of his old LPs to sell before he downsizes into a senior apartment. He has a “six eye” Kind of Blue stereo LP with the stamp XSM47326-1J on side 1 and XSM47327-1H on side 2. I am quite perplexed about how to determine its value. And what exactly is a “deep groove” LP?
A few months ago I inherited my dad’s collection of great jazz records which contains a lot of original mono LP’s. Some of them have a label sticker or stamp saying: sample/not for sale, which can be partly explained by the fact that my dad has worked for the Polygram record company as a writer/editor since ’66 or so. I found a Six Eye copy of the CL1355 with the inversed songs on side two. It has a small sticker on both labels saying ‘sample/not for sale’ The matrix numbers are xlp47325-1A (side 2) and xlp47324-1B (side 1). Would this be a rare find? Not selling, because I’m a great jazz fan myself, but curious
I have inherited A collection of albums from my uncle Peter it was the famous bass player out of Germany PETER TRUNK . He played alongside with Gillespie, along with playing on this album Lucky Thompson Lord, Lord, Am I Ever Gonna Know? (1961) and Cees See too, just to name a few. He’s albums are all German bought . Now I have an original first pressing BlueNote Miles Davis Vol.2 1502,
Matrix BN-LP-1502-A. BN-LP-1502-B. And With all the correct credentials of a first pressing, like the cursive big P ,which they call the EAR , a hand Etched RVG, not stamped and 9M also hand etched. I also have Miles Davis ‘kind of blue’, an original BN-
CS 8163 . Matrix XSM47326-1A, XSM47327-1AE. Now they are in there original sleeves and the covers are in fairly good condition . The records themselves play wonderful. now would anybody know who I would talk to to add to their personal collection and not a retail collector of some sort. For these were owned by my uncle Peter and I want them to be appreciated just like he did when he listen to them. Like I said they are from Germany with a Musikhaus Hummel red/gold sticker on the cover and on the record label which was placed over the category number on the first sides of each of these albums. Any buddy to give me any information would be helpful. And like I said this is just a few. I have some my uncle Peter’s original works to which if you look online, they go from anywhere $500 to 2500 . I have some artists signatures with a little quotes saying how thankful they work for Peter assisting them with his great mind for music. Any help would be greatly appreciated at this time .
My husband is a retired trumpet player and has a large collection of old vinyl. He has this particular album and it looks to be in excellent condition. His is stamped cs 8163. Is this a rare record and what is it worth?
I have a original copy of Miles Davis Kind Of Blue Columbia 8163 left to me from my dads jazz collection.
Is it worth the $1000 dollars & up range? Would be willing to part with album!
Thanks,
George Artis