Miles, Monk and a New Face
Here are some of the items I was watching from the recent auction by the Jazz Record Center, starting with: Wynton Kelly, New Faces – NewSounds, Blue Note 5025. This was an original 10-inch pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $191.38. I should have bid on it. Great music, great cover. How can these 10 inch Blue Notes not be worth more money, given what’s going on with 12-inch Blue Notes?
Miles Davis, Steamin’, Prestige 7200. This was an original New Jersey yellow label pressing that was in probably M- condition for the record and at least VG++ for the cover. It sold for only $75. Weird. Why wouldn’t this get more. It’s actually my favorite among the Miles Prestiges that were all recorded in that one session — Steamin’, Cookin’, Workin’, Relaxin’. By contrast, look at this one from the same auction: Miles Davis, Relaxin’, Prestige 7129. This was an original New York pressing in virtually identical condition to Steamin’. It sold for $393.
I thought this one might fetch a higher price as well:
Thelonious Monk Plays the Music of Duke Ellington, Riverside 201. This was an original white label pressing with the original cover. It was in probably M- condition for the record and maybe just slightly less than that for the cover. It sold for $366.66. This is a hard one to find with the original cover — I’m still looking for one to add to my collection.
I’ve always wondered about the 4 Miles Prestiges as well. Workin’ happens to be my favorite but it and Steamin’ are easily the most obtainable and cheapest. I can only assume it’s the stigma of not being a NY address copy and that is why Relaxin’ and Workin’ tend to go for more. I’ve always wanted to complete the set but haven’t found a reasonably priced copy of those two NY’s to add to my collection. Ironically, the other NY Miles albums have been much easier to come by. Such is the life when you’re searching for a particular record!
If I’m not mistaken Relaxin’ and Cookin’ were released on the NY label while Workin’ and Steamin’ were NJ.
Aaron, you’re absolutely correct, I meant Relaxin and Cookin’ good catch! Workin and Steamin’ are the cheaper ones and thus the ones I own.
I know that NY Relaxin’ really caught my eye as I’d never seen one before-either in the ‘flesh’ ot on the web..nice! That whole series is to die for. I think Ed Beach on RVR was my intro to Miles of the era,”with some tasty tidbits”,or words to that effect. I bought the 2-fer on Milestone(with that great cover photo),read Ralph Gleason’s liner notes(nice),cued up ‘Oleo’,and was hooked forever. My only regret was not knowing that taping a penny to the top of your cartridge was not the BEST way to keep a needle from skipping. Oh,Webcor-if you’d only put that in your manual!(Hey,I was just 17..go easy on me).
I can heartily recommend the Bergenfields NJ of Relaxin and Cookin. They are very close to NY. They sound practically just as good IMHO.
Wow anyone for some Sun!!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sun-Ra-Fireside-Chat-with-Lucifer-US-LP-Saturn-1984-Nr-MINT-/190806154025?pt=UK_Records&hash=item2c6ceedb29
Big prices on Sun Ra ebay outta UK
and this one for the spiritual left field
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mboom-Re-percussion-STRATA-EAST-folder-cover-ORIGINAL-very-RARE-/310622530469?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item48528baba5
Scott got some heavy prices for those Saturns, indeed – even some less rare late 70s not-exactly-classic titles.
Looks like Emanuele Pinotti found a buyer for the M’Boom early and decided to close the auction. He got some hefty prices for some of that private-press weirdness. I have the Byron & Gerald and it is far from being a $415 LP normally. It’s not even that good! The Charlie Nothing stuff is great but impossible to find in decent shape… thankfully some nice reissues are floating around, given their blessing by the late Dingulation-man himself.
Yes I agree, rare does not make it good! That Byron & Gerald for me is unlistenable, although the Byron Morris Unity Sides are great, this one is not in my humble opinion. Rare to good ratio always a good debate.
Yeah, I like hardcore free jazz LPs generally but it’s not so hot. The Unity stuff is better indeed.