More Adventures . . . Or Just Misadventures?
Today we have various jazz vinyl that has caught my eye for various reasons, starting with Miles Davis, Miles, The New Miles Davis Quintet, Prestige 7014. This looks to be an original New York pressing with the green cover, although it’s hard to tell if it is the frame cover from the picture, but the seller says that it is. The seller also says the cover is VG++, which doesn’t look quite accurate to these eyes. The record is listed in VG+ with “a touch of light surface noise in spots.” The start price is around $280 and there are nearly five days left on the auction. So far there are no bidders. When I started collecting, this was considered a real rarity, John Coltrane’s first recording with Miles. And, indeed, this record has made it into the $1,000 bin several times. I’m wondering if there will be interest in this record. If not, will it be because of the condition or will it be because it is not on Blue Note? I’m sensing it may be a combination of the two. But I could be wrong and the bidding will become heated at the last minute, as it so often does on eBay.
I always like to discover records I’ve never seen before. I’ve been collecting jazz records for more than 40 years now, so you would think I’ve seen everything. Plus, I watch eBay pretty carefully, although not nearly as obsessively as I did several years ago. Still, here’s one I’ve never seen (or, perhaps, never noticed): Marty Paich, Hot Piano, Tampa 23. This record is listed in M- condition, which is rare enough for a Tampa in and of itself. It is also red vinyl. The cover is listed at VG+. The bidding starts at around $200 and so far there has been no action.
This one also caught my eye: John Coltrane, Soultrane, Prestige 7142. What struck me was a note in the listing: “Absolutely the best copy we’ve ever seen.” I thought perhaps it was a seller given over to hyperbole. I’m sure we can think of one or two in that category. But, no, it’s a legitimate jazz guy who’s been selling on eBay for as long as I can remember, although I haven’t personally dealt with him in years. Anyway, this record is listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. The bidding is only at $110, with more than a day left. Could be a bargain for someone. This is my personal favorite of all the Coltrane Prestige recordings, an absolute gem from start to finish.
Then, of course, there is the usual stack of Blue Notes in my watch list How could I not start with this: Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045? This is an original West 63rdStreet pressing listed in EX+ condition for the record and Ex for the cover. The start price is around $900 and there is already a bidder. There’s a piece of me that thinks I should just bite the freaking bullet already and put in a high bid for this baby. I’ll finally get the stupid record and none of you will have to listen to my belly-aching anymore. What do you think? I’ve been working my ass off lately, which is why I’ve been posting so little, so I could probably find the money and even get approval from The Lovely Mrs. JC. Oh, and isn’t Father’s Day coming up in just a few weeks? I say, let’s vote on it. I have six days to make up my mind.
One more: Wade Legge, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5031. This is an original 10-inch pressing that looks to be in VG+ condition for the record and probably VG+ for the cover as well. The start price is about $400 and so far there are no bidders. Quick story about this record. Remember last summer’s Misadventure in Jazz Collecting with my lovely friend Debbie in Rochester? You can check out the links as a reminder. At the end, in The Final Chapter, I dropped a hint that there was yet another collection for sale, right here in The Berkshires, where my wife sleeps and my children come and play with their toys. That was Sept. 2, 2018. Well, one of the records in that collection happens to be this Wade Legge record. And, guess what? I spoke to the guy this week and he still has the collection. He’s had some personal issues and hasn’t gotten around to selling it. When he does, I’m first on his list. Or, so he says. Debbie said the same thing last year. Yada, yada, yada, the records ended up in Chicago.
I wish that sellers on eBay would use better lighting and photo adjustment to make these records look more presentable — the Miles and Soultrane especially.
I think you should bite the bullet on the Redd, but that copy seems to have some cover issues. There’s gotta be a better one out there for you, right?
I vote for bidding on the Redd as well. You only live once. The question is once you’ve got it what will be the next album you’ll be belly-aching about? 🙂
Well, coming from someone who sold off his collection because that was my desire, I say you should make an effort to buy the Freddie Reed lp. Because that is your desire. Besides it is often better to have and hold than to wish and hope.
Tha Marty Paich is a pretty good 4tet lp, though the cover shown always put me off. Much preferred the cover later used, with the nude figure reclining on a couch.
Re: The Miles. The YouTube clips the seller provides are kind of helpful. It certainly looks like a framed cover from what I can see. Hard to judge the record quality over a phone video, but it’s more “detail” than you get from most sellers.
Per request, here is my Vote …it’s tough. What resonates is that you’ve been working a lot & have been wanting this Record for awhile. There is proportion in your Desire. On the flip-side… it’s not necessary. Let us know.
The spine on the Redd is white; it should be the same red color as the front. Looks like the spine was exposed to sun over the years and faded perhaps? Wait for a better copy.
My copy has a nasty looking scratch on one side but miraculously does not sound…I’ve strained my ears toward the speaker too haha. That allowed me to buy it for $300 and the cover is NM with vinyl playback close to NM too. It just makes you wince when you see the scratch!!
Wow, if that spine is supposed to be red, that’s some serious sun bleaching. Wouldn’t the black text also be affected if its sun damage?
Black text wouldn’t be affected the same because red pigment absorbs more of the destructive high energy short wavelength UV light, resulting in it fading before the other pigments.
The issue with the Miles record is that it’s just not very good, especially compared to the later quintet records. Coltrane still feeling his way, is the weak link. Saying that as a Coltrane fanatic. I sold my copy, don’t miss it. Just put on Relaxin or Steamin instead.
On the Redd, the consensus seems to be good idea in principle, but perhaps not this copy. Pretty good reasoning, I’d say. We’re all sick of me pining and bell-aching, I suppose. As for Joe L., I agree on the Coltrane, but it is an interesting historical record. For listening, yes, there are better examples of Trane with Miles. Here’s a link to a post I wrote about the subject six years ago.
https://jazzcollector.com/prestige/listening-again-to-the-new-miles-davis-quintet/
Joe L./Al: Coltrane indeed is the weak link. This becomes clear when comparing 7014 to 7007 ‘Musings of Miles’. Miles was ready, Trane wasn’t.
In Metronome 7014 got a review full of caveats. They did not use the max. 5 stars system like DB, but if I try to transpose what they say, I arrive at two stars. Philly too is loud and unpolished. The bonus is the first Golson composition to be made public. That is historical too. The record serves as an example how Miles has succeeded to make a tightly knit group out of five disparate individuals.
Regarding the cover picture, the question remains what the meaning is of the shady figure on the left. Is the shade there or is it imagination?
Regarding that Shades of Redd spine (and I only bring this up again for the purpose of knowledge) Looking at auctions where this version previously sold, it appears the spine is in fact white. So perhaps sun damage is not a factor with this copy.
My Shades of Red spine is also whitish. No idea whether it was the sun or not.
My Shades of Redd spine is red, as was the spine for my previous copy. Don’t know about other copies but the one up for auction definitely looks sun bleached; note that the transition from white to red is a gradual fade rather than a definite line, and that the top seam has the same discoloration to it. Guess this title’s just more susceptible to sun bleaching than others somehow, sort of like Coltrane’s Impressions on Impulse – almost every copy of that I’ve seen has the orange strip on the spine bleached to stark white.
I cannot resist sharing with you Bill Coss’ review of Miles’ first quintet album PrLp 7014.
In Metronome July 1956:
Quote
The cover reads “The New Miles Davis Quintet”. Fortunately, it as the same ‘old’ Miles Davis because everything else is much below par. There is too much echo on all the soloists, the ensembles are generally bad; the tenor, on the Rollins-Stitt kick, is even more out of tune; Paul Chambers plays well though still with some intonation trouble; Philly Joe Jones is often too busy; Red Garland’s piano is a nice ‘single’ line, though the two-handed bit is too close to Garner for comfort. Miles on the ballads is worth the price of the album. ‘Theme’ will be the track to receive most notice. But none of it would have any real value except for Miles who seems, almost in spite of himself, to be building to a new maturity.
Unquote
….read ….Fortunately it has…