Newk, Candy, Jug, Bird: A Jazz Vinyl Potpourri
Pardon the interruption. I decided to take a much needed vacation. Hopped in the car with The Lovely Mrs. and headed south. Ended up in the northern part of Florida, with a small Airbnb located right on the ocean. Damn, a fellow could get used to that. Didn’t think about work, didn’t think about records, didn’t think about much of anything. I’m back now and there’s still snow and ice on the ground and the winds were howling at about 40 MPH overnight and into this morning. Of course, you are not here for a weather report but for information about rare or not-so-rare jazz records. Let’s hop on over the eBay for the first time in a couple of weeks and see what is going on, shall we? We can start with Newk: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Esquire 32-045. This looks to be an original UK pressing. The seller describes it as EX with a lot of plus signs, so I would take that to be M- or so for the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $300 range and the auction closes later today, so by the time many of you see this, the bidding will be finalized and someone will be anxiously awaiting their copy of this very cool record. The music isn’t bad either.
Let’s sweeten the pot with Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing from the seller Carolina Soul. The record is listed in VG++ or VG+ condition and the cover is VG+. The bidding is nearly $800 and there are about six days left on the auction. From the same seller is Bennie Green, Soul Stirrin’, Blue Note 1599, with the infamous Jug on tenor sax, not to mention Sonny Clark on piano and Elvin Jones on drums. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing, listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $130 range with five days left on the auction.
And let’s end today’s post with a little Bird: Charlie Parker Sextet, Dial 203. This is an original 10-inch pressing listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $275 range, with the auction closing within a couple of hours from whence this post goes live. It’s amazing to me that in all of these years of collecting, I still don’t own a copy of any of the Bird 10-inch LPs on Dial. I’ve had a chance to get them in the past, but either the price orcondition, or the price and condition prevented me from pulling the trigger. One of these days, perhaps, the stars will align.
I feel like the cover of that Saxophone Colossus is nowhere near EX++++++++ with that corner damage. Hopefully the LP fared better.
Good to see Mr. Castelli in action with those 10″ sales.
…I could definitely use a vacation like that myself Al ! Next week is technically Spring Break, so I think we are all pre-programmed to yearn for the beach around this time each year… For the moment, perhaps I will just pour myself a rum-based cocktail and toss on a Toots & The Maytals lp. Then close my eyes and pretend I am down in the islands. Cheers !
if a seller uses a dumbass grading system like that, i immediately discount everything they say. no bids, no second look. it’s simply weasel nonsense.
That Sax Colossus sleeve looks more like EX+++ to me, rather than the EX++++ stated. Also the audio clip they provided in the auction is The Beatles’ Good Day Sunshine. Don’t know how anyone can justify spending $500+ on this nonsense.
I was stunned the first time hearing an Esquire pressing vs the US Prestige pressing. Both were pressed using RVG masters but Esquire used a higher quality of vinyl.
We compared an original 50th st, NJ yellow, bronze transition label, blue label, mono two-fer pressing and the Esquire pressing. All of them had the RVG stamp in the run-off but the quality of the wax seemed to make a huge difference without knowing the other production variables.
I’m not going to bother you guys with all of my observations but NEVER pay any kind of money for the Deep Groove Bronze as I’ve heard at least 8 copies and they’re noiser than any Status Pressing(their budget line, budget vinyl) which says a lot.