Of Blue Notes and Want Lists
Sorry for the long, unexpected delay between my posts, and thanks to Clifford for jumping in. While I’ve been missing . . . . One of our readers sent me a link to Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address, deep grooves, Van Gelder, etc. The record was VG+, the cover was VG++, the final price was $565.55 This is a pretty good price for this record and under some circumstances a price I might consider, although, in the end, I tend to wait. My feeling is I do have a Japanese copy of Shades of Redd, so if ever I want to listen to it, I have it. And I do believe that somehow, someday, I will find an original pressing at a price that does not offend my sensibilities. That’s just my approach to collecting, and it’s served me pretty well through the years although, to be honest, I’ve been looking for an original copy of Shades of Redd for at least 40 years and haven’t found one yet. I do also tremendously appreciate it when our Jazz Collector readers point me to records that they know are on my want list, so don’t hesitate to drop me a note.
This one had been on my want list for an equal amount of time as Shades of Redd until The Lovely Mrs. JC purchased a copy for my birthday three years ago from the Jazz Record Center. I don’t know how much she paid, and I don’t want to know, but I am pretty sure it was a bit less than this copy that sold last yesterday: Thad Jones, Detroit-New York Junction, Blue Note 1513. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing listed in Ex condition for the record and probably VG+ for the cover with some tape repair. It sold for $1,111.
Well, we seem to be on a Blue Note morning, so let’s finish today’s post with this: Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. This is also kind of on my want list, since it is one of the few records still in my collection in VG condition for the record and the cover. However, this one sold for $1,213, which is the highest price we’ve seen for Swing, Swang, Swingin’. I’m sure the buyer and seller are both quite happy. This is an awesome record, a little different than what Jackie was doing at the time because it was all standards except for one original composition.
Al, maybe the Redd will someday come in a collection bought by you? It will probably never be a bargain record for you anyway…
I don’t know about NM for the cover on that McLean – the back slick has a stamp and there is some wear. Although I suppose the high bidder is aware and okay with that.
I can relate to holding out — someday I’m sure I’ll run into a clean copy of the Black Unity Trio or the coveted private Brötzmann LPs at prices I can afford. One can dream.
if you want to repay the favor, al, forward some of those collection-for-sale e-mails my way. 😉
If you find all the records you want, then what will you do next? Listen to your records!?
😉
It’s always fun to have that small list of albums you want..keeps this crazy hobby alive!
Haha – yeah, just pulled some records out of the shelves that had been filed for a few years and never spun before. It was a strange but nice feeling to give them a whirl.
i keep all records i buy in a little ‘holding pen’ until they are listened to. only then can they be filed with the others! helps make sure i don’t end up with some crap copy that was hiding beneath a nice ‘visual’ grade, too.
yeah, I should figure something out along those lines.
I really enjoy when Clifford jumps in. His knowledge of free jazz, along with his links to such, opens a new world of jazz knowledge for me. Perhaps a rotating group of posts in which Clifford and another whose (freakish) knowledge of differing jazz genre are placed regularly into the (posting) rotation? I sure appreciate your work and your site, Al.
I just want to take the time to remember one of my favorite acoustic jazz guitarists, Gabor Szabo, who would have been 80 years old today. I believe I saw him in 1978 (college days), performing at the Catamaran Hotel in San Diego.
At that time, I was listening to records on the CTI label. One of my favorites was Gabor’s “Mizrab”- such a haunting and lovely piece of music.
I’m up for an occasional avant-garde roundup if everyone else is — thanks, Daryl.
I say keep it up Clifford. I love being exposed to something different.
yes to continued updates on the avant scene. This is an area I collect in, and, in a funny way, it is more interesting from a price perspective, as it is far less clear what is worth what, and what powers price changes. I usually have a pretty good idea what my first issue Blue Notes are worth, but that strange Cecil Taylor album, a hand stencilled Sun Ra, or that Braxton recording from Greece….thats often surprising!
Anders — that’s my plan, anyway.
Yes to more of Clifford if it doesn’t mean less of Al.
Haha there will not be an avant-garde takeover I can assure you. More Al! 🙂
Stuart- very much agree with that. I’m a big fan of Gary McFarland, and the two of them put out a lot of under-appreciated LPs (that you can find dirt cheap!) on Skye, their own label.
Also agree with the free jazz roundup- digging the DIY aspect of the art direction of some of this stuff.
We’re all pullin’ for ya to find that Freddie Redd someday, Al!
I have a question to the users here about upgrading covers/LPs. Is it best to keep original covers and LPs together, or do you upgrade each individually as long as it’s the same pressing?