Rare Blue Notes in All Shapes, Sizes and Formats
Record temptation came and went. The Blue Note 78s from the Jazz Record Center sold for $910 and, by the time the auction came around, I had forgotten all about them. I seem to be less obsessive in my old age. I think this is a good thing. The Lovely Mrs. JC certainly does. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have topped $910 even if I had remembered. There was also this odd item from the same auction: Rare Blue Note Salesman’s Folio. This was a spiral-bound portfolio with promoting Blue Note releases from August 1967, with a “salesman’s demonstration record.” I have to admit, I’ve never seen one of these. It sold for $1,009.99. Imagine if there was a pre-Liberty portfolio, or one from the ‘50s?
There were some nice 10-inch LPs in that auction as well, including The Eminent J.J. Johnson, Volume 2, Blue Note 5057. This looked to be in M- condition for the record and at least VG++ for the cover. It sold for $750. Also Julius Watkins Sextet, Blue Note 5053. This also looked to be in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The final price was $565. And The Cool Britons, New Sounds From Olde England, Blue Note 5052. This looked to be in M- condition all around, record and cover. The final price was $260. Guess the Britons weren’t quite as cool as the Americans.
I had my eye on this one from a Brazilian seller and I’m surprised it didn’t sell: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Blue Note 4003.This looked to be an original pressing in VG+ condition for the record and Ex- for the cover. It seems to have an Art Blakey signature from 1977. The ask price was $350.
And finally for today there was Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and Lopin’, Blue Note 4091. This was an original Mono pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ condition or better for the cover. It sold for $660. A far cry – with a nod to Mr. Dolphy – from the $7,300 price tag from last year (Leapin’, Lopin’ and Lunacy), and did any of us confirm whether that particular sale actually went through?
“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself….”
? Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
I hope that’s not the only way ……
$1000 for that salesman’s folio seems crazy, but then again I don’t think I’ve ever seen it.
Interesting art direction on that folio. With all due respect to Julius Watkins, not a lot of other French Horn in jazz.
I know organ doesn’t get a lot of love in these parts (I don’t know why!), but have any of you guys ever heard or even heard of this artist?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Frederick-Roach-Blue-Note-4190-LP-All-Thats-Good-EAR-Van-Gelder-CLEAN/292669281970?hash=item442472d6b2:g:AAcAAOSwyglbZzk5:rk:12:pf:0
He’s a new one to me!
Freddie Roach, sure. He’s got some really good records, though that particular one never struck me.
Freddie Roach is cool. « Good Move » and « Down to Earth » are very nice albums !
Mr. Roach has a nice touch, on the funky side, on the keys. This lp though turned me off and could never find the right time on air or in a club to spin from it because of the presence of the vocalists.
I think it is safe to assume that Salesman sample and the 78s probably came from the same collection. Maybe someone who use to work for the record company in sales and never threw anything away. Imagine stumbling across that estate sale.
I apologize; with the name FREDERICK and never having heard/seen this particular record it threw me off. I don’t know why I didn’t say, “Oh, that’s Freddie Roach.”
Boy, do I feel like an idiot.
As Spike Milligan of the Goons( UK 1950’s comedy show ) would say ” I’ll try and find you one”
I have several Verve salesman folio’s from the late 50s I bought on Ebay around 1998. There was one from the Prestige label from the late 50s as well which I bid on, but didn’t win. Also, that seems to be a great price for those 78s. Got a feeling that 10 years from now those are going to be worth a whole lot more.
Sorry for another long absence, friends. Been buried in work and other stuff. Hopefully I’ll get at least one or two posts up this week. In the meantime, if anyone else wants to post something appropriate, you can send me an email and I’ll try to get it up on the site.