Rare Jazz Vinyl, Pristine and Not
On my eBay watch list this week are some rare Gene Ammons records from our friend Rudolf, including Gene Ammons All Stars, Jammin’ With Gene, Prestige 7060. This is an original New York pressing that looks to be in pristine, nearly new condition. The bidding is at $106 with more than four days left on the auction. I don’t often listen to these jam session type records, but whenever I do, I am pleasantly surprised. Of course, it does help to have musicians like Ammons, Jackie Mclean, Art Farmer, Donald Byrd, Doug Watkins and Mal Waldron. Rudolf, if you are watching Jazz Collector my question is: Are you selling duplicates or are you digging deeper into your own collection, perhaps starting with the A’s? While we’re on the subject, here’s another: Gene Ammons, Funky Hi-Fi Jam Session, Prestige 7083. This is another original New York promo copy that also looks to be in pristine condition. Where can you possibly find records like these in that condition, like buying them new in a record store in the ’50s. Bidding on this is at about $102, also with more than four days left.
Speaking of buying new records from the 1950s in a record store, did anybody take the time to watch that movie I mentioned a few weeks ago, Sylvie’s Love, the one that takes place in a jazz record store in Harlem in 1957? I didn’t see any mention of it in the comments and I was curious about reactions just to the records that they showed and discussed in the store, including Monk’s Brilliant Corners, Newk’s Way Out West and a bunch of others.
I’m sure several of you are watching this auction: Collection of 29x Blue Note Vinyl Jazz Records. These are really 29 original or almost original Blue Notes, including some awesome titles such as Lou Donaldson Quartet, Quintet Sextet; Hank Mobley and his All Stars; Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Bag. You get the picture. The catch is that all of the records seem to be in poor or fair condition. The seller is very clear that this is a filler lot only. I have to say a lot such as this appeals to the gambler in me: Maybe one of the records isn’t so bad, or maybe there’s a nice cover that could replace a cover in lesser condition in my collection. It’s so tempting, yet why would the seller be doing this and making clear that all of these records should just be considered filler? The bidding is more than $500 with nearly five days left. I am very curious to see what this lot sells for. It has all the makings of buyer beware, but I have a feeling it will sell for a fairly hefty sum. Agree?
I really enjoyed “Sylvie’s Love.” It’s a bit kitschy, a romance movie, but I think that anyone who likes modern jazz and mid century style will enjoy it simply for its historical accuracy. It’s nice to see a plot unfold inside a 1950s record store with all those bangers on the wall and in the bins — a stark reminder that all these records were once new releases that people were looking forward to (and that were available for just a few bucks each, in mint condition). I also think the live sequences of the jazz bands were pretty well done and don’t look super fake. There are some mistakes, but compared to other movies or shows, they actually hired someone who knew what they were doing.
Good morning Al,
I am selling 50/50 between doubles (up to quintuples) and single copies. Selling is a delicate job. When I make a decision to keep x single copies of an artist, I sell those with which I have no ties or bond. If I would play them, I might like them and I would not sell, or with regret. I still have many albums I never had the occasion to give a spin.
You will ask why I would have five copies of an album. It is not as simple as that. Take Miles’ December 1954 recordings with Monk on 10″ Prestige 196 and 200. I have them also on 10″ Esquire. Normally I would settle for the 10″ originals (European or US) and sell the 12″ re issues. But the 12″ re issues have valuable unissued alternate tracks issued on Prestige 7109 and 7150. I have the latter also on Esquire and Danish Metronome. The Metronome albums have the same art work as Prestige, Esquire has got different art work. This is all very fine, until the moment you decide to slim down. What to do?
P.S.
A practical example: I had four Saxophone Colossus albums, Prestige NYC and N.J., Esquire and Metronome. What to do? I started to sell off the 1958 N.J. pressing. Then the 1956 NYC Prestige, for the simple reason that, for me personally, a first European pressing is of equal value as an American first, whereas most collectors will prefer the American original. So now I am left with the Esquire and the Metronome. If I must make a choice between these two, I would keep the Metronome since it has got the iconic original sleeve design.
Ah Rudolph, the mind of the collector is so clearly on display. Winnowing is such a painful thing, until it isn’t.
A friend of mine recently sold three “good” Blue Note 10″ in easy VG+ condition and a butcher cover among a dozen pieces. He’d had them for decades. I asked him how he felt the next day and he said relieved…and wealthier. Ah, the mind of the seller is so clearly on display.
Rudolf NOT Rudolph! Spell check!
Got 2nd vaccine yesterday and today I’m a bit whacked out so I decided to look at something posted on this page that is also somewhat whacked out in my opinion. The collection of 29x Blue Note lps in poor on up condition is now at GBP 740, US $1,045.81.
Geez Louise. Folks must like scratches on their lps.
Three Ammons in the $1k bin? As George Takei would say, “Oh my.”
Rudolf – “If I would play them, I might like them and I would not sell”……
You are 1000% correct. I used to have a small stack, (sell or keep), next to my turntable. All it would take is that one emotional reaction to a riff or transition and back on the shelf it went.
I learned a long time ago that “One last Kiss” before breaking up never works.
I’ve noticed a trend in my bidding on rare jazz vinyl eBay. Whatever final price I bid, the winning bid is 2 – 3 times that amount. Conclusion? Stop bidding on eBay. Maybe I’ll shuffle over to Instagram. 🙂