Score One For Jazz Collector
I wasn’t actually planning to write anything about my recent jazz vinyl acquisitions but, of course, my excitement and enthusiasm took over and I couldn’t resist. I have this idea of writing a Jazz Collector book – I’ve already begun – and the story of some of these record scores is going to be a central theme so I’m trying to save them. However, I mentioned it so now I have to embellish a little bit so I don’t leave you all tantalized. It started with a simple inquiry from a guy in Canada who was asking for advice about selling some records he had inherited. It almost always starts that way. I get inquiries like these three or four times a week. He said he had looked on Jazz Collector and it seemed that some of the records he owned were quite valuable – Blue Notes, he said, and they seemed original. I told him his best bet was to get Fred Cohen’s book, try to gauge the value of the records, and sell them himself on eBay. He said that’s what he was going to do and thanked me. I thought that was the end of it. But it wasn’t.
He got back to me a few weeks later, sent me a comprehensive list of what he had and their approximate values. He said he didn’t want to take the time to sell the records himself and asked if I would be interested in buying them or if I knew anyone that would be interested. I told him I’d be interested, but I couldn’t pay their retail value. He asked what I’d be willing to pay. I gave him a figure. He said it wasn’t enough and I said I could understand. I wished him luck. I few weeks later he got back to me again. What would I be willing to offer? I gave him another figure. He said OK. I gulped hard and agreed. This was a guy in Canada, I’d never met him, never saw the records, and I had to trust that this guy – who admittedly didn’t know how to grade records – was being honest and accurate. We agreed to do the deal in two stages. I’d send him a third of the money and he’d send me about 25 records, including 10 or so of the Blue Notes.
The first batch arrived a couple of weeks ago and they were precisely as he said. Not mint condition, but VG++ for the most part. The second batch arrived yesterday. Same deal. Lots of nice records, not mint condition, but very nice. I was thrilled – especially because I was able to fill in some of the Blue Note voids in my collection and particularly the Sonny Clark Cool Struttin’ LP. There were also a couple of nice Donald Byrd originals I didn’t own and a couple of Lou Donaldsons as well. There were also a bunch of other records, not as collectible, from both England and South Africa. All in all it was a good deal all around: He got a reasonable price, I got a bunch of great records.
The best part: Even Mrs. JC was impressed. After all of these years of living with me, of me coming home with records from all around the world, some nice, some moldy, after all these years even she can now appreciate the beauty in an original Blue Note in nice condition. Not bad, huh?
In the interest of accuracy and full disclosure, the Johnny Griffin, Sonny Rollins and Milt Jackson LPs in the above picture are not first pressings — the Sonny Clark is. The Griffin and Rollins LPs both have the West 63rd Street address on the labels, and the Milt Jackson has Lexington Avenue on one side and West 63rd on the other. Just though I’d share.
wow, what a great feelin’ it must be to “unpack’ so manny great records .. congretulations!
Al, congrats. And I envy you 😉
Green with envy!
Quite a gamble, but he who dares….gets great Jazz sides!!!
I am sorry Al but what the purpose of this post? Each hifi/music blog has a section “bargain” or “thrift store deal”, is that what you are trying to implement. I do really like your blog and the comments, but today, I am sorry, I don’t.
It’s the most original collection downsizing strategy I think I have ever encountered 🙂
Al, congratulations! To me, there is nothing better than the great stories of how these gems are acquired! It’s all part of the experience, and I think it makes playing the records all the better! Being able to fill in several records you were missing is all the better….I really appreciate your sharing your collecting experiences…..
I do as well. I love hearing how others collect. My collecting is mostly eBay which yields results, but not good stories. I have a few good ones, but from when I had more time to drive places and look at collections. Nowadays, I don’t go to garage sales or look through the paper for album sales as much as I use to, so I like hearing how other people are collecting.
Profoundly envious, what else?
However I think I’ve cracked the methodology. Spend life collecting jazz and aquire vast knowledge, start website for die-hard collectors, allow several years to become famous worldwide, establish outstanding reputation for fair dealing, sit tight, wait for the offers to come rolling in. Easy!
And rewards richly deserved.(Shrewd tactics with the bit by bit trade there! One worth remembering for when the offers come rolling in!)
Wow, that’s a neat story. I love hearing about stories like these!
great appetite for our down sizing specialist.
How would one get a Jazz LINK on this site? And reciprocate?
thanks
Nice score Al. Congrats!
In response to ‘Stereoidiots’ comment above: I find that these are the type of posts that really help keep the dream alive for most of us here in the ‘Jazz Collective’. It’s similar to those stories you occasionally hear about people discovering lost works of art in a basement, a garage sale or storage auction somewhere. Most of us enjoy a good treasure hunt ourselves, and sharing stories about them just keeps us motivated. For example, take a look back in the JC archives and read all the posts entitled ‘Tales from the Hunt’. They really add another dimension to the site, and is a big part of what separates it from the rest. Besides, where else can we all swap stories about the big score or that one that got away ? …In most cases our significant others don’t necessarily share the same enthusiasm we do for collecting Jazz. Especially when we are spending what we do on these LP’s…
In full agreement again, Don-Lucky. Every time someone shares a ‘great find’ story over here, I greedily read them in envy. But indeed that’s what makes this site such a great ‘hangout’ for guys like us; young and old 😉
+1 for don-lucky’s post
I appreciate that Al did not try to “fool” the guy and depriciate the value of the records 😉
Well, over here in Europe we can only dream of such ocasions to acquire such a collection of originals. Unfortunatel there are not so many first-press jazz records around here.
Congratulations to you, Al.
Regards
George from Switzerland
I am not so sure George. I know a dealer in Paris who recently went to Lausanne with a small van to take delivery of a huge jazz vinyl collection he had just bought from an old guy who had to liquidate his collection because he went to a home for aged people.
There was the famous Maitre de Disques from Amsterdam, with a collection of 10,000. His heirs sold the collection to a second hand record shop, Concerto, in Amsterdam.
There was the 6000 collection of my friend Walter de Block from Brasschaet, near Antwerp (president of the United Hot Clubs of Europe and radio presentator for the Belgian National Radio). He had almost sold his collection to a museum of a medium large French provincial town, when the deal fell through. When he died a few years later, his widow told me that within two days the scavengers had taken care of the collection, nothing left!
There are many hidden treasures sleeping all over Western Europe. The art is to source them, which is not easy.
Great score indeed. I think stories like this are great and it’s what keeps us all searching. I’d like to hear more to be honest. As I’ve previously posted I’m fairly new to the world of Jazz and you have all been most helpful in my research of the lucky find I came across so thanks again. Al, I’ll email you pictures of my find this weekend for an expert opinion if it’s alright with you.
Great score Al! I can’t understand why a poster like StereoIdiot can’t just be happy for another collector acquiring new pieces for their collections. Regardless of prices paid and overall worth, any new addition to a collection, to the collector, and his collector-friends, should be celebrated and congratulated. Seems to me that a majority of collectors are happy for your score. I could understand Idiot’s disdain if you were gloating and posturing, but you were not. Don’t let a jealous Idiot knock you out of your high! Rock On!