Seconds Anyone?
Going deeper into the Jazz Collector eBay watch list, we have Mal Waldron, Mal-1, Prestige 7090. This was an original New York yellow label. The seller graded the record and the cover as VG+. Based on the pictures, I would grade the cover VG. The final price was $776. The same seller had this one: Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040.This was an interesting one, IMHO. No deep groove, no ear, no West 63rd Street address. So, was it issued by Liberty using old labels, or by the original Blue Note using old labels? In either case, it wasn’t an original. But it was in nice condition, M- for the record, close to M- for the cover. The final price was $760. This seller also had that later pressing Introducing Lee Morgan on Savoy that we spotlighted a few days ago How Many Original Copies of Rare Jazz Vinyl Have Survived (And Other Existential Questions). When we highlighted this record, the bidding was in the $400 range. The final price was $797.99. Perhaps I (and others?) will have to adjust my expectations of what a nice second pressing might command in today’s market. Good for the sellers, and good for the buyers if they are happy.
This time of year I seem to notice more of these records on eBay: Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Fantasy 85019. Not sure if there are more available this time of year, or if it’s just that I notice them more. Anyway, this looked to be an original stereo pressing listed in VG+ condition for the record and the cover, still in the original shrink wrap. The seller had a start price of about $500 and didn’t get any bids.
Finally, let’s look at one more from those recent Carolina Soul auctions: Black Unity Trio, Al-Fatihah, Salaam Records 777. This was an original pressing listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG for the cover. It sold for $4,849.99, which must make it pretty rare. Not something I’ve ever heard or heard of until now.
yeah, the Black Unity Trio is rare — most of the copies I’ve encountered over the years have also not been VG++ or even VG+. Seems like one of those records that got played to death by the people who bought it back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. It’s incredible but after 20+ years of searching, the recent and legit reissue is fine.
Have no copy of MAL-1
I think it is the most beautiful cover design of all prestige output ever.
Would settle for any type of pressing.
I keep lookin’.
The Black Unity trio is an incredible album; sold my original some years ago for well below $4800 but the vinyl was only VG albeit a nice VG. The reissue actually sounds just as good if not better then the original.
Regarding Freddie Hubbard Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040, no ear = Liberty using old labels.
Clifford, unintentionally, demonstrates the deep border between US and non US collectors. “most of the copies I’ve encountered…”. I’m a Free Jazz lover, I’ve been collecting since the late 60’s, I’ve a nice collection of which I’m proud BUT, never, never seen a copy of Al -Fatihah before Internet. I’ve travelled across the world for decades, visited 1000’s shops and collections and never seen a single copy. Clifford talks about copies (plural)…, all my envy. non US market, before the net, suffered from originals’ scarcity or reissues only availability. Remember the first Japanese reissues from the late 70’s on. Nowadays it’s more than hard to find a nice rare original in shops: many have closed, the few still on duty prefer to sell on EBay or discogs, still possible to find some originals but not rare records. re Black Unity Trio, I bought the ltd edition reissue, and remember that reissues are against my religion. why? ’cause I like the music, especially side 2. couldn’t live without, even if it’s not original.
Agree with Maarten about the beauty of the MAL-1 cover
Dottorjazz, your comment on market availability is most apt. The searching for items issued in small quantities was easy during the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. Especially if your were in the right country. Found copies of BUT lps in Cleveland and Detroit. Not so much in record stores but in shops in Islamic communities. Had to be somewhat creative in your searching back then. Guess it’s all in the knowing. The BUT is a monster record. Should have kept a few copies, but rent seemed to always loom large and the music once really heard, does remain in one’s consciousness.
dott, that isn’t a US vs non-US thing. a lot of amazing US vinyl is in Europe. That’s a “clifford has been around and seen everything” issue. much love, clifford.
good jazz chatter…but tell me please, more specifically and artistically, what makes the “Mal-1” cover so appealing? Plus – I appreciate the Blue Note identification info. No “ear” indicates a Liberty pressing regardless of the labels – hence the “ear” is exclusively specific to Blue Note.
Funny, I have that Golson in my watch list and was debating making a bid as well.