Comments on: The Blue Note Bargain Bin . . . Not

By: Clifford Allen

Clifford Allen — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 15:37:34 +0000

@cellery, I recall the upturned bell being present on a couple of Morgan sideman dates during that period, at least from photos. Blue Train is probably the most notable.

Indeed @ethan, all of the Strata-Easts you mention are excellent. Part of the reason that Detroit’s Strata couldn’t last was the fact that Strata-East tapped into distribution networks that the other label couldn’t (rumored NYC underworld connections are interesting and perhaps unsurprising given the era).

By: Ethan

Ethan — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 14:24:46 +0000

Strata East has many great 70s titles, with the previously mentioned First Impressions and Erotica Suite being top notch. Alkebulan by Mtume is good, The Descendents of Mike and Phoebe, Brother Ah’s sound awareness, The Heath Brothers Marchin On (one of my favorite albums on any label) a great Harold Vick date, and too many more greats like Pharoah Sanders and Stanley Cowell. Not to mention Winter In America, one Gil Scott Heron and Brian Jackson’s best works. Love me some Strata East. The sister label, Strata, also has some serious albums but not nearly as many. NY could support Strata East; Detroit couldnt hold up Strata.

By: cellery

cellery — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 11:36:00 +0000

Getting back to the Lee Morgan Indeed for a minute, what I always notice about this one is that the cover and liner photos depict him with a trumpet with an upturned bell, like Dizzy Gillespie’s. I wonder if there’s a story there. The liner notes state him being in Dizzy’s big band at the time – maybe he actually played Dizzy’s horn on the session? Also this is neither here nor there but the framing and shadows on his lower face make it seem like he’s bald and has a beard – kindof like Yusef Lateef or Isaac Hayes.

By: Abrasive_Beautiful

Abrasive_Beautiful — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 17:28:04 +0000

Rudolf– I suspected as such, it says Jazztime Paris somewhere on the cover if I remember correctly. All the more surprising that someone would bid $300 for a copy in F/P condition

By: Clifford Allen

Clifford Allen — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 15:51:59 +0000

The Shamek is very good although I’m not sure I’d fork over that kind of change. Recently picked up a copy of Erotica Suite, another of the S-E rarities, from a friend and it is an excellent date. I can’t get that excited about the Billy Parker but should probably try it again…

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 12:22:34 +0000

Abrasive-B: the Brown 10″ album is not a Blue Note recording, but an American (re-)issue of French Vogue material, recorded in Paris when the Lionel Hampton band gave several concerts in the Capital. Ex Vogue LD 179.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 22:10:26 +0000

The Shamek, MBOOM, and Billy Parker albums are the most valuable titles on the label…usually fetching over $400 routinely!

By: JOK

JOK — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 20:17:00 +0000

I see Carolinasoul is back with another jazz auction. And again, it seems the Strata-east records are fetching the highest bids. I am not familiar with this label, but they always seem to be the top selling items in the Carolinasoul auctions. Maybe one day, someone who is knowledgeable about Strata-east can fill me in. Oh, and Shamek Farrah’s “First Impressions” is leading the way with 17 bids and a top price of $405. Cheers!

By: gandi

gandi — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 17:39:39 +0000

Regarding the 1543: the cover has no frame so regardless the adress on the back, it is not the first pressing (at least as far as the cover is concerned). I have the same cover version, the adress on both labels is Lexington but the edges on the record are raised (should be flat on the first pressing)

By: Charles Drago

Charles Drago — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 16:18:15 +0000

I may have referenced the following a few years back: I sold an original, unplayed, as-new record/jacket copy (store stock in climate-controlled storage) of “Indeed” more than ten years ago for $2700.

The buyer, a NYC-based executive and Blue Note completist, stated that he owned a mint original disc but could not locate a pristine jacket.

He was pleased with his purchase. I’m pleased with my second copy, a VG++ original. Not my favorite Morgan side, but lovely and humbling to own.