the Rise and Rise of Blue Notes
Somebody mentioned this record in one of the comments, but it is certainly worth repeating in a post and pointing out so that it is searchable: Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craft, Blue Note 1582. This was an original pressing in M- condition, including the possibly original loose bag around the cover. The auction closed yesterday and the final price was $2,500. Wow. That’s the most we’ve ever seen for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, although not the first time the price has surpassed $2,000.
Let’s make it a Blue Note day and look at two other auctions closing in the next few days:
Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. This looks to be an original deep-groove West 63rd St. pressing. The record is listed in VG condition and the cover is VG++. The bidding is in the $300 range and there are four days left in the auction. Wouldn’t be surprised to see this make the $1,000 bin, despite the VG vinyl.
Joe Henderson, Inner Urge, Blue Note 4189. This looks to be an original pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It too has four days left and the bidding is already up in the $250 range. Do yo think people are spending this kind of money for the music, for the investment, or for both? Blue Note prices seem to just rise and rise and rise.
re Cool Struttin: this seller has an enormous number of new listings – in them, he claims that they are all first pressings except as noted, but there are at least 3 listings that are 2nd preesing or later with no such notation:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOHN-COLTRANE-Giant-Steps-LP-on-Atlantic-mono-/330995560490?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item4d10df702a (2nd or 3rd press)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SONNY-ROLLINS-The-Sound-Of-Sonny-LP-on-Riverside-DG-mono-/330995856911?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item4d10e3f60f
(2nd press)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANNONBALL-ADDERLEY-Somethin-Else-LP-on-Blue-Note-63rd-DG-mono-/271261022616?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item3f286ab998
(has the “r”)
I’ve dealt with this seller in the past and he seems fair.
His listings tend to be large and somewhat overwhelming so one needs to carefully read them over and note any descriptions (RVG, ear, DG….). He doesn’t promise first pressings though, just “original U.S. pressings unless otherwise noted”. Sellers need to do some homework before bidding on these.
Looking at the Price Guide for the Cliff Jordan record.. 5 years ago this record, in M-/M- sold for 750 dollars. That’s some contrast..
I don’t get how Beautiful World Records is getting these high prices with such minimal presentation and information. I wasn’t too satisfied with my one purchase from them (it was VG rather than “beautiful VG+). Granted it was a cheaper album. They have some amazing albums in their listings, which I am told may be from Michael Cuscuna’s collection, but I’d appreciate more detail in the grading and photos.
There was a copy of Cliff Craft that sold in July last year for US$733.77. It’s condition was described as M-/M- for the cover and record, so a huge contrast in the space of a year as far as pricing goes, but then again, the seller was sunsetstripvinyl, and I have heard less than glowing reports on this seller; so I don’t know whether we can comfortably say that it was a legitimate M-/M- 1st pressing copy.
I was told Beautiful World Records is consigning the collection for the estate of a french man that passed. I dont think they are getting a high percentage so I guess that is why there are minimal pictures and descriptions. I heard “2 million dollar” collection thrown around. Regardless some amazing stuff there and getting some nice prices.
Yes, the lps from Beautiful World Records definitely appear to be from a French collection. Look at the stamps on the back covers and the handwriting, which is in French.
CLIFF: I sold an original years ago (07ish?) and got high $900s for it. It was a really nice + w/ a nice VG cover. I wish I still had it but you know how buying collections are!?!? You gotta make your money back, earn a decent profit and then maybe keep some good ones. That was just one I had to sell to make that possible. wah.
I have a newer sh;tty SCORPIO press of it right now. It so flat and cd sounding but it beats dealing with a CD format of it as I always have the TT up and goin’ so I can just fire it up NP. Can’t wait to get another original but at those prices …. I’ll just have to get lucky at a local shop HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!
Man I have been bidding on INNER URGES forever. I give up. I’m the type that just can’t bid over $50 for a non EAR record. I don’t think that one has EARs (?) Killer record. I think I even like more than MODE FOR JOE. Nothing beats IN N’ OUT however. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
If a record doesn’t have an ear(p), doesn’t that typically mean a Liberty pressing masquerading as a NY USA? “left over labels”.
Jay Jay:
More than likely. It could of also just been pressed somewhere else at the time of released as A.L.’s company was growing and they were pressing more & more so the “P” pressers might not have been able to keep up with demand (they could have sent ’em out – Specialty Records was fairly close) Still, who wants to pay more than $30/40/50 or so for a non EAR press!?!?!?!?!?!? Isn’t that what we live for? EARS? DG?
Non EAR BNs shouldn’t be included on Al’s THE RISE AND RISE OF BLUE NOTES blog! I have to maybe think that this INNER URGE may have an EAR as the price would say so. I was gonna ask the selller but it’s price is already too far out of my league so I figure I shouldn’t bug the guy.
Jay Jay – the first press of Inner Urges had an ear. However, there were some NY first pressings (near the end of the run) that did not have an ear. For example, Henderson’s Mode for Joe and Lee Morgan’s Cornbread come to mind, if I’m not mistaken. But you’re right – 90%+ of the NY pressings you will see without ears are 1966-67 Liberty pressings with leftover labels. Often very nice for the price!
That label scan isn’t clear enough to show all of the dead wax and thus assume it doesn’t have an “ear.” Their descriptions are minimal enough that one should just ask questions rather than feel burned.