Tracking Prices in an Alternate Universe
Let’s catch up on some of the jazz vinyl we were watching last week. Remember that copy of Miles Davis, Steamin’, Prestige 7200, pictured a few items below? That was the one from bobjdukic and it was in M- condition, an original New Jersey pressing? It sold for $760. Wow! I’ll put it in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but it’s hard to imagine that this will now be the going rate for this record. This guy seems to have a customer base that’s in an alternate universe from the customer base buying jazz vinyl from every other seller on eBay. There are many examples, but look at this one as well: Stan Getz, Imported From Europe, Verve 8331. This isn’t even an original pressing and he was able to get $122.50 for it. It leaves me somewhat speechless, but someone, somewhere, was willing to pay the price.
This is from a different seller and more in line with current market realities: Duke Jordan, Flight To Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd label, deep grooves, ear, etc. It was listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $741.
This is a nice record:
Kenny Dorham and the Jazz Prophets Volume 1, ABC Paramount 122. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $423. Quick question: Was there ever a Kenny Dorham and the Jazz Prophets Volume 2?
Wow! Is right, for the Miles Davis ‘Steamin”. I have been looking to add this one to my collection, but that is over a weeks salary for me. Way out of my league, and quite depressing for a newbie to the jazz vinyl scene. We have a record show coming up here in Tampa in May. Maybe I can find some nice vinyl at more reasonable prices. 🙁
Cazoon, You can find this one for a lot cheaper even on ebay. Just keep searching. You’ll find one pretty quickly at a much better price.
Thanks Mike. I’d sure hope so. This seller does seem to manage to get astronomical prices for his items. I’ve been monitoring his items and paying to the comments on this site. I don’t think I’d ever buy from him, even with his 100% feedback.
Yea, Bob D is a buyer beware situation, but you got to think that the people he sold to new what they were getting and just didn’t know the value. Can’t really leave bad feedback for that. i haven’t heard many complaints about his grading. Just his absurd listings.
Talk about ‘reasonable’ prices, I feel I have to share my recent Blue Note finds – not to gloat but just to get New Zealand (where I live) on the BN map!
Today I found an original Lee Morgan ‘Leeway’ (DG, RVG, ear etc, VG+) for NZ$35 )about $27 US at the time of writing). Nice. This was hidden away from the masses in the back room at my local record shop. This copy will replace my 70’s Australian pressing with an alternate cover (non Miles). Better than this was a find a couple of months ago – the same source (which shall remain nameless to save their embarrassment). This time it was sitting proudly in the shop window. Kenny Drew – Undercurrents original, also VG+ or possibly better. I felt slightly dizzy as I handed my NZ$25 over (about $19.50 US). I do pass the shop almost everyday as I work around the corner but still I count my blessings. I’m a big Freddie Hubbard fan (Lee Morgan a close second) so was particularly pleased with this one.
Some other recent nice BN finds include Dexter Gordon – Our Man In Paris (2nd pressing) and Stanley Turrentine with The 3 Sounds – Blue Hour (Orig) at very reasonable if not quite giveaway prices. Some of the late 70’s re-issue/classic series turn up as well, as well as a few Japanese pressings. Like most people nowadays though, the ebay etc is the most likely source for me though shipping is usually a little more than most of you will have to pay.
Just as a point of interest, the only BN recordings actually released in NZ itself were the classic series (not sure how many in total). They have the same cover design but are limited to 2 shades of the same colour (eg Stanley Turrentines Mr Natural in 2 shades of brown), presumably to reduce costs. These were issued by WRC (World Record Club) around 1981.
Regards
Rob
Well I think that something is phoney with some auctions. It could be that some sellers on eBay wants to raise the price level overall by using shilling (bidding by friends or relatives that don’t have to pay if they “win”). That way you will always get the max out of every buyer. The item can be offered as second chance to the second highest bidder if a friend wins or just claim that the buyer did not pay. Of course that can’t be overused but in some cases I’m sure it’s going on.
Well well the sad thing is that as soon as a record gets a very high price the sellers both on eBay and the local record store begin to get $-signs in their eyes and the prices go up and up and …..
no, there was never a vol. 2 of K.D. Jazz Prophets. There have been rumours way back in the vinyl age that a second volume was forthcoming. It never came, and the question is whether the masters really exist.
the first session he did with the same group, (B.Timmons replaced Dick Katz,was a month later (31 may’56), and it came out as Blue Note 1524, at the cafe Bohemian (and the japanese vol.2 and 3)
ps: all the songs from Kenny Dorham and the Jazz Prophets Volume 1 session where issued on that album, no leftovers…
Darn, that’s crazy. I should hand him my scratched copy of “Dexter blows hot and cool” and he surely will get 1k for it.
On the one hand it’s impressive to see his ability to sell 2nd pressings for high prices without actually lying and with his customers being satisfied. On the other it strikes me, because to a certain point it totally destroys the market in two ways. Less worth copies get more attention and fetch higher prices, while original copies tend to loose value at the same time. This is not actually happening, but in the long run…who knows?
I may be running a little against sentiment here, but I have all but given up with the OG NM sector. Great if you are a Far East Investor/ Collector with $2-4,000 to spend per record, fine, its a free country (for now), but the real-world market for me is affordable second pressings. They may have the wrong label, the “R” when it shouldn’t, be only VG+, whatever, but I am delighted to continue to find them at affordable prices, and they sound g r e a t.
Don’t have a problem with BobDj – at least he seems to have stuff to sell, and thats only for the good of the collector. Caveat Emptor as always, but I’m always on the lookout for good sounding records to play, not museum pieces.
Signed!
Rob,
Fly to New Zealand Business class, buy few Blue Note originals: Leeway, Undercurrent, etc. and get some change from Blue Note originals market price.
You are lucky !
$760 for the Miles Davis Steamin!!! Is this a bad joke, I have two copies of this and the most I paid was about $60 for one and thats in the last 3-4 years..Ultimately the joke is on the buyer (caveat emptor).If people are stupid enough to pay that kind of $$ for this record it just proves how uninfomed they are, way too much money and no sense. Hell give me $150 for my two copies and I will give the $600 odd to charity. Global recession does not seem to have extended to record buying…
Pingback: vuelos valencia madrid