Watching (and Buying) Some Rare Blue Notes
Like many of you I’m greatly intrigued by the discussion on Why We Collect but, alas, I cannot shirk my normal obsession and obligation to keep an eye on collectible jazz vinyl on eBay. Here are some of the items I’m watching:
Lou Donaldson, Lou Takes Off, Blue Note 1591. Hard to believe, but I never had an original pressing of this record — until now. I have made a little bit of a purchase, including a bunch of Blue Notes. I will give you more details once the full purchase is complete, probably sometime next week. In the meantime, I’m watching this to see if I overpaid. This one is listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It is currently at about $215 with another day to go. I expect this to go for quite a bit more, with the added benefit of Sonny Clark on piano.
This one could set a new record, perhaps: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This is an original pressing listed in near mint for the record and what looks to be at least VG++ for the cover. The seller is reputable and has been posting some very nice items the past few weeks. This one is already more than $3,100, yet it hasn’t met the seller’s reserve. In the Jazz Collector Price Guide we’ve recorded this as selling for $5,600 in the past, the highest price we’ve ever seen for a single jazz record.
In that collection I’m buying, there is also a clean copy of this: Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Time, Blue Note 4001. The one here is in M- condition, probably comparable to the one I’m getting. This one’s at around $250 with a few days to go. I may be looking to trade one of my copies pretty soon. Unless my collector’s gene kicks in and I decide to keep everything, even doubles and triples, so I can experience both the thrill of the conquest at the thrill of seeing all of my conquests on my shelves.
I just checked out that near mint copy of Hank Mobley’s Blue Note 1568, and despite its seemingly immaculate condition it doesn’t have the New York 23 label variation on at least one side, so it may taper off before hitting the $5000 mark. But who knows, someone might have some extra cash from “Santa” burning a hole in their pockets !
Don Lucky is right: 1568 should have 47 west 63rd- NYC side one
47 west 63rd- New York 23 side two. The seller doesn’t make it perfectly clear here. Still I don’t think it’ll matter since the entire batch of 1568s was, from what I’ve read so many times here, around 600 anyway, which explains why every copy, despite the label variations, always fetches top dollar. ***And a warning to those bidding on the Newk’s Time mentioned by Al above: note the trademark “R” under the E of Note. A genuine first pressing of 4001 does not have the trademark “R” on either side. So whoever is going to fork out a lot of cash for this copy of Newk’s Time: you’re not bidding on a 1st pressing! 😉
Whooever got the “Lou takes off” didn’t get a bad deal. I have a nice condition one with the “r” on one side. I thought it was original for years. It plays beautiful though I can’t justify a new one, at least until I have many other treasures in my collection. I might have payed around $350 or so though. Not a bad deal.
I always get a little excited when a 1568 comes up for bid. I really can’t wait to see what it goes for.
Also check out my auctions, featuring a copy of Sonny Clark Cool Struttin’ and a bunch of other Jazz LPs… Thanks for a nice site!
Jonas
Auctions are here: some Blue Note 1st pressings, some 2nd pressings, some rare EURO jazz too…
http://stores.ebay.com/cross-road-blues/_i.html?rt=nc&LH_Auction=1&_dmd=2&_sid=190999203&_sop=10&_trksid=p4634.c0.m309