What is Your Most Valuable?
OK, I did not bid on that Cliff Jordan/John Gilmore Blue Note last night. By the time I logged in about 15 minutes before the auction ended, the price was already past what I would have entered as my top bid. So I just watched as it spiked from about $760 to $960 at the last minute. It is not for me to judge whether the record is worth that price. Obviously, it is to the buyer. To me, after the auction closed I played my United Artists copy. While it doesn’t sound quite like an original pressing, it sounded plenty good to these ears. It was actually nice to get the inspiration to listen to the record again. Damn good record, for sure. Meanwhile, back to eBay with this gem: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. This is an original mono, West 63rd Street pressing with the ears, deep groove, etc. It is listed in M- condition for the record and Ex for the cover, which looks like M- in my nomenclature, based on the description and the picture. The bidding is already at more than $3,300 with more than three days left on the auction. Get ready for a big number on this one.
I was thinking about this record just yesterday. All of my work calls now are on Zoom, which means my clients can see my records in the background when I do these calls. Yesterday one of the clients was asking me about the records and I mentioned Jazz Collector. She asked me what was the most valuable record in my collection. I had to stop and think for a bit, but the answer I came back with was Cool Struttin’. Of course, she had never heard of Sonny Clark, but, beyond this site and our relatively small coterie, who has? I don’t own an original pressing of Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568, and I sold my copy of Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, many years ago. Plus, my copy was only VG anyway. Beyond those, I couldn’t think of a record that has consistently sold for a higher price than Cool Struttin’. And I do have a very clean copy. Am I missing something obvious? Maybe Blue Train has surpassed Cool Struttin’ in the pantheon? Perhaps one of the early Lee Morgan Blue Notes? Anything else in those nether regions?
AL i am surprised in your first post for October you did not mention the seller Fiftiesjazz and his records for sale , the seller sold 5 records for a total of around $15,000.
The Tina Brooks -True Blue Blue note 4041 from that out of this world sale is now the top selling jazz record, with a selling price of $6643 positive feedback has already been left for the seller. not sure why the 2nd runner up bidder placed a $6500 bid with 3 days left in the auction is beyond me, especially when everyone bids at the last minute but hey to each their own.
here is the link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TRUE-BLUE-TINA-BROOKS-FREDDIE-HUBBARD-BLUE-NOTE-4041-ears-47W63-RVG-DG-NM-NM-/373236743578?hash=item56e6a4bd9a%3Ag%3AR54AAOSwrk5fbwOV&nma=true&si=IJk4FLyPVZ3IB%252FY4VJkHIXCvfQE%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Cool Struttin’ certainly does a lot of wallet damage in its original incarnation. I would expect that copy on offer to net nearly $5,000 given the condition and the seller.
I only have a few $1,000 bin records in the collection. Certainly the Michael Cosmic and Phill Musra records are in there, maybe a couple others.
I just sold my creator spaces for $800..did I sell too low? Oh well it’s done..it was VG+.
I have an archival condition “cool struttin” with DG New York labels both sides. I paid $450 for it which seems high but it’s pristine and sounds amazing. Given what an original hits these days I’m happy with the purchase.
Did anyone else notice that Pat Patrick’s “Sound Advice” (on Sun Ra’s Saturn label) sold on ebay two weeks ago for $8,225?
Crazy, crazy, crazy!! I’ve had the chance to grab “Cool Struttin’ ” a few times over the years and the price was always in the $700-$800 range. I just cannot bring myself to spend that much on a record. I guess if you have the means, and the original issues are that important to you, then the more power to you! The argument could be made that we are purchasing a piece of art, but unless I’m looking to be single again this title (along with many others) will continue to elude me.
I’ve been consternating over a mint original copy of BLP-1560 for $1,500. The temptation is strong, but it’s just not in the cards for me at this point.
I bought my copy of Cool Struttin’ years ago for 25 euro.It came from a dutch collector( Niels Lettinga) who had the habit of writing in ink lots of nonsense on the backcovers of his records.The record is an original first pressing in NM condition,except for the backcover….
Al. Do you have a copy of True Blue? That might be at the top of the list. I suppose it all depends on the day and the seller. After all Leapin’ and Lopin’ once went for more than $7K and it was confirmed the by the seller that the buyer actually paid!
I have a very Minty True Blue – probably among the most valuable.
Yes, True Blue, but, alas, I don’t have a great copy. In fact, I have an original VG or VG+ copy of the record and it had no cover, so I put it in my Japanese cover. I hated doing that, but it was better than having it in a plain white cover, or not putting it on my shelf at all. In fact, if you go all the way back to May 2009, I wrote about purchasing this record: https://jazzcollector.com/blue-note/adventures-in-jazz-collecting-part-3/
congratulations Rudolph, good for you! i guess you had two copies of True blue?.. fijne avond en sterkte, in ‘Locked Down and such a black week in France
my only record that can play ball with cool struttin, and then even barely, is my original copy of the m’boom record on strata-east.
Mark – I also have an archival copy of that ‘Cool Struttin’ NY DG mono. Brand spanking mint all round, very happy with it.
Dank je Maarten. We are heading to a grim period of confinement and civil unrest. Fortunately we have our music.
Cool Struttin’ is one of the titles scheduled to be rereleased in BN’s new all analog Classic series. At this point I’ll never own an original Cool Struttin’ but this news will get me a tad closer, at least sonically.
To an earlier comment: a $1,500 mint original 1560 should be a no brainer these days, shouldn’t it?
I don’t buy online for collecting purposes for a number of years already, and, having moved to Pacific Northwest, the Cool Struttin’ types just don’t live here to be caught in the wild. So, my most valuable record remains from a score at the Chicago’s Jazz Record Mart of 20-years ago – a really nice first pressing copy of Soul Station. I do have a couple of other original BNs that may hit the $1000 bin under right conditions nowadays, as well as a super clean black label Giant Steps and a couple of rock records that can approach the same but I think the Soul Station is the most valuable.
ILYA you make a good point; I live in the Pacific North West area as well and this type of stuff rarely if ever shows up in local shops and I’ve been looking for it since the mid-90s. I’ve had little successes here and there over the years but it’s mainly been from private local collectors. I think you are certainly at an advantage if you live in a big American city…especially Philadelphia, Chicago, or New York etc….
True, Mark, but $1,000 bin records in NY generally cost $1,000. I think you have a better shot at paying less than the going rate if you’re living somewhere without a lot of competition!
Also I think you could have held out a bit for more Musra money but then again, to me, that record is a “never sell!”
That’s funny Kees, I bought my copy of Mobley 1568 about 15 years ago, and it came from that same (Lettinga) collection. Front cover looks like new, but the back cover, like your copy, has “art work” by the late Mr. Lettinga.
My copies of Cool Struttin’ and True Blue – acquired about 20 years ago – are in pristine shape though…
I have a nice VG+ copy of Jutta Hipp Vol. 1 (Blue Note 1515). I’ll be selling it on Ebay once I work up the nerve.
I have a NM True Blue, a NM Jr Monterose in action, a NM Soul Station, Roll Call, etc some nice lexingtons…. some nice Prestiges and New Jazz…
This being said, i love much more my Riversides at 45 $ than all my pricey Blue Note…
I would like to have a Lorraine Geller on Dot, Al Haig on Mint, and this Red Mitchell on Contemporary…
Oh and i have a Lettinga record full of comments on back cover.
I sold two copies of True Blue for $500 each. Certainly low by today’s standards but this was in September of 1987, way before ebay etc.
Well, Michael Cosmic still takes the cake for me, as far as “most valuable in the collection.”
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MICHAEL-COSMIC-PEACE-IN-WORLD-INSANELY-RARE-ORIG-039-74-FREE-JAZZ-PRIVATE-PRESS-LP-/143829540890?hash=item217ce8a01a%3Ag%3AfFIAAOSwc2pfp2md&nma=true&si=grzzu1AeWQlB%252FMvOHUT65n6AwGM%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
With the Blue Note Tone Poet and others releasing many high caliber titles. Does it come a time where the analog repress will suffice? I have been collecting for 50+ years having bought Music Matters, Tone Poets and Analog Productions and others.
The audiophile in me is chasing the sound quality while the collector in me wants the first pressing.
As I continue this quest I find myself shifting to the audio quality over press date. Maybe it is my aging ears wanting a more pristine copy.
P.S Former National Retail Chain Store Record buyer (1973-1988 )
…This is certainly a tough one. The ones that are the most valuable to me are the first pressings I had signed in person by the artist after their sets. They may not always be the most expensive LPs on Popsike, but the memories associated with them is certainly priceless.
(*BN1 78rpm Black / Pink label is one of my rarest)