Wow
The comments on the previous post were intriguing, to say the least, so I jumped over to eBay to see this auction in particular: Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address from the seller vinyl-house-uk. The record was listed in Ex+ condition, which I translate into M-, and the cover was Ex/Ex+, which I translate to VG++. The final price was approximately 6,200 British pounds, which I translate to $8,132.92. By my calculation that’s the top price I’ve seen for True Blue, which seems to be confirmed by Popsike. For those who keep an eye on these sorts of things, is this the highest legitimate price we’ve seen for any 12-inch jazz LP? If not, what is? Looking at some of the other items from this auction, my eyes are popping out of my head.
Lee Morgan, Volume 3, Blue Note 1557. Original pressing, Ex/Ex+ for the record, M- for the cover: $5,897
Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. Original pressing, Ex+ vinyl, Ex+ cover: $5,142.
Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. Original pressing, Ex/Ex+ record, Ex+ cover: $4,663.
There are a lot more. Seems to me vinyl-house-uk could have retired after this auction.
They do a lot of things right, but the main thing is PICTURES. Those are some gorgeous pictures. They make you assume it is fully minty before you read or see anything else.
I was rather surprised by the True Blue price, because the labels (particularly side A) of that Brooks were stained at the spindle hole and very discolored. I can understand the price, but at that level, only for a truly perfect copy. I bought the Art Pepper ‘Modern Art’ LP from the same buyer/sale, though, and am very happy with that purchase, as I’ve been looking for that one for quite a long time.
Yeah, the pictures are gorgeous. I have noticed that they sometimes get top prices for VG+ records, which in their grading scheme would be about a goldmine VG. It is all about those fresh looking photos! Glad to hear someone was happy with their purchase via Vinyl-House, as I’ve been curious about where they stack up.
True Blue is a bona fide classic but I remember when $2K was the limit. Times have changed.
Mobley 1568 sold for $9,733 back in 2015, but I’m not sure if the sale was finalized as Popsike doesn’t track such things.
Sonny Clark’s Leapin and Lopin sold for $7,300 in 2018, and I recall the waves that this auction made. I also remember hearing that the sale went through .. there might have been a small price adjustment to right under $7k if I remember correctly …
We’ve definitely entered a new era of prices for jazz vinyl, one that is accessible only to the wealthy. I’d hate being a rookie collector these days, I would probably just stick to audiophile reissues, because this is absolutely insane.
The Mobley referenced as a previous highest sale ended up being trades, not cash. I was very surprised at the True Blue going that high given the nasty spindle hole and not being NM. It was between 2 bidders who drove it up until the end. Their grading is very accurate every time I have bought from them, and once when I had a problem with the grading, they were very responsive. Their packaging is great as well.
the Leapin’ and Lopin’ sale was hilarious. I remember that. I also remember the trade for Mobley 1568 and they probably made more money as a result. Wasn’t there a similarly crazy price for Morgan Indeed! at some point not too long ago?
Honestly, pari is right (even if free jazz and cats are not his thing): original pressings of modern jazz records are, like fine wine and nice cars, a trapping of the wealthy. I don’t know if this kind of thing will last but it is pretty consistently true at this point.
Todd, congrats on the Art Pepper Modern Art, such great album! That will likely be on my wish list for many years to come.
“I’d hate being a rookie collector these days, I would probably just stick to audiophile reissues”
I am (somewhat) and I do. Or I try to find excellent but wildly undervalued and under appreciated jazz records like… hmm, better not.
I’ve bought lots from vinyl-house (and continue to do so), many before they became really popular and therefore got numerous ‘bargains’. However, with popularity and quality, the prices have gone sky high and I now limit myself to more modest purchases – in fact 2 arrived today from the sale that ended at the weekend. I’ve never been disappointed with the quality – ratings always accurate.
Nothing wrong with reissues, IMO. Especially if they are well done. I’ve been collecting for ~25 years and one can’t possibly have originals of everything.
Someone really wanted a nice copy of that True Blue, but at $8100 for a EX+ , no way. that’s 2 grand over that mint unplayed copy a year 1/2 ago which went for $6600. i guess i will never own this record since my limit is $ 2500 for it. Congrats ! to vinyl-house-uk they take amazing photos of their records, i just wish they played graded them also
yeah, I have a King pressing of True Blue and the Mosaic. I’m good.
in the early 00’s I tried to get an original copy off of the Dusty Groove website, listed for something like 80 or 90 bucks at VG (mainly to try and flip it). Alas it was not to be.
Thanks hardbopster! I would like to add that I’ve also bought a few LPs from this seller vinyl-house-uk previously, and the LPs have always lived up to the (terrific) pictures. I trust their pics and their grading…
As a bonafide rookie collector (4 years collector and mindset, but middle aged body) I am still having a good time, learning to upgrade my standards and desires only slowly. Pristine Blue Note originals are not put high on the want list.. other great stuff pops up online and in physical stores for reasonable prices (from ’50s 10-inch via glory-days ’60s hard- and post-bop to ’70 free-jazz). And accepting the occasional scratch, scuff and groove-wear does make life easier too.
And then following this site for entertainment purposes only – similar to browsing the catalogue of unobtainable luxury items.
Agreed you guys, if I had 10k to drop on True Blue i’d wait to find a copy without some atrocious ugly stain by the spindle hole.
Speaking of reissues, I was able to pick up a number of Classic Records Blue Note 200g mono reissues and test pressings at really reasonable prices when Acoustic Sounds bought out Classic. The packaging and the sound are both superlative. They are actually my favorites amongst Music Matters, Tone Poet etc.
That said, Vinyl House’s shiny photo filter is very seductive and they’ve managed to accumulate a jaw-dropping selection of records.
I’d love to know the story of how this endless stream of amazing records came to be in south-west England of all places….
I am glad to learn there are satisfied customers of VHUK. I have been skeptical because of the cited auction of 1568….the intial high price result was not consummated then the seller used the result to justify a re-sale. I also have questions about their stated ability to restore LP covers. But satisfied buyers are the best answer. Good for them.
This is totally unrelated and I apologize, but I figure we’re all a forgiving bunch here.
I’m having a heck of a time finding a tight-fitting plastic outer sleeve. The smallest I can seem to find is 12 3/4″ by 12 3/4″. Those are fine, but they still leave a little bagginess, which I don’t like. I really want the ones that fit snugly on the sleeve with no wiggle room, but I can’t seem to find any!
Anyone have a suggestion? Thank you!
Japhy: Be very careful with plastic LP outer sleeves that are too snug. They will expand and contract with temperature and humidity, causing damage to the album cover. A small amount of space in necessary to conservationally best protect the cover. If the sleeves are thick enough (3 or 4 mil) they will not sag or be baggy at all. Either 12-1/2 x 12-3/4 or 12-3/4 x 12-3/4 is the best way to go… Best, Todd
Does anyone else have a sneaking suspicion that vinyl-house does restoration work on what they auction?
You’re right Todd.The contraction and expansion of a too tight outer sleeve can also warp some LPs as well as damaging the cover.
second todd’s comment.
cozy, not tight. that’s my preference. I sell a lot, so I buy in bulk for about 10 cents each, 1k at a time. Let me know if you want the contact info. They are PERFECT for most of my LPs.
Thanks all! I had no idea the sleeves expanded and contracted! Wild. Maybe I’ve got a bigger project here to replace all my tight sleeves. OK, so cozy but not tight. @GTF, would appreciate a link if you’ve got one. Thanks again!
I use Sleeve City Ultimate Outer 2.5s or 5.0s for my records, which vary in tightness depending on the cover, and presumably do not expand or contract as much as your average soft outer.
…
“We’ve definitely entered a new era of prices for jazz vinyl, one that is accessible only to the wealthy. I’d hate being a rookie collector these days, I would probably just stick to audiophile reissues, because this is absolutely insane.”
this sentence could be written in 2020-2017-2011-2005-1998-1989 etc..
I’d like to hear the readers’ opinions as to whether they think people will continue to pay this kind of money (million-dollar question, I know) for original Blue Note records.