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Catching up on eBay Jazz Vinyl Auctions

Al — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:51:48 +0000

Want to catch up on some of the items we’ve been watching on eBay. First off, that whit-label promo copy of John Coltrane, A Love Supreme, Impulse A-77 wound up selling for $2,275, which put it close to the top price ever recorded on Popsike for any copy of A Love Supreme. Also had an eye on Lou Donaldson, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5021. I know I had a copy of that record and I know that I don’t have it any longer. For the life of me, I can’t remember why or when I sold it, but I do know I would really like to have it back. This one was listed in VG+ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover, although part of the listing on eBay described the cover as G. I think that was an error because the cover looked pretty nice. The final price was a reasonable (IMHO) $304.22. If I’d been paying closer attention I might have actually made a bid on that one. But, alas, I was not, which I take as a good sign that perhaps I have learned to be less compulsive and obsessive in my golden years.

It isn’t often these days that I run across a jazz record that I haven’t seen before, but here’s one: Rene Thomas, Meeting Mister Thomas, Barclay 84091. This was an original Mono pressing from France. The record was listed in VG+ condition and the cover was VG. The final price was $227.50

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Lots of Cool Stuff in this Post

Al — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 18:22:09 +0000

My watch list runneth over. Let’s look at some new items and then catch up on some of the gems I had been watching. Let’s start with Miles Davis Volume 2, Blue Note 5022. This is an original 10-inch Lexington Avenue pressing listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. Bidding starts at about $320 and so far there are no bidders with the auction closing in about four days. One of the things that caught my eye about this listing is the presence of an inserted booklet called “the blue note story.” Of all the Blue Notes I’ve purchased over the years, and there have been many, I have only seen this insert in one other record, a Sidney Bechet 12-inch LP. the blue note story was written by Leonard Feather and dates back to 1955, as Blue Note was transitioning from the 10-inch vinyl format to the 12-inch vinyl format. Fortunately, I have not only written about it before, I recorded the entire text, all in this post from January 27, 2009 titled, of course, The Blue Note Story. You’re welcome.

Speaking of 10-inch Blue Notes, here is Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note 5056. This looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is a bit over $500, with more than three days left on the auction. The seller is The Jazz Record Center, which is back with another cool auction, this one focused on 10-inch LPs, including a copy of Miles Davis Volume 2, mentioned above, but without added attraction of the blue note story insert. The JRC version looks to be in very nice condition, probably VG++ for the record and cover. No takers so far at $100.

Whilst on the subject of The Jazz Record Center, let’s get back to some of the records we were watching previously, specifically those lovely Sonny Clark’s:

Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. Final price: $4,49.44. A new record. Well, not a new vinyl record, but a new record high, topping the previous high by more than $1,000, according to Popsike.

Sonny Clark, Dial S for Sonny, Blue Note 1570. Final price: $4,052. Another record high.

Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and Lopin’, Blue Note 4091. Final price: $2,703. Surprise: Not another record high. Popsike had a copy selling for $7,300 back in 2018, but I seem to recall that one was in dispute as to whether it sold and at what price. But there was also a copy that sold for $3,601 in 2022.

Sonny Clark Trio, Time 70010. Final price $1,525. Not quite the highest price ever recorded for this record, but the second highest. In 2013 a copy sold for $1,875, again according to Popsike.

Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This was not an original pressing, lacking the New York 23 on the label. Still, a lovely pressing to own. The final price was $1,247. A few years ago, I traded a similar copy, in lovely condition, for an original copy of Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd. And I wrote about it here Shades of . . . . . I do remember being slightly admonished by one reader (Mark, if you are still out there) for not getting the right value for my trade, but I think time has shown that they were both of probably equal value based on condition, not to mention that I had two copies of Sonny’s Crib (including an original) and had been searching for an original of Shades of Redd for 40 years.

Moving on . . . as I mentioned at the top, my watch list runneth over, so I should be doing another post over the weekend. I should say that I’m enjoying being back on eBay and posting more regularly, and not just the Jazz Collector Live as I was doing for a while. BTW is anyone listening to the podcasts? I hardly get any feedback.

A couple of other items before I bid adieu. A reader recently sent me a note asking if the listings in my Price Guide are actual sales or just listings. Here is my reply: “They are actual sales. I haven’t updated the Price guide in years because there is a much better site for that.

If you are not familiar with Popsike, you should check them out. They track everything on eBay and are current. I was doing it manually for years, but they have developed software that is far more efficient.”

I also heard from a young reader (age 22), who is looking to make contact with jazz fans who saw live jazz in the 1950s. If you are interested in sharing your experiences – Rudolf? – you can comment on this post or send me an email, or, if you’d like, write a post about your highlights and I will happily publish it here at Jazz Collector. I was born in 1953, and while I did see some jazz in the 1950s — because my Dad was a bit of a nut and took me to jazz clubs before my seventh birthday — I have no real recollections, other than seeing George Shearing and wondering how anyone blind could play the piano, and possibly seeing Miles Davis, which would have meant I may have also seen John Coltrane. But who knows if that is a real memory or just wishful thinking.

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A New Case of Vinyl Envy

Al — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 10:10:51 +0000

OMG, it’s so freaking easy to get hooked again. I went on eBay on Thursday for the first time in months and now I’m checking every few hours, including 5 AM on a Sunday. It’s re-awakening the old, familiar adrenaline rush of just looking at the records, seeing the prices, and feeling that old collector’s feeling of “boy this is fun.” Then there’s the vinyl envy of the records in great condition that I don’t have, The Unique Thelonious Monk as a case in point. I’m pretty sure I’m going to bid on that record. I’ll keep you posted. In the meanwhile, here are a few more records that have tickled that familiar feeling, starting with another Monk record from the Jazz Record Center auction: Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Music, Riverside 242. This is an original white label pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and at least VG++ for the cover. I have never owned an original white label pressing of this record, and it is John Coltrane (among others) playing with Monk. Bidding is a little bit more than $100, with the auction closing Monday evening.

You don’t see too many Gerry Mulligan records in triple figures, but here’s an interesting one: Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Fantasy 3-6. This is an original 10-inch record with red vinyl. The record is listed in VG+ condition and the cover is EX. Bidding is in the $130 range and there are already 42 bids. The auction is closing within a few hours of this posting.

Finally, I am preparing to record my Christmas radio show/podcast this week and this record caught my eye: Vince Guaraldi, A Charle Brown Christmas, Fantasy 85019. This seems to be an original stereo pressing, although I don’t know enough about it to confirm that this is an original. The seller has it listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $450. I had never owned a copy of this record until the past few months. It didn’t seem like a real jazz record to me.

However, doing my radio show last year, I discovered I had a dearth of good Christmas music to play. So, when I saw a reissue of this record sitting on the shelves for $20 at Spike’s Record Rack in Catskill, NY a couple of months ago I figured, what the hell, here’s some more music to play on my Christmas show. What I didn’t know at the time was that this record is the second highest selling jazz record of all time, with more than 5 million copies sold, behind only Miles Davis Kind of Blue. Having listened, it’s also a pretty good record. I guess because Vince Guaraldi was so popular with the Peanuts soundtracks and the Cast Your Fate to the Wind record, he was probably underrated as a jazz player. It’s a bit of a takeoff on he old Yogi Berra line about a restaurant: “Nobody goes there anymore because it’s too crowded.” Am I tempted to get an original copy of A Charle Brown Christmas? Not at all. The reissue I own is just fine.

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Catching Up on Some Rare Jazz Vinyl

Al — Mon, 06 May 2024 16:27:16 +0000

Here are a few jazz vinyl auctions we are watching from The Jazz Record Center. All of these auctions close later today. Clifford Brown Memorial Album, Blue Note 1526. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the frame cover. Record is listed as in “near new” condition and the cover is probably M- or VG++, depending how you feel about superficial “dings.” Bidding is at $500. On one of my Horace Silver radio shows/podcasts I tell the story of how Alfred Lion and Art Blakey drove down to Wilmington, Del., to hear Clifford Brown for the first time and brought him back to New York to record those legendary Blue Note records at Birdland. Great stuff.

Clifford Brown Memorial, Prestige 7055. This is an original yellow-label New York pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and the cover. The current price is only $200. I say “only” because this looks like the best condition you will ever find this record. Also, does any other artist have two “Memorial” albums? Not just two “Memorial” but on Blue Note and Prestige?

Here are a couple that are not from the Jazz Record Center, starting with Kenny Dorham and the Jazz Prophets, Volume 1, ABC Paramount 122. The record and cover look to be in VG+ condition. Bidding starts at $500 with no bidders yet and the auction closing in about two days.

Dexter Gordon, Dexter Calling, Blue Note 4083. This is described as an original New York USA pressing listed in M- condition for the record and cover. Start price is about $500 with no bidders yet for an auction that closes in about three days.

To follow up on some of the records we were watching:

Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craft, Blue Note 1582. This was an original West 63^rd Street pressing that looked to be in V++ or so condition for the record and the cover. When we looked at this record, the bidding was in the $860 range. We knew it would break the $1,000 mark, and perhaps the $2,000 mark. It came pretty close, selling for $1,939.08.

From the same seller: Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, Blue Note 1580. Again, this was an original pressing in “excellent/superb” condition, with the added benefit of a cover design by Andy Warhol. We anticipated a final price “north of $3,000,” but we were a bit off. The top bid was $2,823.08.

To no surprise, the two Lee Morgan records and the Chet Baker 10-inch record did not sell.

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Another Jazz Vinyl Perusal

Al — Wed, 01 May 2024 17:16:17 +0000

As you can probably tell, I no longer peruse eBay with the same vigor and excitement as I have done in the past, particularly when I was buying or selling jazz vinyl with any regularity, which I have not done for a quite a long time. But I still like to peruse and write about my perusals, so here we go with another live edition of Al perusing rare jazz vinyl on eBay. My normal course of action involves looking at current auctions, starting with highest prices first. Right at the top are three records I have seen before doing this, none of which has sold at the prices asked by the dealers. These are: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This is an original pressing listed in “excellent” condition for the record and the cover. The start price is $3,500. Chet Baker Sings, Pacific Jazz 11. There is no condition listed for this 10-inch record. Cover looks to be about VG+. Starting price is $1,800. Not a serious seller, IMHO. And from the same seller as Lee Morgan Candy, we have Introducing Lee Morgan, Savoy 12091. This looks to be an original red label pressing, also listed in “excellent” condition for the record and the cover. The start price is $1,500. I’ve been watching these records for a long time on eBay and the fact that there are no bidders at the starting price doesn’t seem to dissuade or discourage the sellers.

Let’s try to find a few records that will actually be sold. Here’s a great one: Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, Blue Note 1580.This is an original West 63^rd Street pressing, famous not just for the music, but also for the cover art by Andy Warhol. The record is listed in Excellent Plus condition and the cover is listed as “brilliant EXCELLENT++.” There are 28 bids, the bidding is in the $1,300 range and there are four days left in the auction. I would suggest a price north of $3,000 is where this record will end up, and I may be underestimating by a lot. We’ll see.

Here’s another gem from the same seller: Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craft, Blue Note 1582. This looks to be an original West 63^rd Street pressing. Interesting note on the labels – a previous owner wrote in the times for each track. Going to go back to the Johnny Griffin record and see if the same thing happened there. And the answer is . . . yep, same owner. Lots of Excellents and Plusses in the listing for the condition of the vinyl and the cover. Bidding is in the $860 range and this one will surely end up in the $1,000 bin, unless there’s a separate $2,000 bin, and it may end of there.

All right, one more. Oh, here’s another Warhol cover and a listing from our friends at the Jazz Record Center in New York: Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights, Volume 2, Blue Note 1597. This is listed as a RVG-stamped West 63^rd street pressing, with no deep groove. The record is listed in “excellent” condition and the cover is listed in “new condition – immaculate in every respect.” Bidding is in the $380 range with more than five days left on the auction. If you are interested in perusing other auctions from this listing, just click here for the Jazz Record Center.

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Rare Jazz Vinyl On eBay Again

Al — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 12:58:03 +0000

It’s been a long time between visits to eBay for me due to unforeseen circumstances that have been drain on my time and required me to be in New York for a while. Seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, so hopefully I can do my regular posts more frequently, in addition to keeping up with my radio show and podcasts. I’ve been in these circumstances before and expressed similar hopes so let’s see what happens. In the meantime, I’ve been on eBay this morning and put a bunch of jazz vinyl collectibles into my watch list, so here goes, starting with Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, Peckin’ Time, Blue Note 1574. This looks to be an original West 63^rd Street pressing. The record is listed in VG+ condition and the cover is VG. There are 20 bids and six bidders so far, with the auction closing later today. The current price is $515 and I would say this one is a candidate for the $1,000 bin.

Here’s a 10-inch Blue Note, with the auction also closing later today: Gil Melle Quintet Volume 2, Blue Note 5033. This is notable, among other reasons, for the presence of the great guitar player Tal Farlow. The record is listed in VG+ condition and the cover is VG. The start price is about $400 and so far there are no bids (and not a lot of watchers). I have a copy of this record, but I can’t recall the last time I listened to it, if ever, even though I am a big fan of Mr. Farlow, who, believe it or not, showed up at my sister’s wedding and played some guitar for the crowd. True story and I have the picture to prove it, but that story will have to wait for another day when I am back in The Berkshires.

Chet Baker, It Could Happen to You, Riverside 278. The record and cover are listed in M- condition. The start price is about $300, the seller has a low rating score, there is only one picture, and there is room to question whether the cover is a real M- based on that picture. The record has sold for more than $300 at times according to Popsike. One of the reasons I’m writing about this record is that I played a track on my radio show/podcast last week, where I focused on the Riverside label. Part 2 of the Riverside show should air this evening at 8 p.m. If you want to listen live you can go to WTBR-FM Pittsfield. Just go to “Listen.” If you can’t listen live, I should be able to post the new podcast in the next few days.

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Jazz Vinyl Gems, Some With a Little Tarnish

Al — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 20:32:08 +0000

Finally, back on eBay. Contrary to my last experience a few weeks ago when I asked the question Where’s The Action?, I’m actually seeing quite a bit of activity this week, from buyers and well as sellers. Let’s start with Kenny Dorham, Afro-Cuban, Blue Note 5065.This is an original 10-inch pressing listed in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover, although the picture of the back cover might call that grade into question for discerning buyers. But the seller stands by his listings, and any bidder can see the picture and judge for himself. There are seven bidders and the price is in the $160 range with a little more than a day left on the auction.

Speaking of Kenny Dorham and 10-inch LPs, there is this: Sonny Rollins Quintet Featuring Kenny Dorham, Prestige 186. I type this with a pang of disappointment, for this is a record that has always eluded me, and it would be very nice to have a copy, especially in my pared-down collection, where each record has a little more meaning. But, alas, the cover is just too beat up for me to be pleased with the record, even though the vinyl is listed in VG+ condition, especially at the start price of $300 or the buy-it-now of $390. I pass.

This one seems to be in really nice shape: Miles Davis, Volume 1, Blue Note 1501. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record is listed as VG+ and the cover as VG, yet I look at the pictures of the cover and it looks pretty nice, save for some damage at the bottom of the sleeve opening. If I didn’t have a clean copy, I’d take a shot, with a start price of $355 and a buy-it-now of $455.

Curtis Fuller Quintet, Bluesette, Savoy ST-13006. This looks to be an original stereo promo copy with the red label. I noticed the Savoy logo on the cover is unusual. Is that a logo they adopted for stereo pressings? In any case, the record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG+ with a spine repair. Bidding is in the $200 range and the auction closes in one day.

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Jazz Vinyl: Where’s the Action?

Al — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:19:58 +0000

Haven’t been on eBay in a while. Have I missed anything? I meant that as a joke, but now that I’m looking I feel like perhaps I have missed something. I’m seeing a lot of records that would have gotten a lot of action, not getting much action at all. I know things always change as auctions get near closing time, but having been off eBay for a few weeks I have to say I am a little taken aback by the lack of activity. Has anyone else noticed this? In any case, there are many records that are getting bids, so let’s look at a few of those, starting with Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 1355. This is an original mono promo copy with the white labels. The record is listed in VG condition, and the cover is also VG, with some writing on the back and a partial seam split. Certainly not the best copy you will find, but there are already 16 bids from 10 bidders and the price is up to $300, so clearly the demand for this one remains pretty high despite the condition.

Here’s a nice 10-inch LP featuring some very early Sonny Rollins: Art Farmer Quintet, Prestige 177. This looks to be an original pressing with the blue label. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG. The auction closes in more than a day after this post and the bidding is in the $200 range.

Hank Mobley, Roll Call, Blue Note 4058. This is an original West 63^rd Street pressing listed in VG condition for the record and VG for the cover, although the cover grading looks a bit optimistic to me based on a water stain on the back. The auction closes in a day and the bidding is in the $190 range.

Here’s a nice one that doesn’t have any bids yet: Booker Ervin, Exultation!, Prestige 7293. This is an original yellow label pressing. The record is listed in Ex condition and the cover is listed as VG+. Bidding starts at $200 and there is a buy-it-now price of $260.

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Bewitched, Bothered and Befuddled

Al — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 16:54:08 +0000

Time again to clear out some items from the Jazz Collector eBay watch list, whatever that is. Let’s start with Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craft, Blue Note 1582. This is an original pressing that was listed in Good condition for the record and Fair for the cover. The seller suggested that the buyer clean the record “multiple times” before judging the condition. OK. Also, I should mention that the seller’s rating on eBay is 97.7%. When I originally spotted this record, the start price was $1,000 and I was curious to see if it would sell. It didn’t. So the seller relisted it for $500 and it did sell. I don’t have an original copy of Cliff Craft in my collection, but I wouldn’t be interested in one of G/F condition, especially if I had to pay $500 for it. Very happy with my clean United Artists pressing, which I bought for $10 from Red Carraro sometime in the previous century.

Here’s another relister: Lou Donaldson, Lou Takes off, Blue Note 1591. This looks to be an original pressing in VG condition for the record and probably VG+ for the cover. When I first spotted this record the start price was $399 and I was pretty sure it would sell. But it didn’t, and is now back on eBay at $229.

Whilst we’re on records that didn’t sell, there is this: Jim Chapin Ensemble Featuring Phil Woods, Prestige 213. This is an original yellow label 10-inch pressing. The record is listed as EX and the cover is VG. This was up for auction at $150 and there were no bidders. It is now on eBay as a buy-it-now with a price of $224. For those of you who don’t know, Jim Chapin was a drummer and was also the father of Harry Chapin. I knew this because they were Long Islanders and my friend Danny used to do club dates with Jim Chapin. There’s a good documentary about Harry Chapin on Amazon Prime Video, if anyone is interested. I, myself, am a sucker for almost any well done music doc.

Finally, we will let CeeDee weigh in with a couple of his typically barbed, relevant and fully missives. Here’s one note I got from him:

“Check out World’s Experience Orchestra – The Beginning of a New Birth LP – Rare Spiritual on eBay.” In case you don’t want to click the link, this was an original pressing from that Carolina Soul auction. It was in VG- for the record and VG- for the condition. It sold for $2,405. Back to CeeDee: “Not only Sun Ra. This must be a hell of an LP to get that kind of bread (in that condition). Call me a cynic but . . . HELL, NOOO! Is that what happens when states legalize marijuana. Buyer frenzy, all doped up on weed!! Say it ain’t so (Mary) Jane . . .”

Here’s the other note:

“Check out MIKE SELESIA: Flavor US OG ’76 Free Jazz OG Private Vinyl LP Hear on eBay!” The record was VG+, the cover was VG and the final price was $1,005. Back to CeeDee: “Once more once: WTF???? Who? What? And . . . Why? Befuddled I am.”

Anyone else befuddled out there, for this or any other reason?

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More Jazz Vinyl From Europe

Al — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 17:20:05 +0000

Let’s look at a few more original European pressings, starting with Zoot Sims in Hollywood, Esquire 20-040. This is an original 10-inch version of an original 10-inch U.S. Prestige. The record looks to be in M- condition and the cover looks to be VG++. The bidding starts at about $115 and so far there are no bids. I have to admit – I’ve never seen a copy of this record before, either in person or even on eBay. Can’t beat the cover on this one: Gigi Gryce-Clifford Brown Sextet, Jazz Time Paris, Volume 2, Vogue L.D.E. 048. This is an original French pressing. It takes a while to interpret the seller’s description, but I would say this looks to be in VG- condition for the record and VG for the cover. The start price is $100 and so far there are no bidders. The auction closes tomorrow.

Donald Byrd, Byrd’s Word, London C15039. This is the UK version of the U.S. Savoy. The record and cover are listed in VG+ condition. Bidding is in the $80 range with more than two days left on the auction.

Lee Konitz, Jazz at Storyville, Volume 1, Vogue LDE 129. This is a U.K. pressing of the 10-inch LP. The record is listed in VG+ condition and the cover as VG. The start price is about $60 and so far there are no bidders with nearly two days left on the auction.

Finally, I received a note and some pictures from a reader who is looking to sell a couple of early Miles Davis songbooks. I don’t know anything about these, but I’m sure they would be of interest to some Jazz Collector out there. Pictures are below. You can let me know if you are interested, and I’ll pass it on to the seller.

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