Here, perhaps, is a sign of the Apocalypse. I was doing my normal search through eBay jazz vinyl, and came across this record as a jazz vinyl collectible: Kenny G Live. The price is already more than $130. The seller promotes it as an audiophile copy, so perhaps it is the recording and not the music that is creating the value. At least let us hope that is the case.
Here are some records we’re watching on eBay:
Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 1, Blue Note 1596. This is an original pressing with the West 63rd Street label and the Andy Warhol cover. It looks to be in very nice condition, listed as EX+ by the seller. By the way, how do you interpret Ex+ — I think of it is as less than Mint and better than VG+? Anyway, this one is EX+ and is currently priced at about $350 with a few hours left. Here’s another one from the same seller: Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This one has the West 63rd Street address but it does not have the deep grooves. The vinyl is listed as M- and the cover is listed in EX condition — what is that,
There’s quite a lot of nice jazz vinyl to watch on eBay this week. So many records, so little money.
I’m always pleased to find a record I’ve never seen before. I’ve been collecting jazz records for nearly 40 years, I’ve been to hundreds of record stores in the U.S. and Europe, I’ve been on eBay quite consistently for at least six or seven years. And even still, there are records that are new to me. Here’s one, on eBay now: Johnny Coles, The Warm Sound, Epic 16015. This is an original mono pressing with the yellow label. It looks to be in M- condition, based on the seller’s description. The current price is $200 and there’s more than two days to go.
We also have a few records for sale this week, including a few of the ones that passed through our Jazz Vinyl Countdown, such as: Seldon Powell Sextet, Roost 2220. This one is in nice VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG++ condition for the cover. Michel warned us not to sell this one and perhaps he was right. The current price is
Here’s some more jazz vinyl we’ve been watching. Some high prices, but none for the $1,000 bin:
Mal Waldron, Left Alone, Bethlehem 6045. This is an original pressing, which, like many jazz records on the West Coast, passed through the hands of the late Leon Leavitt at one point. The seller listed this as M- for both the record and the cover and he tells us in this listing that he will be putting more of these types of records on ebay. So, take a look at this one and mark the seller and come back to look for more. This one sold for $759.
Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing. The record was listed in VG+ condition and the cover was just VG. The price
We’re watching a few items closing on eBay in the next few days and here’s one that caught our eye: Miles Davis, Workin’ Celson 25002. This, apparently is an original Italian pressing of the great LP featuring the classic Miles Davis Quintet of John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Normally the European issues of the American LPs don’t have the same cachet — and don’t sell for the same prices — but this one seems to have attracted a following. There are already 13 bids and the price is more than $370.
Speaking of Miles, we’re also watching this: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 1355. This looks to be an original pressing with the rare
OK, I have to admit, I’m spending a lot of time catching up on the Jazz Collector Price Guide because I’m kind of avoiding other (i.e., paying) work that is far less interesting. My loss — as in a loss of sleep, when I have to eventually catch up on this other work — is your gain. Here are a few more Blue Notes that will be entered into the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Horace Parlan, On the Spur of the Moment, Blue Note 4074. This is an interesting one. One label is New York USA and the other is West 63rd. This record came out right at the cusp of when Blue Note was making the transition. The seller claims it has deep grooves as well as the ear in the deadwax. It was listed in VG+ condition for both the vinyl and the cover and it sold for $183.50. Is it an original? I would tend to think so, but I’m not so sure. Here’s another copy of the same record: Horace Parlan, On the Spur of the Moment, Blue Note 4074. This one
While we’re catching up on adding items to the Jazz Collector Price Guide, we figured we’d share a few more odds and ends with you. This is one you don’t normally expect to sell for more than $300: Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh, Atlantic 1217. This was an original black label pressing in M- condition and sold for $311. I have to give the seller a lot of credit for this one. He took an absolutely crystal-clear picture and he did a very nice job of describing the condition of the LP. It really catches your eye and makes you want the LP. Sometimes, presentation is everything.
Here’s one you almost never see going for a big price: Dave Brubeck Time Out, Columbia 8192. This was one of the most popular jazz LPs ever and
Here is some of the jazz vinyl we’ll be watching over the next few days here at Jazz Collector. This one should join the $1,000 bin: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’ Blue Note 1588. This is original pressing and is being offered by Euclid Records. The vinyl is in VG++ condition and the cover is M-. The current price is about $750 with one more day to go. In the past on the Jazz Collector Price Guide, we’ve seen this one sell for as much as $3,750, so we’d expect this one to go up quite a bit over the next 24 hours. Euclid Records had another item close recently for the $1,000 Bin and that was this: Kenny Dorham, Round ‘Bout Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing listed in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. The price was $1,212.
Here’s another interesting one: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This seems to be an original pressing. The seller lists it as VG+, but he does mention a little surface noise in spots. This would tend to depress the bidding, and we’ll see what happens. The start price for this is around $700 and so far there are no bids. There’s a day to go, and we would have to think this record will sell for more than $700 in this condition.
Then there is this: Jackie McLean, 4, 5 and 6, Prestige 7048. This
Here is some more jazz vinyl we’re watching today and through the weekend:
Here’s one that may cause a dilemma: Introducing Lee Morgan, Savoy 12091. This is a sealed record. Is it an original pressing with the red label, or a later pressing with the maroon label? It seems like you’ll have to buy it to find out. The seller has a bunch of Savoys, all in their original shrink wraps, and he hasn’t opened them to determine their vintage. Is it worth the risk risk? This record is now at $50. If it turns out to be an original pressing, unplayed, with a mint cover, what would it be worth — $500, $800, even $1,000? Who knows? Here’s another interesting one from that batch: Mighty Mike Cuozzo, Savoy 12051. Do you think Savoy even issued this with a maroon label? It’s a sealed record, priced at $9, perhaps an original featuring Eddie Costa on vibes. Worth a risk? Perhaps it is.
This seller also has some nice records, including: Mal Waldron, Left Alone, Bethlehem 6045. This
Here’s some jazz vinyl on Blue Note that did not sell for more than $1,000.
Paul Chambers Quintet, Blue Note 1564. This was an original pressing and it was listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The price was just $114.50. That’s pretty low for this record. The last time we followed it in the Jazz Collector Price Guide it sold for more than $1,100, and previously it has sold for more than $600. This was not in M- condition, but you would still expect it to go for at least $300 or so. I think the seller may have overgraded the record, based on the description — VG+ but with “marks that will make some noise.” To me that’s a sign that the record may be VG or worse, so that would probably be the reason for the lower price.
Lee Morgan, The Cooker, Blue Note 1578. This one was listed in VG condition for the vinyl
