Some Non-Blue Notes For the Price Guide

Here are a few non-Blue Notes for the Jazz Collector Price Guide:

The Arrival of Kenny Dorham, Jaro 4644. This seemed to be a mono pressing and it was listed in M- condition for both the cover and the record. The price was $943.33.

Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This was an original pressing. The seller listed the condition of both the record and the cover as between VG and VG+. It sold for $840, which means the buying public probably figured the VG grading was more accurate than the VG+. I was listening to some jazz vinyl with the lovely Mrs. JC last night and I asked her if she recalled me ever playing Jackie McLean for her. She didn’t, so I put on

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Rare Jazz Vinyl Collectibles From Three Tenors

We did a whole riff on this record a few months ago and actually came up with some never-heard-before tapes of J.R. Monterose, which, to my knowledge, may still be available. Check it out here and here. Anyway, another copy of this record sold recently: J.R. Monterose In Action, Studio 4 SS 100. This was an original pressing. The vinyl was listed as M- and the cover looked to be VG++, based on the description. The price was $1,911.

Here’s another non Blue Note for the $1,000 bin: Dexter Gordon, Dexter Blows Hot and Cool, Dootone 207. This was an original red vinyl pressing. The record was listed as VG++ and the cover was VG+. The price was $1,137.

This one really got top dollar, more than you would normally expect to see for a Jazzland LP:

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Tracking Rare Jazz Vinyl That Didn’t Sell

Let’s catch up on a few odds and ends in the world of collectible jazz vinyl:

The Blue Notes continue to be getting top dollar, but there seems to be a drop-off in prices in the middle of the market, records that would normally sell in the $30-$150 range. I’ve noticed it with my own sales on eBay and I was talking with Steve at Round Again Records in Providence yesterday and he said he believes the market has fallen off by as much as 40 percent in the past couple of years. I was thinking about that when I looked at some of the records I’ve been watching on eBay that failed to get bids, despite what seemed to be reasonable starting prices. Here are a few:

Kenny Drew and his Progressive Piano, Norgran 1066. This was an original pressing from a reputable seller. The record was in nice condition, M-/VG++ and the cover seemed nice as well with a partial seam split. The start price was $74.99 and there were no bidders. The picture accompanying the listing wasn’t great and perhaps that dampened the enthusiasm.

Ken McIntyre, Looking Ahead, New Jazz 8247. This was an original pressing with the purple labels and the deep grooves. The record and cover were in VG+ condition and the start price was $99.99. This record, which prominently features Eric

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Jazz Vinyl on eBay: Lee, Jutta, Dex, Rouse

It is the Memorial Day weekend here in the States and I am off to the city of Providence this morning for my son’s graduation from grad school at Brown University. Perhaps I will sneak in a chance to visit Steve at Round Again Records, where there are always a few gems stashed away on the shelves. In the meantime, I have taken a few moments to peruse eBay and find some interesting items for us all to watch this weekend.

If you’ve been watching eBay the past few days, you’ve probably seen the extremely nice group of records by the seller roverd-90, including: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This is an original pressing and it looks to be in quite pristine, near mint condition. The current price is nearly $800 and we would expect this to sell for more than $2,000 and perhaps even more than $3,000. From the same seller is this:

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Jazz Vinyl on Ebay: Prestige, Vanguard, Verve

Here are some odds and ends we’ve been watching on eBay:

Billy Taylor Trio Volume 2, Prestige 7016. This one was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $74.99, which is about what you’d expect for a Billy Taylor Prestige these days. I do have a question on this: I’ve had this record with two different covers — the one shown here and another one that I recall as having a black and white and gray design with a picture of Billy. Not sure which is original, but both had the New York address on the label and the cover. I’m sure the original had the kakubushi cover, but I am not home now to check it out. Anyone? Rudolf?

Dave Burns, Vanguard 9111. This one was in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ or M- for the cover. The price was $182.50. I own this record and it’s quite good, featuring Herbie Morgan on tenor sax, and I have rarely seen it on eBay, or anywhere else for that matter.

This one didn’t get a single bid, much to my surprise:

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Are Sales Drooping? Some Items For the Weekend

Is it me, or do things seem slow on eBay? I’m seeing a lot of action on the high-end records, but not much among the mid-tier collectibles. I had a bunch of items this week that I listed for $15, expecting they would sell for $30 or $40 or more, but most of them actually sold for less than $20. I even took advantage of the lull and bid on a few items myself and, fortunately or unfortunately, actually wound up winning a couple. In any case, there are some interesting items on eBay this weekend, so we’ll keep an eye on prices. Here are some of the ones we’re watching:

Phil Woods, Woodlore, Prestige 7018. I had a vigorous internal debate about putting this one on Jazz Collector, since I wouldn’t mind it myself.  It’s an original New York pressing and it’s in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The seller is quite reliable, from my experience. This one closes tomorrow and is still less than $40. As for my vigorous internal debate, obviously here it is on the site. I decided to not show the picture. Small compromise, no?

This seller has a whole batch of items, including: The Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer, Prestige 7066. This is an original New York yellow label pressing and the item is listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It closes in two days, the start price is $99 and so far there are no bidders. Check out the seller’s other items as well. There are a few in this category, starting price of about $100 and no bids.

Here’s another nice one:

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‘Tis Better To Have Bid And Lost . . .

These records all have one thing in common: I bid on them and lost:

I thought I could sneak this one in because the picture accompanying the listing wasn’t clear and perhaps that would turn people off: Alto Madness,  Prestige 7114. This features John Jenkins and Jackie McLean and I do not own an original copy. It was not getting a lot of action and I threw in a bit of about $130. Not even close. In the end there were 13 bids and the winning bid was $405.

Louis Smith, Smithville, Blue Note 1594. I mentioned this one yesterday and posted the picture. For some reason, this record was not getting much action. With several hours to go before it closed it was in the $100 range. I thought perhaps the listing wasn’t clear as far as the condition and there was something in the listing about price guides and $100. Anyway, there was light action, so I used by BidNip sniping service — if you bid on eBay you really should be using one of this — and put in a bid of about $360. Well it sold for $811, so I wasn’t even in the game.

I tried to sneak this one in at about $20: Frank Rosolino, I Play Trombone, Bethlehem 26. The vinyl was only VG, but it had a nice cover and the seller didn’t mention the presence of Sonny Clark

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Catching Up: More Blue Notes & Prestiges

We’re updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide, and here are some odds and ends we’ve been watching:

Here’s a Blue Note you don’t see too often: Harold Vick, Steppin’ Out, Blue Note 4138. This was an original New York USA pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $373.

Someone on the Reader Forum was looking for Booker Ervin records. Could you go wrong with this one? Booker Ervin, Groovin’ High, Prestige 7417. There wasn’t much description in the listing, but there was just one bidder and the price was $9.99. This won’t make the price guide, but it probably made one collector quite happy.

The price on this also seemed a bit low: Lee Konitz, Prestige 7004. This was an original New York yellow label in VG+ condition for he record and the cover. It sold for $87.59.

Here’s a few more Blue Notes:

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Catching Up: Flanagan, Dorham & A Signed Max

Let’s catch up on a few more eBay sales:

This one did sell for more than $1,000. Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. When we were watching it the other day it was at about $400 and we speculated it might sell for less than $1,000. It sold for $1,440 in VG+ condition for the vinyl and the cover. Perhaps that can be considered a bargain in today’s market?

The Arrival of Kenny Dorham, Jaro 5007. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It sold for $457. We’ve never tracked this one at more than $1,000 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but we’re pretty sure it has probably cracked the $1,000 barrier at some point. It’s a nice record and quite rare as well.

This one was autographed. Still not sure if an autograph enhances the value of a jazz record. Collectors can be quite picky about having their records untouched and pristine:

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Price Updates: Hank, Jackie, Farmer, Moody

Just spent the morning updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so there are a bunch of new records we’ve been watching, including these, all of which have been mentioned before:

Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Second Message, Prestige 7082. This was an original New York pressing. The record and cover were listed in VG++ condition and the price was $482.

Another nice Prestige: Webster Young, For Lady, Prestige 7106. This was in M- condition and sold for $529.

Almost bid on this one: Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing and it was in VG++/VG++ condition. It sold for $678.

Zoot Sims, Down Home, Bethlehem 60. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $435.

Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This was an original pressing of this very rare record. It was

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