A New Year’s Adventure in Jazz Collecting
I actually started the year with a nice record score. In fact, I filled in one of the most gaping holes in my collection. After 45 years of collecting jazz records, I finally have a black label copy of Giant Steps on my shelf. And it is in beautiful M- condition for the vinyl, and at least VG++ for the cover. I just listened to it, sitting on my sofa with a big Cheshire Cat grin on my mug. I’m sure it’s totally psychological, but it has never ever sounded better, even after hundreds of prior hearings. It’s interesting because almost to the day exactly a year ago a wrote a post expressing my desire to get a black label Giant Steps for my birthday. I even dropped a couple of hints to The Lovely Mrs. JC. And here we are a year later – Happy Birthday to me (actually it’s still a few weeks away). So, I’m sure you’re all interested in how this record came to be in my possession. I will tell you the bare bones of the story, since I’m hoping it’s not actually over yet and there are potentially more records to come. The gist is that it involves a contact in South America, a carry-on
bag full of records and a lingerie store in Manhattan.
It starts, as always, with an e-mail. This time from South America. A list of records – well more than 1,000. Not a killer collection, but enough good stuff to make it interesting, particularly if you could cull the collectibles. There’s one caveat: The seller already has a deal to sell some of the prime records to another buyer. This other buyer has chosen about 30 records, all top-grade, and he has made a fair and substantial offer. I let those 30 records pass and inquire about 30 or so other records. They are all in great condition, I am told, and should be original pressings. I make an offer, also fair and substantial, and it is accepted. Of course, I would like to actually see the records before making payment and, it turns out, the seller’s friend is traveling to New York and she has room to carry about 45 records in her carry-on bag. So, with the previous buyer getting 30 records, I am left to choose the 15 I want stuffed into the luggage compartment and flown to New York. This was weeks ago. I was supposed to hear something before Christmas, but nothing happened and I went away for a few days.
When I got back I remembered about the records and shot an e-mail to my friend in South America. What happened, I ask. Nothing, he says. The records are in New York. He just didn’t want to bother me during the holidays. Very thoughtful, I think. OK, now I am back, can I look at the records? Of course, he says. My friend will get in touch. A few minutes later the phone rings. Yes, I can pick up the records. Where are they? They are in a lingerie shop on West 28th Street in Manhattan. Why they are there is not the point – the point is that was the location for the records and ten minutes later I was on the one train with a wad of cash in my pocket. I was coming home with something, one way or another. I was hoping it would be jazz records and not leather bustiers.
So I get there and, as promised, there is a carry-on bag with about 15 records. Shows you where head was at – I gaped over the records, and didn’t even look at the lingerie. I didn’t expect Giant Steps to be an original pressing but, indeed, it was. There were also several other very nice records, most of them in excellent condition, rarely played, if ever. A couple of the records had funky covers with tape and other repairs, so I took a few dollars off the previously agreed-upon price. In all, I came home with 11 records, all original pressings. The accompanying picture will give you the best of the lot.
Nice way to start the new year, I’d say.
One other thing, while I’m thinking about it. Giant Steps has to be one of the most amazing albums ever recorded. From the opening notes of Giant Steps to the closing notes of Mr. P.C. it is an absolute tour de force. Coltrane is playing with such passion and confidence, it’s like he’s in a different world. Think about this in the context of 1959, when it was recorded, and 1960, when it was released. It was his first album for Atlantic and his first where he had written all of the songs. Imagine you’re a tenor player and you hear this for the first time. No wonder Sonny Rollins retired around this time and began practicing on the Williamsburg Bridge, with all due respect to my long-time tenor idol.
Nice! It’s always more fun to acquire records in a convoluted way; that’s part of the charm of collecting LPs. Giant Steps is, indeed, out of this world. Coltrane in total, powerful control. I have a NM black fan copy that serves me just fine for now, but that black and silver label calls to me too; there is something about it that has a certain density and heft and seriousness.
Have a mint Canadian first issue; maroon label with silver print. Sounds amazing and only cost me $8. I can live with that..same laminated cover..just maroon instead of black labels!
Congratulations! The Stan Levey, though not as glamorous as some of the others, is a great lp!!
Terry — I know! Listened to it last night. Great Dexter. If I recall, Michel was looking for a copy. I haven’t been selling on eBay in a while, but I do now have two copies of that record. The Mobley and Silver as well. Anyone interested, you know where to find me.
Message sent!
Al, if you have the two Bethlehem albums (Mariano and Levey) in duplicate, i’d happily buy the two !!!
Congrats on the score!
This one definitely seemed a bit more suspect than the usual record deal… We’ve often heard tales in the media of those crafty South American “drug mules” but rarely of the illusive “Jazz mules” !!! (Pound or kilo… still a better investment these days based on the prices we are seeing !)
Nevertheless, congrats on the score Al. That must have been one hell of a carry on bag… Personally, I don’t even like carrying on a laptop anymore. Just the thought of trying to lift a bag with 45 precious vintage Jazz LP’s makes my back ache ! (That’s got to be at least 22 lbs !)
As for Giant Steps.. Something was definitely in the air around 1959. It just seems like that was a critical moment in time for Jazz recordings in general with so many notable recordings including Kind of Blue, Time Out etc.
oh man, that picture is a nice one. congrats, al!
I have a black label Giant Steps in VG+ condition for the vinyl (many spindle marks but plays fine) and NM for the cover and am looking to trade it (and pay extra money if need be) for a 1st pressing mono of Hank Mobley Soul Station in at least VG+ condition all the way around.
I have a huge variety of records I inherited from my father. I am interested in selling. Anyone interested in buying?
Nice score Al ..again!
Not sure you didn’t have a sneaky blimp at the merch in the shop though!!
I have 2 copies of giant steps, A beat up Black label original (no DG! ??) Mint cover, and a Minty Bullseye label pressing
which sounds so sweet, Mint Cover. If the Mashed up ‘Original’ is useful to anyone?
I really would like a nice copy of Evans, Sunday at the Village Vanguard …anyone?
Or Lateef’s, Jazz for the Thinker
Hi Al. Congrats. I have one black label without deep groove. This is also first pressing?
Giant Steps…..Black Label without deep groove. First pressing?
“They are both firsts pressings. They were just pressed at different plants. One plant still used the old machine with the deep groove,and the another used a newer press with the non deep groove. The non deep groove is more rare and better quality then the deep groove press”
Thanks, Joaquin. Mine is non deep groove. Also, to everyone who sent me an email about the duplicates, give me a day or so to sort it out and get back to you. Sorry, I threw it out there without a real plan in case anyone was interested.
Al, perhaps you could add a section where folks could list their duplicates to trade (not sell, that could be a problem). Every once in a while, I come across some rare records that I already own, and if the price is right, I’ll buy them and give them to a friend of mine who lives in a very rural area and doesn’t have access to record stores (or hell, maybe even the internet). I’d rather trade some of these records rather than give them away. 🙂 Just a thought.
JOK – in the “New Forum” there actually is a block called “For Sale or Trade.” I know we have all been sticking to our old ways but maybe this would be a way to get that flowing? I would love to be able to work out some things with some folks on here rather than have to fight ebay or discogs and the like.
Hi Al,
Congrats on the score and a great start to the New Year. I happened to have 5 copies after 35 years of collecting. 3 black label, one without deep groove, 2 with. One bulls eye mono and one stereo. Have never seen the green label stereo. The non deep groove I sold sometime ago, so are the Bulls eyes, not much different from the DG and 4 out of 5 in M- conditions. Prefer the black label sonically overall.
Al
do you have a duplicate of ..Evans, Sunday at the Village Vanguard?
sorry to ask.
Hello, I read with interest all your posts, thank you everybody. I bought a mono Giant steps copy in mint- conditions several years ago from Bullsite2000 when his shop in Milan, Italy, was still active. At the time I had to sell even my eyes to buy it but nowadays it seems like a bargain. The only thing that I would to say is that we are always talking of pieces of art, the Great American Art…
chee kia,
if you’re interested in selling or trading for one of the black label copies, please e-mail me! trout (at) susqu (dot) edu.
No wonder some of these albums seem so rare as y’all have multiple copies. Spread the wealth everyone! After all you can only listen to one copy at a time. 😉
I do not have an original duplicate of Sunday at the Vanguard. Was so pleased to add this copy to my collection. I now have a spare Japanese pressing, however.
I’m curious Chee Kia Ng, are the covers and inner sleeves for both the deep groove and non-DG identical?
GST,
I have a black label Giant Steps VG+ for vinyl (spindle marks, a little surface noise but plays nice) and NM for cover.
I’m looking to sell it for $300 or do a trade.
Let me know if intereted.
Stu
Hi Stu. Interested in buying or exchanging. i have some nice pieces too. You can email me at thommas/at/gmail.
Hi gregorythefish,
Sorry I have been not reading the recent posts. I will be in touch.
Dear Woody,
Your question is a hard one to answer as I have sold the non-DG copy and honestly I did not pay attention to the details of the inner sleeves. The jackets/covers are identical though, this i did check.
Al, I love your writing, please go on..
And I wish you all a happy new year !