Another Adventure in Jazz Collecting, Baltimore Part 7
So I was back on the phone with Dan and poring through a box of Charlie Parker 78s. There were a bunch of Dials, some Mercurys and Savoys. I had never had much luck securing Charlie Parker Dials, so this would be a very welcome addition to my collection. Then I went into another one of those Capital mailers and it was filled with Blue Notes. A bunch by Miles Davis and Lou Donaldson, including “If I Love Again,” which Dan put on in the background to accompany me. These, too would be a welcome addition to the collection and they made me realize how pleased I was that this collection ended up in my hands because I would really treasure and appreciate these records. There aren’t that many people who collect and appreciate 78s anymore and I, fortunately, happen to be one. They also seem to fit quite nicely into my collection, filling in a lot of the gaps.
I had now been through the 78s and the last element was to go through the remainder of the LPs that I had left in the original Home Depot boxes. There was a lot of junk in there, and I immediately stuffed a bunch of records into a couple of boxes to donate. But there were also a lot of nice records, not necessarily high-end collectibles of the caliber that I had brought into my apartment, but some great music, great records and many still in their original loose plastic sleeves. There were Cannonball Adderleys on Riverside, Milt Jacksons on Savoy, Miles Davis on Columbia and even a couple of Blue Notes I had somehow missed, including Horace Silver’s Cape Verdean Blues.
At this point, I still hadn’t listened to any of the records. I was up in the country. I pulled out an old favorite to break in the collection, My Favorite Things by John Coltrane. Then Kind of Blue. I did sort of the same thing when I got back to New York and starting playing those records. I started with Tenor Madness, a beautiful New York original pressing, not a mark on it. Then I went to Blue Train, an original pressing, one side New York 23, one side West 63rd. Absolutely mint, save for the date written on the back by Uncle Bruce, 1-31-58. As of this writing I still haven’t listened to Tommy Flanagan Overseas, or Jackie’s Pal, or Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, or Informal Jazz or most of the better collectibles, which are still sitting in crates in the apartment. I plan to go through these records slowly, listening to them one at a time through the winter and into the spring, if I can hold out.
I am near the end of the story of this collection, save for one last element. I would like to know more about Uncle Bruce and the history of the collection itself. Rob was a young child when Uncle Bruce died, so he didn’t have much to share. I could see that Uncle Bruce lived in Milwaukee for a good portion of the time he was buying these records. Some of them had stickers that said:
Radio Doctors: Two Stores
213 W. Wells St. – BR. 6-6422
404 N. Third St. – LO.2-7607
Milwaukee, Wisc.
He then moved to Southern California, because the later records had stickers and stamps from a record store in Compton. In a follow-up e-mail, Rob said that his uncle was named Bruce M. West and he confirmed that he lived in both Milwaukee and Los Angeles. He said he had given my information to his brother and sister and he was hoping that they would reach out to me to share more information about Bruce. If I hear from them, I will write an epilogue to this story.
In the meantime, I think I will always feel some kind of connection to Uncle Bruce in the passion we shared for this great music and also, of course, for the records themselves. He didn’t have the largest collection, but he had some of the most precious and rare records of the era and I am proud to now own them. He obviously cared for these records and kept them in beautiful condition, treating them like the gems that they are. I plan to do the same.
And every time I pull one off the shelf and pull it out of its jacket, I will see the writing with the date on the back, knowing that Bruce M. West had purchased that record on that date, had kept it in its original packaging and had preserved it well, so that when I came upon this very record it would be like new and I could enjoy it with the same love and appreciation that he did 50 or more years ago. And, hopefully, 50 years from now, someone will look at that very same record, with that date carefully written on the back, and put the music on a turntable and feel the same joy and excitement that Bruce and I felt in the time of our lives.
for a documentary filmer this would be a great starting point for a movie …
thanks for sharing Al!
Great story pity it had to end. I bet you feel like you know Uncle Bruce having had such a insight into his collection
this was a lovely series of stories al. please don’t hesitate to always do them when you buy collections. they are so exciting to read!
I’ve enjoyed your story very much, Al, at a variety of levels. Your approach to honoring the collector of the records we acquire is consistent with my own practice. Whether I acquire a box via friend, family, or stranger, I ask for details and a photo of the previous owner; I want to provide full context for future listeners. Congratulations on your new records. I’m glad that the time you put into this website is occasionally rewarded with an opportunity such as this! (Now, about those old Riverside & Columbia records…)
Completely agree. Some of my favorite records I bought from a gent who wrote copious notes on the back about all the songs. He obviously adored the records and listened to them many times. It makes them much more special for us.
Thanks for the story Al!
It’s neat finding vintage LPs with the date and location where they were purchased discreetly inscribed. Some folks get very specific, here’s a picture of two faves from my collection: http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5290/sqsz.jpg
Have to agree with Maarten, Al: stories like this would make for a perfect documentary script. And why not? 😉
I only discovered your site a few months ago, but what a treat it has been. And I don’t see how anything will top this recent series. I felt like I was on the trip with you. As you listen to the collection I hope you will find more to tell us. Is no one interested in Verve? I am just reading the new picture book on its history and wonder why label doesn’t seem as desired as Blue Note.
Al- I loved living vicariously through your acquisition and story. I’ve had some nice “scores”
through the years but you win the GOLD MEDAL!
Wow, that copy of Tenor Madness looks amazing. Mine is very yellow. I gather that one was stored in its plastic baggie? I have a green/blue label Giant Steps that had the shrink wrap on it still…it was such a beautiful color white that I HAD to take it off. I hope it stays that way in just a poly sleeve!
Bravo…well written, entertaining…congrats on the 78s especially. I could tell the way you set the story up that you are really excited about those 🙂
Al what system do you use to play your 78s
Hi, Jan. I play them on an old Caliphone, the kind they used to have in the public high schools here in the States. They sound good and I don’t think the tone arms are so heavy that they damage the records. You can easily pick these up on eBay. I’d be curious how others amongst us listen to 78s. Any thoughts?
@ Jan, @Al: I play the handful of 78s that I have on a Numark Pro-TT1 turntable. It plays 33, 45 and 78rpm perfectly. To have it play at 78rpm, you simply press the 33 and 45rpm button at the same time and you’re done. Makes sense: after all, 33 + 45 = 78. I use Ortofon Concorde elements. It’s not comparable to a really pricey high-end turntable, but still these Numarks weren’t cheap and for my conditions at home they are fabulous and provide excellent sound.
Or if you have a Technics 1200 turntable I know that Kevin at KAB in NJ can add the 78 feature.
A vintage Zenith HF17R. Our good friend who restores vintage radios is fixing it up and it will play 45, 33, 78 and 16. Fun!
What a fantastic story!
I’ve had some incredible 78 finds including about 4/5 hundred unplayed store stock, mostly swing some early bop 78s but nothing as collectable and cool as this!
just to add to the 78 discussion
I collect 78s (have about 10 thousand) including about 30 12 inch blue notes lots of uk esquire bird/di records etc.
I’d just like to point out that there is a reason that 78 stylus’s are different from those for lps. They don’t only sound much, much better but the smaller stylus could damage your records, I know from experience as someone gave me one of those cheap usb turn tables and after about 10 plays of one record it was looking and sounding worse and worse.
Some folks have lots of different stylus types for different 78 eras which is smething I’m looking to do, but for now I use an expert 0.3 m diamond stylus, shure m-44 cartrage with a lenco gl75 turntable, some of the results can be heard on my listen to the gramophone blog.
cheers,
Rob
I don’t think that one should play 78s using modern diamond stylus. As far as I know 78s are made from shellac and much softer compared to vinyl. They should be played using sapphire stylus or the like so as not to cause damage to the record grooves. There are a few manufacturers that still make these, most notably Miyajima of Japan, which could well the best being made.
Hmmmmm… Wasn’t aware of that, but then again, as said: I only have a handful of 78s and it’s not that I play them to the hilt all the time. Still your advice gave me food for thought about playing them with a sapphire stylus.
Caliphone. Great saga, Al! Congrats.