Comments on: Rare Jazz Potpourri: Classic Trane, Billie’s First

By: Rob Godridge

Rob Godridge — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 16:47:42 +0000

I found the english columbia of that goodman at a car boot sale over here, bought it with about 40 other jazz 78s in a nice vintage case for £5. It was a good day! there were a lot of Joe venuti records in there that I really like.

By: Geoffrey Wheeler

Geoffrey Wheeler — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 16:56:53 +0000

I agree with JOK about Euclid Records. Owner Joe Schwab knows his stuff and is frequently on buying trips to canvas for collections. He has two stores, one in St. Louis and another in New Orleans. Both are fun to visit. Euclid also does mail order, which is how I buy most of my records from them. I don’t collect today’s expensive rarities. If I didn’t buy a particular12-inch issue when it was new at, say, $5.98, my tough luck. In San Francisco, Amoeba Music carries some older issues in good condition. I also like visiting Jack’s Record Cellar on the corner of Scott and Page. Unfortunately, they are only open Saturday’s. In 2014, I bought a copy of the original pressing in M- condition of “Wayout Wardell” for about 12 bucks. I had been looking for a copy for years. I have three other versions of this, each different.

By: Geoffrey Wheeler

Geoffrey Wheeler — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 20:07:22 +0000

To check on the jazz record-collecting and jazz writing credentials of Geoff Wheeler, refer to Fred Cohen of Jazz Record Center.

By: Geoffrey Wheeler

Geoffrey Wheeler — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 19:49:41 +0000

Regarding the Goodman-Holiday blue wax-blue label recording of “Your Mother’s Son-in-law” (Col. 2856-D), this is one of a number of recordings that (E) Columbia asked John Hammond to record for them through (Am.) Columbia. American Columbia was on the verge of bankruptcy and had little money to pay for recording sessions, especially jazz-oriented recordings which had a very small market. Under the arrangement, Hammond would oversee the recording sessions and American Columbia would be permitted to release their own issues, paying only mechanical, pressing, and business costs. The “crack” noted in the listing write-up is likely a “lam,” which is a crack that does not break the surface of the record. It’s called a “lam” because the pressing is laminated. This recording was issued in England on (E) Columbia (CoE CB786). I regard this as the “first” true issue since (E) Columbia paid for the session and American Columbia did not. I have a copy of the letter setting forth terms of the agreement. Col. 2856-D usually commands a high price, whereas CoE CB786 does not, perhaps because many American collectors mistakenly think the American pressing is the first issue. I have the (E) Columbia issue (but not the American issue), for which I paid about 1/15th of the auction price of this American Columbia. I’ve been collecting 78s since 1942 and LPs since 1949.

By: JOK

JOK — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:55:51 +0000

Screw EBAY. Say hello to Euclid records…………oh, and get out and about and you’ll find jewels. I go to California once a year to watch minor league baseball and I hit up all these small record stores in different towns. You’d truly be surprised what you can find in Reno, Bakersfield, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Fresno and Stockton! I have yet to buy an EBAY record and I doubt I ever will, and my jazz collection continues to grow. Also, the most I have spent for one record is $60 (I broke my promise to not go over $50 because I found an old gentleman north of Seattle wanting to sell all of his records, but most were very old country and western. He had a pristine copy of Bob Gordon’s “Jazz Impressions” on red vinyl that I bought for the aforementioned price because I felt sorry for him. But, he also was a hoarder and he really didn’t want to sell his records. He had about 80 picture disks on 78 RPM, which I had never seen before. Pretty cool. But anyway, my point is if you love old jazz, stay away from EBAY, it seems that well is poisoned by now.

By: david j

david j — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 06:42:22 +0000

My biggest concern isn’t buying on eBay, which I take or leave. My biggest concern is when folks at my local stores or at shows say “well, this is what it went for on eBay [referring to the highest price] and that’s what I want for this record.” If copies of common records (with well over one hundred copies of first pressings selling on eBay) like “A Love Supreme,” which is in my humble opinion one of the greatest jazz records ever, is selling for $600, a price which is out of my range, should I just give up on buying the music I love? Forget eBay, I can’t buy at shows and my local stores any more. Its nuts!

By: Terryfromflorida

Terryfromflorida — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 03:05:55 +0000

BREAKING NEWS!! The Mulligan Night Lights went for $434 dollars!! That’s no misprint and yes it was a stereo copy not a WLP!

By: cleveland

cleveland — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 01:57:30 +0000

Guys you sound like you are in mourning! There is a jazz explosion causing a new market! I have several friends ok on the financial side who were traditional rockers, as they age they now prefer jazz.

By: b. walter

b. walter — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 00:41:45 +0000

From this point forward, we’ll need two different price guides. One for Dr. Wong’s collection and one for everything else.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 00:34:43 +0000

David I totally agree. I’ve actually sold stuff in the past to Henry Rollins from my collection!

I especially empathize with the fact that it seems only certain sellers can get huge dollars for the same records that sell for considerably less from other eBay sellers.

eBay has been killing record stores for a long time, but this new trend is putting the nail in the coffin as far as finding local deals.