Jazz Vinyl That’s New To Jazz Collector
Just browsing eBay and came upon a few items I’ve never seen before. I’m always impressed, after more than 40 years of collecting jazz records, that there are still records that are new to me, for example:
Perhaps I’ve seen this before, but I dont’ recall it: Miles Davis, Porgy and Bess, Fontana 662.036. This is a French pressing and the seller says it is a 10-inch record, which makes sense if you look at the number of tracks per side. Why were the French issuing 10-inch LPs in the late 1950s, when those wars had already been fought and the 12-inch format had won? And look at the cover — it’s the same picture that’s on the American Milestones. I have to say, this looks like a pretty cool item to me. It has a start price of about $100 and is listed in M- unplayed condition.
Speaking of French pressings: Pierre Michelot and his Orchestra, Round About Bass, Mercury 125 500. This is an original French mono pressing and is listed in EX+ condition for the record (VG+++ in our terms?), and EX for the cover. This is from the same seller as the Miles LP and is also in the $100 range with no bids yet.
This an American record, and I assume it’s jazz because it is listed under jazz on eBay and because it is right in the midst of the Atlantic jazz series, but I’ve never seen it:
Patty McGovern and Thomas Talbert, Wednesday’s Child, Atlantic 1245. It is a black label pressing. The record is listed in VG++ condition and the cover is VG+. The bidding is close to $200 so, obviously, other people know a lot more about this record than I do.
Finally, I would be remiss in my duties here at Jazz Collector if I failed to point out this one: Oscar Peterson, We Get Requests, Verve 8606. This is perhaps one of the most common jazz records of its era. It’s available fairly often on eBay and, if you can find a record store somewhere, you might be able to still get it right out of the bins for a few bucks. Somehow this copy has been bid up to more than $80. I know what you’re all thinking: bobdjukic. But it’s not. If anyone can figure out why this record should be selling at more than $80, please post a comment. All theories are welcome.
That’s the fourth copy of that Talbert record that’s been on recently.. Always gets a high-ish price. I like the cover, wonder if the music in the grooves is as cool.
Ten-inchers seem a little more common in the European collectors’ market up through the ’60s. There’s a real nice Guido Manusardi 10″ on Electrecord from the mid-60s, just as an example.
Ten-inchers seem a little more common…Here’s Bull Moose Jackson talking about his ten inch…record.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdtrhcYIg6g
The policy of some French labels, when issuing US material, was to test the market, by issuing a 10″ version first. Thus, Atlantic, when issuing the first Ornette Coleman in France (The shape of jazz to come), did so with a 10 incher. The ten inchers were sold at a lower price, but were incomplete most of the times (i.e. some numbers lacking from the 12″ US issue). For me a reason at the time not to buy the record.
This 10″ Miles album on Fontana is likely to be incomplete and has no original art work. I don’t consider it to be very collectible, esp. at the price asked by the seller.
Further to my last: the Miles Davis session on Debut (with Elvin Jones and Mingus) was issued in France by Vogue on the Swing label with original art work, a beauty, in 12″ format. In England, Vogue issued the album on its Vogue label, this time in 10″ format, with the same light blue cover as the French Swing issue.
Now the Debut album had a notoriously short playing time (24 minutes), so a 10″ was justified.
Rudolf is right. I do have both the Columbia 12 inch and the Fontana 10 inch. Some tracks are missing on the 10 inch. ( there are only seven)
I bought it a few years ago because the price was right ( less than 15 $ )and I liked the cover art. Sound quality is great.