A Kangaroo-Split Cover?
We were logging records into the Jazz Collector Price Guide the other day and we came across a term that was new to us: A Kangaroo-Split Cover? This was in reference to the LP Johnny Griffin, Argo 624. We don’t have the record, so we are going by the picture. It looks like you turn the record to the side and flip part of the cover to reveal the record, sitting in half of the jacket, as if it were a baby in the pouch of a kangaroo. We have three questions for our readers: (1) Is our description accurate? (2) Is the term “Kangaroo-Split” commonly known? (3) Are there other jazz records that have a similar cover? This record, by the way, was in M- condition and sold for $285.
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correct, when you are left handed you keep the sleeve in your right hand and pull off with your left hand half of the sleeve, leaving half of the vinyl exposed and the other half in the reaining half sleeve.
Argo introduced the “New Argo Kangaroo-split-pack” concept on the back sleeve of Argo LP 622.
3 Argo records were issued in Kangaroo: J. Griffin 624, J.C. Heard 633 and Yusef Lateef 634.
I have these, but in regular sleeves, despite the special Kangaroo marking on the sleeves.
I should add one more thing:
I have the 624 sleeve in front of me and it says at the bottom:
“THE KANGAROO-SPLIT-PACH OFFERS YOU THE BUYER AND THE LISTENER A NEW METHOD OF SELECTING YOUR NEW AUDIO ODYSSEY’S BY ARGO, BY GIVING YOU IN THIS PACKAGE A FREE SAMPLER OF OTHER ARGO LP’S.”
I have seen these Argo promo samplers, a 45 rpm in a plain yellowish envelope. So the kangaroo idea, really, is to carry the promo EP.
I played the 624 album: well recorded, typical mid-fifties fare, worth having, fine Ware. But the record is the shortest 12″ LP I know: side A: 12 min, Side B: 13:45.
In the JC Heard Kangaroo sleeve, there is a piece of carboard added to maintain the promotionnal 45. So the sleeve is very thick. I think the “non split covers” that bears the “Split cover logo” were intented to be cut, but the idea was given up, and they were sold as regular sleeves.
I am offering the JC Heard “Kangaroo-split” cover right now on eBay. There are VERY low numbers of people “watching” some really great jazz LPs (only 3 watching the JC Heard, which has always sold for $100-$200!!), so you folks will get some steals this week.
These things are so rare….and neat, too. Great conversation pieces.
I’m seeing the same thing. I have 50 records up on eBay this week, some nice ones, but I’m getting no traffic. — al