Enjoying a Hard Bop Classic

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There was, the other day, an odd confluence of events that is prompting me to post a piece of music on Jazz Collector. I was reading Rudolf’s comments about the Elmo Hope LP and his statement about it being an obligatory piece in any hard bop collection and I realized that I never actually thought of my collection as being hard bop, although, of course, that tends to be the predominant music. The thought was kind of roiling in my brain when I got in the car for a couple-hour ride to Boston and I plucked an old CD/playlist I had made a while ago and had simply labeled “Favorites.” And the first song that came on was this Hard Bop Classic and I smiled because I always smile when I hear this song because, to me, it just wonderfully captures that early stage of the hard bop era. So I thought I was play it for everyone, and put a smile on all of your faces, especially when you hear the wonderful, creative, brilliant trumpet solo. And I will imagine that most of you will know the song and the album and the musicians because, as Rudolf would say, it is also an obligatory piece in any hard bop collection. And, for those that don’t know it, enjoy it here and I’m sure one or more of our good loyal readers will tell you more about it.

Jazz Vinyl: Jackie-ing, Hope and McGhee

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Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching now on eBay. Jackie is back: Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This one is from a reputable seller and is listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. VG+ is always a risk, but this one is play-graded and sounds like it is in pretty good shape. The bidding has already topped $1,000 on its way to . . . . we’ll see. Also on eBay now is one of my favorites, Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This looks to be an original pressing with the West 63rd address, deep grooves, RVG, ear. It is listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. Start price is $650 and, with a day to go, there are no takers so far. For a high start price like that, I think most buyers would appreciate pictures of the labels, for what it’s worth, although I’d be OK bidding on this record if I was inclined to pay that high a price for it in any condition, which I’m not.

This one is tempting:

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Jazz Vinyl Update: Saxophone Colossi

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Let’s catch up on some of the rare jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay, starting with: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was an original pressing with some very nice pictures. The seller provided very little information and he had less than 30 feedbacks. Still, the record sold for $1,247. Here’s another copy of Saxophone Colossus that sold at around the same time from a well known and highly regarded seller. This one was listed in VG condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $1,050. Interesting that the prices were so close, despite the disparity in the condition. Shows the value of knowing the seller, either from experience or just by brand name, even on eBay.

This one was interesting as well: Joe Henderson, In ‘N Out, Blue Note 4166. This one certainly looks like an original, with the mono cover, New York USA labels, etc. But the seller never makes mention of the ear in the deadwax, so you do wonder. It looks to be in VG++ or M- condition for the record and cover, and it certainly looks cool with the original shrink wrap and price. It sold for  $511.01, so someone must have been pretty sure, or quite hopeful, that  there is an ear in the deadwax.  This is the second highest price we’ve ever seen for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Guest Column: The Thrill of the Hunt

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Imaginary Jazz Encounters The Real Thing

by Jason Sweet

Digging for records can be hard, but rewarding, work. A lot of times it’s right place, right time. You have to have knowledge though, players, producers, labels, and the like. To me, there is no better feeling than combing tiny shops from Indianapolis to Iceland, looking for a record that may only exist in my imagination and finding it. Have I bought records off eBay? Yes I have, though not many. The biggest problem I have with eBay is that I’m being asked to buy something sight unseen. And why relinquish the thrill of the hunt? Buying music on eBay is like trolling Internet pornography: A means to an end, but it will never replace the intimacy of the real thing.

The other day, I stumbled upon one of those “imaginary” finds that keeps us going. I’m a big

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Catching Up: Blue Notes, Prestige, Clef

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Let’s catch up on some odds and ends jazz vinyl we were watching last week:

First one of the heavyweights: Lee Morgan, Indeed, Blue Note 1538. As noted this was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. This one looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover and was described by the seller as “museum quality,” which is an interesting term we don’t see very often. We predicted that this one would make the $2,000 bin and speculated that it would perhaps even hit the $3,000 bin. It sold for $2,450.

Another really nice one that fetched top dollar: Lou Donaldson, Lou Takes Off, Blue Note 1591. This was also an original pressing, also in M- condition for the record and the cover, also described as a “museum copy.” It sold for $766.99, which is the top price we’ve seen for this one in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

I’ve never seen this cover on this record:

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Jazz Vinyl Watch: Morgan, Mobley, Dinah

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Here’s some interesting jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay:

This one is heading for the $2,000 bin, or perhaps even the tough-to-crack $3,000 bin: Lee Morgan, Indeed, Blue Note 1538. his is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record is described as close to mint and the cover looks to be in beautiful condition as well. The bidding has already topped $1,500 for this fine LP and there is still more than a day to go.

Here’s another nice one that will sell for quite a bit less, based on condition: Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This looks to be an original pressing with the New York 23 and it is listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The current price is a bit more than $300 and there’s still another day to go.

Is it possible this next one won’t sell at all: Dinah Washington, Dinah Jams, Emarcy 36000? This is a great LP, featuring Clifford Brown, among others, and it has sold for relatively high collectible prices in this past. We’ve clocked it in at more than $130 on the Jazz Collector Price Guide. This copy is an original pressing with the blue back cover and it is listed in M- condition. The start price is $100 and there are no bidders with a few hours to go.

Updating the $1,000 Bin (And Then Some)

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Some of you have beaten me to the punch on this, but let’s all catch up on some of those heavy-duty auctions that closed yesterday, starting with Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was the one from the Leon Leavitt collection, in unplayed condition for the vinyl and pristine condition for the cover. It was sort of a first press, with the deep grooves, West 63rd address but not the NY 23 on side two. Read the comments on the earlier post for details and opinions. Anyway, at one point this one had a buy-it-now price of $5,000 and I suggested someone should just jump in and take it, but then the buy-it-now option disappeared from the listing. Good decision by the seller. This one sold for $5,600. There were 20 bids but, incredibly, nearly 1,900 page views, which to my recollection is the most I’ve ever seen for any jazz record. This is also the highest price for a jazz record we’ve ever recorded at the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

This seller did quite well last week with stuff from Leon Leavitt’s collection don’t you think? Here are a few more:

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Jazz Vinyl Update: Jackie, Mobley, Burrell, Warhol

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Here are some recent jazz vinyl sales that we somehow missed. This one is among the rarest of the rare and collectors seem to covet it regardless of condition: Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This one was in VG condition for the vinyl and VG- for the cover. It sold for $688.

Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This was an original pressing with the New York address. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG++ as well. The price was $665. I remember this as one of the few collectibles for which I paid top-dollar at Dayton’s back in the early 1980s. In those days, top dollar for this was about $80, and psychologically, that was a tough hump to get over for me, but I spent it. Then, I wound up selling it a few years later for about $200 and my copy now is a Japanese pressing.

I would have thought this next one would have fetched a lot more money, but the listing was a little confusing and the condition of the cover wasn’t described:

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Jazz Vinyl Update: An Argo, A Blue Note, a Verve

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Here’s some more jazz vinyl we’ve been watching recently, just to catch up on stuff:

Paul Gonsalves, Cookin’, Argo 626. This was an original pressing with the black labels and the deep grooves. It looked to be in M- or VG++ condition for the record and similar condition for the cover. The seller didn’t actually apply grades, which I think would affect — negatively — the sale price. This one fetched $264, which is the highest price we’ve recorded for this in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so perhaps  it’s better to not list a condition.

Thad Jones, Detroit-New York Junction, Blue Note 1513. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. Love to see those original Lexes, especially when they are in my collection (which this one, unfortunately, is not).  The record was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG+. The price was $767.

This one was a leftover from the recent bobjdukic sale:

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Bidding Up – Up – Up

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While the Jazz Collector community is deciding whether the Hank Mobley Blue Note 1568 is an original pressing or not, the jazz bidding community is pushing the price way up the stratosphere. As of this writing there have been twelve bids and the price is already up to $3,000. I would say that one of those bidders should just end it already and go for the $5,000 buy-it-now price — but I don’t see that option anymore. Is it possible the seller removed it?  For the record, my opinion on this is that I would consider this an original pressing, based on all of the comments. It was pressed at the same time in the same press run. I never thought this was the case, but perhaps even my obsession has limits.

The same seller is going to make a small fortune this week. Check out some of these other items he has: Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This is also an original pressing and it is also described as M- unplayed condition for the record and pristine for the cover. The price is already more than $1,000 and this one still has a buy-it-now price of $5,000. Here’s another one that’s ready for the $1,000 bin already:

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