What’s Happening on EBay, Jan 8, 2009?

Leave a comment

Actually, not that much is happening on eBay on January 8, 2009. We know it’s our job here at Jazz Collector to watch eBay, but we’ve been derelict in our duties. So, when we logged back on to eBay today for the first time in a couple of weeks, we expected to see the normal spate of high-end collectible jazz vinyl. At first, we were not disappointed. On the first page of listing, under the featured items, there were, as always, some fine choices, including: An original stereo pressing of Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 8163: A VG+ copy of Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, Blue Note, 1580 (albeit with a cover that has a water stain; and, among others, an original Lexington Avenue pressing of J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. Having seen these records, were were expecting to see things as normal. But we sludged through more than a dozen pages and 19 hours worth of records before coming upon another set of records that caught our eye. We’ll mention these records in the next post, which, we promise, will be soon. But it is highly unusual to go through that long a period of time without something exciting. So, we ask our readers (if there are any of you still out there given our lengthy absence): Have things been quiet, or is this just an aberration? Has there been any indication that the economy is having an effect on the market? What do you think?

Remembering Freddie Hubbard

One comment

I’m sure many of you saw the news that Freddie Hubbard passed away yesterday at age 70. Hubbard, of course, was a seminal figure in the post-bop era. We write about his records often in the posts at Jazz Collector, particularly since his LP Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040, is one of the top collectibles, often selling for more than $1,000. He also played on Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041, another of the rarest of jazz collectibles. Our own memories of Hubbard stretch back to the great Oliver Nelson LP, The Blues and the Abstract Truth, Impulse 5, where he played in a great setting with Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Eric Dolphy and others. I always remember Nelson stating that Hubbard sounded like John Coltrane playing the trumpet, and that always stuck with me. Hubbard was never quite as inventive as Trane or as experimental, but he certainly had a style and sound that was immediately recognizable. Other favorite early recordings are Eric Dolphy Outward Bound, New Jazz 8236, and Art Blakey, Buhaina’s Delight, Blue Note 4104. I saw Hubbard many times at the Village Vanguard in the early 1970s, and he was always a passionate, charismatic performer. What are some of your memories, and favorite Hubbard recordings? Please feel free to comment on this post.

Back Again, Looking at High-End Vinyl

Leave a comment

Wow, have we really been away for three weeks? Sorry, sorry, sorry. 

So, where were we when we were so rudely interrupted. Ah, yes, we were looking at records that crossed the $1,000 barrier. We just did a quick search of eBay and found a few more for you, just from the past few weeks when Jazz Collector went AWOL. Here are a few to peruse and muse about:

Walter Davis, Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This was an original deep groove pressing with the West 63rd Street address. It was in M-/M- condition and sold for $1,248. 

John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was an original mono pressing with the black label. It was also in M-/M- condition. Price: $1,031.66

Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This was an original pressing that was in M-/M- condition. Price: $1,075

Yow, I’m sure most of you saw this one: Charlie Parker, Bird Blows The Blues, Dial LP1. This is a 12-inch LP, issued from the Spring of 1949 with no cover. The dealer listed it as being the first 12-inch jazz LP ever produced, which we’ve never seen disputed. This was in VG+ condition, with a yellow label and purple vinyl. Price: $2,850

George Wallington at the Bohemia, Progressive 1001. This was an original pressing that came directly out of George Wallington’s collection. It was listed by his brother, who listed the vinyl as M- and the cover as VG, but he said there were virtually no flaws. The price was $1,380.50.

That’s it for now. We’ll be back soon. Promise.

Keeping an Eye on the $1,000 Barrier

2 comments

We were looking at records that broke the $1,000 price barrier last week. It’s always interesting to take note of high-end collectible prices. Here’s another one that broke the barrier yesterday: Horace Parlan, Us Three, Blue Note 4037. This was an original pressing, of course. The vinyl was in M- condition and the cover was VG++. The final price was $1,620 and there were 22 bids and seven bidders. Looking ahead at today’s records, there isn’t likely another $1,000 record, although this one may come close: Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This is an original pressing and the vinyl is in M- condition. The cover, however, is only VG+ and that might limit the bidding. At this point, the price is $543 with a few hours left to go. We took a look at the Jazz Collector Price Guide and found several instances of this record being sold for more than $1,000. The highest price we recorded was $1,591.

Updating The Price Guide, Dec. 2, 2008

3 comments

Here are some items we’ll be adding to the Jazz Collector Price Guide today. Most of these have previously appeared on the site, so we’re not providing new links. Here goes:

Gigi Gryce, Rat Race Blues, New Jazz 8262. This was an original pressing, deep groove, purple label. Both the record and cover were in M- condition. Price: $205.50

Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House, Blue Note 1515. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was VG- and the cover was VG. Price: $201.50

Art Farmer Quintet with Gigi Gryce, Prestige 209. This is a 10-inch LP. Record was M- and the cover was VG+. Price: $190

Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. Price: $435

Read more

Norvo, Farlow and Mingus: Volume 2?

One comment

A Jazz Collector reader poses a question. On eBay, there was a copy of this record: The Red Norvo Trio, Volume 1, Discovery 4005. This is a 12-inch LP featuring Tal Farlow and Charles Mingus. It includes the following tracks: Little White Lies, Move, I Get A kick Out of You, I’ll Remember April, I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Zing Went the Strings of My Heart and September Song. These are the exact same songs that are on the 10-inch version of the LP, Discovery 3012, which has similar packaging, with the exception of an added picture (a great one of the group in action). The question is this: Is there a 12-inch Volume 2 of this series as well? There is a 10-inch Volume 2, which is Discovery 3018, so we assume there’s a 12-inch also (probably with the same pictures), but we don’t have a copy and, rather than search through eBay, we figured we’d throw it out there to see if someone knows the answer. Thanks.

Jazz Collector Listener’s Guide, Nov. 28, 2008

3 comments

It’s Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and, for some reason, this seems a day to sit around and do nothing except listen to music. So I have been in my music room poring through records and putting on some favorites that I don’t listen to all of the time, or haven’t listened to on vinyl in a while. I started with an old Riverside, Bags Meets Wes, Riverside 407. This was recorded in December 1961 and features a great rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones and Philly Joe Jones, in addition, of course, to Milt Jackson and West Montgomery.  Side one starts with a blues, “S.K.J”  and then Stablemates, Stairway to the Stars and another blues, Blue Roz. I got involved listening to Philly Joe on brushes, which is always a miracle, and that led me to Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness, Prestige 7047, not Side One with Coltrane, but Side Two featuring Paul’s Pal, with some great Philly Joe brushwork, then My Reverie and The Most Beautiful Girl in the world. Read more

Today on EBAY, Nov. 26, 2008

One comment

As you might expect on the day before Thanksgiving in the U.S., things are fairly light on eBay today. However, we are ever vigilant at Jazz Collector, so we’ve found a few items worth watching. And here they are: Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Music, Riverside 242. This is an original pressing with the white label. You may recall there was quite a stir on Jazz Collector several years ago, when an original copy of this record sold for more than $3,000. You can find the original article by doing a search on the site or just by clicking here.  This one will not sell for $3,000, of that we can be sure. It is in VG+ condition and is currently priced at $177. From the same seller is this: Miles Davis, Workin’, Prestige 7166. This is an original New Jersey pressing. The record is M- and the cover is VG++. The current price is $152.50, which is somewhat higher than usual for this LP. Although it’s a great record and we wouldn’t begrudge anyone paying any amount for a near mint version.  Finally, from the same seller is this: Thad Jones, Mad Thad, Period 1208. This is an original pressing. The record is M- and the cover is VG+. The current price is $300. 

Read more

Another $1,000 Record, in Waiting

One comment

Yesterday we referenced a bunch of records that recently broke the $1,000 price barrier. Here’s one that WILL break the barrier in a few days: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This is an original pressing that is in M-/M- condition. It’s listed as a featured item on eBay, which means that everyone searching for jazz LPs will see it, not just those of you who are, ahem, wise enough to read Jazz Collector. We’ll keep an eye on this record for you, as well as a few others, although our posting might be limited the next few days with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up in the U.S. The highest price we’ve recorded in the Jazz Collector Price Guide for Candy in the past was $1,302, but that was a few years ago and we’re betting that this one will surpass it. What do you think?

Some $1,000 Records

Leave a comment

As we were writing the latest post, we noticed that Jazz Collector has been keeping an eye on some records from the past few weeks that sold for more than $1,000. This is always an interesting barrier, so here are some of the records that crossed it:

Sonny Clark, Dial S For Sonny, Blue Note 1570. This was an original pressing, of course. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. Price: $1,401

Hank Mobley, Hank, Blue Note 1560. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The vinyl was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG+. Price: $1,275

Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill, Transition 17. This was an original pressing with the booklet. The record was M-, the cover was VG+ and the booklet was M-. The price was $1,913. 

Read more

1 … 194 195 196 197 198 … 212