A Tale of Two Blue Notes

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Others saw this and pointed to it already, but I couldn’t let it pass without at least a mention: J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This was, alas, a reissue. A reissue that sold for $1,081. Clearly the buyer thinks he is getting an original pressing and will be quite disappointed. I’ve sold enough collectible jazz records on eBay to know that English is not the first language for many of the high-end buyers and when you underline words like “flat edge” and “deep groove” and you don’t call out that it is a reissue, then you are being purposefully obscure. I’m pretty sure the seller is a reader of Jazz Collector and perhaps he will make a strong argument that he was being aptly descriptive of the record. And maybe the buyer won’t complain. I know there are many people who believe that it is the buyer’s responsibility and in this case the seller uses the word “repressing” to describe the record. But if it was me, and I paid nearly $1,100 for a record, and I was waiting for it in the mail and I opened up the box and pulled out a reissue, I’d be might, mighty disappointed. And pretty angry. And I would demand a refund. Whereas if I purchased this record and opened it and pulled it out of the box I’d be quite pleased because it was no doubt an original pressing: Fats Navarro Memorial Album, Blue Note 5004. This was an original — a real original– 10-inch record in M- condition for the record and at least VG++ for the cover. What a beauty, and the seller took some nice pictures as well. It sold for $178.09. Which would you rather have: The Fats original or the J.R. reissue?

 

A Period Piece, and More

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Here are some updates on the jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching, starting with: Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1204. This is a pretty cool cover, don’t you think? The record looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and the cover, although the seller seemed to wanted additional emphasis by putting in a few more plus signs. It sold for $543. And while we’re on the subject of Sonny, that British Esquire pressing of Saxophone Colossus? It sold for $449.

Bud Powell, The Scene Changes, Blue Note 4009. This was an original pressing that as described in excellent condition for the record and the cover, which I will interpret to VG++ when I place this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, which I will do eventually. This one sold for $515.

Guess I’m not going to get a black-label copy of Giant Steps this week. This one had no bidders when we last looked, but wound up attracting three bids and sold for $284.99. C’est la vinyl.

 

 

 

eBaying: Jazz Vinyl That Sold, Others That Didn’t

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Let’s catch up on some more jazz vinyl auctions we are/were watching, starting with: Cliff Jordan, Blue Note 1565. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It looked like quite a beauty and, in fact, may still be available. This one received a top bid of $1,525, yet is failed to meet the seller’s reserve price. I know the market is the market and sellers have every right to hold out for top value, but I still find it hard to fathom wanting to pay more than $1,500 for a single record and still being unable to purchase it.

Here’s a fine looking Blue Note for you: J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The auction closes in three days and the bidding is in the $565 range. Can’t imagine this will sell for less than $1,000, so the question is how much more than $1,000 will it fetch.

This one isn’t regarded as a collectible anymore (clearly), but I kept an eye on it wondering if anyone would even want it at all:

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Developing a Thing For European Prestiges

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Watching a potpourri of jazz vinyl on eBay now. Here’s another one of those European Esquire Prestiges I’ve never seen before: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Esquire 32-045. This one doesn’t have the classic U.S. Saxophone Colossus cover, but there’s something about the simplicity of this cover that I find quite appealing. I tell you, I’m developing a thing for these records, which is always dangerous. This one looks to be VG++ for both the record and the cover. The auction closes in more than two days and the bidding is in the $160 range.

Here’s another tempting one: Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney, Two Guitars, Prestige 7119. This is an original New York yellow label pressing listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $160 range and the auction closes today. If I could get this for less than $250, hmmm . . . . .

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Aberration is in the Eye of the Beholder

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Since everyone is getting so worked up over the prices of some of the latest auctions, I decided to take a look at all of the recent completed listings from the bobdjukic sales to get an overall sense of things. There are definitely some aberrations between what we expect to see in the market, and some that fit in just fine with market expectation. Just for fun, I’ll pull out a few more of the aberrations.

Sonny Rollins, What’s New, RCA 2572. I love this record, but I’ve never really looked at it as a collectible. I have several copies, in fact. This was a promo copy in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $161.50.

Horace Silver, Song For My Father, Blue Note 84185. This is a stereo pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for the record and probably VG+ for the cover, although you can clearly see ring wear on the photo. It sold for $385.

Chet Baker, Baker’s Holiday, Limelight 86019. This is an original stereo pressing. The record was in VG++ condition, the cover around VG+. It sold for $136.50.

Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Dream, Columbia 8765. This is a stereo pressing, with 2-eye label. The seller claims it is much rarer than the mono??????? It sold for $152.50.

 

 

 

 

 

A Double Dose of “Wow!”

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I haven’t been on eBay in a few days, but fortunately our friend CeeDee is forwarding me some interesting auction results all under the subject “Wow!” Here’s the first wow: Miles Davis, Miles Smiles, Columbia 9401. This is an original stereo pressing with the 2-eye label. We’ve never really watched it here at Jazz Collector because it’s never been considered a collectible. In fact, I’ve always seen it as pretty common. I think I have three copies. You can generally find them for $20 or so, right? This one was in M- condition for the record in and VG++ for the cover. Want to guess what it sold for? How about $290? Want to guess who sold it? How about bobdjukic?

This was another wow from CeeDee, but it was not from the same seller: Wayne Shorter, Adam’s Apple, Blue Note 4232. This is a mono LIBERTY pressing. The record was in VG+ or perhaps a little better condition and the cover was VG+. The price: $251.05.  Hmm.

 

Tracking Tres Blue Notes

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Just popped over to eBay and noticed this one closing in about an hour: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This looks to be an original pressing. The record is listed in VG condition, although the seller notes that it “plays great,” and the cover is VG+. The price is only $565. I say “only” because I would expect this record to sell for more than $1,000 in this condition. And perhaps it will.

Here’ another from the same seller, similar description: Lee Morgan, Indeed, Blue Note 1538. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing, also listed in VG condition for the record, this time without the “plays great” proviso. The cover is in VG+ condition and this one also closes in about an hour. The bidding is in the $500 range.

And one more from this seller: Sonny Rollins Volume 1, Blue Note 1542. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The cover on this always has the West 63rd address, right? I’ve never seen this with a Lexington Avenue cover and I’m pretty sure they don’t exist. I have to get another copy of Fred Cohen’s Blue Note Guide. I left the last one on a plane. This record

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Three All-Time Classics

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Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching today and this week on eBay:

Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness, Prestige 7047. This is an original New York yellow label pressing closing in a few hours. The record and the cover are both listed in VG+ condition. The current price is about $300.

Look who’s back, the seller bobdjukic, who is somewhat controversial among readers of Jazz Collector. This is one of his: Bill Evans, Waltz For Debby, Riverside 399. This looks to be an original mono pressing with the blue label and deep  grooves. There six days to go on this auction and there are already 17 bids and nearly 300 views. The guy certainly has a knack. Record and cover are listed in VG++ condition and the price is nearly $500.

Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This looks to be an early/original pressing that is in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The price is close to $500 and the auction closes tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

Playing Jazz Vinyl Catch-Up

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Sorry I haven’t posted all week. Been a little crazy and exciting around here. My son wrote and directed a play that opened Off Broadway this week. Reviews have been terrific — here’s the one from The New York Tmes: Being Bullied, Getting Even and Maybe Going Too Far. If you’re in New York, please come see it at the Pershing Square Signature Theater. 

Anyway, back to watching records on eBay. Here were a few that we had been watching when we fell off the grid, starting with: Curtis Fuller, Bone and Bari, Blue Note 1572. This was an original pressing that looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. This one sold for $1,259.56, which is the highest price we’ve ever recorded for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

This one came from the same seller: Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 1, Blue Note 1596. This was an original pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. This one, of course, as the Andy Warhol cover design and art. It sold for $655. I thought it would sell for a higher price.

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DG Or Not DG, That Is the Question

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Our friend CeeDee send me the following link in a fit of minor pique: Bill Evans, Portrait in Jazz, Riverside 315. There were two related sources of irritation. One was the overuse of pictures to show every minor detail of the listing. The other was the seeming incongruity between the many and varied pictures and the description of the record. The seller described it as an original deep groove pressing, yet in all of the pictures it is quite difficult to ascertain an actual deep groove. Take a look and see what you think. This one was listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $157.50.

Here’s a catch-up on some of the other records we were watching last week, starting with Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1559. This was an original pressing offered by the Jazz Record Center. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $2,619. Big price. I finally landed an original copy of this record last year as part of a collection (not the Irving Kalus collection) and I’m pleased to say the entire collection cost just a bit more than $2,619. From the same auction, this one sold for a surprisingly high price:

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