Checking Out Some Classic Jazz Vinyl
Sorry for another long delay between posts. I have been watching eBay, and here are some of the jazz records that have caught my eye, starting with Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1204. This is an original pressing listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. As most of you know, I’ve been collecting jazz records for more than 45 years and Rollins has always been one of my heroes. I’ve had a complete collection of Rollins originals for many years, with this one record as the exception. Somehow in all of these years, perusing all of these record stores, buying all of these collections, Sonny Rollins Plays on Period has eluded me and left a gap in my collection. I realize I can fill this gap through eBay, but I choose not to, at least for now. This copy is priced at $500 already and there is a bidder. I’ll keep looking for a copy that is priced closer to what my sensibilities will allow. It’s not the money, as per my usual, it’s the principle.
Here’s another one that had eluded me for many years: Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This is an original New York yellow label pressing that looks to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $1,000 and so far there are no bidders. I do expect this one to sell, given the personnel, the rarity of the record, the label and the condition. We’ll see in a couple of days.
You don’t see too many Billie Holiday records fetching high collectible prices, but this one exception: Billie Holiday, Jazz at the Philharmonic, Clef 169. This is an original 10-inch pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. Tough to find this record in this condition. Really, it is tough to find any 10-inch record in M-/M- condition these days. This one is especially regarded by collectors because of the great David Stone Martin cover. The price is more than $200, but it has yet to reach the seller’s reserve. The auction closes later today.
Shouldn’t a first pressing of the Billie Holiday have a large trumpeter on the label?
Good observation about 10s, it seems beating the discs must have been a requirement upon purchase given their usual condition.
Does anyone know if 10″s of that vintage ever came with an inner sleeve?
I imagine if they did, many were discarded because it is already difficult enough to get those in the cover without the volume of additional paper. I store all of my discs outside of cover, and there are many 10″ acquired where putting the record back in the cover at all would cause a split
Many 10″ records came with a “cellophane” inner sleeve. Trumpet player, big vs. small……? I don’t know, I always thought a clef 10″ was a clef 10″ even with the different logo.
whats up the sonny-period being that scarce, but ive had copies of the django, birdlanders, and v/a samplers (2 vols), forever. its so odd, i thought id see 10 copies of this by now….but like you i have seen none
Period was basically a classical music label. The three Birdlanders albums were Vogue (Paris) material. Thad Jones was a Period recording artist. He shared one record side with Rollins and had two albums by himself. I guess they had distribution problems and the Rollins side went unnoticed amongst the tremendous Rollins output in 1957/58.
The Mobley had a BIN price of 1000. It did not sell. Now it is back with reduced price at 900, and probably won’t sell. The irrealistic BIN price almost never work, but surprisingly, many sellers still try to use as the easiest way to make the more money. And it still doesn’t work. And they try again….
…Interesting fact about that Billie Holiday, Jazz at the Philharmonic, Clef 169: The original cover was misspelt “Billy” ! It was even reproduced with this misprint on the Verve CD re-issue, with a note on the back of the CD that mentions how they reproduced the original misprinted cover. I’ve also seen a light green variation, but with the correct spelling. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be as much documented on these early 10″ Clefs to the same extent that Blue Note has been researched. Always loved that DSM cover though.
Everest Records began in 1958. At some point, it acquired Period Records, Counterpoint, and Tradition. I have the Sonny Rollins on an Everest reissue and on a Phoenix reissue. Presumably, Everest used the master tape(s). Cost: Under $5.00. I also have a Mingus Everest LP that came from Period. I also have those albums on the Jazztone label. The Period Rollins and Thad Jones was also issued by Jazztone in Europe on the (F) Guilde du Jazz label and the (G) Jazztone label. Headquarters for Jazztone was Switzerland.