eBaying: Criss, Trane, Tenorman

Here are some interesting jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay:

We were somewhat surprised to see this one in the $1,000 bin, considering that the market seems a bit down these days: Sonny Criss, Go Man, Imperial 9020. There were 28 bids, which is a lot. It was a very reputable seller, the record was in M- condition, and the cover was VG+. The price was $1,259.

This one was only in VG condition for the record and the cover, yet is still nearly made the $1,000 bin: Lawrence Marable, Tenorman, Jazz West 8. This one even had audible scuffs. Nevertheless, it sold for $909.99.

One of my all-time favorite records, in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover: John Coltrane, Soultrane, Prestige 7142. This one sold for $338.99

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27 comments

  • Hi there I reckon that Sonny Criss goes for the cover more than anything else…would be of interest to jazz heads, ivy league devotees, hipsters and cool cats, lambretta and Vespa obsessives, mods and scooterboys…

  • The Sonny Criss is definitely famous due to an appearance by a young Sonny Clark. I was priced out around $500, I had a feeling it would go for a lot higher but was hoping for that 1 in a 10,000 shot it wouldn’t. I’ve have other Criss-Clark records on Imperial and they are definitely worthwhile. Criss is great, and Clark is yet fully mature as a pianist but still impressive. Of the three auctions you mentioned Al I think the Soultrane was the closest to being a deal.
    I’ve been trying not to buy any records as I’ve had a $1200 plumbing emergency and $500 AC emergency in the past month(you don’t want to be without AC in south Louisiana), but I couldn’t resist trying to steal the Criss. Too bad I was like $700 short.

  • One of my fave 50’s covers-I’d forgotten that Sonny Clark was on there,though!

  • That Mobley (Classic Records reissue) has been relisted at $9.99. I’m glad to see no one actually paid that amount for it!

  • I wouldn’t count on that, maybe he has more of them 😉

  • info about reissue was published July 7th while last bid one week later, july 13th.
    I can’t see any difference between labels of this record and the original.
    cover is definetly a Capitol reissue, but record ?
    I’m not an expert about recent reissues but I don’t think they look like an original with deep grooves.
    maybe the pics are not the actual ones.
    any idea ?
    if you look at the relisted item, pics are exactly the same but seller states in description “pressed by Emi”.
    there’s something wrong ’round here.

  • The classic records re-issues used a custom made press that incorporated a deep groove to add authenticity. They also used the original labels. Holding the record in your hands you know it’s not a original Blue Note, but looking at those pictures I could understand the confusion. I have a Classic Records Cool Strutting I’ll sell for a grand :-). Actually you may be able to low ball me at $500.

  • thanks Mike, as I stated, I’m ignorant ’bout reissues and, looking at the bid story of that record, I’m in good company.
    now I’ve documented: http://www.classicrecords.com/blog/
    these records are sold for $ 40-50.
    the only reason to pay more for them is to believe they are original first pressing, wrongly.
    looking carefully to the pics, and not holding in your hands, anyone can easily go the wrong way.
    some sellers hide important info, show pics taken somewhere but not from their records and Ignorance rules.
    sorry Mike for your record, nice price but not old enough for me.
    maybe someone else, out of Jazz Collector…..

  • I don’t know if I have it in me to sell a re-issue I paid $30 for 5 years ago for $1,000 no matter how foolish the buyer is. I’d feel too guilty. On a side note, these Classic Records pressings can be found used on ebay for sub $20 sometimes and they are nice re-issues. Worth checking out for $30 or less if you don’t mind a re-issue. I have like 30-40 of them. They sold them from like 2000-2008 or something. The only issue they have is that sometimes they are a little noisier than a modern reissue should be.

  • dottorjazz:thanks for the Classic Records link. Once I finished reading it I thought”Obsessive-Compulsive? Nah-just thorough!” Or so I convinced myself…

  • On the subject pricing above the market… check out eBay item 120749313609.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/WAYNE-SHORTER-JUJU-RVG-Blue-Note-84182-Stereo-/120749313609?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item1c1d384e49#ht_1758wt_832

    Seems this seller has a habit of listing re-issues at prices that would be expensive even for first issues….

  • I don’t think the Moanin’ is a classic re-issue. I have the Classic and it doesn’t have the stereo sticker on it. I have three copies of this one, a liberty stereo that doesn’t have the “Stereo” sticker on the front, the Classic records one, and an original Mono. When I pull this album out to listen I listen to the Classic records copy, my favorite even compared to the original.
    This is my favorite Blakey album and Blakey band. I don’t have any of his French records from the same 58 with that band and they are high on my wish list. Originals of the Blakey St Germain recordings don’t come up very often unfortunately.

  • Tony,
    It’s not a Classic Records reissue as it has VAN GELDER stamped in the deadwax. The Classic Blue Notes have the catalog number and BG (for Bernie Grundman) in the deadwax, no “ear” on the Classics either.

  • OK. Must be a liberty re-issue then. No mention of the Plastylite P…. I am mainly going off the cover. Just doesnt look original to me. Look at the print on the back. Its too thick. And the card stock seems too thin. etc.

  • Also, wouldnt $5 have been expensive for 1959?

  • I am the (hopefully) happy new owner of the Coltrane Soultrane….I’ve had nice experience with this seller so I hope this is as nice as I hope/assume it is.

  • Seems a bit expensive for the Soultrane- these seem to go for half the price.

    For example ebay: 400227898558; 250853607432;

  • That second eBay auction had Soultrane listed as a Comedy album!

  • Mike – those Blakey St Germain recordings (1958) – I have volumes 1 and 2 (mono), and also the Fontana release of the “Olympia” concert that was recorded on the same tour around the same time,same songs, and same line up (Golson excelling on tenor)

    The St Germain recording for me has one major difference – the audience in the club is pretty noisy, and its not all band – audience interraction, its people shouting and calling to their friends and general hubub. At first its atmospheric but after a while I get the urge to tell them to shut up.

    Perhaps I can get meds for this.

  • LC, This gets annoying to me as well. The opposite for a quality club recording to me is Blakey at Birdland. I actually have the Fontana Olympia release high on my list as well to grab. They aren’t horribly expensive, but they just don’t come up as often.

  • @Tony

    It is all about condition in this case. I am paying a premium for this seller’s goods. When he says NM and looks unplayed, I believe it based on past experience. That is worth the premium vs random sellers calling something NM. At least for me in this situation. For the ~50 best LPs out there (the ones I want to play again and again), I want as nice a copy as possible. Pristine versions of Soultrane have gone for well over $500. Though I see your point which is that the record is broadly available and can be had for less if willing to get VG++ from nice seller which names a slight defect (400227898558) or take a risk from a No Returns Accepted seller with limited feedback that calls something NM and doesn’t even show the labels (250853607432) or mention the address etc. Now let’s just hope it is in as nice a condition as I hope / expect. I will post when I receive it.

  • BigBear: I follow your reasoning. On reflection I have probably done the same in the past. Better to pay what initially looks like more for the real deal than think you are saving money on cheaper copies only to spend more in the long run getting the one you want… I hope it turns out to be OK.

  • Perhaps I have been unlucky, but I have some records released in France in the fifties and owned by French jazz fans,and bought from French sellers, and have found them offered in pretty poor condition.

    One recently was described as VG+ but on delivery it had a cumulative length of about an inch and a quarter of deep click, click, click, scratches.

    The French seller was absolutely convinced this was a “normal” VG+ and wouldn’t budge on it.

    Perhaps “VG+” loses something in translation.

  • Apparently scratches only count if you can feel them with a fingernail (god forbid) according to some sellers!

  • I see that copy of Moanin went for $211 in the end. About double of its historical value on eBay…. I refrained from bidding in the end as the seller was not very forthcoming… (would be nice to see the full cover before spending that sort of cash).

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