Prestige Day At Jazz Collector
Let’s catch up on some of the Prestige jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:
Sonny Rollins, Moving Out, Prestige 7058. This was an original New York pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover and the seller has a good reputation. The price was $197.50. This one has Kenny Dorham and Thelonious Monk. We would have expected a higher price.
Webster Young, For Lady, Prestige 7106. This was an original New York pressing as well. The record was only VG, while the cover was M-. The price was $213.50.
Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Prestige 7294. This was an original yellow label pressing with
the New Jersey address. The record was listed as VG+ and the cover looked to be somewhere around VG or VG+. The price was $177.50.
We’ve watched this one a few times recently: Phil Woods Quintet, New Jazz 1104. This was an original 10-inch LP. The record and cover both looked to be in VG+ condition and the price was $192.50.
Finally, here’s a very nice record that doesn’t usually get covered here at Jazz Collector because it’s not a highly valued collectible. But it is a terrific record and the price is usually right, so keep an eye out for it: Charles McPherson, Con Alma, Prestige 7427. This LP features a two-sax-led quintet with Cliff Jordan joining McPherson. This was an original blue label pressing that sold for $26.50 in M- condition, well worth it in our opinion.
I would like to ask a question and hope that it will be answered. I know that the deep groove is important when talking about Blue Note records. But, I’ve noticed that some Prestige record listings also mention a deep groove. Does the DG indicate a first pressing? Thank you.
Max: that is an interesting question. It depends really on the period of issue.
I just took the above original blue label 7427 in my hands. I have a first mono issue bought from Prestige when it was issued. There is no DG.
It is fair to state that 12″ yellow/black labels with the NY adress (7001 up to 7140), ditto y/b N.J. labels from 7140 to around 7316, should be DG in order to be considered a first pressing. With the advent of the blue label, around PRLP 7320, things changed. The blue asterisk label designed by Don Schlitten has no DG, but constitutes an original first pressing from 7320 onwards.
(a blue label for a catalogue number under 7317 is never an original, but a re-edition of a yellow label). Later on they changed the design, but the colour remained blue, then they changed the same design to purple. When Prestige was sold to Fantasy, the colour became yellow/green (and the vinyl extremely thin).
Max: Atomic records has a nice example of a first pressing yellow/black NY label (George Wallington -Jazz for the carriage trade, a beautiful album.) The first 30 to 35 12″ Prestige albums had that invariable agressive yellow lemon shade and angular letter type. Later they changed to egg yolk yellow in various shades, sometimes ochre! Lettering was different too. 7032 was never reprinted, but later issues of Miles’ 7007 and 7012 are different from the original 7032-like version. I have 7007 in the original version and a second NY version showing album covers on the back (7054, 7044), so it is a later one and the label (DG) is the later type, post 7035.
Sorry for these details but there is a lot to be said on the subject.
Max: compare the label of “For Lady” 7106, shown by Al hereinabove, with Atomic’s 7032 (Wallington) and you will see what I mean.
Rudolf I remember reading an earlier post of yours where you said prestige first pressings have no title on the spine. Were you speaking of only the New York labels, or is this true in the case of the N.J. address as well?
I’m hoping just N.Y. because the few new jersey titles I have all have titles on spine. Thanks
Bob, all the original N.J. adress albums should have titles on a broad spine. For the NY albums, the first spine titling appeared around # 7060. Here is what I found:
7058-spine title, looks like an original though
7059: ditto
7060: no spine
7061: no spine
7062: spine title, is original
7063: no spine
from 7063 onwards all original NY issues should have spines and titling.
Thank you for the answer Rudolf. Since I have your attention, I have another question. This concerns some Emarcy record covers. I own a Clifford Brown, “Study in Brown”, record with the blue and silver drummer logo on the label, a first pressing. Recently an auction on eBay stated that a first pressing for an Emarcy record had the blue and silver drummer logo and also a blue colored back record jacket. Rudolf have you heard of this? Thank you again for your input.
Max
Thanks as well Rudolf. Max there is a blue tint to the whole back of cover including images as opposed to black which was on later pressings. I believe another point is there should be a silver ring partially around the record label as well.
Max: Bob gave the right answer. Some lower catalogue numbers have first issues with a bigger drummer logo on the labels. The same big logo as they had on the 10″ series.
Thank you Rudolf and Bob for the info.
Max