Whims
I’m back watching eBay and it’s really hard not to return to the Blue Notes, particularly in light of the discussion on the previous post, but let’s resist the temptation and start with one from a few weeks ago: Booker Ervin Quintet, Cookin’, Savoy 12154. Someone, I think it was Gregory the Fish, mentioned that the bottom may be collapsing on some of the non-Blue Note, non-Prestige pressings from the ‘50s. I don’t doubt that it may be happening, as GTF is far more active in the market than I am these days. However, I must say I’m not seeing it from some of the records I’ve been watching on eBay and this is one of them. It was a second pressing with the maroon label. The seller identifies it as a second pressing. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG+. The final price was $788.99. I’ve had a copy of this record for years, also with the maroon label, and I used to wonder if, perhaps, maroon was the original label, since I had never seen a red label in person. But, eBay has cleared that up and, indeed, if you have a red label of Cookin’, you have an original.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned this, but a few years ago I started this process of putting a label on each of my records, denoting the condition and whether it is an original pressing. I also put an estimate of the value. Not to be morbid, but the purpose of this is to give my kids a sense of the value of the records so they don’t get ripped off when I die. Anyway, my maroon copy of Booker Ervin Cookin’ is in M- copy. When I put the label on a few years ago, I put the value at $40. I guess I will have to change that now. The odd thing is that the second pressing that just sold is now the highest price ever recorded for this record, according to Popsike.
Back to non-Blue Notes: Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Pal, Prestige 7068. This was an original New York Yellow label that looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition, depending upon how you feel about “light ticks” and “non-feelable scratches.” I don’t get too hung up on “light ticks” because I’ve found even new, unplayed records can have a tick or two here and there. This copy sold for $1,137. From the same seller there was Art Taylor, Taylor’s Wailers, Prestige 7117. This was also an original New York yellow label and seemed to be in better condition than Jackie’s Pal, with fewer ticks. The cover was listed in VG condition. The final price was $685.85.
Taylor’s Wailers reminds me of something I did recently. I’ve been really listening to a lot of Trane lately. All Trane, all eras, all the time. So, to ensure I have the broadest selection when I want to listen, I put all of the records featuring Trane in one place. So Taylor’s Wailers is now on the same shelf as all of my other Trane Prestiges, plus the Red Garlands, Mal Waldron, Gene Ammons, etc. And Blue Notes, Whims of Chambers, Sonny’s Crib, A Blowing Session. And the Cannonball on Mercury and the Wilbur Hardens on Savoy and the Art Blakey on Bethlehem. I’ve never done this type of organization before, but it’s been a couple of weeks and, so far, I’m loving it. The simple pleasures we can get from our hobbies, right? And totally awesome that I have all of these records to organize and reorganize according to the Whims of Perlman.
as Cookin’ teaches, and as the Market teaches, it’s impossible to give a value to any of our records. I mean, a lasting one. we should do a monthly reorganization of values, easy if we have few records, impossible if we are collectors. but the idea of leaving a good evaluation when we are gone is compulsory. this my strategy: I keep a database of all my records, artist, title, label, and all features, date of purchase and price. the only problem I can’t get out, is the updated value. example: If I bought a Transition in the 70s, paid $100.00, what’s the value now? I’m pretty sure to know the answer, impossible for my kids. I should write a possible or likely value, but this feature changes quickly and I’ve got no time to keep updated. ok, I could do it once a year but haven’t tried yet. any interesting solution?
I suppose I should qualify what I meant from the previous post: Of course not all records other than Blue Note or Prestige are having a drop off, but Savoy is a a great example of what is happening.
Records not by a popular Prestige/Blue Note leader are really where the bottom is falling out. Booker’s “The (blank) Book” run on Prestige is legendary, and it has a halo effect on to labels like Savoy.
For contrast, records like “Top Brass” or “Trumpets All Out” do not prominently list the leader, and have an ‘arranger’. Those are falling out favor.
These are just examples.
Had a really clean spare of that Booker Savoy (maroon) just a few years ago that I struggled to get $100 for. Oh well!
For the record there’s a non-DG blood red label out there which I have seen but have never seen a deep groove version ever.
My copy of Cookin’ by Booker Ervin on Savoy is red and deep groove.
Dottore: your idea is absolutely right, but a monthly review of market development seems practically impossible. I haven’t started yet to initially mark mine!
I am the seller of that copy of Cookin’ and believe me I was as surprised as anyone that it went for nearly $800. I probably bought it two years ago for @ $150 and was expecting to sell it about the same or slightly higher. The only reason I sold it is that I had an opportunity to buy a first pressing with blood red DG labels…and for about half of what that second pressing sold for!
Tis a strange little world we inhabit…
David S. That Miles Davis vol, 3 you have for sale is nice, would make a great addition to my collection i it was$100 bucks less
As we close out the year, we hear plenty of stories attempting to recap the previous year in general, or recap specific areas of interest. One such story focused on trends in savings, cash balances, and consumer spending. We are all aware of inflation, and many point to increased spending as one of the causes. Why has spending increased ? Because many consumers have saved much of the stimulus funding they received, either directly (putting offset checks in the bank) or indirectly (saving money not spent by going out, commuting etc). As we began to emerge from Covid, consumers began to spend money… but for a long time, both accumulated balances and rate of savings remained higher than pre-Covid levels. During the 4th quarter of the year, both data points began to recede from earlier high levels, IE-collective savings rates and balances have begun to decline. With people in general possibly have fewer excess resources available, it is possible that discretionary spending may level off before beginning to decline. Perhaps were are at the earliest stages, with collectors beginning to focus on titles and labels proven to be great “investments” instead of pure speculation. OTOH- we are seeing appreciation in labels such as Verve, where for a long time NM first pressings were readily available for less than 3 figures. This trend bears watching.
I was just looking at this site and saw the info about the Cookin’ lp.I have had my copy for decades.Turns out it is a red label but not a deep groove. Al if you are reading, I lived really close to our mutual friend Red Carraro and spent many an hour in his basement looking for records. Still miss him.