Does it look familiar to anyone else ? I am pretty sure we have seen this one on Jazz Collector before… Still, it is always great to find “collectors items” like this on the market from time to time.
I have not seen it on Jazz Collector before, but it was offered a few times on EBay. It is a rarity. I have the regular issue and am quite happy with it.
as I mentioned the other day, the BLP 1577, offered at a minimum bid price of 800 dollars did not find a buyer. I think it is counterproductive to ask a high entry price. It scares off people.
Even if buyers don’t like reserve prices, it is the better way to let the bidding start.
Here, of course, buyers’ views are not necessarily the same as sellers’.
Rudolf: I think you are right, & even though he did sell 1568 at the start price of $3000, one can’t help thinking he could have got more for it if he’d started the bidding lower (it has sold for over $5000 in the past).
From a seller’s point of view I think it is the better/safer option & anyone who’s put off bidding just because it has a reserve, is cutting off their nose to spite their face.
(Incidentally, I am not an ebay seller, just a buyer)
Al had made mention of one of these Ornette-Coleman-Town-Hall LP’s in his entry back on Jan 12, 2010… Entitled “More Updates: A $1,600 Cannon, Rare Ornette”
That last one sold for $987.00 and had 14 bids. (Item number: 290387068753)
The most recent posting (Item number: 350323320438) has a starting price of $999.99 and zero bids so far with a 3 days left in the auction. I agree with past comments about listing LP’s with a reasonable starting price instead of a reserve bid, but only if it is fair market value, some people are just way off the mark like that posting for the Hank Mobley 1568. (At least give us a sporting chance !)But I digress…
Either way, Ornette is such an acquired taste, but he is amazing live, and not to be missed if you ever have the opportunity. I saw him perform live
last year and his rendition of Bach’s Cello Suite #1 in G Major… Just incredible. Free Jazz, like fine art, can only be truly appreciated live my humble opinion.
Hi Al. You know a blind pianist of my country (Catalonia)…Tete Montoliu? He has very nice and collectible records… “A tot jazz 1 and 2” “Piano for Nuria”
“Recordando a Line” …
I am really not surprised at that BLP 1577 not selling at the minimum bid of $800… Don’t get me wrong, I love John Coltrane’s Blue Train. (It was the first jazz album I ever bought !) but in all honesty, even in pristine condition is really not that rare an LP as far as I know.
Does anyone out there know how we would be able to get more detailed pressing information on early Blue Note Issues ? Specifically, how many of each LP (per pressing) were originally produced for circulation? There really should be some reference out there for this to help determine value / rarity. For example, why would they only press 500 Hank Mobley 1568’s originally, versus… Oh let’s say John Coltrane’s Blue Train 1577 ? This goes for the Prestige label as well… especially between the NYC & NJ pressings… (Any idea on this Rudolf ?)
Michel: this looks like a bobdjukic listing if I’m not mistaken; he’s the seller (as Al has posted with some frequency) who seems to attract an incredible number of people to view his listings together with much irrational bidding..
Well, Geraint, i do know it is Bob “the menace” DJukic listing…anyway, WHERE does those byuers come from ? From the moon ? – Nah, too much Jazz connoisseurs there. From Mars, maybe ? It is time to catch a specimen of them and to study him scientifcally, stating by the brain, of course. Search is opened !
I am not 100% on this, but I have more than a few copies of Dave’s infamous Time Out LP. All my LP’s are DG, 6-eye copies, but one has the cover in “Bobby-D’s” listing above, and the rest are the standard letterbox MONO cover…
This could very well be the result of a previous owner pulling the ol’ “swicheroo” or could this be one of those multiple cover LP’s… I am leaning towards the multiple cover theory myself.
Don-Lucky: i think it IS verry intresting to know about the numbers per pressing, also because sometimes i don’t understand the high prices of
perticular albums.
i guess it is not only the number of lp’s that there where made, but also how manny have been actualy
sold in the record stores in that time..
Hi everybody. Right now I am listening to a terrific blue note liberty album, Booker Irvin, The In Between (1968.) A local jazz store I go to played part of this album, and it’s my first exposure to him. I pulled his discography, and he didn’t record that many albums. If folks out there have any favorite albums by this artist please let me know. Thanks, Erich
the question of how many copies were initially (or totally) pressed of collectible items is intrigueing. But if a seller claims that only 500 copies have been pressed in all, there is no reason to believe him, esp. if this information comes from the likes of our friend Bob Dj.
The only reliable source of information can come from contemporaries, who were closely associated with the production and marketing.
One of those rare birds is still alive: Ira Gitler. I met him once over lunch some 25 years ago. He just published a book on Prestige. Vide Marc Myers’ blog “JazzWax” of 4 March 2010. IMO Ira should be able to give valuable information. Only New Yorkers can volunteer and try to contact Ira.
Of course, the Brubeck “Time Out” is a disgrace.
Wow, what a great site, have just been reading for a couple weeks, and really appreciate the insight as well as the educated jazz community it offers.
As a fellow who nears completing the blue note library, it is interesting to hear the debate between original pressings and re issued lp’s. I for one do not mind re issues, especially classic records, and japanese king lps. And with the rising cost of BN originals, I have no choice, if I want to get to know the music.
Anyone out there have an extra copy of BN 4068.? (Willette Face to Face) Any version would be great… Great site will be reading alot.
My condolences on losing your mother….I can’t imagine. Dan
Any experts wanna weigh in on Maarten’s query? IMO the listing is suspiciously vague. Were there any liberty pressings of this one? My guess is that those willing to drop the big dough will hold off for Euclid or some other reputable dealer. Then again, it’s at about 30 GBP… maybe worth the risk?
According to Larry Cohn, the number of copies pressed for a first run is around 2000. The big selling albums (Smith, Silver, 3 Sounds) were repressed many times. Some very poor sellers were never reissued.
Erich:I love Booker! Always fun to meet a new convert.Whether lp or cd,check out his “Songbook” release,with the great Tommy Flanagan on piano. “Our Love Is Here To Stay” has that joyous,life-affirming sound that BE was known for. And if you dig that-and you will-move on to Mingus-esp.Mingus’s Wonderland,where Ervin and John Handy lock horns. Good listening.
Maarten:re: Undercurrent-I remember owning that one years ago,and if I can recall,the original compositions were pretty weak. Even with the strong line-up,I seldom heard anything I could sink my teeth into. I’m sure some others will recall it differently,but my take made it easily tradeable..which I did.I’ve never been one to hold onto LPs that are rare,yet not well done.
Rudolf and Ceedee, thanks for your guidance on Booker. I am just starting to focus more on some east coast based artists, so I am a real novice here. I have focused on west coast jazz for 30+ years. My first jazz concert was when I was 12 and saw Cal Tjader (who I still love.) Thanks again! Right now, I am listening to Gary Burton/Chick Corea Crystal Silence, which I listened to when I was attending college in the 1970’s.
Our friend Fred Cohen has put an interesting batch of collectibles on auction with minimum prices of $ 1000 for some of the most sought after items (Transition – 3 Byrd LP’s and the Griffin mentioned by Maarten.
At least with Fred things are clear from the beginning.
indeed, i just saw the rest of his auction, some beautfull elpees, but unfortunaly out of my league..
especially the designs of the transition records are beautifull. Birds eye vieuw could be a reid miles.. does some one know who was the designer for transition. (it is not a label i see often in amsterdam,holland)
and the Monk plays duke… is also a beauty in design
Maarten: the cover art for “Donald Byrd on Beacon Hill” was by Tom Wilson and Nick Dean. Nick did also covers for another Boston based label, Storyville.
My copy of the Mondriaan inspired
“Byrd Jazz” does not give any credits for the cover art.
My “Bird’s Eye view” is on Esquire and has a great English design, which was even in the Japanese cover art collection books.
this guy has some interesting records for sale, don’t know his credibility…
wailing with lou, flight to jordan, dolphy outward bound.. although often vg+..
I rather enjoy Undercurrent – you know from the first bar it’s a Blue Note record in the Silver/Messengers vein – beginning with the driving title track & ending with the romantic Ballade, I personally think it’s a well put together album.
I got started with Booker Ervin with the Blue Note BNLA ‘Back From The Gig’, consisting of Horace Parlan’s ‘Happy Frame of Mind’ (highly recommended) & an unreleased set, & went to on to collect his complete catalogue, love his robust, slightly leftfield playing – the Mingus stuff, the Prestige Book series, the Candid ‘That’s It’, love it all.
Geraint,I may have to give UNDERCURRENT another listen,but one thing we can both say(I’m sure)is that the track “Den-tex” from “Back From The Gig”-if I remember the title correctly-is a KILLER! Absolutely powerful tenor voice from Booker,and nothing says it as forcefully as that track.
Maarten- I have always checked out the auctions by the seller funkyou on ebay. Over the past few years, he has picked up some KILLER amazing collections but alot of the time, they are in VG+ kinda condition. But his feedback is outstanding and he probably deals with a lot of repeat business so his grading of vinyl is either on point or he is being conservative and the vinyl turns out to be cleaner than expected. But MAN does he have some choice jazz LPs ending as I write this post.
…All I can say about many of the recent large collections being auctioned off on e-bay is that you often get what you pay for. That being said, there are still a lot of great finds out there for people like myself who can appreciate the virtues of a fine +VG… But more often than not, I have been disappointed with what has arrived. You really have to read between the lines in those “descriptions” (I use the term loosely) of some of the lazier sellers out there. I recommend asking as many questions at the front end and do you homework before bidding… Trust me, check the photo(s) carefully, as it’s easy to make those rookie mistakes in the heat of battle ! I too am still guilty of the occasional “blind bid” once and awhile myself (You win some you loose some right !) I have noticed that more often than not, it’s the little things that they leave out, such as the address on the back of the LP cover or perhaps Side 2 might be different than Side 1 etc. etc. etc. I’m sure this is all par for the course for those seasoned collectors out there, but for some of us, old habits die hard ! I’ll admit, I’ve been burned more than I care to admit on the elusive water stains or marks that turn out to be nothing but mould !
…One lesson I have learned from all this is that “quality over quantity” is really the best policy for these Sunday afternoon LP “benders”. Happy hunting guys !
Noticed that feedback is starting to come in on the “Miracle Auction” a month or so ago that I first posted here and which gave us such special results as $700 for the Brubeck Time Out LP (of which currently only four or five original copies are available at your local Salvation Army bin dive). Looks like the same buyer purchased many, many of the LPs in that auction. Same buyer also left glowing, advertisement like feedback for the seller. I followed that buyer’s feedback and noticed he likes to buy from a very limited number of sellers and often buys an incredible percentage of such sellers’ total auction in one shot — from jazz to classical to Beatles to rock. Quite a broad range of interest for a buyer willing to pay way beyond market in the auctions. I know some like to subscribe to the theory that the seller who got $700 for a Brubeck LP has created a brand identity of accurate grading and good service and thus gets premiums. Personally, I am hard pressed to believe it all. Euclid and Fred Cohen have reputations beyond reproach and they garner no such premiums in their sales. Make of it what you will.
Hear! hear!
…that original Town Hall didn’t sell – back on as a Buy It Now; sadly I don’t have a spare $999.99… maybe I should give that guy who can afford to splash out $700 for the Brubeck a buzz as he clearly has more cash than he knows what to do with…
(how are we to act on our suspicions – should we all write to ebay suggesting something fishy’s going on?)
Don’t think there is much to do Geraint. At the end of the day, I guess the seller who “commands” 700 bucks for an everyday million-copy jazz LP doesn’t owe me or anyone an explanation. If I believe something is rotten in Denmark with his auctions (and I do), then I simply need to avoid his auctions and buy from sellers who don’t have such “dedicated” or insane buyer-groupies.
well, just been doing a little digging – the guy who bought the Brubeck is the same guy who paid $1500 for Out To Lunch. You should check out his profile page: he claims to be a “Private Investigator… with a good ‘nose’ for sniffing out the bad guys!” Seems, that’s not the only thing he likes sniffing judging from his buying history…
Brubeck madness aside, I’ve been giving some thought to the overbidding phenomenon. I think we can all identify with the impulse to nab something in the moment even though we know it may only be a matter of weeks before we see it again. When you want something you often want it now. Add that thinking to someone for whom $700 is pocket change and you can see him simply bidding high to avoid wasting more time on ebay chasing down another one.
Not my kind of collector, personally. But whatever, let’em blow their cash on Time Out or… does anyone remember Al’s Kenny G link a few months ago?
Personally,I think it’s ridiculous to spend that kind of money on records. Unless,of course,someone’s bidding on MY records,in which case it’s their gog-given right to do so!(I’m so ashamed…)
Has anyone else ever noticed that there are certain sellers out there who have ways of inflating their own sales buy bidding against us with multiple “dummy accounts” they have set up for themselves ? I’ve seen this happen from time to time. Essentially, they bid against us until they just surpass your max, and then in the final moments, they wait for you to toss in one last desperate bid… That way they get the price they want or more… In the event that they win themselves, they will more often than not send you a second chance offer. (Sad but true…)
I certainly concur with the comments above regarding those “high-roller” collectors out there… After all, a fool and his money are soon parted right ? (As long as it doesn’t have an adverse affect on the prices for all us reputable +VG collectors out there.
Unfortunately, the catch 22 is we need to rake in those “high-roller” profits to buy more records ourselves… It’s a vicious cycle !!!
I keep getting outbid on George Wallington 10″ records. I have 4 in my set, and I am trying to get 2 more. When I bid yesterday, I was the high bidder at $60 with 6 hours left in the auction, and I bid $265 and still got outbid. Have to try again sometime……
Also to Erich (I think someone else mentioned this as well): Booker Ervin, The Song Book, Prestige 7318. This is the great one, IMHO. I also like Settin’ The Pace on Prestige with Dexter Gordon. And with Mingus on Blues and Roots. Well almost everything, but these are standouts.
Geraint: the seller you are referring to is serious, but a seller neverthelss. So, as a matter of fact, if this album has an ear and DG, he would have mentioned it. It is fair to assume they are not there.
What I don’t like is his way of making pictures: just a glimpse of the label pulled out, no details. For an extra 10 cts his gives a full label picture, showing all the weaknesses as well.
I was doing my usual pre-weekend shopping on e-bay yesterday and came accross this little gem:
Ornette-Coleman-Town-Hall-ESP-Silkscreen-Review-Copy-LP with Original Inner sleeve & Press Release !
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Ornette-Coleman-Town-Hall-ESP-Silkscreen-Review-Copy-LP_W0QQitemZ350323320438QQihZ022QQcategoryZ306QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26ps%3D6%26clkid%3D8260179359239367719
Does it look familiar to anyone else ? I am pretty sure we have seen this one on Jazz Collector before… Still, it is always great to find “collectors items” like this on the market from time to time.
I have not seen it on Jazz Collector before, but it was offered a few times on EBay. It is a rarity. I have the regular issue and am quite happy with it.
as I mentioned the other day, the BLP 1577, offered at a minimum bid price of 800 dollars did not find a buyer. I think it is counterproductive to ask a high entry price. It scares off people.
Even if buyers don’t like reserve prices, it is the better way to let the bidding start.
Here, of course, buyers’ views are not necessarily the same as sellers’.
Rudolf: I think you are right, & even though he did sell 1568 at the start price of $3000, one can’t help thinking he could have got more for it if he’d started the bidding lower (it has sold for over $5000 in the past).
From a seller’s point of view I think it is the better/safer option & anyone who’s put off bidding just because it has a reserve, is cutting off their nose to spite their face.
(Incidentally, I am not an ebay seller, just a buyer)
Al had made mention of one of these Ornette-Coleman-Town-Hall LP’s in his entry back on Jan 12, 2010… Entitled “More Updates: A $1,600 Cannon, Rare Ornette”
That last one sold for $987.00 and had 14 bids. (Item number: 290387068753)
The most recent posting (Item number: 350323320438) has a starting price of $999.99 and zero bids so far with a 3 days left in the auction. I agree with past comments about listing LP’s with a reasonable starting price instead of a reserve bid, but only if it is fair market value, some people are just way off the mark like that posting for the Hank Mobley 1568. (At least give us a sporting chance !)But I digress…
Either way, Ornette is such an acquired taste, but he is amazing live, and not to be missed if you ever have the opportunity. I saw him perform live
last year and his rendition of Bach’s Cello Suite #1 in G Major… Just incredible. Free Jazz, like fine art, can only be truly appreciated live my humble opinion.
Hi Al. You know a blind pianist of my country (Catalonia)…Tete Montoliu? He has very nice and collectible records… “A tot jazz 1 and 2” “Piano for Nuria”
“Recordando a Line” …
I am really not surprised at that BLP 1577 not selling at the minimum bid of $800… Don’t get me wrong, I love John Coltrane’s Blue Train. (It was the first jazz album I ever bought !) but in all honesty, even in pristine condition is really not that rare an LP as far as I know.
Does anyone out there know how we would be able to get more detailed pressing information on early Blue Note Issues ? Specifically, how many of each LP (per pressing) were originally produced for circulation? There really should be some reference out there for this to help determine value / rarity. For example, why would they only press 500 Hank Mobley 1568’s originally, versus… Oh let’s say John Coltrane’s Blue Train 1577 ? This goes for the Prestige label as well… especially between the NYC & NJ pressings… (Any idea on this Rudolf ?)
Talking about Ebay crazyness and all that jazz here’s someting that stands far beyond the crazy :
http://www.popsike.com/DAVE-BRUBECKTAKE-5TIME-OUTNM-ORIG-MONO-LP6EYE-LABEL/160387741201.html
I would like to have your opinion about that !
Michel: this looks like a bobdjukic listing if I’m not mistaken; he’s the seller (as Al has posted with some frequency) who seems to attract an incredible number of people to view his listings together with much irrational bidding..
Well, Geraint, i do know it is Bob “the menace” DJukic listing…anyway, WHERE does those byuers come from ? From the moon ? – Nah, too much Jazz connoisseurs there. From Mars, maybe ? It is time to catch a specimen of them and to study him scientifcally, stating by the brain, of course. Search is opened !
You all have noticed that it is not even a first press, of course…
I am not 100% on this, but I have more than a few copies of Dave’s infamous Time Out LP. All my LP’s are DG, 6-eye copies, but one has the cover in “Bobby-D’s” listing above, and the rest are the standard letterbox MONO cover…
This could very well be the result of a previous owner pulling the ol’ “swicheroo” or could this be one of those multiple cover LP’s… I am leaning towards the multiple cover theory myself.
isn’t this one a steal?… or only whenn it has the one sided deepgroove? http://cgi.ebay.com/KENNY-DREW-UNDERCURRENT-60s_W0QQitemZ200443753327QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Records?hash=item2eab60f36f
Don-Lucky: i think it IS verry intresting to know about the numbers per pressing, also because sometimes i don’t understand the high prices of
perticular albums.
i guess it is not only the number of lp’s that there where made, but also how manny have been actualy
sold in the record stores in that time..
Hi everybody. Right now I am listening to a terrific blue note liberty album, Booker Irvin, The In Between (1968.) A local jazz store I go to played part of this album, and it’s my first exposure to him. I pulled his discography, and he didn’t record that many albums. If folks out there have any favorite albums by this artist please let me know. Thanks, Erich
the question of how many copies were initially (or totally) pressed of collectible items is intrigueing. But if a seller claims that only 500 copies have been pressed in all, there is no reason to believe him, esp. if this information comes from the likes of our friend Bob Dj.
The only reliable source of information can come from contemporaries, who were closely associated with the production and marketing.
One of those rare birds is still alive: Ira Gitler. I met him once over lunch some 25 years ago. He just published a book on Prestige. Vide Marc Myers’ blog “JazzWax” of 4 March 2010. IMO Ira should be able to give valuable information. Only New Yorkers can volunteer and try to contact Ira.
Of course, the Brubeck “Time Out” is a disgrace.
Wow, what a great site, have just been reading for a couple weeks, and really appreciate the insight as well as the educated jazz community it offers.
As a fellow who nears completing the blue note library, it is interesting to hear the debate between original pressings and re issued lp’s. I for one do not mind re issues, especially classic records, and japanese king lps. And with the rising cost of BN originals, I have no choice, if I want to get to know the music.
Anyone out there have an extra copy of BN 4068.? (Willette Face to Face) Any version would be great… Great site will be reading alot.
My condolences on losing your mother….I can’t imagine. Dan
Erich: Dig Booker on the numerous Mingus albums (Columbia, Atlantic, Impulse, U.A.) where he is featured abundantly.
He made a fine a
cont. -lbum on Candid and a super one on Bethlehem “the Book cooks”. Enjoy! Booker is great.
Any experts wanna weigh in on Maarten’s query? IMO the listing is suspiciously vague. Were there any liberty pressings of this one? My guess is that those willing to drop the big dough will hold off for Euclid or some other reputable dealer. Then again, it’s at about 30 GBP… maybe worth the risk?
Looks like the Brubeck bidders needed a time out. (sorry)
According to Larry Cohn, the number of copies pressed for a first run is around 2000. The big selling albums (Smith, Silver, 3 Sounds) were repressed many times. Some very poor sellers were never reissued.
Erich:I love Booker! Always fun to meet a new convert.Whether lp or cd,check out his “Songbook” release,with the great Tommy Flanagan on piano. “Our Love Is Here To Stay” has that joyous,life-affirming sound that BE was known for. And if you dig that-and you will-move on to Mingus-esp.Mingus’s Wonderland,where Ervin and John Handy lock horns. Good listening.
Maarten:re: Undercurrent-I remember owning that one years ago,and if I can recall,the original compositions were pretty weak. Even with the strong line-up,I seldom heard anything I could sink my teeth into. I’m sure some others will recall it differently,but my take made it easily tradeable..which I did.I’ve never been one to hold onto LPs that are rare,yet not well done.
Rudolf and Ceedee, thanks for your guidance on Booker. I am just starting to focus more on some east coast based artists, so I am a real novice here. I have focused on west coast jazz for 30+ years. My first jazz concert was when I was 12 and saw Cal Tjader (who I still love.) Thanks again! Right now, I am listening to Gary Burton/Chick Corea Crystal Silence, which I listened to when I was attending college in the 1970’s.
speaking of ‘starting bids’, here’s one: introducing Johnny Griffin
http://cgi.ebay.com/Johnny-Griffin-on-Blue-Note_W0QQitemZ300403748533QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?hash=item45f1756eb5#ht_500wt_1182
NM, but starting at s1000,- in popsike there is only one above 1000,-… or does this record lately sell easily for that price??
ps does anyone know how to post a picture here?
Our friend Fred Cohen has put an interesting batch of collectibles on auction with minimum prices of $ 1000 for some of the most sought after items (Transition – 3 Byrd LP’s and the Griffin mentioned by Maarten.
At least with Fred things are clear from the beginning.
indeed, i just saw the rest of his auction, some beautfull elpees, but unfortunaly out of my league..
especially the designs of the transition records are beautifull. Birds eye vieuw could be a reid miles.. does some one know who was the designer for transition. (it is not a label i see often in amsterdam,holland)
and the Monk plays duke… is also a beauty in design
Maarten: the cover art for “Donald Byrd on Beacon Hill” was by Tom Wilson and Nick Dean. Nick did also covers for another Boston based label, Storyville.
My copy of the Mondriaan inspired
“Byrd Jazz” does not give any credits for the cover art.
My “Bird’s Eye view” is on Esquire and has a great English design, which was even in the Japanese cover art collection books.
this guy has some interesting records for sale, don’t know his credibility…
wailing with lou, flight to jordan, dolphy outward bound.. although often vg+..
http://shop.ebay.com/funkyou!/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340#item5190dfab3f
SORRY WRONG ADRESS
this is correct:http://cgi.ebay.com/ERIC-DOLPHY-Outward-Bound-NEW-JAZZ-LP-DG_W0QQitemZ350322859648QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?hash=item5190de9e80#ht_3586wt_1167
I rather enjoy Undercurrent – you know from the first bar it’s a Blue Note record in the Silver/Messengers vein – beginning with the driving title track & ending with the romantic Ballade, I personally think it’s a well put together album.
I got started with Booker Ervin with the Blue Note BNLA ‘Back From The Gig’, consisting of Horace Parlan’s ‘Happy Frame of Mind’ (highly recommended) & an unreleased set, & went to on to collect his complete catalogue, love his robust, slightly leftfield playing – the Mingus stuff, the Prestige Book series, the Candid ‘That’s It’, love it all.
Geraint,I may have to give UNDERCURRENT another listen,but one thing we can both say(I’m sure)is that the track “Den-tex” from “Back From The Gig”-if I remember the title correctly-is a KILLER! Absolutely powerful tenor voice from Booker,and nothing says it as forcefully as that track.
Maarten- I have always checked out the auctions by the seller funkyou on ebay. Over the past few years, he has picked up some KILLER amazing collections but alot of the time, they are in VG+ kinda condition. But his feedback is outstanding and he probably deals with a lot of repeat business so his grading of vinyl is either on point or he is being conservative and the vinyl turns out to be cleaner than expected. But MAN does he have some choice jazz LPs ending as I write this post.
…All I can say about many of the recent large collections being auctioned off on e-bay is that you often get what you pay for. That being said, there are still a lot of great finds out there for people like myself who can appreciate the virtues of a fine +VG… But more often than not, I have been disappointed with what has arrived. You really have to read between the lines in those “descriptions” (I use the term loosely) of some of the lazier sellers out there. I recommend asking as many questions at the front end and do you homework before bidding… Trust me, check the photo(s) carefully, as it’s easy to make those rookie mistakes in the heat of battle ! I too am still guilty of the occasional “blind bid” once and awhile myself (You win some you loose some right !) I have noticed that more often than not, it’s the little things that they leave out, such as the address on the back of the LP cover or perhaps Side 2 might be different than Side 1 etc. etc. etc. I’m sure this is all par for the course for those seasoned collectors out there, but for some of us, old habits die hard ! I’ll admit, I’ve been burned more than I care to admit on the elusive water stains or marks that turn out to be nothing but mould !
…One lesson I have learned from all this is that “quality over quantity” is really the best policy for these Sunday afternoon LP “benders”. Happy hunting guys !
Noticed that feedback is starting to come in on the “Miracle Auction” a month or so ago that I first posted here and which gave us such special results as $700 for the Brubeck Time Out LP (of which currently only four or five original copies are available at your local Salvation Army bin dive). Looks like the same buyer purchased many, many of the LPs in that auction. Same buyer also left glowing, advertisement like feedback for the seller. I followed that buyer’s feedback and noticed he likes to buy from a very limited number of sellers and often buys an incredible percentage of such sellers’ total auction in one shot — from jazz to classical to Beatles to rock. Quite a broad range of interest for a buyer willing to pay way beyond market in the auctions. I know some like to subscribe to the theory that the seller who got $700 for a Brubeck LP has created a brand identity of accurate grading and good service and thus gets premiums. Personally, I am hard pressed to believe it all. Euclid and Fred Cohen have reputations beyond reproach and they garner no such premiums in their sales. Make of it what you will.
…Off topic, I just wanted to send a Happy 80th Birthday to our friend Ornette Coleman !
Hear! hear!
…that original Town Hall didn’t sell – back on as a Buy It Now; sadly I don’t have a spare $999.99… maybe I should give that guy who can afford to splash out $700 for the Brubeck a buzz as he clearly has more cash than he knows what to do with…
(how are we to act on our suspicions – should we all write to ebay suggesting something fishy’s going on?)
Don’t think there is much to do Geraint. At the end of the day, I guess the seller who “commands” 700 bucks for an everyday million-copy jazz LP doesn’t owe me or anyone an explanation. If I believe something is rotten in Denmark with his auctions (and I do), then I simply need to avoid his auctions and buy from sellers who don’t have such “dedicated” or insane buyer-groupies.
well, just been doing a little digging – the guy who bought the Brubeck is the same guy who paid $1500 for Out To Lunch. You should check out his profile page: he claims to be a “Private Investigator… with a good ‘nose’ for sniffing out the bad guys!” Seems, that’s not the only thing he likes sniffing judging from his buying history…
Brubeck madness aside, I’ve been giving some thought to the overbidding phenomenon. I think we can all identify with the impulse to nab something in the moment even though we know it may only be a matter of weeks before we see it again. When you want something you often want it now. Add that thinking to someone for whom $700 is pocket change and you can see him simply bidding high to avoid wasting more time on ebay chasing down another one.
Not my kind of collector, personally. But whatever, let’em blow their cash on Time Out or… does anyone remember Al’s Kenny G link a few months ago?
Personally,I think it’s ridiculous to spend that kind of money on records. Unless,of course,someone’s bidding on MY records,in which case it’s their gog-given right to do so!(I’m so ashamed…)
Yes-“gog”,the strange,little known deity that all rabid lp collectors pray to-what did you think I meant?
Has anyone else ever noticed that there are certain sellers out there who have ways of inflating their own sales buy bidding against us with multiple “dummy accounts” they have set up for themselves ? I’ve seen this happen from time to time. Essentially, they bid against us until they just surpass your max, and then in the final moments, they wait for you to toss in one last desperate bid… That way they get the price they want or more… In the event that they win themselves, they will more often than not send you a second chance offer. (Sad but true…)
I certainly concur with the comments above regarding those “high-roller” collectors out there… After all, a fool and his money are soon parted right ? (As long as it doesn’t have an adverse affect on the prices for all us reputable +VG collectors out there.
Unfortunately, the catch 22 is we need to rake in those “high-roller” profits to buy more records ourselves… It’s a vicious cycle !!!
p.s. – Anything good on e-bay lately ?
Here’s something I haven’t come across before: one side with RVG stamp in run-out & t’other with ‘Van Gelder’:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HORACE-SILVER-BLOWIN-THE-BLUES-AWAY-BLUE-NOTE-W-63RD_W0QQitemZ110505351347QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Records?hash=item19baa1d8b3
This is almost certainly a Liberty pressing in spite of 47W63 labels, as this seller always mentions ear/DG where present.
I keep getting outbid on George Wallington 10″ records. I have 4 in my set, and I am trying to get 2 more. When I bid yesterday, I was the high bidder at $60 with 6 hours left in the auction, and I bid $265 and still got outbid. Have to try again sometime……
Hey, Erich. Which Wallington record? I have a real nice copy of Blue Note 5045 I’d be open to selling for the right price.
Also to Erich (I think someone else mentioned this as well): Booker Ervin, The Song Book, Prestige 7318. This is the great one, IMHO. I also like Settin’ The Pace on Prestige with Dexter Gordon. And with Mingus on Blues and Roots. Well almost everything, but these are standouts.
Geraint: the seller you are referring to is serious, but a seller neverthelss. So, as a matter of fact, if this album has an ear and DG, he would have mentioned it. It is fair to assume they are not there.
What I don’t like is his way of making pictures: just a glimpse of the label pulled out, no details. For an extra 10 cts his gives a full label picture, showing all the weaknesses as well.
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