I’m still hooked on those cool Esquire Prestige covers, and there is this: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Esquire 32-045. This one looks to be in VG++ condition for the record and probably VG+ for the cover. The bidding is in the $180 range with less than a day left. You will know things are out of control when you can’t remember if own a certain record. I’m sure many of you have had or will eventually have this experience. Anyway, I just checked. Nope. The only Rollins Esquire I own is Tour de Force.

Here’s one that just ended as I was typing this: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. This looked to be an original West 63^rd Street pressing with both the record and the jacket originally listed in M- condition, although the record may have been downgraded a drop to VG++, after prospective bidders apparently badgered the seller into listening to it once again. The final price was $2,550.

I don’t normally look at blues records but this one caught my eye: Lightnin’ Hopkins, Lightnin’ in New York, Candid 8010. Either I never knew that Hopkins recorded for the Candid label, or I forgot. More likely forgot – sometimes I think I’ve forgotten more than I remember when it comes to records and music, because I used to feel like I knew everything. Anyway, I put this in my watch list and, in so doing, noticed that it is being sold by our friends at the Jazz Record Center. So, I looked at other listings and, lo and behold, they have a blues auction going this week. I picked up a few blues records in that collection I recently purchased but haven’t yet written about. Soon, I hope. Anyway, this record has a very cool cover. The record is probably in VG+++ condition and the cover probably M-. The start price is $100 and so far there are no bidders. I have a few dozen blues records, not an extensive collection, but I do own the URL for bluescollector.com if anyone is interested. 🙂

Man, some of the Eric Dolphy records are going for big bucks. The latest example: Eric Dolphy in Europe Volume 1, Prestige 7304. This was an original pressing with the yellow label — near the end of the cycle for yellow-label Prestiges. The cover was in the original shrink wrap and both record and cover were in M- condition. this one sold for $565.55.

Bill Evans, Interplay, Riverside 9445. This was an original stereo pressing with the black labels. The record and cover were in M- condition. The price was $191.38.

Here were a couple of Candids: Charles Mingus, Mingus, Candid 8021. This was an original pressing with the deep grooves and it was in great condition, M- all the. It also had a promo stamp. Nice cover, right? Also features Eric Dolphy and Booker Ervin. You’d think it would be worth more than $115.50 but, alas, that was the sale price. Charles Mingus (et al), Newport Rebels, Candid 8022. This too was an original deep groove mono pressing in M- condition. It sold for $113.50.

Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot Volume 1, New Jazz 8260. This was an original purple label pressing with the deep grooves. The record was only VG+ condition and the cover was M-. The price was $887. We’ve seen this record sell for more than $900 previously in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so it’s not unprecedented. But VG+ vinyl? Per CeeDee: New JAzz — the new Blue Note?

Some of the Jazz Record Center items: Bill Evans, Interplay, Riverside 9445. This is an original stereo pressing with the black label. It looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $100 and there is already a bidder so it will sell. Charles Mingus (et al), Newport Rebels, Candid 8022. This is an original mono pressing that looks to be in M- condition all around. The start price is $75 and so far there are no bidders. I always thought this would be a record more prized by collectors, given the additional presence of Kenny Dorham and Eric Dolphy, among others, and also the unusual circumstances that led to the recording. But, it doesn’t usually get top dollar. This is another one I have to put on the turntable again, since I haven’t listened to it in years.

One of our regular readers pointed this one out to me, thinking the price was inordinately highly, but I’m not sure I agree. For original Blue Notes in M- condition, there seems to be no limit these days: Horace Parlan, Up and Down, Blue Note 4082. This one sold for $665.55.

This one was still sealed, but was it the original seal? If so, how would you be able to tell?

Booker Little, Out Front, Candid 8027. The seal was loose, which, I assume was how the records were packaged in 1961? When did the tight vacuum seal come into vogue? This one went for $365.

Some day, although not this day, I will add an original copy of this record to my collection: Cliff Jordan and John Gilmore, Blowing In From Chicago, Blue Note 1549. This one was in VG++ condition for the record and the cover and it sold for $919.

Miles Davis Volume 2, Blue Note 5022. This one is M- for the record and at least VG++ for the cover and the picture looks absolutely pristine. What a beauty. The price is already more than $300 and it is not going to find a place on my shelf.  This one is from the same seller and looks equally appealing: Clifford Brown, New Star on the Horizon, Blue Note 5032. Same deal as the Miles: M- vinyl, beautiful cover, incredible crystal clear picture. It’s also more than $300 with more than a day to go.

Also on eBay now is an auction from the Jazz Record Center including:

Booker Ervin, That’s It!, Candid 8014. This is an original pressing in M- condition. It’s at more than $200. The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon, Jazzland 29. This is an original orange label pressing in M- condition. I’ve never understood why this wasn’t treated as more of a collectible. It’s Dexter right before Blue Note and it’s an original Jazzland pressing, not a Riverside reissue. This one is at $75, which is higher than usual for this record. It’s also a terrific record.

This one did sell for more than $1,000. Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. When we were watching it the other day it was at about $400 and we speculated it might sell for less than $1,000. It sold for $1,440 in VG+ condition for the vinyl and the cover. Perhaps that can be considered a bargain in today’s market?

The Arrival of Kenny Dorham, Jaro 5007. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It sold for $457. We’ve never tracked this one at more than $1,000 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but we’re pretty sure it has probably cracked the $1,000 barrier at some point. It’s a nice record and quite rare as well.

This one was autographed. Still not sure if an autograph enhances the value of a jazz record. Collectors can be quite picky about having their records untouched and pristine:

Max Roach, We Insist! Freedom Now Suite, Candid 8002. This was an original deep groove pressing. The seller wasn’t clear in the description and, based on what he said, we’d gauge this to be about VG+ for both the record and the cover. It was signed and dated by Max Roach in 1993. The price was $76. Seems like a good deal to me, but I happen to be a collector that likes having a record or cover signed by the artist. I was looking through some of my 78s yesterday and found an old Stan Getz 78 — Five Brothers on Prestige — that was signed in ink by Zoot Sims. Definitely put a smile on my face to see that autograph.