This week’s theme: Exploring recent vinyl reissues from Blue Note, Prestige, and Riverside. Featured artists include Dexter Gordon, Kenny Drew, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Dave Burns, Ron Carter, Hank Mobley, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Kelly, Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, Frank Foster, Lew Tabackin, Julian Priester, Joe Chambers, Jimmy Ponder, Horace Silver, Stanley Turrentine, Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker, Miles Davis, Oscar Pettiford, Sonny Red, Sam Jones, Roy Brooks.

I saved this one because I am unclear about the cover: Sonny Rollins, Blue Note 1542. This one has the Lexington Avenue address on the labels, but the West 63^rd Street address on the jacket, plus the jacket is sideways, unless the person taking the picture put it the wrong way. So my guess is that this is a second pressing, even though it has the original Lexington Avenue labels. To my recollection this was the next to last of the Blue Note 1500 series that had the Lexington labels, so it could have been in the transition when there were spare labels lying around????? Anyway, I do have a story about this record because I actually had a third copy until yesterday afternoon and now I “only” have two. Give me a few days to prepare the story and I will be happy to share it. Anyway, this one was in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. It sold for $687.

Billy Taylor Trio Volume 2, Prestige 7016. This one was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $74.99, which is about what you’d expect for a Billy Taylor Prestige these days. I do have a question on this: I’ve had this record with two different covers — the one shown here and another one that I recall as having a black and white and gray design with a picture of Billy. Not sure which is original, but both had the New York address on the label and the cover. I’m sure the original had the kakubushi cover, but I am not home now to check it out. Anyone? Rudolf?

Dave Burns, Vanguard 9111. This one was in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ or M- for the cover. The price was $182.50. I own this record and it’s quite good, featuring Herbie Morgan on tenor sax, and I have rarely seen it on eBay, or anywhere else for that matter.

This one didn’t get a single bid, much to my surprise:

The Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer, Prestige 7066. This was an original New York yellow-label pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price was $99 and there were no takers. I’d have thought an original Prestige in M- condition from a top artist, featuring some nice guitar work by Jimmy Raney, would have definitely elicited some interest.

We’ve also been watching some second presses that have gone for fairly decent prices, including: The Tal Farlow Album, Verve 8138. This was an MGM pressing and it was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. Not only is this a second pressing of the Verve LP, the Verve is actually a reissue of the Norgran, so this is very far from being an original. It sold for $67.57.

So when did this become a collectible: Don Patterson, The Hip Cake Walk, Prestige 7349? This was stereo pressing with the blue label. It was in M- condition for the vinyl and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $71. I realize that is not a Blue Note price, but I kind of viewed this as a $20 record. Is it the presence of Booker Ervin? I’ve seen certain Booker Ervin records, The Song Book on Prestige and The Book on Bethlehem, sell for nice collectible prices, but not any previous Don Pattersons on Prestige.

Here’s a nice Verve: Lester Young and Teddy Wilson, Pres and Teddy, Verve 8205. This was an original pressing with the trumpeter logo. It is also

a record that was released originally on Verve, unlike some of the earlier Verves that were reissues of records previously released on Clef or Norgran. This one was in M- condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. It sold for about $130. I like to see the Verves do well in auctions because I do like the label and I have quite a lot of original pressings, so it helps the value of my collection. Also, Verve tends to feature more mainstream artists and it’s good to see that there is still an interest in them.

This is one you don’t see often: Dave Burns, Warming Up, Vanguard 9143. This one was in M- condition and sold for $178.

Gigi Gryce, Rat Race Blues, New Jazz 8262. This was an original pressing, deep groove, purple label. Both the record and cover were in M- condition. Price: $205.50

Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House, Blue Note 1515. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was VG- and the cover was VG. Price: $201.50

Art Farmer Quintet with Gigi Gryce, Prestige 209. This is a 10-inch LP. Record was M- and the cover was VG+. Price: $190

Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. Price: $435

Donald Byrd, Byrd in Hand, Blue Note 4019. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. Price: $232.82

Dexter Gordon, Daddy Plays the Horn, Bethlehem 36. This was an original deep groove mono pressing with the red label. Record was VG++, cover was VG+. Price: $400

Blue Mitchell, Out of the Blue, Riverside 293. This was an original pressing with the blue label. Record was M- and the cover was VG++. Price: $296.60

Chet Baker and Art Pepper, Playboys, World Pacific 11234. This was an original pressing. Record was M- and cover was VG+. Price: $371

Max Roach, We Insist, Candid 8002. This was an original mono pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. Price: $75

Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This was an original pressing in VG condition. Price: $415

Dave Burns, Warming Up, Vanguard 9143. This was an original pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG+. Price: $90

Donald Byrd, Fuego, Blue Note 4026. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. Record and cover were M-. Price: $317

Please check out the Jazz Collector Price Guide whenever you get a chance. We try to update it every week, but are not always fully successful.