A Bounteous Batch of Blue Note Beauties

If you were to jump onto eBay today, as I have just done, you will find a large number of very nice original Blue Note records in extremely attractive condition. It isn’t always this way, but it certainly is now, and here a few to peruse, starting with: Curtis Fuller, Bone and Bari, Blue Note 1572. This is an original pressing that looks to be in VG++ (or better) condition for the record and M- for the cover. This record features Sonny Clark on piano. The start price is $500 and so far there are no bidders, but it’s safe to assume that there will be. This seller, bluenote5, has a bunch of nice Blue Notes on eBay right now. For instance, Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This is another original pressing with the New York 23 label and it is also close to M- condition, based on the descriptions. The start price is also in the $500 range and so far there is only one bid.

Hank Mobley and his All Stars, Blue Note 1544. This is an original West 63rd/New York 23 pressing and looks to be in at least VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding has already surpassed $500 and there are still five days to go.

And then there are some nice Blue Notes from the Jazz Record Center, including:

Read more

Tracking Some Jazz Vinyl in Top Condition

The Jazz Record Center has a new auction up on eBay. I don’t usually follow particular sellers, but I like to follow their auctions because the records they sell are usually in beautiful condition and because they are such a highly respected seller. What they sell is often a current gauge of the market. Here are a few from their current auction, starting with: Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1549. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $500 and there is already a bidder.

Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain, Columbia 1480. This is an original deep groove six-eye pressing. I don’t normally think of this as a collectible record, but this one has a start price of $75. We’ll see if it generates interest. It is in beautiful, near new condition.

This is another we don’t often watch here at Jazz Collector:

Read more

Various Vinyl Odds and Ends

Haven’t been on eBay in a few days. Here are the results of some of the jazz vinyl auctions we missed:

John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was an original black label pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $510. It’s nice posting Giant Steps every once in a while so I can put a picture with the post and just take a look at it again — inspiring me to put the record on the turntable.

Perhaps I owe CeeDee an apology for this one: Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams, Out of this World, Warwick 2041. This was an original pressing in what looked to be VG+ condition for the vinyl and probably VG+ or VG++ for the cover. It sold for $159.99, higher than I would have expected. CeeDee and I made a trade involving this record and Dexter Calling a few months ago and at some point I may have made some kind of disparaging remark about the Byrd/Adams record. No doubt, it had more to do with the quality of the recording than the quality of the music. My copy just sounded very dull and flat, particularly compared to a Blue Note pressing from the same era.

Read more

Jazz Vinyl: Andy Warhol Cover, Two Sabus & More

Let’s catch up on some of the jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:

There was that Kenny Burrell LP with the Andy Warhol cover: Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1543. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing in VG+ condition. It was also noteworthy that a previous owner had the lack of foresight and/or stupidity to write his name on the cover. A Warhol cover. Mmmmm. Bad move. I would imagine the writing on the cover had some impact on the price, but perhaps not. It sold for $1,155.

There there were the two copies of Sabu, Palo Congo, Blue Note 1561. This was the one that was in M- condition with a $999 start price. It wound up getting six bids and selling for $1,358.01. The other copy, Sabu, was VG+ for the record and VG for the cover and had the misprint of two Side One labels. Some people find those to be more interesting because they are more rare. As for me, I much prefer to have the proper labels on the proper sides. This copy sold for $460.

This one is from the seller funkyousounds, who is generating a lot of discussion on the earlier post, and how has a large number of highly collectible items closing in the next few hours:

Read more

Tracking Some Jazz Vinyl Favorites

Here’s some more jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay:

Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition. It sold for $550. I recently purchased a copy of this record for $300 in condition that was perhaps a little bit less than VG++. It’s more than I have traditionally paid for records, but I’ve always liked this one. And $300 seemed like somewhere between a fair price and a bargain.

Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness, Prestige 7047. This was sold by one of our regular readers. It was an original New York pressing.The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was M-. Frankly, I thought it would fetch a higher price. For some reason, I’ve been thinking about my Rollins records and I have come to the conclusion that, all things considered, this is my favorite. I love all the quartet tracks and then, of course, you have Sonny and Trane in their primes playing with great passion and respect for one another. And Paul’s Pal to open Side 2 — does it get any better than that? I don’t think so.

Read more

Tracking Some Original (And Not) Jazz Vinyl

Here’s an update on some jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:

Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. This was an original pressing with the purple label and deep grooves. The record was listed in M- condition, unplayed, while the cover was VG+. The price was $1,691.78, relatively low for this record considering the condition of the vinyl.

Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Bag, Blue Note 4051. This one was listed as an original because it had the ear and Van Gelder stamp and West 63rd address. However, there were no deep grooves. Original? I think not. So what is it worth in VG++ condition where it’s a sort-of-but-not-quite-original? This one sold for $231.38.

Dexter Gordon, Dexter Blows Hot and Cool, Dootone AUL 207. This is another one that looks sort of close to original but may not be. From the picture it does not look like colored vinyl to me, which would add value to this record, right? This one was in VG++ condition for the record and cover and sold for $455. With colored vinyl it sells for over $1,000 and sometimes more than $2,000.

A Few For the $1,000 (And More) Bin

Here’s a recap of some of the jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay:

Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was the one that was in M- condition for the record and VG++ or M- for the cover. It sold for quite a hefty price, $4,600, but not a record high. This guy was bid all the way up to $2,720 and STILL didn’t meet the seller’s reserve price. Wow: Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. The record was described as being in M- condition and the cover was VG++ or M-.

This one, believe it or not, entered the $2,000 bin: Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 399. The seller didn’t actually apply a grade for either the cover or record, but noted that the vinyl was in “great shape” other than for a paper scratch or two. Somewhat reassuring, but not enough for me to wager $2,075, which is what the winning bidder put up. It was a white label promo copy, but still.

Here are a couple more for the $1,000 bin:

Read more

A New Batch of Jazz Vinyl For The New Year

Happy New Year to everyone. Here are a few more items going into the Jazz Collector Price Guide. No links on these.

Jimmy Raney Quartet, New Jazz 1101. I like this one because of the maroon and white label, which you rarely see. There were just a few 10-inch New Jazz LPs, so they are pretty cool, and pretty rare. This one was probably in VG or VG+ condition for the record and the vinyl. It sold for $157.50.

Now a bunch of Blue Notes:

Lee Morgan, Lee-Way, Blue Note 4034. This was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $600.

Lou Donaldson, Wailing With Lou, Blue Note 1545. This was an original West 63rd pressing in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $688.

Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. Also an original pressing, of course, this one in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1,343.

Dexter Gordon, One Flight Up, Blue Note 4176. This one was in M- condition for the record and VG for the cover. It sold for $200.

Hank Mobley, Soul Station, Blue Note 4031. Record was M- and cover was M-. Price was $1,465.

Read more

Going Up . . . Up . . . Up . . .

Here’s some interesting jazz vinyl auctions that closed this week.

We need a new explanation for this one: Horace Silver, Song For My Father, Blue Note 4185. Admittedly this is a great, classic record and this was an original mono pressing in near mint condition for both the record and the cover. Why is there a new explanation needed? Conventional wisdom has said that because of the initial popularity of this record, there has always been a relatively abundant supply of original pressings in decent condition. Conventional wisdom may be changing. This particular copy sold for $405. Our previous high for this in the Jazz Collector Price Guide was $334 and, at the time, we considered that to be an aberration. What’s this?

And this? Gene Ammons, Blue Gene, Prestige 7146. This was from the same seller and it was also in near mint condition for the record and the cover. You’d normally expect this in the $40-$50 range, maybe a drop higher because of the condition. This copy sold for $164.50.

This next one got quite a high price, but not a surprising one:

Read more

If It’s Blue Note, It Must Be Collectible

Admittedly my headline is a bit of an exaggeration. As we’ve seen, the early traditional jazz Blue Notes such as the Sidney Bechet and James P. Johnson records, don’t seem to fetch collectible prices these days. But anything and everything Blue Note from the post-bop era of the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, seems to be in demand these days. Take this record: The Three Sounds, Bottoms Up!, Blue Note 4014. In seven or so years of doing the Jazz Collector Price Guide we’ve only listed three records from The Three Sounds and the highest price was around $200. Not anymore. This one, in M- condition for the record and the cover, sold for $305. I’ve never been a big fan of these records and I’ve had them pass through my hands on several occasions, but perhaps I should give them another listen? What’s the consensus (as if we could actually find a consensus here at Jazz Collector).

From the same seller came this Blue Note, well worth any price IMHO: Dexter Gordon, Our Man in Paris, Blue Note 4146. This was also an original pressing and it was also in M- condition. The price was $549. I have a special place in my heart for this one: It was the first Dexter record I ever purchased and to this day it remains a favorite. It was a rare treat to hear Bud Powell in such fine form from this era and there’s an edge and an energy on this record that makes it special. It feels as if Dexter and Bud were highly inspired by one another and elevated their playing (if possible) in order to please and prod the other. Perhaps that wasn’t the case, but it’s fun to speculate and believe and aspire for the best, right?

 

1 5 6 7 8 9 14