So, where were we when we were so rudely interrupted. Ah, yes, we were looking at records that crossed the $1,000 barrier. We just did a quick search of eBay and found a few more for you, just from the past few weeks when Jazz Collector went AWOL. Here are a few to peruse and muse about:

Walter Davis, Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This was an original deep groove pressing with the West 63rd Street address. It was in M-/M- condition and sold for $1,248. 

John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was an original mono pressing with the black label. It was also in M-/M- condition. Price: $1,031.66

Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This was an original pressing that was in M-/M- condition. Price: $1,075

Yow, I’m sure most of you saw this one: Charlie Parker, Bird Blows The Blues, Dial LP1. This is a 12-inch LP, issued from the Spring of 1949 with no cover. The dealer listed it as being the first 12-inch jazz LP ever produced, which we’ve never seen disputed. This was in VG+ condition, with a yellow label and purple vinyl. Price: $2,850

George Wallington at the Bohemia, Progressive 1001. This was an original pressing that came directly out of George Wallington’s collection. It was listed by his brother, who listed the vinyl as M- and the cover as VG, but he said there were virtually no flaws. The price was $1,380.50.

That’s it for now. We’ll be back soon. Promise.

We had pointed out the other day that there was a copy of Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588 that could be had for a buy-it-now price of $3,750. Shortly after that post, someone bought it for that price. We never realized we had such power. 

Here’s an interesting item that raises a question: Dexter Gordon, Daddy Plays the Horn, Bethlehem 36. This was a promo copy with the record in M- condition and the cover VG. It sold for $291.56. What’s interesting is that the seller notes that many of the available copies of this record have the promo stamp. Sure enough, I looked at my copy and there it was. Does anyone out there have any idea why this would be the case? If you do, please post it as a comment.

I did a post the other day on the market for Dave Brubeck collectibles. Here’s one that went for a higher price than expected: Dave Brubeck, Jazz At Oberlin, Fantasy 3-11. This was an original 10-inch LP with red vinyl in nice condition. Price: $50

Another one we were watching: Charlie Parker, Dial 203. This was an original 10-inch LP in what seemed like VG+ condition. Price: $393.80

We’ll be posting again later today, and we’ll be putting some of our own stuff on eBay this week. Nice stuff, indeed.

We’re putting together a new price guide and entering new entries into the database. Here are a few interesting items that won’t make it into the next newsletter. More of these tomorrow.

Dexter Gordon, Dial 204. This was the original 10-inch pressing in just VG condition and still sold for $232.54.

Stan Getz, West Coast Jazz, Norgran $217.50. Admittedly, this was in nice condition, but it still sold for a very high price, compared to other copies we’ve seen: $217.50

I guess any original Blue Note 1500 in decent condition is now in the $100-plus range: Jimmy Smith, Groovin’ at Small’s Paradise, Blue Note 1586. Price: $163.50

Another one at a higher price than we’ve ever seen on eBay: Benny Golson, New York Scene, Contemporary 3552. Price: $151.38

 Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note 5056. This was an original 10-inch LP in nice condition, but not mint. Price: $520

Back from the weekend, so it’s time to catch up on eBay. Here are some of the records we were watching.

 Donald Byrd Sextet, Transition 5. This was an original pressing in what seemed to be M-/VG++ condition. The LP had the booklet and sold for $300.

Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Volume 1, New Jazz 8260. This was an original pressing with the purple label. The seller listed it in M-/M- condition, although there seemed to be ringwear on the cover, based on the photo. Still the price was $278.99.

Here’s a record we were watching because we were curious to see if it would sell. It was a nice copy of Charlie Parker on Dial, Dial 203. The dealer had a start price of $499.99 and a “Buy It Now” price of $800. As we expected, the record did not get any bids.

 Dizzy Gillespie was not part of the Blue Note stable and, to our knowledge, never recorded any 12-inch LPs for Blue Note. Here, however, is a 10-inch LP, Dizzy Gillespie, Horn of Plenty, Blue Note 5017. This was in VG++/VG++ condition and sold for $172.50.

 Here’s a nice original Prestige: Tadd Dameron and John Coltrane, Mating Call, Prestige 7070. This was in M-/VG++ condition and sold for $206.05.

 Sometimes you can get original pressings of great music and not have to pay exorbitant collector’s prices. Not often, but sometimes. Here’s a copy of a great record, Oliver Nelson, Blues and the Abstract Truth, Impulse 5. This was a stereo pressing in VG+/VG+ condition. It had the original cover and sold for $71. The music on this LP is spectacular with Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes.

Here’s another one that falls into the same category: Ben Webster, King of the Tenors, Verve 8020. This was an original pressing, great music, trumpeter logo in VG++/VG++ condition. It sold for $40.99.

And here’s yet another nice collectible for a reasonable price. Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie, Roy and Diz, Clef 641. This was an original pressing in M-/M- condition. It sold for $47.99.

 That’s it for today. Tomorrow we’ll look ahead on eBay and see what’s in store for the coming week. See you then. — Al

If it’s Thursday, it must be mail day. Today we have a couple of thank-you notes, plus a request for information about Prestige 10-inch LPs. If anyone out there has the answer to the Prestige question, send a note to us. And please, keep those cards and letters coming.

“Just wanted to say thanks for the Dinah Washington Sings Fats Waller LP I won a month or so back. Only got to listen to it last night and, wow, was I impressed. My orbit for jazz vocals has always had Ella at the center, with Sarah Vaughan, a little early Nancy Wilson and not much else. I’d never really heard Dinah before. Oh, what I’d been missing. So thanks, thanks, thanks, not just for the record, but for expanding my horizons a bit. Love the newsletter, by the way.” — Mike Young, Carrollton, TX

“I’m enjoying the newsletters. They’re great! I spoke to you a few weeks ago about several Prestige 10” records that had covers painted by David X Young. He was a very close friend of my family and me. Anyway, I think there might be more artists, but the ones that he painted that I know of are: Miles Davis, Modern Jazz Quartet, Jimmy Raney, Sonny Rollins, Teddy Charles and Art Farmer. Do you know where I might be able to get these at a reasonable price?” — Noah Uman

“First of all, thank you so much for writing up the IAJRC convention in the newsletter. Hopefully we’ll get some customers out of it. The better we can do, the better the likelihood of pulling it off again. Also I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the newsletter and website and I certainly hope that it continues to prosper.” — Joe Schwab, Euclid Records

And now, back to eBay for a few moments. Here are some of the items we were watching yesterday:

The seller JBLD44000 had a few more items that didn’t sell. We can expect to see these back on eBay with lower start prices. Here are a couple:

Art Taylor, AT’s Delight, Blue Note 4047. Start price of $295 with zero bids.

Thad Jones, After Hours, Prestige 7118. Also a start price of $295 with zero bids.

A few of this seller’s items did sell, including:

Curtis Fuller Volume 3, Blue Note 1583. Price: $355

Art Taylor, Taylor’s Wailers, Prestige 7117. Price: $450

Finally, there was this really cool record from the seller wuxtrydecatur: Charlie Parker, Bird Blows The Blues, Dial 901. This was a red vinyl LP with no cover. Apparently there were only 300 copies pressed originally in 1949 and distributed by Dial owner Ross Russell via an advertisement in Downbeat. We expected this item to fetch a hefty price and it did: $800. There were several nice Bird Dial LPs on eBay this week, including two of the 10-inch Dial LPs that sold for more than $700 apiece.

Anyway, that’s all for today. See you tomorrow with a newsletter. — Al

Another day, another thousand or so records on eBay. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to go through them all and it may as well be me. Here are some of the items we’re watching over the next couple of days: Don Sleet, All Members, Jazzland 45

After you click this item do yourself a favor and click “View Seller’s Other Items.” You will see some great records in great condition that will sell for high prices.

This is another dealer with some good items this week. Art Taylor, Taylor’s Wailers, Prestige 7117

One of these days we will get this record, but not this week. The price tag of $450 is already a little too steep. This is the dealer JBLD44000 again. He has many, many, many rare collectibles at high prices the next two days. After you look at Taylor’s Wailers take a look at his other items.

Wow, look at this next item: A copy of Charlie Parker, The Bird Blows The Blues, Dial 901. According to the seller, there were only 300 of these pressed and they were distributed directly by Dial’s owner Ross Russell through an ad in Downbeat. The price on this was around $150 when we posted this. We’ll be curious to see how high it goes and whether it cracks the reserve price. Kenny Dorham, Jazz Contrasts, Riverside 239

This one has us a bit baffled. The price is already over $220 and it’s not an original pressing: The original pressing of this LP has a white label. The high price must be related to condition, right?

That’s what we’re watching. Now here are some of the items we were watching the past few days. Paul Chambers, Bass on Top, Blue Note 1569. This was an original pressing in approximately VG+/VG+ condition. Price: $202.5. Chet Baker, Chet, Riverside 299. Condition of this looked very nice and was graded M-/M-. Price: $212.49

Tubby Hayes, Down in the Village, Fontana 680 998. This also was in very nice condition, graded M-/M-. Price: $795

Then there were the two gorgeous looking Bird on Dial 10-inch LPs. You rarely see records this rare in this condition. I expected them to go for high prices and they did, each one fetching the same $705.50. Here they are: Charlie Parker, Dial 203; Charlie Parker, Dial 201

And here’s a rare New York pressing of Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079.  The dealer graded this VG++/VG++, but the picture didn’t seem to reflect that grading. The price was $609, which is actually kind of low for a clean New York pressing of this LP. Here it is:

Finally, there were several auctions we were watching from the dealer Dirtcup. He had an amazing group of Thelonious Monk LPs, plus a few others, that seemed to be in pristine condition. We bid on several items and fell short on every single one.  Below are some of the items we were watching. Keep an eye on this dealer’s auctions over the next few days as well: He has some great records in great condition.

Oliver Nelson, Sreamin’ The Blues, New Jazz 8243. Price: $135

Thelonious in Action, Riverside 262. Price $51.01

That’s it for today. Tomorrow we’ll be back at Jazzcollector.com with reader comments and Friday is our next newsletter. See you soon. — Al

Back from the weekend and finally caught up on eBay. Here are some of the records we’re looking at over the next day or two:

 The dealer JBLD44000 out of Seattle has still more highly collectible records in nice condition at high prices. He has a few closing today, including:

 Tubby Hayes Quintet, Down in the Village, Fontana 680-998, with a price of $750 as we posted this.

 This dealer has many more high-priced, interesting items over the next two days, including:

 Art Taylor, Taylor’s Wailers, Prestige 7117 in M- condition.

The price on this is already $450. We missed out last week on a copy in VG++ condition that sold for $307.

Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045 in nice condition, but not mint. This is priced at $295. I’m watching this because it is a favorite of mine – I think the music is terrific, with Jackie McLean and Tina Brooks – and the only copy I have is a Japanese pressing. My copy sounds great, but it’s not like having the original.

Mal Waldron, Left Alone, Bethlehem 6045 in M- condition, featuring McLean on alto. The start price on this is $150. This was listed at a higher start price several weeks ago, so it’s marked down.

 If you’re a collector (or dealer) who focuses on condition, you also want to check out the current auctions of the dealer Jazz5060. This dealer has some nice records in nice condition, including:

 JJ Johnson, The Eminent Volume 2, Blue Note1506 in M- condition. Latest price was $295.99.

The Clifford Brown Memorial Album, Prestige 7055 in M- condition. Latest price: $299.95.

Finally, there are clean copies of two of the Charlie Parker 10-inch LPs on Dial from the dealer jazzrecordrevival. Take a look at Charlie Parker, Dial 201, and then click “View Seller’s Other Items” for the other. These are beautiful looking pieces, which, I’m sure, will fetch a hefty price.

Okay, so those are some of the things we’re watching. Here are some of the items that recently closed:

 Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. Price: $355.99. This was also from the seller JBLD44000

Zoot Sims, Cookin!, Fontana 123. Price: $202.46

Donald Byrd, Off To the Races, Blue Note 4009. This seemed to be in very nice condition. Price: $263.50

We’re off to Manhattan today for a business meeting and hoping to sneak in a trip to one of our favorite record stores. We’ll give you a report later in the week. The next newsletter is Friday, but we update the web site every weekday. See you tomorrow. — Al

Back home after a weekend away. Let’s see what happened on eBay the past few days.

 The seller JBLD44000 out of Seattle, who has been selling some nice records the past few weeks, had a bunch of items up this weekend, with mixed results. A few of the records sold for high prices, including:

Hank Mobley, Soul Station, Blue Note 4031, for $1,337.28

Kenny Drew, Walkin’ and Talkin’, Jazz West 4, for $532

This dealer also had several high-ticket items that didn’t get bids at all. Based on our previous experience watching his auctions, we anticipate that these records will be back on eBay in the near future with somewhat lower start prices and, perhaps, Buy-It-Now prices. Among those records are:

Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. Zeros bids with a start price of $550.

John Coltrane, Tenor Conclave, Prestige 7074. Zero bids with a start price of $450.

Cecil Payne and Phil Woods, The Music of Charlie Parker, Signal 1204. Zero bids with a start price of $425.

In addition to these, there were several others. If you’re interested in any of these items, you should keep an eye on JBLD44000. We’ll do the same and keep you informed.

 Another seller who often seems to have great records is Jazz5060. Among the items he sold this weekend were:

 Blue Mitchell, Out of the Blue, Riverside 1131, for a price of $218.50.

Cecil Payne, Patterns in Jazz, Savoy 12147, for a price of $262

Teddy Edwards, Sunset Eyes, Pacific Jazz 14, for a price of $198.50

Finally, here are a few other items of interest:

 John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. Price: $487

Charlie Parker, Dial 203, 10-inch LP. Price: $169. The vinyl was in only VG condition, but we still thought this might command a higher price based on the condition of the cover.

Zoot Sims, Zoot at Ronnie Scotts, Fontana 588. This was a stereo pressing that sold for $208.06.

Tal Farlow, The Artistry of Tal Farlow, Norgran $232.50. Price: $232.50. We’ve seen this record before but usually with wear on the cover. This copy looked pristine and the price reflected that.

That’s it for today. Now that we’re caught up on what happened the past few days on eBay, we’ll look ahead and see what’s coming up the next few days. Look for our report on Jazzcollector.com tomorrow. See you then. — al