A Cornucopia of Jazz Vinyl Classics

Let’s follow up on some of the items we were watching,  and then look at a few more that are on eBay now. There was that copy of Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590 from Chick Corea’s personal collection, sold by the eBay seller Carolina Soul. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. When we last tuned in the bidding was at $3,050. The final, final price was $3,350. From that same auction there was an original pressing of Donald Byrd, Byrd in Hand, Blue Note 4019. This was also from the Chick Corea collection, with the record listed as VG/VG- and the cover graded as VG+. This one sold for $452.99. Read more

eBay Auctions from Chick Corea’s Collection (And More)

Back on eBay after a slight delay to spend some family time in New York City (and celebrating my birthday). First thing that popped up when I hit my search the other day was Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The sellers are my friends at Carolina Soul and, based on my experience, they tend to grade very conservatively. Not only that, but this record comes from the personal collection of Chick Corea, the auction for which is being conducted by Carolina Soul. Congratulations to them. The bidding on this record is already at $3,050 with more than a day left on the auction. Some readers may recall that I once owned a mint copy of Lee Morgan, which I sold 35 years ago to buy a boat. Yada, yada, yada . . . the boat sank, and I haven’t ever replaced my original pressing of Lee Morgan Candy. Read more

Back on eBay and Ain’t it Grand

Now that I’m back in the business of watching rare jazz vinyl here at Jazz Collector, and doing more writing about it, I’ve become interested in expanded my experiences. Not necessarily ready to start selling records on eBay again, which is how the whole Jazz Collector thing began more than 20 years ago, but buying records on eBay? Well, that, of course, is another story. Buying records is easy, fun, and not typically harmful to one’s health, tat least not physical health, and while it does damage to one’s pocketbook, some things are just worth taking a plunge. Besides, I can always say I’m making sacrifices for my lovely audience here by testing the waters and using tools such as the GIXEN free eBay auction sniper. You may recall a few weeks ago, I bid on a record on eBay for the first time in years. I was too gun shy to use GIXEN for the first time, so I sat down at my computer, and waited for 15 minutes, watched the countdown and put in a bid with six seconds left for the record of my desire, The Unique Thelonious Monk, Riverside 12-209 from the Jazz Record Center. I bid $411 and lost. The winning bid was $416. I was disappointed, but no disheartened. I decided I would try again, this time using the GIXEN app to see if it really worked. And I did. And it did. Read more

Eric Dolphy Autographs (?), Blue Notes and Other Stuff

Now that I am back looking at listings on eBay more regularly, I’m reminded of some of the reasons I was turned off a couple of months back. So many sellers who clearly don’t know what they are doing, asking for ridiculous prices. So many records in poor condition and so many sellers clearly misgrading what they are selling. So many come-ons and promotions from eBay, pointing to other listings that I am not interested in seeing, pointing to sellers who are paying extra money to get additional eyeballs. Anyway, that’s my rant. But I’m still here and I’ve found a few items of interest among all of the other BS. Such as Eric Dolphy, Outward Bound, Prestige New Jazz 8236. This looks to be an original deep-groove pressing with the purple labels. Moreover, it seems to be signed by Eric Dolphy and Jaki Byard. Of course, it would take an expert to determine if the signatures are legitimate (Dan, are you still out there?), but to these untrained eyes, they seem legitimate. The record is graded VG+ and the cover is VG. The record has been listed previously, the current price is about $160, the auction closes in about five days, and the seller’s reserve price has not yet been met. Interesting, because if the item was in mint condition and did not have the autographs, it would likely sell for a higher price. In my experience, autographs don’t always add to the value of the record and, in many cases, they seem to detract, particularly if they are not easily verifiable. Read more

Podcast: Lou Donaldson Memorial

This week’s theme: Lou Donaldson Memorial on Blue Note: Featured artists include Lou Donaldson, Clifford Brown, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Percy Heath, Blue Mitchell, Herman Foster, Donald Byrd, Peck Morrison, Arthur Taylor, Dave Bailey, Ray Barrett,Sonny Clark, Curtis Fuller, George Joyner, Gene Harris, Andrew Simkins, Bill Dowdy, Horace Parlan, and more

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