Kenny Dorham and the Jazz Prophets, Volume 1, ABC Paramount 122. When looking at this record, you can’t ignore that big fat Volume 1. I wonder what they had in mind for Volume 2. I guess we’ll never know, unless someone out there in Jazz Collector world does know. Anyway, this is an original pressing in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The starting bid is around $300 and so far there are no takers. This record has sold for more than $1,000 at least one time in the past, so it will be interesting to see where it ends up. Not having been on eBay for a few weeks, I’m wondering if anyone has noticed any changes in pricing and bidding in light of some of the turmoil in financial markets the past few weeks. My gut feeling is that there is little relation between what goes on in financial markets and what goes on in jazz vinyl markets, but perhaps someone has a different theory.

Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige, 7079. This looks to be an original New York yellow label. The record and cover are both listed in VG condition and there is mention of background noise, but the seller describes it as minimal. As a listener I’m sometimes OK with what I consider to be minimal, but get the sense that minimal is in the eyes of the beholder, or in this case, the ears of the listener.

Then there was Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This was an original West 63^rd Street pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The final price was $1,553. In looking over this listing, as well as the others, you see that it’s good we collectors have a common language around the world for terms like “deep groove” and “Van Gelder.” Otherwise, it would be hard to decipher what the seller is trying to get across as English is definitely not his first language. Not complaining. If I had to sell records in Korean, I’d have no chance at all.

Going back a little deeper into my watch list, I found a couple of interesting items sold by our old friend bobdjukic. How about Dave Brubeck, Time Out, Columbia 1397? This was an original white promo pressing. The record looked to be in VG++ condition and the cover was probably VG+. The seller implied that the record may have been owned by Nat Hentoff, although there are no markings or anything to indicate that would be the case. And if so, so what? The record sold for $478.79.

From the same seller came Duke Pearson, The Right Touch, Blue Note 84267.  This was a Liberty pressing. It was listed in M- condition for the record. The cover was listed as VG++, which is a joke, based on the picture. I would say VG. The price was $415.

Speaking of later original Blue Notes, this is another from the same seller: Duke Pearson, Wahoo!, Blue Note 4191. This is also an original pressing with the New York USA, Van Gelder and ear. It is also listed in Ex condition, which I see that the seller clarifies as VG++. Thank you seller. This one has a start price of $175 and so far there are no bids with five days left. This is not a record I have ever considered to be very collectible, so I will be watching this auction to see where it ends up, if indeed it gets any bids at all. Prediction: It will.

Here’s one from the era of the Blue Note catalogue that seems to have always attracted the interest and enthusiasm (and money) of collectors: The Magnificent Thad Jones Volume 3, Blue Note 1546. This looks to be an original pressing with the New York 23 label. The record and cover look to be in nice condition, possibly VG++ or even better, depending upon your sensibilities and grading curve. The bidding is in the $450 range with more than four days to go, so we will expect this to get close to the $1,000 bid when things are all said and done.

This one is closing later today: Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1543. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. In fact, to my knowledge, this is the last of the Lexington Avenue Blue Notes in the catalogue. It also has a cover design by Andy Warhol, so normally it would be quite attractive to collectors. This one has a starting price of about $200, but there are no bidders, attributable to the condition of the record. The seller says the record looks VG “at best” although it plays well, which is not unusual for original Blue Notes of the era. The cover is also VG and there’s writing on the label. I would take the record in this condition to add to my collection for the cover art and to fill in. Would I pay $200 for a fill-in? Perhaps I would, but probably not today. I have a feeling there will be several bids for this, so the $200 may not be enough anyway.

One of our readers, Dave Sockel, recently was in touch with a relative of Duke Pearson and sent me a PDF of this very cool collectible — duke-pearson-session-book-1969-1970. It includes rehearsals, musicians and their fees, session dates, comments on the sessions and dozens of signatures from the various musicians, confirming their payments. Thanks to Dave for sharing and allowing me to post this on Jazz Collector.

Meanwhile, back on eBay, here are some of the records we’ve been watching, starting with Art Taylor, Taylor’s Tenors, New Jazz 8219. This looks to be an original purple label deep groove mono pressing. The record was listed in VG+ condition, as was the cover. The final price was $319.

Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041. This was also an original pressing, also listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,754.99.

Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 120. This was an original pressing listed in Ex condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $890. Let me reiterate my personal philosophy on records such as these — ones that I don’t own and would fill in major gaps in my collection. As much as I would like to own this record, I will typically not pay top dollar on eBay. I don’t begrudge anyone willing to pay top dollar and, in fact, I am glad that they are setting the market. I have every other Rollins collectible from the era, and I have a reissue of this record. So if I want to listen to Rollins, I have plenty to listen to. And, if I want to hear this music, I can do that as well. I feel fortunate that I don’t have that particular form of obsessive gene that requires me to own every original pressing of every record I want. There are days when the urge is very strong, but then I look at my collection and am typically quite content with what I have. I’ve waited 45 years of collecting to get some of the nicer records in my collection. My feeling is, I can wait longer for the rest. But that’s just me.

Ella Fitzgerald, Sunshine of Your Love, Prestige 7685. Sealed, $274.

Illinois Jacquet, Birthday Party, JRC-11434. Sealed, promo, $251.50.

Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Fantasy 5019. Promo, $232.50.

Duke Ellington, Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Money Jungle, Solid State 18022. Reissue, promo, $231.

There are so many more, it’s hard to fathom: Sergio Mendes for more than $200; Getz-Gilberto for more than $200; JJ. Johnson, Proof Positive on Impulse for more than $200; Ella Fitzgerald on Pablo (with a cutout clip to boot) for $184.

I could go on all day. Look for yourself. I think we have ventured into a new paradigm. Perhaps the emergence of the celebrity collector. Or a world in which sealed records and shrink wrap, no matter what the record, are a thing. Beats the hell out of me.

in the $100 range, but it hasn’t yet met the seller’s reserve. Despite the presence of Cannonball Adderley, Freddie Hubbard and an all-star rhythm section, I’ve never noticed this album to be overly desirable to collectors, so I’m curious to see if it will sell and at what price. Of course, if it had been recorded on Blue Note, we’d be looking for this one in the $1,000 bin.

While we’re on the subject of Mr. PC, this seller has a couple of nice LPs for sale, to wit: Paul Chambers, Bass on Top, Blue Note 1569. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing with the deep grooves, etc. The record and cover are both listed in Ex condition, which looks like VG+ in my grading system. The price is in the $215 range with a little more than a day left on the auction. I don’t have an original pressing of this record. Hmmmm . . .

From the same seller: Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1534. This is an original pressing with the Lexington Avenue address and the frame cover, among other distinguishing characteristics. The record looks to be in M- condition and the cover is probably VG+. The price is $345 with little more than a day to go.

Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 399. This was an original white-label promo copy listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The seller’s description made it seem as if he undergraded the condition, but, as a bidder, I would trust the actual grade over the description. So, if you trust the grading, the VG+ promo copy of Waltz for Debby was a $1,025 record.

Duke Pearson, Profile, Blue Note 4022. This looked to be an original pressing with the West 63rd address, deep grooves, ears, Van Gelder. The record and the cover both appeared to be in VG++ condition. The final price was $366. Given what we’ve seen in the market lately, does that seem a little low.

Here’s another Blue Note of the same time frame:

Horace Parlan, Movin’ and Groovin, Blue Note 4028. This was probably an original pressing, although it would have been nice to have seen a mention of the deep grooves or  a picture of the labels with the deep grooves. This one was in VG+ condition for the record and VG or VG+ for the cover cover, depending upon you feel about a lot of writing on the back cover. It sold for $293.50.

Finally there’s this: John Coltrane, Coltrane Jazz, Atlantic 1354. This was the one autographed (or not) by Coltrane, McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. It sold for $348.

Sam Rivers, Fuschia Swing Song, Blue Note 4184. This was an original mono New York USA pressing with the ear in the deadwax. The record was in M- condition and the cover was probably VG++. The price was $711.01.

Duke Pearson, Profile, Blue Note 4022. This was the one WITHOUT the deep grooves or the ear in the deadwax. It was not an original pressing, probably a Liberty pressing that used the old West 63rd labels. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $777.45.

Dave Brubeck Quartet, Time Out, Columbia 1397. This was an original mono pressing with the 6-eye label. It was in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $305.

Andrew Hill, Black Fire, Blue Note 4151. This was an original mono pressing that did have the ear in the deadwax. It was in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $461.78.

There were many more on this seller’s list. Click on one of the above links and then look at the other auctions. Feel free to list other items of interest in the comments.

Bobby Hutcherson, Components, Blue Note 4213. This looks to be an original mono pressing with the NY USA label. It looks to be in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. The price is in the $150 range with more than a day left before the auction closes.

Andrew Hill, Compulsion, Blue Note 4217. This also looks to be an original mono pressing in similar condition as the Hutcherson LP, M- for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. The bidding on this one is also in the $150 range.

Sam Rivers, A New Conception, Blue Note 4249. This is an original Liberty pressing. It is in VG++ condition. The price is more than $100.

Here are a few more that may surprise you:

Don Cherry, Complete Communion, Blue Note 4226. This is a mono New York USA pressing, one of the last before the shift to Liberty, and is in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. The price is more than $80.

 Larry Young, Of Love and Peace, Blue Note 4242. This one has the New York labels and the Liberty cover. It also seems to be in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. The price is $90.

Duke Pearson, Wahoo, Blue Note 4191. This is an original mono New York USA pressing that is listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price is already more than $100.