Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Fantasy 85019. This is a stereo pressing. Frankly, I’ve never been that interested in this record and never had an original copy, and I don’t know the criteria that would make it an original. I’ve always loved the music, but I didn’t really get interested in the album until I started doing my Jazz Collector Live radio show and podcast, and I was looking for Christmas music to play on the show. In doing further research, I learned that this is the second highest selling jazz record ever, behind Kind of Blue? The question mark is there because I’m not so sure this is accurate.

In any case, I’m preparing to record my next Christmas show this week, so any ideas are welcomed. This particular copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas is listed in good condition for the record and “worn” for the cover. You would think a record in that condition would be a tough sell, but not this one: There are already 10 bidders and the price is getting close to $200, with the auction closing tomorrow.

Finally, I have one more from the Jazz Collector inbox. A reader sent me this note:

“Subject: Bird. Hi. I found what I believe to be a rare Charlie Parker 7” shellac single. It has his name and Dark Shadows printed on one side of the white label and on the other “Garner original” is printed. I can’t find any references to its existence online in this format and was wondering you had come across it before.”

My reply: “No I haven’t. You can safely assume it is from the Dial label. Dark Shadows was a tune Bird did with the singer Earl Coleman. He also did several sides with Errol Garner, who was on Dial at the same time. Could be some kind of test pressing, not sure. I’m not a huge expert on 78 RPM records. You could send me a photo if you want.”

Here’s one of the photos.

Still didn’t ring a bell with me, and I wasn’t interested in this piece for myself, so I suggested the reader reach out to Fred Cohen at the Jazz Record Center. If you’re reading this Fred I apologize — I seem to send a lot of stuff your way. As I said to this particular reader, Fred is far more knowledgeable than I am. The reader did contact Fred and afterward he sent me this reply:

“Fred said the following: ‘Charlie Parker recorded “DARK SHADOWS” for Dial records on February 19, 1947. He recorded three different versions of the song. Yours is probably a dub (transfer) from another source, but without comparing it to the issued takes it would be impossible to know which one you have.'”

And that, I believe, is the end of this particular story, unless someone here has some additional insight.

The post Back in the Wacky World of Jazz Vinyl on eBay first appeared on jazzcollector.com.]]> https://jazzcollector.com/impulse/back-in-the-wacky-world-of-jazz-vinyl-on-ebay/feed/ 0 9792 https://jazzcollector.com/podcast/podcast-charlie-parker-part-four-savoy-dial-1947/ https://jazzcollector.com/podcast/podcast-charlie-parker-part-four-savoy-dial-1947/#respond Mon, 31 Mar 2025 12:00:39 +0000 https://jazzcollector.com/?p=9614 This week’s theme: Bird in the studio for Dial and Savoy, 1947. Featured musicians include Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Bud Powell, Errol Garner, [...]

Remember I had this idea of writing a Jazz Collector book and this was going to be one of the stories? At the time I thought the book might be imminent, so, fortunately, I wrote down precisely what happened next, in real time. I even took pictures, although I certainly could have done a better job with that, as you can see. Now the story gets fun. I will let myself take it from here, from mid-December 2011.

They’re here. The first batch of records from Canada. The service desk in the basement just called. I have to bring down $36 to pay UPS for delivery. On my way down now. . .
Back already.  No records. They don’t take cash. Have to bring a check.
Now I’m really back. One box, about 15 by 18 inches. Not well packed at all. In fact, there’s a big hole in the box. Not big enough for any records to slip through, thank goodness. . . . opening the box . . . very nervous, very excited. First record on top. Errol Garner on Atlantic. Worth about a nickel. No one said they would all be gems .  .  . Let’s dig in .  .  . here it is, the first Blue Note: Jimmy Smith, the Sermon, Blue Note 4011. Eh. Not an original pressing – no deep grooves, one side is West 63^rd, the other side is New York USA. There’s some writing on the back. Also, a sticker on the back:

Barry Gordon’s Bop Shop
225 A Brees St.
Johannesburg
Phone 23-8033

Pretty cool actually. Will have to do a Google search. My guess is the stamp was on the record when the record was first in the store, sometime in the 1960s? Coolness aside, this is not a very collectible record. At least it’s in very nice condition, VG++ for the record on first glance. Also, it has the original Blue Note inner sleeve, always a good sign.
Let’s keep digging.
Here it is . . . Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1559. Oh, how I’ve longed for an original pressing of this record. Not just that it’s Johnny Griffin and a Blue Note – it’s a record with John Coltrane as a sideman. Mmmmm. I’ve had a United Artists pressing since the early 1980s, purchased from my old friend Red Carraro. But I’ve never even held an original in my hand .  .  . until .  .  . until . . . until now! Yes, it is an original. Deep grooves, West 63^rd address, New York 23, RVG in the deadwax, plastylite ear. It’s got them all, all the right markings, all the right characteristics. It also has an original Blue Note inner sleeve. Oh, how sweet. And the condition. Sweet indeed! The record is very nice, perhaps never played, M- condition for sure. The cover is VG++, with some small writing on the back. Ahh. What a relief.

Let’s keep digging.

What happened next? Sorry, you’re going to have to wait for Part 6.