Here’s one from the Jazz Record Center that ended up in the $1,000 bin: Mal Waldron, Mal-1, Prestige 7090. This was an original New York yellow label that looked to be in M- condition for the record and M- or VG++ for the cover. The final price was $1,009. For the record, pun intended, we checked with Popsike and that is the highest price recorded for this particular record. Mal 2, Prestige 7111, the one with John Coltrane, has sold for a high price of $1,400. Left Alone, the Mal Waldron record on Bethlehem, has sold for a high price of $1,625.

We were watching this kind of weird copy of Herbie Nichols Trio, Blue Note 1519. The consensus seemed to be that this was a Liberty pressing using older labels. When we spotted the record on Jazz Collector the bidding was in the $85 range. It wound up selling for $233.28. I have one of similar vintage but with Lexington Avenue labels. It has no deep groove, but it does have the ear and the RVG stamp. Wonder what that would sell for?

I meant to write about this earlier: McCoy Tyner, The Real McCoy, Blue Note 4264. This was an original Liberty pressing with the Van Gelder stamp. It was probably in M- condition for the record and cover and was sold by the Jazz Record Center for $810, which seemed quite high to me. I checked the Jazz Collector archives and came upon this article from 2014 “Really, McCoy?”  in which readers were surprised that a copy sold for as much as $171. I will say that the $810 is a new high point for The Real McCoy, nearly double the previous high. Must be inflation.

Speaking of inflation, I also saved a few from an early June Jazz Record center auction because I couldn’t believe the prices. Here are:

Wardell Gray, Los Angeles All Stars, Prestige 147, 10-inch LP, VG++ condition or so for the record and the cover. Price: $799.

Art Farmer Quintet, Prestige 181, 10-inch LP, VG++ condition or so for the record and the cover. Price: $850.

Finally, to close the book on a crazy auction we were watching a couple of months ago,
Gigi Gryce and His Big Band, Jazztime Paris featuring Clifford Brown, Blue Note 5049. Final price: $1,253.44

This one also came from ceedee and it’s a bit of a strange one, not a record we normally watch here, but I’ll post it anyway: James Mason, Rhythm of Life, Chiaroscuro 189. I must admit I don’t know the artist or the music. I do know the label and I don’t recall seeing a record on this label selling for collectible prices, until this one, which is perhaps why ceedee sent it. This was listed in Excellent condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $380, with 15 different bidders and 38 bids.

Here’s one from eBay that’s already been bid up to more than $1,000 but still has not reached the seller’s reserve price: Zoot Sims Avec Henri Renaud et son Orchestre et Jon Eardley, Ducretet-Thomson 250 V 023. This is an original French pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. This is a record I’ve never seen in person and rarely see on eBay. The bidding is at $1,136 with nearly three days left on the auction.

Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. This is an original West 63rd pressing listed in VG+ condition with some minor scratches and EXC for the cover, which seems to be equivalent to VG++ based on the seller’s description. It sold for $760. It used to be records had to be in near mint condition, or close to near mint, to fetch those kinds of collectible prices, but no more. There is a huge demand for any of these high-end collectibles in any condition, and certainly in any condition that will give you a good listening experience.

How about another Blue Note:

Miles Davis Volume 2, Blue Note 1502. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing that was in nice condition for the record, either VG++ or M-, and probably VG+ for the cover. It sold for $393.

And back to France once again: Zoot Sims with Henri Renaud and Jon Eardley, Ducretet Thomson 250-V023. This was an original 10-inch pressing in pretty weak condition, just G for the record with a “constant cackle” and a VG cover. Nevertheless, someone wanted this record enough to pay $299.99 for it — although I am always suspicious of one-bid auctions, because of the possibility that the seller would have a separate account or a ringer make a bid just to spike interest.

Sonny Rollins, Volume 2, Blue Note 1558. This was an original pressing with the New York 23 deep groove labels. It was listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover and the listing was accompanied by some nice clear pictures. The final price was $1,227.99. We see a couple of these sell for more than $1,200 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but this is quite near the top of the market for this record.

Horace Parlan, Headin’ South, Blue Note 4062. This one had the New York USA label. I don’t have Fred Cohen’s Blue Note book here, but it’s not sounding like an original at 4062. But it must be. Why else would someone have paid $909.99 for this record? But I thought the crossover from West 63rd to New York USA came in the 4070s, around the time of Dexter Gordon’s Doin’ Allright at Blue Note 4077. I better get another copy of Fred’s book, lest I have to rely on the kindness of my audience to keep me informed.

Zoot also made the $1,000 bin with this one: Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was an original pressing with the Lexington Avenue address. It was listed in VG+ for the vinyl and VG for the cover. Despite the condition, it still sold for $1,036 and there were nearly 250 page views.