This week’s theme: Jazz Singers, American Songbook. Pretty self-explanatory, don’t you think? Featured artists include Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dinah Washington, Quincy Jones, Helen Humes, Helen Merrill, Clifford Brown, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Chet Baker, Beverly Kenney, Johnny Smith, Lous Armstrong, Diana Krall, Stacey Kent, John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, Count Basie, Rosemary Clooney.

This week’s theme: Songs from the Ellington Songbook, vocal and instrumental versions. Songs include Cottontail, Lush Life, In a Sentimental Mood, In a Mellowtone, Come Sunday, Take the A Train, Just Squeeze Me, and more. Artists include John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O-Day, Johnny Hartman, Mahalia Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, Wes Montgomery, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones, Coleman Hawkins, Clark Terry and more.

This week’s theme: John Coltrane, Impulse

Then there was this: “Look at this on eBay. C’mon man. A clipped corner pressing from the mid-to-late 70s. Almost $300 and counting. Nuts, I say! Kenny Dorham, Afro-Cuban, Blue Note 1535. This is the one we wrote about last week from George Benson’s collection. At the time, the bidding was about $220. The final price was $510. No complaints here. The market is the market, which is whatever someone is willing to pay. As we’ve all seen, the market value for any Blue Note with blue and white labels and pressings with the “original” covers have only gone up in value over the years. People want them, and why wouldn’t they? Finally, there was this with the simple note: “Missed it!” John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse 40. This was a mono pressing with a stereo stamp. The seller said it was mono, so I assume he listened to it. The record and cover were both in M- condition. The final price was $262. CeeDee, I think you’ve been around as long as I have, or close to it. Do you not have an original copy of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman? Perhaps someone here will be willing to trade with you.

Speaking of trades, here’s a strange request from a reader, but I have to assume it is legitimate. He has a first pressing of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps with the black label and is interested in trading it for a first U.S. mono pressing of the Simon and Garfunkel album Bookends. I didn’t realize that Bookends was a collectible, let alone one on a par with Giant Steps, at least from a value standpoint. But, checking Popsike there has been an instance of a promo copy in the $1,000 bin and several others that have sold for more than $500. Live and learn. Anyway, if anyone is interested in contacting this would-be trader, you can reach out to me at alatjazzcollectordotcom and I can connect you.

John Coltrane, Coltrane, Impulse 21. This was a mono pressing with the white label promo label. It was listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It wound up selling for $493.88. Wow. From the same seller was this: John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse 40. This was also a white label promo copy, also in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. This one sold for $282. Then there were the two on Prestige: George Wallington, Jazz For the Carriage Trade, Prestige 7032. This was an original New York yellow-label pressing with the “Not for Sale” stamps on the label and cover. It was listed in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The start price was $499 and it did not sell. Somewhat surprising, right? Then there was:

Barbara Lea with the Johnny Windhurst Quartet, Prestige 7065. This was also an original New York yellow label pressing with the “Nor for Sale” stickers. It was listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. The start price was $299 and that was exactly what it sold for with a single bidder.

Here are a few more odds and ends to share:

Our friend CeeDee sent me a note under the subject: “From the ‘I’ll see it when I believe it” department.” It was this link to Somethin’ Else, the Blue Note book by Ashley Kahn that has been in the works for several years. The note further states: “Ships on Jan. 30, it says here.” So, apparently, the long-awaited book will be available by the end of this week. I’ll see if I can get a review copy to cover here at Jazz Collector.

Here’s a very interesting read from Politico, excerpted from a book called “Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs,” by Johann Hari: “The Hunting of Billie Holiday: How Lady Day found herself in the middle of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics’ early fight for survival.” Take a few minutes to read this. It’s quite chilling.

Finally, I got a chance yesterday to see the Clark Terry documentary, “Keep on Keepin’ On.” I will write more about this in a subsequent post. Until then, whatever you do, make it your business to see this movie. If you’re a regular here at this site you will absolutely love this movie. I promise.

Barbara Lea with the Johnny Windhurst Quartet, Prestige 7065. This is an original New York yellow label pressing with a “Not for Sale” stamp on the back. I’ve never actually owned or even heard this record and I have no idea who Johnny Windhurst was, but it is, of course, a record I would love to have, it being an original Prestige and all. This copy is in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover and it looks quite nice overall. The start price is in the $300 range and that is already too steep for me.

George Wallington, Jazz For the Carriage Trade, Prestige 7032. This is also an original New York yellow label pressing with a “Not for Sale” stamp on the back as well as on the labels. The record is in M- condition and the cover seems to be VG++. The start price is in the $500 and there are no bidders with four days left in the auction. Perhaps I am wrong

in assuming that these “Not for Sale” records are promo copies and perhaps they are just cut-outs or records that were taken out of commission. Careful readers will recall that Rudolf once told a great story of going to the Prestige warehouse and walking away with hundreds of original pressings that had been otherwise targeted for the trash heap (Guest Column: Treasure Hunt — Prestige).  Perhaps these are just cut-outs without the cut-out holes? I like to think of them as promo copies, as I’m sure the sellers do as well, along with anyone who buys them.

This one we know is a real promo copy because it has the infamous WLP designation: John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse 40. This is also being sold by Euclid records. The vinyl is in VG++ condition and the cover is listed at VG+. The price is more than $250 and the auction is closing soon, and perhaps it will be closed by the time many of you read this.

First the big ones: Walter Davis, Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This was an original pressing and it was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,300. Also, Paul Chambers Quintet, Blue Note 1564. This was an original pressing. The record and cover looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition. The price was $1,032.

Here are a couple that don’t often get collectible prices: Dizzy Gillespie, Afro, Norgran 1003. This was an original yellow label pressing with a cover design by David Stone Martin. It was only in VG condition and sold for $72. That may not be a Blue Note price, but it is still somewhat surprising. Few of the Dizzy record

have cachet as collectibles, even the Norgrans, and this one was not in great shape. Perhaps it is the unusual cover illustration by Stone Martin?

Not sure we’ve covered this one in the Price Guide before: Sonny Rollins, Alfie, Impulse 9111. This seemed to be an original pressing, although it wasn’t clear from the listing, and it seemed to be in M- condition, although that wasn’t clear either. It sold for $51: Not a high-end collectible price, but one that’s starting to creep up. Also on Impulse: John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse 40. This was an original stereo pressing. It was in M- condition and it sold for $197.49. No surprise this LP would get a good price in that condition, but usually the premium is paid for mono pressings.

Just to follow up on some of the records we were watching earlier this week, and some that will be going into the Jazz Collector Price Guide this weekend.  Hank Mobley, Hank, Blue Note 1560. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing in what looked like VG++/VG++ condition. Price: $935. Thelonious Monk, French Swing, 33342. This is a 10-inch LP in near mint condition. Price: $570

Nobody bid more than $15 for this record, and it didn’t sell because it didn’t meet the dealer’s reserve price: Gil Melle, New Faces . . . New Sounds, Blue Note 5020. 

Moondog, Prestige 7042. This was an original pressing in VG++/VG++ condition. Price $89.98

Pepper Adams Plays the Music of Charles Mingus, Workshop 219. This was an original mono pressing in M-/M- condition. Price: $143.50

Miles Davis, Cookin’, Prestige 7094. This was an original New York pressing in M-/VG+ condition. Price: $381

Thelma Gracen, Wing 60005. This was an original pressing in VG+/VG+ condition. Price: $192.18

John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was an original black label pressing in VG+/VG+ condition. Price: $175.92

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse A-40. This was an original mono pressing with the orange label in VG++/VG++ condition. Price: $154.50

Ornette Coleman, The Shape of Jazz To Come, Atlantic 1317. This pressing has the bulls-eye label. It’s closing soon and is at $73. One of the reasons I’m watching this is because I’ve seen this record often and rarely have I seen it fetch collectible prices. But, even at $73, that’s already evidence that it is becoming more of a collectible, at least the version with this label. 

The Consummate Artistry of Ben Webster, Norgran 1001. This is an original yellow label pressing in very nice condition, up from Euclid Records.  Current price is $31.

Here’s another one that wasn’t always deemed a collectible: John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Impulse A-40. This is an original pressing and is currently at $115. This is great music and I can see why it has become highly sought after all of these years.

Here’s a Trane record that was also widely distributed, but is also highly collectible in its original pressing: John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This is an original black-label pressing in VG+ condition. Price is $105. 

Here’s one I’ve never seen: Thelma Gracen, Wing 60005. Wing was a division of Mercury, and this one looks just like an Emarcy, which was also a division of Mercury. It’s getting some interest from collectors, and is currently at $92.

Finally, here’s a nice Miles going for a very high price, relatively speaking, of course: Miles Davis, Cookin, Prestige 7094. This is an original New York pressing. Current price is $225.