Hey, it’s my birthday and I celebrated by opening some presents on the air. Featured artists include Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Monica Zetterlund, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Lee Morgan, Kenny Dorham, McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman, Elvin Jones, Butch Warren, Pete La Roca, Richard Davis, and many more

From the same seller was Eric Dolphy, Out There, New Jazz 8252. This was an original purple label pressing with the deep grooves. The record and cover looked to be in M- condition. The final price was $760. This looks to be the highest price yet recorded for this record. Popsike’s previous high was $618. Speaking of Dolphy, this one from the Carolina Soul auction is getting some heavy action: Eric Dolphy, Out to Lunch!, Blue Note 4163. This is an original New York USA mono pressing listed in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. The bidding is at $570 and the auction closes today.

Monica Zetterlund and Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Philips 08222. This was an original Swedish pressing listed in Ex+ condition. The final price was $383.

Finally, Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was a United Artists pressing. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was VG-. The final price was $91.

This one closed as I was typing: Lee Morgan, Lee-Way, Blue Note 4034. This was an original West 63^rd Street pressing. The record was listed as VG/VG+ and the cover was VG. The seller, Carolina Soul, has a good reputation and often grades conservatively, so perhaps VG+ would be the operative expectation. The final price was $626.52, nearly doubling in the last several seconds of the auction. You may want to check out some of the other auction’s from this seller – they had a lot up this week, including Jim Hall, Jazz Guitar, Pacific Jazz 1227. This seemed to be an original pressing in VG+ condition for the record and G for the cover. It sold for $102.50.

This one looks legitimate and closes in an hour: Monica Zetterlund and Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby. I’ve seen this record with the original Philips cover, but I’m not sure I’m familiar with this cover, which has the label “Sonora Red.” Can anyone help out on that? This one is autographed and the signature looks legitimate to these untrained eyes. Not much information in the listing to help, just a generic description of the condition as “very good.” I’d be interested, but would need a lot more information to meet the start price of $650. The auction closes within the hour of this post and so far there are no bidders.

Booker Ervin, The Space Book, Prestige 7386. This was an original blue label stereo pressing listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. The final price was $169.50. Speaking of Booker, take a look at this picture my friend Dan sent. Love the coming attraction. Also, look at the size of that stage. Cannonball barely fits. Can anyone identify the club?

Monica Zetterlund and Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Phillips 08222. This was an original mono pressing listed in “pristine” condition for the record, which we translate to M-, and VG++ for the cover. Not a lot of description from the seller, but certainly a lot of interest from the buyers. This one had 13 bids and sold for $555.65.

Louis Smith, Smithville, Blue Note 1594. This looked to be an original West 63rd deep-groove pressing. The record was listed in VG+ condition, and the cover was listed as VG+, but somehow the seller made it sound as if it were actually better than that. The play-grading described the record as between VG+ and VG++, with the description of some surface noise. And the nice clear picture of the cover made it seem that the cover may also have been better than VG+. I have a feeling whoever purchased this record may be hoping that it is, indeed, better than VG+. Why? Well, the price was $960. As for me, I tend to believe the seller’s original grading of VG+, and that’s what I would expect.

This looked like a nice one:

Eric Dolphy, Far Cry, New Jazz 8270. This was an original purple-label deep-groove pressing listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. These plain white New Jazz covers have a tendency to get dirty, but this one looks pretty nice. It sold for $403.88.

Dexter Gordon, Our Man in Paris, Blue Note 4146. This was an original New York USA mono pressing with the ear, the Van Gelder, etc. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $393. This was the first Dexter Blue Note I ever purchased, in the bargain bin at Sam Goody in Valley Stream, NY, somewhere probably around 1971. I think it’s still my favorite of the Dexter Blue Notes.

Monica Zetterlund with Bill Evans, Waltz For Debby, Phillips 08222PL. This is an original Swedish pressing. The vinyl is rated as VG++ and the cover is rated M-. The current price is a bit over $300.

Booker Ervin, The Blues Book, Prestige 7340. This is an original blue label mono pressing, The record is listed as M- and the cover looks like VG++. The current price is about $55. Curious to see how this one sells, after seeing the Don Patterson sell for more than $70 the other day.

Monica Zetterlund, Waltz For Debby, Phillips 98222. This was an original Swedish pressing, with Bill Evans on piano. The record was VG++ and the cover was M-. Price: $381

Sonny Criss at the Crossroads, Peacock 91. This was an original pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. Price: $350.

Here’s one that really surprised us: Stan Getz Plays, Verve 8133. This was an original Verve wit the trumpeter logo, but the record was originally issued as Norgran 1042. So this was not really an original, and it was not in great shape: The record was VG+ and the

cover was VG. Still, it sold for $124.50.

Duke Pearson, Tender Feelin’s, Blue Note 4035. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. It was in VG+ condition and sold for $199.99.

Herbie Hancock, Takin’ Off, Blue Note 4019. This was an original mono pressing. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. The price was $177.50. Also, Herbie Hancock, Inventions & Dimensions, Blue Note 84147. This was an original stereo pressing with the New York USA label. It was in M- condition and sold for $206.49.

Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland Volume 3, Blue Note 5039. This 10-inch LP was in M- condition. It sold for $235.50

Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland Volume 3, Blue Note 5039. This is an original 10-inch LP in M- condition. The current price is $235.50. Another Blue Note is Horace Parlan, Up and Down, Blue Note 4082. This is a New York USA pressing

and is listed in VG+ condition, both the record and cover. The current price is about $35. 

Monica Zetterlund, Waltz for Debby, Phillips 08222. This is an original Swedish pressing of this great LP featuring Bill Evans on piano. The vinyl looks to be in VG+ condition and the cover M-. The current price is  $271. 

The seller Atomic Records has a few nice items, including Herbie Hancock, Inventions & Dimensions, Blue Note 84147. This is an original stereo pressing with the New York USA label. The record is listed as M- and the cover looks to be a strong VG+. The current price is $150. 

Finally, this seller based in Germany, Classics-and-jazz, has several nice items closing within the next day, including Kenny Dorham, Whistle Stop, Blue Note 4063. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record is listed as M- and the cover as VG++. The current price is $152. From the same seller is one of our favorite LPs, Sheila Jordan, Portrait of Sheila, Blue Note 9003. This is an original pressing. The record is listed as M- and the cover is VG+. The price is only $21.50 as of now.