Just to show that Groovin’ High was no fluke, there were also these from the JRC auction: Booker Ervin, The Freedom Book, Prestige 7295. This was an original yellow label mono pressing that also looked to be in M- condition. The final price was $392. This was not a new high for The Freedom Book, which has sold for more than $800 on one occasion. And Booker Ervin, The Space Book, Prestige 7386. This was an original blue label mono pressing. The record looked to be M- and the cover was probably VG++. The final price was $289.99.

Whilst on the JRC auction, let’s fill in the gaps of some of the records mentioned in the previous post and assorted comments. There was Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225, with the drill hole through the center of the cover and the label. This one sold for $3,023.  There was Bill Evans, Explorations, Riverside 351, with the misprinted cover. This one sold for $539. There was Teddy Edwards, Good Gravy!, Contemporary 3592. This was an original deep-groove mono pressing that was in M- condition for the record and probably VG+ or VG++ for the cover. This one sold for $133.50.

Of course, we were also watching other auctions. Here is one that caught our eye. Sonny Rollins and the Modern Jazz Quartet, Barclay 84057. This looked to be an original French pressing of the early Rollins Prestige 12-inch compilation. I had never this version and the cover is quite cool. Both record and cover were in M- condition and the start price was about $200. There were no bidders, so I would expect to see this back soon, perhaps at a lower price. I was listening to a playlist I had compiled a while ago and “Slow Boat to China” came on. Sonny was just 21 or 22 and, man, could he play. I am currently reading (and thoroughly enjoying) the new biography Saxophone Colossus: The Life of Sonny Rollins by Aidan Levy. Definitely a must-read for Sonny fans, which means it is a must-read for Jazz Collector readers, because it is impossible to imagine that anyone reading this far into this post is not a Sonny fan, right?

We were about to reach a deal when he said he had just wanted to confirm that the “original” copy I was offering had the cover with the greenish tint as opposed to the bluish tint. I looked at my copes and both were more bluish than greenish, although they both had all of the other trappings of an original pressing, including the New York address, deep grooves, etc. I looked on Popsike and, sure enough, there were copies of Saxophone Colossus with covers that were more green than blue, kind of like the original Miles, Prestige 7014. My question is, does the greenish cover have that much more cachet to collectors than the blue cover? I personally don’t recall ever holding one with the green cover, so I assume it is quite rare, yet I also see copies of the blue cover selling for $2,000 to $3,000. In fact, if you look at Popsike, you will see that the highest price paid for a Colossus was $3,080, and that was for a blue cover version. The highest price for a green cover was $2,415. Rollins aficionado that I am, is this a nuance I simply missed over the years? As a collector, do you how much do you care about the tint on the cover, assuming that it may have been a legitimate first-off-the-presses issue of one of the most important records of the Jazz Collector Era.

Here are two Blue Notes from my want list: Cliff Jordan and John Gilmore, Blowing in From Chicago, Blue Note 1549. This looks to be an original New York 23 pressing. The seller describes the vinyl as nearly perfect, yet he rates it VG+. He describes the cover as VG-, but based on the description it looks more like VG to me. It’s not a dealer I know, but he has 100% feedback. Perhaps he is undergrading? In any case, this one is in the $400 range with less than two days left. Would it be worth a shot to fill in a gap in the Jazz Collector Collection? Hmm, could be. Horace Parlan Quintet, Speakin’ My Piece, Blue Note 4043. This looks to be an original West 63^rdStreet pressing listed in VG++ for the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $160 range with more than five days left on the auction. A copy of this record recently sold for more than $1,300. While I wouldn’t anticipate this copy matching that one, I would expect the bidding to climb quite a bit higher than $160.

Bud Powell, The Scene Changes, Blue Note 4009. This was an original pressing that as described in excellent condition for the record and the cover, which I will interpret to VG++ when I place this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, which I will do eventually. This one sold for $515.

Guess I’m not going to get a black-label copy of Giant Steps this week. This one had no bidders when we last looked, but wound up attracting three bids and sold for $284.99. C’est la vinyl.

Here’s another tempting one: Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney, Two Guitars, Prestige 7119. This is an original New York yellow label pressing listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $160 range and the auction closes today. If I could get this for less than $250, hmmm . . . . .

John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This is an original black label pressing listed in VG+ condition for the record and probably M- for the cover. The start price is about $200 and so far there are no bidders. It may come as a surprise to you — it’s certainly a surprise to me — that I, ol’ Jazz Collector himself — don’t own a black-label version of Giant Steps. I have several copies, including the bulls-eye stereo pressing, but no black label. Perhaps if this copy fails to sell, I could strike a trade with the seller, who I know is a reader of Jazz Collector.

The seller of this one can use a better picture-taking methodology: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This is an original New York yellow label pressing. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG+, although you’d never know it from the pictures because of the reflection off the camera’s flash. When I was listing records regularly, I’d run into the same problem, but I always tried other angles to get a more clear picture. Just a suggestion. This one has three days to go and the bidding is more than $550.

Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was a New York pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $2,483. I have to admit, I just got a copy in similar condition from the Irving Kalus collection, which I am happy to be keeping. Also from Sonny: Sonny Rollins Volume 2, Blue Note 1558. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing that also looks to be in M- condition. The price was $780.

Wow, did you see what the Mobley sold for? You will now: Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing also in M- condition for the record and cover. It sold for $3,728.90.

Another Wow: Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 2, Blue Note 1597. This was an original pressing and it has the Andy Warhol cover. It was a review copy in M- condition. It sold for $2,728.90. Volume 1 sold for $1,350.

I’ll be reviewing some more of the results from this auction in another post. There was a lot to take in.

Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This is an original New York pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. This one is in the $900 range. I am happy to say, I recently purchased a near mint New York copy of Colossus in the Irving Kalus collection, which I will be writing about as soon as I get a chance.

Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This is an original pressing in beautiful M- condition for both the record and the cover. This price is already more than $1,800 and at the rate it is going you would expect that it may even top $3,000.

Kenny Burrell, Blue Notes Volume 1, Blue Note 1596. This is an original pressing and of course it has the Andy Warhol cover. This one is also in beautiful condition and is currently at $500. I’d expect this do break into the $1,000 bin, wouldn’t you?

A couple more:

John Coltrane, Lush Life, Prestige 7188. This is an original New Jersey yellow label pressing and is in M- condition for both the record and the cover. Great record. The bidding starts at $150 and so far there are no bidders. That should change before the auction closes.

Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 8163. This is an original deep groove stereo review copy with the white label. It is also in M- condition for the record and the cover. The bidding has already topped $400.

This one was interesting as well: Joe Henderson, In ‘N Out, Blue Note 4166. This one certainly looks like an original, with the mono cover, New York USA labels, etc. But the seller never makes mention of the ear in the deadwax, so you do wonder. It looks to be in VG++ or M- condition for the record and cover, and it certainly looks cool with the original shrink wrap and price. It sold for  $511.01, so someone must have been pretty sure, or quite hopeful, that  there is an ear in the deadwax.  This is the second highest price we’ve ever seen for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This was an original pressing in M- condition, sold by our friend Steve at Round Again Records in Providence, RI. The price was $1,978. And if you happen to be in Providence, check out A Christmas Carol at Trinity Rep, directed by Young JC, otherwise known as my son Michael.

Lorraine Geller at the Piano, Dot 3174. This looked to be in M- condition and sold for $1,580. I haven’t seen this record, but I had no idea it was such a valuable collectible. Is it any good, or is it just rare?

The next one is good and it’s rare, although it does seem to pop on eBay quite often for an extremely rare record, wouldn’t you say:

Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was an original pressing that looked to be in M- condition. The price was $1,495, which, and it pains me to even write this, seems a little low.

John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was a beautiful looking copy, listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1,385.

Tommy Flanagan Overseas,Prestige 7134. This was an original pressing that seemed to be in about VG+ condition with “extremely light surface noise,” whatever that means. It sold for $1,055.