Here’s catching up on some other items we’ve been watching, starting with Steve Lacy, Soprano Sax, Prestige 7125. When we wrote about this one, the were no bids with a start price of $100. It ended up selling for $562, and I can’t help feeling that our post at Jazz Collector may have had something to do with the flurry of bidding, especially after Clifford, Rudolf and others sang its praises here.

Art Pepper, Gettin’ Together, Contemporary 3573. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. We spotted it at $125 and it sold for $203.50.

Finally, there was Sonny Rollins, The Sound of Sonny, Riverside 241. This was an original white label pressing in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. It sold for $182.50. Nobody answered my original question. With Sonny Clark on piano and Newk as the leader, how much would this record have sold for if the label were Blue Note instead of Riverside. $600? $1,000? I think that would be more of the range.

We are continuing to see an interesting phenomenon with Blue Note, whereby even later pressings are soaring in value and interest among collectors. One further example sitting on eBay now is John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. This is a Liberty pressing with the Stereo stamp on the cover and the clear Stereo label. This record was not originally recorded in stereo, was it, so I wonder how they got they stereo sound and what it actually sounds like when you put it on the turntable? The record is listed in VG++ condition and the cover is only VG, with some splitting on the seams, in spite of the presence of shrink wrap, which provides further indication that this was probably released in the early 1970s. In any case, there is somewhat of a bidding war going on for this copy and the price is up around $130, with the auction closing within a few hours after I post this.

And here is Art Pepper, Getting’ Together, Contemporary 3573. This looks to be an original pressing with the deep grooves. The record and cover are listed in VG++ condition. The bidding is in the $125 range with three days left and a lot of action – 37 bids so far. This is not typically one of those records that sells for crazy prices, and even at $125 would be toward the top range. We’ll see if this is another bidding war as well.

Sonny Rollins, The Sound of Sonny, Riverside 241. This is an original white label pressing. I get the sense that Riverside did not issue many white label pressings of any records, since the blue labels are much more common. What would you guess – a first printing of maybe 1,000? Anyway, this one is listed in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. Bidding is in the $120 range. This one was recorded in 1957 with a rhythm section comprising Sonny Clark, Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes. Just imagine what it would be worth if you changed the name on the label from Riverside to Blue Note.

Here’s a sealed, mono Blue Note for you:

Hank Mobley, Soul Station, Blue Note 4031. What to do about a record like this? If I was the seller, I’d break the seal. If it’s an unplayed original, it could sell for quite a bit, maybe $1,500 or so, maybe more. But with the seal, will somebody take a chance? And, if it’s not an original, will the winning bidder demand a refund? I’d hate to deal with the hassle, as the buyer or the seller. There are five days left in this auction and the bidding is in the range of about $140. I mentioned the other day that I planned to listen to this record and I did, at least side one. It’s a great record, very swinging, Mobley in great form, an awesome rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Art Blakey. My only issue with the record is it’s title. With the title “Soul Station” you expect something funky, like the Sidewinder or something like that. It’s not. It’s just a straight-ahead blowing session. Amazing that it took me this long to listen to one of these vintage Blue Notes, but I never owned a copy until last year when I bought it in Baltimore. If I didn’t own it, would I take a chance on a sealed copy? Not for the price it’s likely to fetch on eBay this week.

Beverly Kenney Sings For Johnny Smith, Roost 2206. This was an original pressing with the blue label and deep grooves. The record was listed in mint condition and the cover was VG++. There were 18 bids and the record sold for $660. I’m sure there are Beverly Kenney records that have sold for a higher price, but that’s the highest that we’ve ever seen in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

The same seller had several other interesting items as well, including: Steve Lacy, Evidence with Don Cherry, New Jazz 8271. This was an original purple label pressing listed in near mint condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. This one sold for $687, setting another record for the Jazz Collector Price Guide. And here’s another:

Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This was an original New York yellow label pressing listed in near mint condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,204.95. The seller is doing something right and, to his credit, his listings have a very polished and professional look and the pictures are very clear.

Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address and the deep groove on one side. Notice how the seller took a nice clear picture of the deep-gooved side and stepped back for the picture of the other side. No matter. This one sold for $960.

Ben Webster, The Consummate Artistry, Norgran 1001. When we first spotted this, it was at about $30 with just a few hours to go. It sold for $203.51. It was an original pressing in M-/VG++ condition.

Ornette Coleman, The Shape of Jazz to Come, Atlantic 1317. This was with the bulls-eye label in VG++/VG++ condition. It sold for $72.60

Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 1355. This was a white label promo copy in VG+/VG++ condition. Price: $338

This one didn’t sell: The Three Sounds, Blue Note 1600. It was an original pressing, autographed by each of the members of the band and had a start price of just $45. Odd that no one wanted it, but it confirms our thought that collectors don’t seem to have as much interest in autographed records as one would suspect. If you missed that original article from several years ago, click here.

Horace Silver, with Art Blakey and Sabu, Blue Note 1520. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing in VG+/VG++ condition. This was the one from the collection of Donald Byrd. Price: $272

John Coltrane and Tadd Dameron, Mating Call, Prestige 7070. This was an original New York pressing in VG++/VG++ condition. Price: $272

Steve Lacy, Soprano Sax, Prestige 7125. This was an original New York pressing in VG+/M- condition. Price: $202.50 

Here’s another one that did not sell: Bennie Green, Soul Stirrin’, Blue Note 1599. The top bid was $154 and that did not meet the seller’s reserve price.

I said I liked the original Verves and I like the prices. Here are two nice examples, of great records for reasonable prices: Dizzy Gillespie with Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt, Sonny Side Up, Verve 8262. This was in M-/VG++ condition and sold for $77. Stan Getz, Award Winner, Verve 8296. This was in M-/V++ condition and sold for $48.95. Both records were original pressings with the trumpeter logo.

Red Garland, All Morning Long, Prestige 7130. This was an original pressing with the original cover in M-/VG+ condition. Price: $308.

Sonny Side Up, Dizzy Gillespie with Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt, Verve 8262. This is in nice condition and is currently at only $24.50. A nice Verve collectible, which will probably go for a reasonable price. It’s strange: I’ve had this record for maybe 30 years, and I just realized that it’s Sonny, with an “O” and not Sunny with a “U.” Definitely works better with the “O.”

Bennie Green, Soul Stirrin’, Blue Note 1599. This is a nice record. The saxophone player is listed as “Jug,” which we all know is Gene Ammons, who wasn’t on contract with Blue Note and had to use a pseudonym. This has 11 hours to go and is still at just 99 cents. Wonder why?

Steve Lacy, Soprano Sax, Prestige 7125. This is an original New York pressing, not in mint condition. Current price is around $125. 

John Coltrane and Tadd Dameron, Mating Call, Prestige 7070. This is also a New York pressing. The current price is $43. It will go for more than that.

Horace Silver with Art Blakey and Sabu, Blue Note 1520. This is from Atomic Records and, not only is it an original pressing, it is listed as coming from the collection of Donald Byrd, who is not on this album. The album is mostly a trio recording from 1952 and 1953, but there are also two tracks that feature just Blakey and Sabu, also from 1953. 

Here’s one I would think might generate some interest: The Three Sounds, Blue Note 1600.  This is an original pressing in VG/VG+ condition that is signed by Gene Harris, Andrew Simkins and Bill Dowdy and dated from 1959. It has a start price of $45 and currently had no bidders. 

And, finally, there’s this: A white-label, original mono promo copy of Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 1355. Kind of Blue hasn’t always been a collectible, since there are a lot of copies in print, but these white-label monos are pretty rare and usually go for a decent price. We’ll see what happens with this one and follow up on it later in the week.

We start out Friday with a record I LOVE: Lou Donaldson, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Blue Note 1537. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing in M-/VG condition. It’s already at $364 dollars, which is too rich for my blood in this condition, even though I STILL don’t own an original of this.

Sometimes the way in which a record is listed on eBay makes all the difference. Take this record: Frank Rosolino, I Play Trombone, Bethlehem 26. The key to this record as a collectible is the presence of Sonny Clark in a nice quartet setting. But the seller didn’t bother to put it in. But now you know. 

One more in the same category: Gil Evans Plus Ten, Prestige 7120. This record always seems to sell better when it’s mentioned that Steve Lacy is one of the musicians. 

You don’t think of jazz records on the Motown label, but here’s one on a Motown affiliate: Pepper Adams Plays the Compositions of Charles Mingus, Workshop 219. It’s a nice record, too.

Finally, there’s the seller Mojee, who has a bunch of very nice records on eBay this weekend, including Herbie Hancock, Maiden Voyage, Blue Note 4195.

Here are the results of the auctions we were watching yesterday.

Curtis Fuller, The Opener, Blue Note 1567. This was an original pressing in VG condition. The price was $190.50, probably a drop lower than I expected. I’ve seen this record sell for $600-plus in near mint condition. Curtis Fuller, New Trombone, Presige 7107. This sold for the same price as the other Fuller: $190.50. However, this one was in worse condition, just VG-.

Hank Mobley All Stars, Blue Note 1544. This one sold for $560. That was somewhat of a surprise that it went so high. The pressing on this is West 63^rd, and I’m pretty sure this was originally issued with the Lexington Avenue label. Anybody want to either confirm or dispute that?

 Art Farmer, Art, Argo 678. I was watching this because it’s a nice record, not necessarily because I thought it would command a high price. I was wrong: It sold for $122.50. Wow!

 Gil Evans Plus Ten, Prestige 7120. This was in very nice condition and sold for $201.50, probably the highest price I’ve ever seen for this record. Sometimes how the record is listed makes a difference: When the title mentions Steve Lacy, this record seems to sell for more money.

 Miles Davis, Cookin’, Prestige 7094. I was curious about this because it was a New Jersey pressing. It sold for the minimum asking price: $49.99. My belief is that someone got a bargain: Great music, a near-original, plus I’m seeing an increase in prices for New Jersey Prestiges, even when they’re second pressings.

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Al