Test Pressings | jazzcollector.com

Another $1,000 Record, and A Few More

Al — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:16:49 +0000

Here’s another record that recently broke the $1,000 price barrier: Lee Morgan, Indeed, Blue Note 1538. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The vinyl was in VG++ condition and the cover was listed as VG+. The final price was $1,114. In the Jazz Collector Price Guide, we’ve previously seen this one sell for as high as $895. We’ll be adding this copy to the Price Guide later today. Also breaking the $1,000 barrier was that test pressing of the Jackie McLean Quintet, Blue Note 84116. This was a very rare pressing in M- condition and sold for $1,220. The other two test pressings that were available yesterday, also sold for fairly high prices: The Leo Parker, Rolling With Leo, Blue Note 84095 test pressing, sold for $631; the one from Sam Rivers, Dimensions and Extensions, Blue Note 84261, sold for $480.55.

The post Another $1,000 Record, and A Few More first appeared on jazzcollector.com.

Today on Ebay, January 19, 2009

Al — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:26:30 +0000

Things are kind of slow on eBay today, but there are definitely a few items of interest for those of us in the Jazz Collector world. Of particular note are several Blue Note test pressings from the seller Bluenotesound, which, we believe, is affiliated with Mosaic Records. This one is of the Jackie Mclean Quintet, listed as Blue Note BST 84116. It was recorded in 1962 — the record has the date 9-2-62 — but wasn’t released until the 1970s. It features Kenny Dorham and Sonny Clark and, according to the seller, Blue Note only issued 25 test pressings of each LP, so it would be extremely rare. In addition to this Jackie test pressing, there are two other test pressings available: Leo Parker, Rolling With Leo, and a copy of the Sam Rivers LP Dimensions and Extensions. All of these are in near mint condition. It’ll be very interesting to see the final prices.

Among the more conventional jazz collectibles are:

Jackie McLean, McLean’s Scene, Prestige New Jazz 8212. This is an original pressing with the purple label. The seller doesn’t provide grades, but it looks to be at least VG+ for the record and the cover. This is a great record. The current price is $41.

The seller Roverd has a couple of nice records by Ernie Henry up today: Ernie Henry, Seven Standards and a Blues, Riverside 248. This is a blue label pressing. The record is listed as M- and the cover is VG++. The current price is $52. Another great record. Also up from Roverd is Presenting Ernie Henry, Riverside 222. This is a white label original with the record and cover both in M- condition. The current price is $451.

The post Today on Ebay, January 19, 2009 first appeared on jazzcollector.com.

Bye, Bye Freddie, and Other EBAY UPdates

Al — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:00:13 +0000

Just to catch up on a few items we’ve been watching at Jazz Collector, before we head into Manhattan for the WFMU Record Fair later today. That test pressing of Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040, is no longer available. After being on auction and failing to meet the seller’s reserve price, it sold for $1,500 as a buy-it-now item. Two of the other items we were watching from that seller are still available: Sonny Rollins Quartet, Prestige 137. This 10-inch LP can be had for $99.99; and The Julius Watkins Sextet, Volume 2, Blue Note 5064. This can also be had for $99.99.

I love the old Norgrans. Here’s one: Lester Young, Jazz Giants ’56, Norgran 1056. This was an original yellow label pressing that seemed to be in VG++/VG++ condition. Price: $135.50

Someone may have gotten a bargain on this: Donald Byrd, Byrd’s Word, Savoy 1032. This was an original pressing with the red label that sold for $52.21. The seller didn’t use any of the standard grading terms, so it’s difficult to judge the condition, which I’m sure kept the bidding down. My sense is that the record looks to be in pretty nice shape, but that’s a guess and most bidders on eBay are not so willing to pay high prices on a guess.

Here’s a 10-inch LP: Max Roach and Clifford Brown, GNP 125. This was red vinyl in VG/VG condition. Price: $141.50

That’s it for now. Remember, if you come and see me at the fair today, mention Jazz Collector and you can get a 10% discount. — al

The post Bye, Bye Freddie, and Other EBAY UPdates first appeared on jazzcollector.com.

Tracking Some Blue Note Test Pressings

Al — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:44:28 +0000

I’ll soon post an item looking ahead to some of the nice items on eBay the next couple of days. Before that, I wanted to point you out to a couple of very interesting items from this past weekend. The seller Orto had two test pressings of nice Blue Note LPs. One was Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and Lopin’, Blue Note 4091. This one was dated 12/04/ 1961, about a month after the session was recorded. Very cool item. It sold for $1,950. The other was Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This was also dated one month after the recording session, and it has a stamp on it and it’s in near mint condition. The top bid on this was $830, and it did not meet the seller’s reserve price. The Hubbard LP was listed first, and I get the feeling when it did not meet the seller’s reserve, the bidding on the Sonny Clark LP increased. If you didn’t see these items, they’re worth a look.

The post Tracking Some Blue Note Test Pressings first appeared on jazzcollector.com.