This week’s theme: Jackie McLean on Prestige, Volume 2. Featured musicians include Gene Ammons, Art Taylor, Donald Byrd, Bill Hartman, Mal Waldron, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Red Garland, Arthur Phipps, Wade Legge, Doug Watkins.

This week’s theme: Jackie McLean on Prestige. Featured artists include Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Gene Ammons, Art Taylor, Donald Byrd, Bill Hartman, Mal Waldron, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Red Garland, Arthur Phipps, Wade Legge, Doug Watkins.

I always like to discover records I’ve never seen before. I’ve been collecting jazz records for more than 40 years now, so you would think I’ve seen everything. Plus, I watch eBay pretty carefully, although not nearly as obsessively as I did several years ago. Still, here’s one I’ve never seen (or, perhaps, never noticed): Marty Paich, Hot Piano, Tampa 23. This record is listed in M- condition, which is rare enough for a Tampa in and of itself. It is also red vinyl. The cover is listed at VG+. The bidding starts at around $200 and so far there has been no action.

This one also caught my eye: John Coltrane, Soultrane, Prestige 7142. What struck me was a note in the listing: “Absolutely the best copy we’ve ever seen.” I thought perhaps it was a seller given over to hyperbole. I’m sure we can think of one or two in that category. But, no, it’s a legitimate jazz guy who’s been selling on eBay for as long as I can remember, although I haven’t personally dealt with him in years.  Anyway, this record is listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. The bidding is only at $110, with more than a day left. Could be a bargain for someone. This is my personal favorite of all the Coltrane Prestige recordings, an absolute gem from start to finish.

Then, of course, there is the usual stack of Blue Notes in my watch list How could I not start with this: Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045? This is an original West 63^rdStreet pressing listed in EX+ condition for the record and Ex for the cover. The start price is around $900 and there is already a bidder. There’s a piece of me that thinks I should just bite the freaking bullet already and put in a high bid for this baby. I’ll finally get the stupid record and none of you will have to listen to my belly-aching anymore. What do you think? I’ve been working my ass off lately, which is why I’ve been posting so little, so I could probably find the money and even get approval from The Lovely Mrs. JC. Oh, and isn’t Father’s Day coming up in just a few weeks? I say, let’s vote on it. I have six days to make up my mind.

One more: Wade Legge, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5031. This is an original 10-inch pressing that looks to be in VG+ condition for the record and probably VG+ for the cover as well. The start price is about $400 and so far there are no bidders. Quick story about this record. Remember last summer’s Misadventure in Jazz Collecting with my lovely friend Debbie in Rochester? You can check out the links as a reminder. At the end, in The Final Chapter, I dropped a hint that there was yet another collection for sale, right here in The Berkshires, where my wife sleeps and my children come and play with their toys. That was Sept. 2, 2018. Well, one of the records in that collection happens to be this Wade Legge record. And, guess what? I spoke to the guy this week and he still has the collection. He’s had some personal issues and hasn’t gotten around to selling it. When he does, I’m first on his list. Or, so he says. Debbie said the same thing last year. Yada, yada, yada, the records ended up in Chicago.

I had my eye on this listing because it is a record I’ve never actually seen before and it was offered by another old friend of Jazz Collector, mr. fifties jazz, otherwise know to us here as Rudolf: Wade Legge Trio, French Vogue 133. This was an original 10-inch pressing that looked to be in beautiful condition. The final price was $801.01. Careful readers may recall that Rudolf once regaled us with a treatise on French Vogue, A Comprehensive Guide to French Vogue, which, it’s hard to believe, was posted nearly eight years ago? How is that possible? Anyway, these French Vogue pressing was later reissued as Blue Note 5031, New Faces, New Sounds. Popsike tells us that the French version has sold for more than $1,000 at one time and Rudolf’s is the second highest price. The top price for the  Blue Note is $788. There was also this post from last year on the Blue Note copy of the Wade Legge record, which has some interesting comments that provide some historical perspective.

This is also one I don’t see very often, but I’ve never viewed it as a record that was particularly favored by collectors:

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, A Night in Tunisia, Via 1115. This looks to be an original deep-groove mono pressing, listed in excellent condition for both the record and the cover. It has interesting personnel, with Johnny Griffin and Bill Hardman, not a very often-recorded group of Messengers. And it includes Jackie McLean under the pseudonym “Ferris Benda,” apparently to avoid contractual conflicts. This is another one I will have to listen to, since I’ve owned it for years and probably put it on the turntable maybe once when I first obtained it. Anyway, this copy is in the $160 range, which seems high for a non-Blue Note Blakey. A quick search on Popsike seems to indicate that a price this high will be an aberration or perhaps just a new level for this record. It’s probably great, right?