Here’s another Sonny from the same seller: Sonny Rollins A Night at the Village Vanguard, Blue Note 1581. This looks to be an original deep groove West 63^rd Street pressing. The record and cover are both graded in VG+ condition. This one also has a start price of $400 with no bidders and four days left on the auction.

J.R. Monterose, The Message, Jaro 5004. This is an original mono pressing. It looks to be in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. Bidding for this starts at about $500 and so far there is no action, also with four days left. And one more closing in four days with no bids: Warne Marsh, Jazz of two Cities, Imperial 9027. This looks to be a first pressing. There’s wording on the cover that says “recorded in stereophonic sound.” This would be early even for using the word stereo, since it is a 1957 record and that was the year of the first stereo issues. But maybe Imperial was ahead of the game. I don’t have an original copy of the record to compare. The start price on this one is $275.

Mode is another short-lived label you don’t see all that often. Here’s one: Warne Marsh, Music for Prancing, Mode 125. This is an original pressing listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The record has shrink wrap, but I doubt it was originally issued that way back in 1957 or 1958. Perhaps Rudolf would have a better idea. Anyway, the start price for this is $250 and so far there are no bids.

Here’s one from a label that is perhaps somewhat more familiar to our readers: Art Taylor, AT’s Delight, Blue Note 4047. This is a West 63rd Street pressing that seems to have the RVG stamp in the deadwax, but no ear and no deep grooves. It’s funny, my copy (autographed by Arthur Taylor in 1980) is of the same vintage. Would you say, early in the Liberty years. I listened to it a couple of weeks ago and the sound was fine. Anyway, this copy is listed in Ex condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The bidding is already in the $260 range. I wonder how much my autographed pristine copy would sell for. Not that I’m looking to sell it.

Speaking of deep grooves, a reader sent the following note/question:

“I have followed your site for several years, and I am continually impressed by the content provided by you and fellow collectors. I have a question for you, that may also become a suitable topic for a blog post.  My question is, when did Blue Note, (and Plastylite and Liberty), Prestige, Impulse, Riverside, etc. convert mono pressings from 1mil groove width to .7mil groove width? I ask because I have participated in a discussion on another blog site regarding this issue and which stylus to use for optimal mono playback. Thank you.”

I told the questioner that I didn’t know the answer but it was highly likely someone here would know the answer. Let’s see.

While I’m looking at whopping prices, here’s another: Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, Peckin’ Time, Blue Note 1574. This was an original pressing with the deep grooves, ears, West 63rd address, etc. It was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $2,750.

And then there are some records that don’t sell at all, or sell for relatively low prices. To wit:

Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre, Verve 8335. This was an original pressing with the trumpeter logo. It features Konitz as well as Bill Evans, Hal McKusick and Warne Marsh, among others. The record was listed Excellent condition and the cover was VG+. I’ve always viewed this as a nice collectible, yet nobody wanted it at $35. It’s a weird world when the extremes are so out of proportion — some collectible records selling for $3,000 and more, and others not even drawing a bid at $35.

I also thought this one had some interest for collectors, particularly aficionados of jazz guitar because of the presence of Dick Garcia, but I was apparently wrong: Johnny Glasel, Jazz Session Featuring Dick Garcia, ABC Paramount 165. This was an original pressing that looked to be in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. Nobody wanted it for $9.95.

Here’s another rare jazz guitar record that I thought wouldn’t sell, but wound up getting some bids at the end: Chuck Wayne Quintet, Progressive Records 1003. This was an original 10-inch record, featuring Zoot Sims and Brew Moore. It’s a very rare record and one you don’t see very often. This copy was in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The start price was $50 and there was no bidding until the last few hours/minutes. It wound up selling for $89.80.

The same seller had this one, which you don’t see too often: Warne Marsh, Jazz of Two Cities, Imperial 9027. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $208.14. I’ve owned a reissue of this record for many years, but can’t remember ever putting it on the turntable. Maybe tonight.

I was also watching these two U.K. original pressings and I still don’t get it: Moondog, Esquire 32-055. This was in M- condition for the record and Ex for the cover. It sold for $405.65. Then there was Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Esquire 32-405. This was in Ex+ condition for the record and M- for the cover. It sold for $312.14. I know these are U.K. pressings and the collector’s market (and the collector’s mentality) is often disconnected from the actual value of the music, but Moondog more valuable than Saxophone Colossus? Forgive me on that that one.

I can’t figure out why there are no bids yet for this one: Johnny Coles, Little Johnny C, Blue Note 4144. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $100.

Here’s a nice Riverside:

Kenny Dorham, Jazz Contrasts, Riverside 239. This is an original white label pressing in M- condition for the record and probably M- or VG++ for the cover. The bidding is in the $250 range.

What are some people thinking? Here’s a listing I decided to watch: Gerry Mulligan, Night Lights, Phillips 600-108. This was a stereo pressing with a promo label. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG+. If you walked into a store and saw this record for $10 and you didn’t have it, you might buy it. The seller had a start price of $126. Seriously. Not only were there no bids, but only six people looked at the listing and I think three of them were me because I was so incredulous. At least there was free shipping.

Spend 24 hours on eBay and you’ll find dozens of similar examples. The seller of this record have had more than 80 all by himself: Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh, Atlantic 1217. This was an original black label pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. A a nice record, to be sure, but a start price of $320? From a seller who calls himself “vinyl realist?” Give him credit, though. He did manage to sell a few records and get top dollar for them.

Here’s one you almost never see going for a big price: Dave Brubeck Time Out, Columbia 8192. This was one of the most popular jazz LPs ever and

there were a lot of copies pressed. This one, however, was an original stereo pressing with the white promo label. The vinyl was in M- condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $188.50.

This is another one you don’t see too often: Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1404. This one was listed as VG for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $241.50.

Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was M-. The price was $589.90.

Leonard Feather Presents Bop, Mode 127. This was an original pressing in VG++/VG+ condition. The price was $80.

Warne Marsh, Music For Prancing, Mode 125. This was also an original pressing in VG++/VG+ condition. It sold for $68.

Dexter Gordon, One Flight Up, Blue Note 4176. This one already has received some discussion on the

site because it set a new high for this LP. It was in VG++ condition and an original pressing, with one side deep groove. The price was $415.90.

Johnny Griffin, The Kerry Dancers, Riverside 420. This was an original blue label pressing in M- condition, both record and cover. The price was $231.50.

Jackie McLean, Lights Out, Prestige 7035. This was an original New York pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $572.

Helen Merrill, Emarcy 36032. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition, both record and cover. The price was $460.