John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was an original black label pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $510. It’s nice posting Giant Steps every once in a while so I can put a picture with the post and just take a look at it again — inspiring me to put the record on the turntable.

Perhaps I owe CeeDee an apology for this one: Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams, Out of this World, Warwick 2041. This was an original pressing in what looked to be VG+ condition for the vinyl and probably VG+ or VG++ for the cover. It sold for $159.99, higher than I would have expected. CeeDee and I made a trade involving this record and Dexter Calling a few months ago and at some point I may have made some kind of disparaging remark about the Byrd/Adams record. No doubt, it had more to do with the quality of the recording than the quality of the music. My copy just sounded very dull and flat, particularly compared to a Blue Note pressing from the same era.

Thelonious Monk With Sonny Rollins, Prestige 7075. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for the record and what looked to be VG++ for the cover. It sold for $358.99.

What do you make of this: Dexter Gordon, Go, Blue Note 4112. From all appearances this looks to be an original pressing with the New York USA label and the Van Gelder in the dead wax. There is no mention of the ear and the seller somehow calls the record Bass on Top at one point in the listing. Seems a little flaky, but the record and cover were listed in VG+ condition and the price was only $92.89, so someone may have gotten a nice bargain.

by Jason Sweet

Digging for records can be hard, but rewarding, work. A lot of times it’s right place, right time. You have to have knowledge though, players, producers, labels, and the like. To me, there is no better feeling than combing tiny shops from Indianapolis to Iceland, looking for a record that may only exist in my imagination and finding it. Have I bought records off eBay? Yes I have, though not many. The biggest problem I have with eBay is that I’m being asked to buy something sight unseen. And why relinquish the thrill of the hunt? Buying music on eBay is like trolling Internet pornography: A means to an end, but it will never replace the intimacy of the real thing.

The other day, I stumbled upon one of those “imaginary” finds that keeps us going. I’m a big

Johnny “Hammond” Smith fan. (I know, a second-tier collectable, but I’d rather have 500 $20 LPs that are good than one $2,000 that is good.) So what was my score? Oddly enough it was Imagination / Johnny Hammond. This is Johnny’s “lost” album, recorded on Warwick (Cat. #2002) in 1959, and not mentioned in any discography. This may be Johnny at his earliest, on an album filled with an energy that probably existed in his live performances.

Tracks include:

1. Imagination

2. Shalimar

3. On the Street Where You Live

4. Flip Top

5. Deep Purple

6. Lamberts Lodge

7. Over the Rainbow

8. Ecstasy

Performers:

Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Organ

George Tucker – Bass

Leo Stevens – Drums

Thornel Schwartz – Guitar