Warhol, Blue Notes, Sun Ra: An Eclectic Day at Jazz Collector

It’s not often that you go onto eBay and find $40,000 items in a search of Jazz records and think that, yes, perhaps that is a legitimate price someone would pay. What do you think of this: Original Study Andy Warhol RCA Records Kenny Burrell Blue Note 1543 Jazz Album? From the listing it looks like an original pen and ink drawing from Warhol’s own hand. It seems to be that there is enough certification to assert that this really is a Warhol original. I’d hang it in my home. Not for $40,000, but I’d still hang it in my home. This has already gone through one eBay cycle that I know of and is back again at the same $40,000 start price. There is a “Best Offer” option as well, so you never know. I’m not a Sun Ra collector — nothing against him, just never got into him — but I imagine Clifford and many other Jazz Collector regulars would be interested in: Sun Ra and his Arkestra Visits Planet Earth, El Saturn Records 9956. The record is listed in VG++ condition, with the proviso that none of the pressings on this label was of the highest quality. The cover is VG+. There are only three bids, but the action is already in the $840 range. Not being a Sun Ra collector myself, if I were to listen to one or two records, just for the music, what would you fans recommend?

As always, there are lots of nice Blue Notes on eBay at this time, including this one from my own personal want list: Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craft, Blue Note 1587. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing. The vinyl is listed as VG+ and the cover as M-. The bidding is in the $200 range and there is less than a day to go on the auction, with nine bidders and 11 bids. The action seems very light for a record of this quality in this condition and I would expect the bidding to end up close to the $1,000 range or beyond. But, you never know. Hey, if the action stays light, I may even toss in a bid myself.

One more for the day: Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing, Blue Note 4038. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing, listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $650, there are no bidders and the auction closes today. I would think this would sell, but the seller doesn’t add to his credibility by stating “this is Mcleans (sic) rarest,” which we all know is just hyperbole and, of course, is not true. Any knowledgeable collector would assume, as I do, that The New Tradition on Ad Lib is the rarest of the McLeans. I mean, there are not that many artists where you can say, yes, this is the rarest, but McLean seems to be one. Right?

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11 comments

  • Re Sun Ra, having once owned about 200+ of his lps, I would say one of my faves and thus a recommendation for listening/obtaining would be “Bad and Beautiful” on the Saturn label, if only for John Gilmore’s sole on’ Searchlight Blues.’

  • I have that Sun Ra album and it’s a fine example of his earlier and more “straight ahead” music. Thankfully I got it many, many years ago for under $100!

  • The Sun Ra seller also has a copy of Pat Patrick’s ultra-rare ‘Sound Advice’ on Saturn.
    In 2001 I posted a mint copy on Ebay for Academy Lps here in NYC, that was scheduled to end around 4PM on 9/11. Everything was so crazy here it wasn’t until the next day that I even realized the auction had ended. Even with the entire world glued to the Tv coverage there were a couple of collectors who bid it up to $800.
    I wonder if the winner still thinks of 9/11 whenever he plays the lp.

  • I suggest “The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra” on Savoy. I also suggest “Jazz in Silhouette” on Saturn, reissued on Impulse.

  • The “Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra” is a fine album. It is also noteworthy for being one of seven Savoy Jazz Albums with Cover Art by the enigmatic “Harvey”. (Who can name the other six?) Admittedly my 7 Count is via Exhaustion as there is no definitive listing of Jazz albums illustrated by “Harvey” (he mostly illustrated Savoy Gospel LP’s). Now it is possible there is an 8th Savoy jazz album with “Harvey” Cover Art – that being Art Pepper “Surf Ride”. It’s actually signed “Harvey Ragsdale” in the lower-left front corner but is it the same guy? The artistic style is similar to the other 7 but it’s the only one with a first and last name . I would be astounded and quite appreciative if anyone can lend clarification to Savoy Jazz Albums illustrated by “Harvey”.

  • If you’re looking for more Harvey info, this might help:
    http://www.harveyalbums.com

  • The Savoy is superb and I think one of the best examples of early ’60s Ra.

    Most of my Sun Ra collection is on CD, including a lot of those old Evidence reissues. I’d be hard pressed to spend beaucoup bucks on some of them, but the hand-drawn covers are really special (even if some of the music is poorly recorded and mixed, and the performances hit-or-miss going into the 1980s).

  • Capuchin Swing sold for the 650.00, seems high to me but there was one person willing to pay it.

    I’ve been researching something lately and can’t think of a better place to pose the question. I’m sure it’s been discussed somewhere on this site in the past but what are peoples thoughts on the Music Matters, Analogue Productions, Classic Records BN reissues? I recently bought Cool Struttin and Leapin and Lopin on Music Matters 45, resigned to the fact I will never own an original unless I find one at a yard sale. Does anyone prefer the Music Matters release over a Liberty/UA release? I wouldn’t consider myself an audiophile but I listened to the Leapin and Lopin last night and think it sounds great.

  • Speaking of Sun Ra, $5700 for Sound Advice is pretty wild.

  • I had given Ra a wide berth for many years mainly due to the lack of detail that allows one to track an artists development etc. I finally took the plunge , got hold of Robert L Campbell’s great book which not only places recordings in order but also allows one to work around a lot of the poorly recorded live stuff pumped out on his own label. I also purchased some of the 180gm stuff that came out recently , they sound fine to me and $20 is better than $200 in my book. Anyway , I would suggest the following ,Interstellar low ways from 1959/60 , studio recording and has that great track “Rocket number nine”. “Omniverse” from 1979 ,another studio recording with a septet featuring Gilmore and Michael Ray . His only piano trio recording that I am aware of is “God is more than love can ever be” ,from 1979 ( just been re-issued ) and it is wonderful . From 1990 Ra’s recordings for Black Saint ” Mayan Temples”have great sound quality and the band is really tight. Finally a fun outing for the band from a Chicago 1988 FM broadcast on Egg Raid ,great sound and Ra sings “I dream too much” I think it is a bootleg so purists watch out

  • I’m with Ian on “God Is More Than Love Can Ever Be”, as well as it’s companion piece “Fireside Chat With Lucifer”, and another “70’s favorite of mine “Discipline 27 – 11”

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