Guys and Dolls and Jazz Vinyl
Sorry I haven’t posted for a few days, but, judging by the comments, you guys seemed to do pretty well without me. In any case, I return with some items I’ve been watching on eBay, starting with some jazz vinyl that seems to indicate the clear split in the market between the super-collectibles, i.e., original Blue Notes et al, and the many other records that were collectible at one time but seem to have lost some of their market/cachet. Starting with Eddie Costa, Guys and Dolls Like Vibes, Coral 57230. This was an original pressing, in VG++ condition for the record and probably about VG+ for the cover. We’ve covered this in the past for the Jazz Collector Price Guide and it has sold for as much as $136. The seller did not do himself any favors by failing to mention in his listing that the pianist on this date was Bill Evans. It’s also a terrific record. There was one bidder who got this record for $30. From the same seller was Johnny Hodges and Duke Ellington, Back to Back, Verve 8317. This was an original pressing with the trumpeter label in M- condition for the vinyl and probably the same for the cover. Again, there was one bidder and a price of $30. Is there so little interest in Hodges and Ellington these days? One more, also Guys and Dolls by the Manhattan Jazz All-Stars, Columbia 8223. This was an original stereo pressing inVG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It is also a nice album, was somewhat collectible at one time, and features Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Dave McKenna and others. This one didn’t get a single bid at $20.
If “Guys and Dolls like vibes” was on Blue Note, with RVG and Reid to complete the team, it would sell for thousands of dollars. But on Coral, it is much less glamour : 30 $…
I have the Manhatten Jazz All-Stars albums and it’s nice. To be honest, I find that with Zoot Sims in a blowing session I’m rarely disappointing. I just love his tone, and find his style of play to be very “forgiving” for lack of a better word. I just find it hard to imagine him sounding bad or being off. I’ve never heard the Coral Eddie Costa. At around 30, I’ll look for one due to your recommendation.
Mike F. You can’t go wrong on the Eddie Costa. Great record and he and Evans have a nice rapport.
Apparently record collecting is not about music – it´s about mathematics. Finding the right Blue Notes in the 1500-series, in the 4000-series, to get all the Hank Mobleys in a nice row, at the right sum of money. Mathematics, mathematics, mathematics.
For me, Guys ´n Dolls is one of the all time greatest from that golden age of jazz. Too bad they did it on such a non-sexy label as Coral …
And it so happens it´s the same with Ellington/Hodges Back to back.
Within just a couple of weeks the two most magnificent albums in jazz were recorded: Back to back and Kind of blue.
Whereas Kind of blue was giving suggestions of some of the things to come, Back to back was summarizing the jazz from the beginning to, at least, 1959, and in some ways (Ellington´s pianoplaying!) even further.
For me, that´s worth more than $2000.
Guys and Dolls is a nice session,but for me the lousy recording makes it a hard listen. To be more precise:the ‘house sound’ of Coral made the date sound as if it was made in a warehouse,or maybe a barn. That,plus the echo-y way Costa’s vibes were recorded-like Dave Pike on steroids! I’ve heard a few Coral lps from the period and most have the same ‘sound’ which to me is a bummer. Anyone hear it that way as well?