Great Finds

[sidewinder]

Brand new copy of the Big John Patton 'Soul Connection' LP on Nilva for 15 Euros.

[clifford_thornton]

Yeah, I'd never heard anything about him either way, other than that he was from SA and lived in Switzerland in the '70s and '80s. I have the LP and like it very much, so I'd recommend the disc to anybody into SA jazz. I think I paid about $16 for the vinyl!

Then I beat you... they had an avant garde 50% off sale at the shop I bought the discs, and I paid around 30$ for all four of them! Full prize for the Malinga would have been around 17-18$.

I've seen it go for $80 on eBay more than once, so we both beat out somebody!

[king ubu]

Yeah, I'd never heard anything about him either way, other than that he was from SA and lived in Switzerland in the '70s and '80s. I have the LP and like it very much, so I'd recommend the disc to anybody into SA jazz. I think I paid about $16 for the vinyl!

Then I beat you... they had an avant garde 50% off sale at the shop I bought the discs, and I paid around 30$ for all four of them! Full prize for the Malinga would have been around 17-18$.

I've seen it go for $80 on eBay more than once, so we both beat out somebody!

Wow! So I can consider that an investment...

I am clueless as far as prizes for vinyls are concerned... I just sort of buy what I feel like buying for a prize that looks ok to me... (bought the Buck Clayton Mosaic there for quite some, but I guess it was not half as much as I would have to pay on Ebay...)

[slide_advantage_redoux]

I scored this batch of vinyl at Salvation Army today:

Gene Ammons - "Bad Bossa Nova" (prestige yellow label)

"The John Lewis Piano" (Atlantic)

"Stan Freburg presents The United States of America" (Capitol) music arr and cond by Billy Mays

"Rusty Bryant plays Jazz" (Dot)

Intimate Jazz - The Phil Moody Quintet (Somerset)

"The New Sounds of Maynard Ferguson and his Orch" (Cameo)

"Oscar Peterson" (Metro)

"Red Callender - the Lowest" (Metro)

"Les Brown - Swing Song Book" (Coral)

"Dixieland Dance Party - Eddie Condon" (Dot)

average price paid, around $1.69

I drop in this particular S.A. nearly every week, and they never have this level of vinyl. I assume some old fellow died and his kids decided to dump his LPs off there. My gain!

[patricia]

I scored this batch of vinyl at Salvation Army today:

Gene Ammons - "Bad Bossa Nova" (prestige yellow label)

"The John Lewis Piano" (Atlantic)

"Stan Freburg presents The United States of America" (Capitol) music arr and cond by Billy Mays

"Rusty Bryant plays Jazz" (Dot)

Intimate Jazz - The Phil Moody Quintet (Somerset)

"The New Sounds of Maynard Ferguson and his Orch" (Cameo)

"Oscar Peterson" (Metro)

"Red Callender - the Lowest" (Metro)

"Les Brown - Swing Song Book" (Coral)

"Dixieland Dance Party - Eddie Condon" (Dot)

average price paid, around $1.69

I drop in this particular S.A. nearly every week, and they never have this level of vinyl. I assume some old fellow died and his kids decided to dump his LPs off there. My gain!

You know, Greg, I find lots of good stuff at the Sally Ann. As you say, old folks' relatives quite often dump the records off, along with the ugly furniture, when their elders go to their reward. I've found JazzTone, old Blue Note and other rare records there. My Sally Ann charges a straight 99 cents per record. So, a Jazz Giants 3 record boxed Billie was three dollars, with the book included, immaculate shape. Also, check out garage sales in old neighbourhoods. Same thing.

[porcy62]

We don't have SA or garage sales here.

[slide_advantage_redoux]

Most of the time, my trips to S.A., garage and estate sales, etc are fruitless. As a rule, I end up browing through a lot of old Readers Digest "easy listening" collections, Ray Coniff, Mantovani, James Last, Ferrante and Teicher, ad nauseum.

Then on ocassion I will find a nice side. And if I am lucky, it won't look like someone used it to clean their shoes off with - or sailed it around the yard like a frisbee while dad was out of the house.

[patricia]

Most of the time, my trips to S.A., garage and estate sales, etc are fruitless. As a rule, I end up browing through a lot of old Readers Digest "easy listening" collections, Ray Coniff, Mantovani, James Last, Ferrante and Teicher, ad nauseum.

Then on ocassion I will find a nice side. And if I am lucky, it won't look like someone used it to clean their shoes off with - or sailed it around the yard like a frisbee while dad was out of the house.

I understand what you're saying, Greg. But, as a tireless pilgrim I accept that a diamond is occasionally among the dreck you described. I guess the thrill is mostly in the hunt. Finding a clutch of good stuff, hiding in there is worth it.

The downside, of course, is the time-consuming aspect. I compare it to sifting through a consignment clothing shop. Mostly useless junk. But, a vintage St Laurent makes the whole expedition worthwhile.

If time is the problem, best to stick to vintage vinyl outlets. You will pay more. But, our time is worth something. However, there is nothing like the increase in heartbeat that comes with finding a treasure where you least expect it.

Edited April 22, 2006 by patricia

[slide_advantage_redoux]

I stopped by half price books & records this afternoon on a whim, not really looking to buy anything. I stumbled across a copy of Michael Mantler's ECM release "Something There" for a mere .90 cents.

This is a quintet date - with the addition of the London Symphony Strings.

Mantler - trumpet

Mike Stern - gtr

Carla Bley - piano

Steve Swallow - bass

Nick Mason - drums

I normally might have passed on this one because of the symphonic implications, but for this cheap I couldn't let it pass.

Edited May 22, 2006 by slide_advantage_redoux

[patricia]

Which brings up the cardinal rule for judging whether a find really IS a find.

Because most old records that I run across in my regular life are inexpensive, it is a real test of my resistance to not snap them all up.

However, I have come to adopt an approach that stems from my attitude toward bargains in general.

Mostly it's because I only have so much shelf space. But an equal consideration is now given to whether I actually will listen to the new acquisitions. If I probably won't, I pass. My records are for my listening enjoyment. I know that many collectors add to their collections as completists, or because the record offered is rare and expensive. But, those have never been my criteria.

But, the main rule for me is this:

IF I WOULDN'T BUY IT AT IT'S REGULAR PRICE, I DON'T BUY IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOW RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP

[Clunky]

But, the main rule for me is this:

IF I WOULDN'T BUY IT AT IT'S REGULAR PRICE, I DON'T BUY IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOW RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP

On the other hand , cheap LPs or CDs do allow you to widen your listening considerably. Most of the LPs I buy could be viewed as cheap, and almost all are spur of the moment ( backed-up by reasonable knowledge) choices.It is a constant battle to avoid buying mounds of really cheap stuff of limited interest . The other day I picked up. Dexter Gordon( Black Lion), Joe Venuti/Dave McKenna ( Chiasucuro), Earl Hines (Conifer), Joe Venuti (Decca), Duke Jordon (Charlie Parker Records) , Modern Jazz Trumpets (IAJRC), Benny Carter (Capitol) and three others for £15, can't be beat. I wouldn't have bought any of these at full price (save the LTD)

[patricia]

But, the main rule for me is this:

IF I WOULDN'T BUY IT AT IT'S REGULAR PRICE, I DON'T BUY IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOW RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP

On the other hand , cheap LPs or CDs do allow you to widen your listening considerably. Most of the LPs I buy could be viewed as cheap, and almost all are spur of the moment ( backed-up by reasonable knowledge) choices.It is a constant battle to avoid buying mounds of really cheap stuff of limited interest . The other day I picked up. Dexter Gordon( Black Lion), Joe Venuti/Dave McKenna ( Chiasucuro), Earl Hines (Conifer), Joe Venuti (Decca), Duke Jordon (Charlie Parker Records) , Modern Jazz Trumpets (IAJRC), Benny Carter (Capitol) and three others for £15, can't be beat. I wouldn't have bought any of these at full price (save the LTD)

Which proves my point. You liked these enough to buy them and luckily they were within your price range, when if they were more expensive, you might have coveted them, but wouldn't have bought them.

My point is that if the only thing that prevents you buying an album you want is the high price and suddenly it's cheaper, then it IS a good buy.

But, a CD or an album that you buy because it's cheap, while you may not regret buying it, still isn't a good buy.

The limited interest comment is what I meant. Just their being inexpensive is not enough reason to buy a CD or an LP, in my opinion, if you don't really want to listen to it. All a CD or LP is is music. It has no other use, except to a collector of rare CDs or LPs. Then it has it's own value. People who collect rare music are not usually as concerned with the price as they are with the proposed purchase's place in their collection.

So, great find is not always about how much, or how little a CD or LP cost.

[jbs-tom]

... found a great item on my honeymoon holiday in the south of england:

miles davis, dig, orig prestige vinyl with nyc address and in almost near mint condition !

25 pounds was a good price for that i guess ;-)

[sidewinder]

... found a great item on my honeymoon holiday in the south of england:

miles davis, dig, orig prestige vinyl with nyc address and in almost near mint condition !

25 pounds was a good price for that i guess ;-)

Wow, congrats on both counts ! Where was that found, if I might ask...

[patricia]

I almost never buy old '45s, mostly because they are usually in atrocious condition. However, the other day I found a few, in immaculate condition, still in their sleeves, for 50 cents each.

I was really excited and here's why. The top one was "That Old Black Magic" by Keely Smith and Louis Prima. I remembered seeing this performed in a movie, whose title I've forgotten, back in the mid-fifties, but I never forgot Keely's very sultry version. And there it was!!

Then, I looked through the rest of the pile and it included:

Glenn Miller No.3. Remember the extended play '45s? Well this has Elmer's Tune, Moonlight Cocktail, Johnson Rag and Missuri Waltz on it. Perfect condition. This one has a heavier sleeve with a picture of Glenn on it.

So, I snapped it up.

Al Hirt - Mame/Seven Days to Tahiti. Perfect.

I also bought the '45 of Prince's "When Doves Cry", which was in mint condition, still in it's original sleeve.

So for $2.00 I picked up four '45s that I actually will listen to.

Of course I have the Miller tunes on other records, but it's not often I find '45s in decent enough condition to even consider buying them.

This was the exception.

I must say that the pile of '45s was quite high and those were the only ones I bought. The others were mostly old rock, in the same condition that my old rock '45s were, ratched.

Edited May 30, 2006 by patricia

[jbs-tom]

... found a great item on my honeymoon holiday in the south of england:

miles davis, dig, orig prestige vinyl with nyc address and in almost near mint condition !

25 pounds was a good price for that i guess ;-)

Wow, congrats on both counts ! Where was that found, if I might ask...

thank you sidewinder !

that was in plymouth, i was there for my first uk record fair and there a young man recommend me a store called "really good records", quite a nice second hand store with lots of jazz stuff but also rock. i was diggin really under the tables to find in the last row that miles davis album - i have cleaned it at home and it plays really wonderful near mint with only the very lightest surface noise here and there.

so maybe you can check it out ....

[sidewinder]

Wow - I've always thought of Plymouth as a desert as far as jazz was concerned. There used to be a specialist jazz vinyl store there back 20 or so years ago called 'Peter Russell's Hot Record Store' but that has long gone I'm afraid. I actually lived in Plymouth for a year back then - the Navy pretty well owned the place in those days. Probably still do.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

how much would you value a sealed copy of the Capitol records 1st issue of the movie version of "Carousel"

[Spontooneous]

Finally found Randy Weston's "Destry Rides Again." First one I've seen in 24 years of looking.

Just wanted to brag about it.

[eeegor]

I'll probably never be this lucky again:

1. George Wallington 'Quintet at the Bohemia' original NM/NM - $40 -- sold on eBay last year for $700

2. George Wallington 'Jazz for The Carriage Trade' W. 50th Prestige NM/NM - $25 -- sold on eBay last year for $205

The great finds that I've found, bought, and kept for myself are too many to mention though; they comprise my entire collection!

[pasta]

vinyl HAUL, all for 60 dollars american total!

art blakey and the jazz messengers- meet you at the jazz corner of the world volume 1 second pressing

joe henderson- multiple still sealed 1st pressing

roland kirk- now please don't you cry, beautiful edith- french reissue

hank mobley- hi voltage original pressing

some sleeve scuffing, but all in sweet condition. played them ALL tonight over a few guinness!

[jazzhound]

... found a great item on my honeymoon holiday in the south of england:

miles davis, dig, orig prestige vinyl with nyc address and in almost near mint condition !

25 pounds was a good price for that i guess ;-)

diggin for vinyl on your honeymoon? now that's a vinyl lover

[jbs-tom]

... found a great item on my honeymoon holiday in the south of england:

miles davis, dig, orig prestige vinyl with nyc address and in almost near mint condition !

25 pounds was a good price for that i guess ;-)

diggin for vinyl on your honeymoon? now that's a vinyl lover

yes, but as i wrote "under the tables" - i forgot to say my wife was with me

Edited February 1, 2007 by jbs-tom

[Sneakywax]

I bought three boxes of records for $100 off of craigslist this weekend sight unseen. Price included the guy driving them to my house and dropping them off. Guy said that there was some jazz and instrumental stuff in there as well as classical. Price was about $0.20 per record so I figured I would simply pick up some interesting stuff to listen to and experiment with. You never know what you may like. The record covers were full of dust and the records themselves were almost always covered in brownish dirt and grime. As it turns out, a lot Walter Wanderly and Montovanni stype stuff was in there, along with a few Orpheum Jazzland reissues. But in the last pile, I found an original Sonny Criss, Go, Man! on Imperial. Used a VPI cleaner and it turned out to be unplayed -- the spindle hole still had vinyl residue in it and the record was shiny and unmarked. The cover had a couple of splits and a small tear on the front, but displays reall nicely. Record plays great. I was extremely happy.

[brownie]

There was this battered album from Sidney Bechet '1.000.000e disque' in a small pile of leftovers in the record shop I visited yesterday.

This is the album that Vogue France released after the celebrated Olympia concert in 1955 which saw thousands of Bechet fans riot inside the music hall. The front cover was missing a couple of protective cardboards but the full cover black and white by Jean-Pierre Leloir was nearly intact. So were the two heavy vinyls inside. Price was €8 ($10).

When I examined the album after I got home, I was happily surprised to find the album (numbered 3,731) included liner notes with more photos by Leloir plus signatures of Bechet and French bandleaders Claude Luter and André Réwéliotty.

The vinyls play fine - except for a couple of clicks each - after getting a quick cleaning.