Ok Vincent – we’ll just get right into these…some nice titles to think about. As always, click an image to see it larger.
I’ll start with what is probably my fave in the bunch, Beverly Kenney Sings for Johnny Smith. (https://www.discogs.com/release/4009115-Beverly-Kenney-Johnny-Smith-Sings-For-Johnny-Smith) This is just a great record – I have already come across it twice, and it sells pretty much as soon as I list it, and for good reason. Great playing, her voice is lovely and the arrangements are perfect-just holds up on so many levels. Plus, out of these records, it is one I played a few times, and know! My buddy and I were just talking about how much we dig her.
This copy is clean, especially the wax. The cover has a little discoloring to it (but the image does, too), but it doesn’t have the crypt smell, and it is not deteriorating, splitting or crushed anywhere. The wax is great – I think I was the first one to spin it. Wax would be somewhere between VG+ and NM-, cover is a strong VG+. I hated the original inner (a curved plastic one, that I think is not gentle to records) so I replaced it…but I folded it up and stuffed it in the outer sleeve so you have it.
I will say on this one man, even if you pass on this specific copy, this is a record you’ll want to own. It’s really cool.
Next, we’ll look at Am I Blue, by Grant Green – Blue Note 84139, a 1970 reissue…this one: https://www.discogs.com/release/4165965-Grant-Green-Am-I-Blue
A nice copy again, with a cover that is solid and not smelly, not splitting, and other than a small staple in the upper left corner, and one tiny white spot (that might be flaked off) it is not showing any true age/damages. Again here, I hate the original inner, which seem to be flaking a little bit, so I put it in a paper inner, and kept it out of the sleeve (the original inner is still in the sleeve). The wax is great: no indication that it has ever been played, and I have not spun it yet. I am comfortable with a NM on the wax, and the cover is at LEAST a VG+….so other than the fact it is from 1970 if you were seeking a first issue, this one is pretty much on the mark across the board.
Next, we’ll look at The Fourmost Guitars, by Jimmy Raney, Chuck Wayne, Joe Puma and Dick Garcia. (https://www.discogs.com/release/7409242-Jimmy-Raney-Chuck-Wayne-Joe-Puma-Dick-Garcia-The-Fourmost-Guitars) I don’t know much about this, other than it looks like it would be good, and this one is in great shape. Cover is sharp on both sides with no real wear or age showing. Wax looks like a virgin again, and this one is super affordable to boot.
Now we’ll look at Tiny Grimes’ Big Time Guitar, UAL 3232 (https://www.discogs.com/release/4068473-Tiny-Grimes-Big-Time-Guitar-With-Organ-And-Rhythm). A lovely copy of this one, I have not spun it which feels like an oversight on my part – I just found an early record of his (w/The Cats and the Fiddle) that is pretty amazing. But this one looks tight in every way – the cover is clean and free from wear or damages, and the wax is again, virgin in every respect. Another great deal on an affordable record that should rock, and is in great shape.
Now we’ll look at Donald Byrd’s Up with Donald Byrd, Verve’s V-8609 (https://www.discogs.com/release/3710135-Donald-Byrd-Up-With-Donald-Byrd). Again, I can’t say anything about the playing on it as I have not spun it myself. The cover of this one has some front damage – there is a little surface tear, and someone looks to have tried to color it in again with a marker, but not all the way. The back has a little discoloring but nothing major…it basically a good cover other than the front issues (which are zoomed below for you). Wax makes up for the cover – looks unplayed, but there might be a small storage related scuff or 2 so it would be a super strong VG+, but likely not a NM, because those couple marks might get a little crackle. Hard to say, but overall a really nice copy, despite the cover tears.
Next, we’ll look at Coleman Hawkins’ Hawk Eyes, Prestige 7156 (https://www.discogs.com/release/7824341-Coleman-Hawkins-Charlie-Shavers-Tiny-Grimes-Hawk-Eyes). To verify pressing, this one is DG, South Washington on the label of the yellow fireworks, PRLP 7156 on labels, Prestige 7156 on cover. This one has a misprinted cover – the band members’ names repeat and cause a weird ghosting effect on the cover. There are light, random nicks/bumps on the edges, but not big, major ones. a fingerprint in the upperright corner, front. A name in pen on the back, Johnson on top in marker. And despite all those flaws mentioned, it is still a good cover to me – kinda cooler because of the misprint. I’d have to give the cover a VG+ I think, despite itself. The wax is solid – I did not see any major (or much minor) damage from storage or play to report…at best, there may be some light things in the wax from storage, but I think it’ll be a strong VG+ to NM in playback. I have not spun it, but happy to do so. It is not perfect, but it is clean, and appears to be closer to the high end than the middle.
And finally last, and truly the least in some regards here, we have Jimmy Heath Quintet – On the Trail, Riverside 9486 (https://www.discogs.com/release/20992441-Jimmy-Heath-Quintet-Featuring-Kenny-Burrell-And-Wynton-Kelly-On-The-Trail). So first, note it is the 1966 reissue, not original pressing. This one also showed more play marks on the spindle holes than all of the other ones put together – this one has been played. Cover is sharp and clean, with only minor discoloring on the back (like yellowing, but faint-look toward edges). But the wax has seen a few tables – there are some play scuffs and some storage scuffs, so this one will not get above a VG rating from me on the wax. It may be pushing VG-, I’d have to clean and spin it to be sure, but there are definitely going to be some pops in the playback here. I don’t think it’s below a VG- but it might get there in spots…weakest one of the stack tonight.
