By Susan Sliwicki
This week’s Market Watch is a great example of how many different areas of collecting are vibrant, if you just take the time too look. Punk. Beatles. Blues. Grunge. Elvis. Classical. They’re all here — along with some entries that are more desirable for their covers than their recorded contents.

10. $2,910.49 —  The Fix, “Vengeance” / “In This Town,” 7-inch record.

Kicking off our countdown this week is a familiar face, touted by the seller as “Mandatory American hardcore” — The Fix’s 7-inch release on Touch and Go Rekords. Yeah, you read that right. Rekords.

“Touch and Go Rekords is spelled with a K instead of a C because Dave Stimson ran out of Cs when he was making the sleeve,” the seller wrote.

The Fix have been a fixture on the Market Watch countdown in recent months. A copy of this same record — or is that “rekord” — copies sold for $3,227 and  $4,250 in July 2010 and $3,383 in November 2010. This copy earns a grade of EX for its cover, which has a few small wrinkles, and EX- for the vinyl, for which the A and B labels are flipped, the seller said.

The original pressing was 200 copies, and the seller says 15 of those were warped or destroyed after band members placed records on a heat vent after getting them from the pressing plant. Nineteen bids were exchanged before a winner was declared.

9. $3,262.09 — Elvis Presley, EP set.

Meat Loaf sings that two out of three ain’t bad, and it looks like bidders agreed with his theory on this lot, which only contained two of the three EPs in the set (missing Sides 2 and 5.)

Fifty-four bids were exchanged before a winner was declared for this copy of SPD-23, which earned a grade of VG+ for its triple gatefold cover. A formal grade was not given for the records; the seller said they played through but had background noise present.

RCA produced two different models of Elvis Presley record players in the mid-‘50s. The three-EP set was a bonus for customers who bought the higher-priced Elvis Presley model; a two-EP set (SPD-22) accompanied the lower-priced version.

“Because only a handful of people could afford the high-end Vvictrola, it, in time, made this one of the rarest Elvis records/cover in existence on any label from any country,” the seller wrote.

8. $3,375 — Lightnin’ Hopkins, “Mojo Hand,” LP.

“One of the rarest blues LPs you’ll ever see in unbelievable condition,” the seller promises in his description of this original mono pressing of FLP-104 on the Fire label.

The vinyl was graded at a VG++ due to a light scratch, some scuff marks and some crackling between songs, but it plays like NM, the seller said. The cover earns a VG+ grade, due to some light ringwear and some rippling in the paste-over cover.

7. $3,673 — Maria Madrigal, “Madrigal’s Magic Key To Spanish,” LP.

Since we doubt there’s a sudden fascination with learning Spanish in the Madrigal method of the 1950s, we can only assume that the excitement over this record is due to the cover artwork, which was created by Andy Warhol. While there is not yet a special typestyle to denote sarcasm, please assume that is what we’re employing here, as this record has become a bit of a frequent flyer as of late on the Market Watch countdown.

Although it is free of splits, this copy’s cover bears a slight indentation from the record, has a crease in the upper left edge, a rip on the lower-right side of the cover, as well as some writing and some brown discoloration. The cover is “fine,” and has one slight scratch, according to the seller. Formal grades were not assigned for either the art or the record.

Seven bids were exchanged before a winner was declared.

6. $4,150 — Leonid Kogan, Lalo’s “Symphonie Espagnole” and Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade Melancolique,” LP.

This record is making it’s second appearance in as many Market Watch countdowns. Pressed in the U.K. in 1960 on the Columbia label, this NM/M copy of SAX 2329 features Leonid Kogan on violin and the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Kyril Kondrashin. But that probably isn’t what got bidders so excited about this lot.

“This is one, of many records, from a sound engineers private archive,” the seller wrote. “He worked for famous record companies from the ’30 s until late ’60 s and was a dedicated music lover. The collection consists of mainly classical and opera recordings, but also of some jazz and pop/rock records. Everything is in Excellent, Near Mint or Mint condition. After buying his records, he taped them onto a Revox reel player and then archived the vinyl. It is like visiting a record shop with new 40- to 60-year-old records!”

Thirty-three bids were exchanged before a winner was declared.

5. $4,527.99 — The Beatles, “Please Please Me,” LP.

You knew it was just a matter of time before the dreaded “holy grail” phrase showed up in a Market Watch entry, and here’s the offender. (Do sellers somehow think bidders do searches by the words “holy grail” instead of  searching for the desired artist or an album name?)

This 1963 U.K. pressing of “Please Please Me” has the correct cover and wrong Dick James credits, according to the seller. Of course, we were a little concerned about the seller’s description when we read the headline, which promised it was a stereo copy (PCS 3042), and then read seller’s detailed description, which said this was a mono copy (PMC 1202). A pair of fuzzy label images —for which the seller apologized and promised the labels look better in person —and an all-caps, hasty correction posted the seller confirmed it was, in fact, a stereo copy. Regardless, the vinyl clocks in at VG+ condition, and the cover earned a grade of VG.

4. $6,000 — Nirvana, “Hormoaning,” LP.

Nirvana has been developing some devoted collectors, and this record is one of the favorites. Released on Geffen (GEF-21711), this Australian import copy features dark red-purple vinyl in M- condition. (The cover earns a grade of NM-)

“Very rare and hard-to-find Nirvana item!” the seller promises.

A clear, marbled red, blue and purple vinyl copy of this record sold for $6,763.03 in December 2010.

3. $6,300 — Maria Madrigal, “Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish,” LP.

Taking déjà vu honors in this week’s countdown is another copy of the Madrigal record that features Andy Warhol’s distinctive artwork.

“There are only three or four of these records and covers known to exist, and this is the best example,” the seller wrote. “Here is your chance to won a true Warhol rarity!”

Of course, since this is the fourth copy we’ve seen in our print and online Market Watch countdown in about a month (and the images that were posted with each listing look different enough that we believe they are not repeats), we’re starting to wonder how just how “rare” this rarity really is?

The cover is listed in good condition, with one split at the top right cornor, a hole next to the phonograph illustration and some light discoloring. The record has minor scuffs and scratches and wasn’t assigned a grade.

“But who is really buying this record to learn Spanish?” the seller wrote. “This is all about Warhol!”

2. $8,598 — Collection of 150 classical records.

Apparently, it is more cost effective to buy meat AND records by the pound, if you consider this collection. Estimated to weigh about 34 kilograms (or roughly 75 pounds) for shipping, that puts the cost per pound at a solid $114.69, which is still cheaper than a pound of Kobe steak.

This collection, most of which are stereo issues, features pressings on labels including Columbia, Capitol, Electrola and His Master’s Voice, the seller said. Featured artists included Yehudi Menuhin, David Oistrach, Nathan Milstein, Pierre Fournier and Itzhak Perlman.

Twenty-three bids were exchanged before a winner was declared.

1. $13,601.21 — The Beatles, “Please Please Me,” LP.

Settling into a slot it’s enjoyed many times before is a stereo copy of The Beatles’ “Please Please Me” (PCS 3062) touted to bear the less-common gold and black label that first appeared on the Beatles’ debut album, and to boot, it’s in “vault condition.”

“The impossible-to-find rarity with the gold label 33-1/3rd,” the seller wrote. “Every now and then a record surfaces that has no right to exist. This is one such album … This copy just has to be harder to find than the black and gold label because they only turn up perhaps one copy every year or two, whereas the gold and black label appears far more often.”

While the seller declined to provide a condition for the cover, he determined it was the nicest copy he had ever seen.

“This vinyl is as good now as the day it was pressed and it just has to grade mint!” the seller added.

The seller went on to say that he recorded a copy of the record in full so bidders could hear what they’re buying. Nice idea, but in our book, that means the record’s only Near Mint at best.

Forty two bids were exchanged before a winner was determined.

By Susan Sliwicki

Beatlemania is alive and well, if this week’s Market Watch is any indication. More than one-third of the listings are for Beatles-related albums, although one of those might not be exactly what it seems (but we’ll get to that later.)

11. Beethoven Opus 135 and 18 No. 2

11. $1,890 — Stross Quartet and Markl Quartet, Beethoven opus 135 and Opus 18, No. 2, LP. The seller had little to share about this classical record: performers were the Stross and Markl quartets, the music was recorded in 1965 and it was pressed on Germany’s Aarton Label (8277). The record earned a grade of Mint/M- from the seller.

10. Hank Mobley, "Hank Mobley"

10. $1,900 — Hank Mobley, “Hank Mobley” LP. Jazz great Hank Mobley appears on our countdown again with a mono pressing of his self-titled album on Blue Note (1568).

“This is the one and only original Hank Mobley $1568 that is so highly sought after,” the seller wrote. “Don’t miss  out on a chance to own this holy grail of jazz records as it does not come up for sale very often.”

The label addresses don’t match on the album; Side One shows the 47 W. 63rd  NY address, while Side Two expands on that to show 47 W. 63rd New York 23. A record the seller graded as “near new” with this same label mismatch showed up on our countdown in summer 2010 and brought $5,101. However, this copy has had a lot tougher use. It only earns a VG/VG+ for the cover, which has stains from long-gone tape, plus writing. Each label bears a former owner’s name written in permanent ink, and while the vinyl is super glossy, it tops out at VG+/Ex condition.

9. 13th Floor Elevators "Easter Everywhere" acetate

9. $1,981.56 — 13th Floor Elevators, “Easter Everywhere,” acetate. So… Is it politically incorrect for a seller to refer to an acetate from The 13th Floor Elevators as “insanely rare,” given the band’s lead singer, Roky Erickson, has spent most of his adult life battling mental illness, including a 3-1/2-year stint at the Texas State Hospital for the Criminally Insane?

Regardless of the seller’s intent, this mono acetate in VG++ to E condition was an original U.S. pressing from the 1967 NRP Studios in Nashville. According to the seller, the acetate features “significantly different (and way better) mixes from the original commercially released stereo version.”

“This acetate is a proverbial Loch Ness monster of record collecting: everybody knows that it exists — or has heard of its alleged existence, but hardly anyone has ever seen, let alone snapped a photo of it,” the seller wrote.

An original black and white publicity photo of Roky Erickson accompanied the acetate, which was housed in its original plain, white-cardboard cover.

8. Wings, "Wild Life."

8. $2,000 — Wings, “Wild Life” 1972 RIAA Gold Record award on white matte. This is that “not what it might seem” entry we talked about earlier —the first gold record award for Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles group, Wings. “Wild Life” achieved gold status on Jan. 13, 1972, a little more than a month after its release. This presentation was given to Capitol records and is in VG++ condition, the seller wrote. The White Matte setting, used by the RIAA from 1964 to 1975, is considered by many collectors to be the most desirable, according to “Goldmine’s Price Guide to Collectible Record Albums, Fourth Edition.”

And now for today’s trivia tidbit — those record awards hanging in artists’ homes, record label offices and radio stations around the world can, in fact, be played — but you probably won’t get what’s advertised on the label.

A few years back, a pair of California deejays at KLOS-FM played gold records that had been on display in their station’s office only to find that the award and the record’s actual tracks were quite different. Legend has it that when David Crosby was busier freebasing than making records, he decided to sell one of his gold records to fuel his drug habit. Before closing the deal, though, he thought he should play the record, and discovered that it was not his music. Bob Shane of Kingston Trio had a similar result with his gold record award for “Tom Dooley,” which played Dean Martin singing “Volare.” The RIAA doesn’t go into any kind of detail about how the awards are manufactured on its Web site.

7. Arthur Grumiax, Bach sonatas 3-LP set.

7. $2026.98 — Arthur Grumiaux, Bach sonatas three-LP set. Here’s the first of three promo/sample entries in this week’s countdown. This set of three LPs on the Philips label (835-198 AY, 835-199 AY  and 835-200 AY) feature violin performances by Arthur Grumiax. Each has its own cover and “sample record” stickers. The covers, which do bear some discoloration, are in EX condition, while the play-graded LPs rate between VG++ and EX+.

“A great set of rare records in fantastic condition given their age,” the seller writes. “A collector’s dream and almost impossible to find.”

6. The Pretty Things, "S.F. Sorrow" LP

6. $2,499.99 — The Pretty Things, “S.F. Sorrow,” LP. This record’s new owner was happy to pay the “buy-it-now” price to add this copy of OP-8640, complete with obi strip, to his collection. The record and sleeve both earned grades of EX from the seller.

“Mega rare Japan original, red wax,” the seller wrote. “Beautiful condition.”

5. The Beatles, "Revolver" promo LP

5. $2,803.99 — The Beatles, “Revolver” promo LP. This LP has it all for die-hard Beatles fans in search of something “different” — it’s still sealed, it’s the original 1966 Capitol pressing, it’s in mono, and it’s a promo LP.

“Mono pressing of this title is much rarer, and by far more preferable to its stereo counterpart,” the seller wrote. “We think that the mix is more natural, humane, ‘organic’ and that the mixes are somewhat different than on the stereo version.”

Despite protection from the original shrink wrap, the cover grades Near Mint and shows a hint of yellowing from aging. The cover is clearly punch-marked with Promo. T-2576. The seller suspects the vinyl is in Mint condition, but obviously, that’s anybody’s guess given that it’s still sealed.

“Finding a still-sealed original mono promo copy of what many believe is the single greatest rock album of all time? Not in this lifetime, you won’t!!!” the seller wrote. “This may be the last one you will ever see.”

4. $3,299 — The Beatles, still-sealed Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs box set. Can continued play of your albums make them sound better over time?  Possibly, if this seller’s pitch for this 11-album Beatles boxed set  can be believed.

“This limited edition is an audiophile collectors’ item that simply gives the feeling of being directly in the studio with the artist,” the seller wrote. “The more you play the LP, your stylus will polish the grooves and actually improve the sonics of your MFSL LP.”

The albums featured in this collection are: “Please Please Me,” “With The Beatles,” “Hard Day’s Night,”  “Help,” “Rubber Soul,” “Revolver,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band,” “The Beatles” (aka The 2-LP White Album), “Magical Mystery Tour,” “Abbey Road” and “Let It Be.”

3. The Velvet Underground, "The Velvet Underground & Nico"

3. $3506 — The Velvet Underground, “The Velvet Underground & Nico,” (aka The Banana cover), LP. This yellow-label, 1967 deejay copy — in mono, to boot — comes with the cover’s yellow banana sticker still intact, albeit with a tiny tear at the banana’s tip. It’s an orginal Verve pressing (V-5008) that features a first-state “torso” back cover. (In later pressings, a photograph showing Eric Emerson’s upside-down torso projected behind the band was altered due to legal issues.)

We love detailed descriptions as much as the next record buyer. But there comes a point where some sellers lose touch with reality. These are sales descriptions, people, not arguments for Supreme Court confirmation.

We had to wade through a 5,000-word essay  —we copied and pasted it in to Microsoft Word because even we couldn’t believe how long it was —  as well as text in a rainbow of retina-singeing colors before condition information related to the actual record being sold was ever disclosed. For the record: the vinyl is VG++ to EX and the cover grades VG+++ to EX.

This lot attracted 23 bids before a winner was declared. Makes us wonder how much higher the bids might’ve climbed if this seller had put more time into organizing the sales information and less trying to persuade buyers that this was “the single most important album in Rock history and the single most influential Rock session of the 20th Century.”

2. Sex Pistols "God Save The Queen" b/w "Did You No Wrong" 7-inch picture sleeve.

2. $3,716 — The Sex Pistols, “God Save The Queen” / “Did You No Wrong,” 7-inch picture sleeve. This gem comes to the countdown via South Africa and includes the original 1977 Virgin prssing (PD 1471).

“Ultra rare,” the seller writes. “Never seen before with picture sleeve!”

The EX sleeve is free of writing but bears a 3 cm seam split on the top right side. The record checks in at EX+ condition.

1. $3,999.99 — The Beatles, Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs still-sealed Japanese-pressing box set. No, you’re not seeing double — it’s another Beatles box set from Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs in the countdown. This time, though, it features 13 titles — neither “Beatles For Sale” no “Yellow Submarine” soundtrack were part of the No. 4 lot.
Touted by the seller as “a sonic work of art,” a Japanese-pressed Beatles box set tops our countdown this week.

“This is a MFSL super virgin vinyl (so pure that you can see through it if held up to the light) JVC half-speed Japanese vinyl pressing,” the seller wrote.

The set, which has been out of print for 25 years, was mastered from the original session tapes and includes faithful recreations of all of the liner notes, photos and artwork from the original LPs, the seller said.

Fourteen Beatles records are included: “Please Please Me,” “With The Beatles,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “Beatles For Sale,” “Help,” “Rubber Soul,” “Revolver,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “The Beatles” (the 2-LP White Album), “Yellow Submarine” original soundtrack, “Magical Mystery Tour,” “Abbey Road” and “Let It Be.”

GUERNSEY’S AUCTION HOUSE has a featured lot of John Lennon’s original drawings up for auction this month. Photo courtesy Guernsey’s Auction House

Original drawings by John Lennon will among the lots featured at Guernsey’s Auction House’s Iconic Objects Auction.

Each lot for the sale, which will be held Sept. 24, 2010, will contain a significant item or collection of items that relate to a person or event that affected America’s culture or history. The event will be held at New York City’s Park Avenue Armory. On Sept. 25, the auction house will host a sale of vintage carousel horses and menagerie figures.

Featured lots in the Iconic Objects auction include:
• John Lennon original artwork and unpublished photographs
• The only known recordings of 26 speeches presented by Martin Luther King,
• Formerly top secret plans and maps for the D-Day invasion
• The Maltese Falcon statuette from the movie of that name
• An original painting by Maurice Sendak
• Historic original photographs of Marilyn Monroe
• Personal items from Frank Sinatra
• Barbra Streisand’s first test recording
• A Johnny Carson “Tonight Show” Collection
• Michael Jackson’s first test recording and Apollo-worn hat
• Liberace’s piano
• Elvis Presley’s personal jewelry
• Original early drawings by Andy Warhol
• Original early artwork by Keith Haring, an artist who worked with diverse performers including Madonna, Grace Jones and Yoko Ono.
• The last prints made by legendary rock photographer Jim Marshall
The sales are open to the public. Absentee bidding will be available on the Internet and via the telephone. For more information, call 212-794-2280 or visit www.guernseys.com.

• Get the new John Lennon book: “John Lennon: Life is What Happens, Music, Memories & Memorabilia”

• Get the invaluable record collector’s resource: Goldmine® Record Album Price Guide, 6th Edition

• Upgrade your Goldmine subscription with an All Access membership. Free access to seminars, downloads and collect.com. Also exclusive deals, sales, and a sneak-peek at new products.

PALM SPRINGS, California (AP) — Blues guitarist and singer Phillip Walker, who backed such stars as Etta James and Lowell Fulson, has died. He was 73.

Marc Lipkin, publicity director for Alligator Records, says Walker died July 22, 2010, of heart failure in Palm Springs.

Walker performed for more than 50 years, recording many solo albums and touring with zydeco legend Clifton Chenier for two years.

In 1959, Walker moved to California, where he earned a reputation as one of the region’s top guitarists. He even joined Little Richard’s band for a brief time.

Over the past decade, Walker continued to record albums and tour, including an October 2009 stint in South Africa.

His most recent album, “Going Back Home,’’ was released in 2007.

•••••

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. (AP) — Al Goodman, a baritone who performed on several soul and pop hits in the 1970s, including “Love on a Two-Way Street” and “Special Lady,” has died.

He was 67.

Family members say Goodman died July 26, 2010, from complications during surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Goodman first gained attention with The Moments when “Love on a Two-Way Street” topped the R&B chart in 1970 and reached No. 3 on the pop chart.

They went on to record several other hits, including “All I Have’” and “Sexy Mama,” before leaving the Stang label in 1979.

They then changed their name to Ray, Goodman & Brown and released “Special Lady,” which topped the soul charts and reached No. 5 pop.

The Jackson, Miss., native moved to the New York at 19 and found work as a sound mixer at an Englewood recording studio. He was selected to join The Moments after studio officials heard him singing while he worked.

•••••

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — Fred Carter Jr., a longtime Nashville studio musician and father of country musician Deana Carter, has died.

He was 76.

He died of complications from a stroke July 17, 2010, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee, according to an obituary and funeral arrangements released by a public relations firm.

Born in Louisiana, Carter began his career as a staff guitarist on the Shreveport-based country music show known as the “Louisiana Hayride.”

He settled in Nashville in the late 1950s as a session player and worked with many prominent country artists, including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. He also worked with Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Muddy Waters.

•••••

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Hank Cochran, a consummate songwriter who composed a string of country hits including “Make the World Go Away’’ for Eddy Arnold, died July 15, 2010. He was 74.

Cochran had been in declining health in recent years and had suffered an aortic aneurysm in March. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago.

Cochran co-wrote several No. 1 hits: Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces;” George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property;” and “Set ’em Up Joe’’ by Vern Gosdin. He also wrote the No. 1 hits “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me,” “He’s Got You,” “I Want to Go With You’’ and “That’s All That Matters to Me.”

Cochran was born in Mississippi and worked the New Mexico oilfields as a young man. He arrived in Nashville in 1960, and got a job as a staff songwriter with Pamper Music for $50 a week, hired by country singer Ray Price.

Shortly after that, Cochran helped Willie Nelson get a songwriting job with Pamper. Nelson went on to write classics such as “Crazy,’’ sung by Cline, and enjoyed his own singing career.

Cochran was a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.

•••••

NEW YORK (AP) — Tuli Kupferberg, a founding member of the Fugs, one of the first underground rock groups and a staple on the anti-war protest scene in the 1960s, died July 12, 2010, in a Manhattan hospital, said his friend and bandmate Ed Sanders. He was 86.

Kupferberg’s contributions were recognized in January when Lou Reed, Sonic Youth and others appeared at a benefit concert in Brooklyn to help pay for some of his medical expenses. He was too ill by then to attend the show, but recorded a video message, thanking the audience.

The Fugs were formed by Sanders and Kupferberg, who were neighbors on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in early 1965, according to the band’s Web site. Their name, a substitute for a common expletive, was inspired by Norman Mailer, who used it in his classic, “Naked and the Dead.’’ The band ran in the same circles as Andy Warhol, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. It often performed at peace protests.

The group disbanded in 1969, but reformed several times since. It performed for a time on the Reprise label, which was owned by Frank Sinatra, who had final approval on album releases. Kupferberg, who also was a poet, produced cartoons for the Village Voice and had a longtime television program on the Manhattan public access cable channel, Sanders said.

•••••

DETROIT (AP) —  Singer, songwriter and record producer Harvey Fuqua, 80, an early mentor of Marvin Gaye, has died.

Ron Brewington of the Motown Alumni Association says Fuqua died of a heart attack July 6, 2010, at a Detroit hospital.

The Louisville, Ky., native founded The Moonglows, which signed with DJ Alan Freed. The group’s first single was the 1954 hit “Sincerely.’’ Fuqua added Gaye and others in 1958 to a reconstituted group that he called Harvey and The Moonglows. It had the 1958 hit “Ten Commandments of Love.’’

He started Tri-Phi and Harvey Records in 1961, recording the Spinners, Junior Walker & the All Stars, and Shorty Long.

Motown Records founder Berry Gordy later hired Fuqua to develop recording talent.