JOHNNY GRIFFIN The Congregation 1958 US Blue Note 1580 W.63rd DG Ear RVG EX/EX
  £   896
  $   1,187

 


£ 896 Sold For
Sep 25, 2025 Sold Date
Sep 18, 2025 Start Date
22   Number Of Bids
  Great Britain Country Of Seller
eBay Auctioned at
 
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Description

JOHNNY GRIFFIN - THE CONGREGATION

Super rare original US 1st press jazz classic in overall great condition with brilliant MONO sound quality

Year/Label : 1958 US Blue Note Label number : BNLP 1580 Matrix numbers : BN-LP-1580 - A, BN-LP-1580-B  with "RVG" and the Plastylite P "Ear" stamped into both run-off's 
Solid very good plus (VG+) - many would grade as "excellent", I am sure - condition vinyl - weighty, completely flat and retaining a beautiful jet black lacquered sheen. In daylight the condition of the vinyl comes across as virtually unmarked and it is only with close inspection under a bright light that just a few wispiest of wispy small hairlines and  extremely faint paper scuffs come into view on each side, along with the very occasional (2 or 3 on each side) slightly more noticeable small and still very faint scuff lines...each non-obvious, each non-feelable, each surface only, and all appearing to be purely superficial and not impinging upon the wonderful MONO sound quality at all.  Each label is excellent with the only blemishes being a few small and extremely faint spindle trails adjacent to the centre hole on each label. Note the circular deep grooves and "47 WEST 63rd NYC" text on each label, synonymous with very first pressings.   A very good plus (VG+) condition original and iconic Andy Warhol designed outer sleeve, complete with very 1st press "47 West 63rd St., New York 23" horizontal text at the bottom of the reverse side of the sleeve. The sleeve is made from thick cardboard and remains in overall great shape : rigid edges with no scuffing, nicely defined right-angled corners with just a little rubbing, firm opening edges with no fraying, no unwanted writing, and all colours, front photo, and reverse side text remain crisp with perfect definition. The only blemish of note is a small area of staining at the bottom right corner accompanied by a 1.5cm split right at the corner on the bottom edge - see photos. Excellent plus (EX+) MONO sound quality with no sticks, skips, repeats, distortion or background crackle, and just the very occasional and barely noticeable very, very light click on side 2 no-doubt caused by a speck or two of dust caught in the grooves through decades of storage. The sound quality really is first rate - crystal clear MONO with jazz giants Johnny Griffin (tenor sax), Sonny Clark (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Kenny Dennis (drums) in top form.  Comes with original "27 YEARS BLUE NOTE" inner sleeve which has a 9cm and 4cm split in the middle of each of the side edges and a 5cm split in the middle of the bottom edge which has been sellotaped over, and there is just minimal creasing and age discolouration. Note that I always ship the vinyl in a new plain white inner sleeve in order to protect the original. 
One of the hardest to find Blue Note 1st pressings : hard to believe that this is 67 years of age, especially considering it's overall excellent condition and truly impressive mono sound quality - amazing!
POSTAGE COSTS :  

For the UK £3.38 using Royal Mail tracked 48 (ebay Simple Delivery)

for continental Europe £12 using Royal Mail 1st class tracked and signed for, 

and for the rest of the world £18 using Royal Mail 1st class tracked and signed for. 

I do provide posting and packaging discounts for multiple purchases. I make no profit from postage.

Note that I always insert the vinyl into a new plain white poly-lined inner sleeve in order to protect the original during postage, and separate this from the outer sleeve to prevent seam splits. I use thick cardboard stiffeners and take great care in my packaging to ensure as far as possible that these precious records reach their destination in exactly the same condition as when they leave me.

 If you require any further information, including photos, then let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. 

If this record interests you then take a look at my other listings for more 60's and 70's classic vinyl.

A bit about myself : I have been collecting UK vinyl for over 56 years from a variety of sources : my own collection, friends and family, car boot and garage sales, door-to-door leaflets, and even through placing an advert in my wife's shop window! My ebay feedback speaks for itself so rest assured that you are buying from a trusted seller and in the very unlikely event that you are unhappy with your purchase just e-mail me and I will sort out the problem. I offer a "no questions asked" refund policy. If you require any further information, including photos, then let me know and I'll do my best to oblige. There is NO RESERVE on this item. Richard

Descriptions of any records I sell comply with the Rare Record Price Guide grading guidelines.



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