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Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2024 5:33 pm
by CharliePhono
I know this record is sought after, but . . . really?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/196574640412
Re: Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 4:47 am
by CarlosV
Over the years, movie soundtracks have revived old songs and given them a second life - off the bat I think of Singing in the Rain and As Time Goes By. The particularity here is that, instead of re-recording the old song, Kubrick decided to play the old record, and this, added to the enduring popularity of The Shining, created the buzz among us collectors. Suddenly, a forgotten record by a singer unknown outside England became a kind of Holy Graal, stoking the greed of people that owns copies of it, like the one in the eBay ad. The record is not even that rare, and although nice, it is not the artistic pinnacle of Ray Noble and Al Bowlly, but it became a celebrity. Noble and Bowlly, if still alive, would be elated with such success.
Re: Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 6:32 am
by jamiegramo
Oh good heavens! $2500! Talk about stoking the greed.
Re: Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 8:56 am
by JerryVan
Well, it's what the seller is hoping for, and probably not what it will sell for. eBay has a lot of dreamers on board...
Re: Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 10:17 am
by jamiegramo
I wonder now.
There is a British copy on an eBay auction and currently the bidding is up to £2011 ($2657 USD) with a day to go.
This may have inspired the high price on the US copy and the seller may decide to up his price especially if a Victor pressing is rarer.
Perhaps a Victor pressing would have less surface noise? British HMV’s have a lot of surface noise.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176525993737 ... R9LHlsuwZA
Re: Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 11:01 am
by Jmcmahan67
This record would easily sell for about $800-$950 on EBay in the US (and many collectors would gladly pay that, because that is what it is worth)! But $2,500 is ridiculous! if someone does pay that much, PT Barnum would be quite proud of them…
Re: Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 12:56 pm
by CharliePhono
Jmcmahan67 wrote: Sat Aug 24, 2024 11:01 am
This record would easily sell for about $800-$950 on EBay in the US (and many collectors would gladly pay that, because that is what it is worth)! But $2,500 is ridiculous! if someone does pay that much, PT Barnum would be quite proud of them…
Re: Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2024 5:14 pm
by jamiegramo
Not surprisingly the auction price has now dropped to a more reasonable £411 ($538 USD) due to a bid retraction.
Edit: this was also the finishing price.
Re: Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 2:19 pm
by FredSugarHall_fan
£411 is far more reasonable... Was an instrumental version of this ever released? Something I've wondered for a while, because while it is a beautiful song, I don't really care much at all for Al Bowlly's voice. A hot take, yes, and I mean zero offense to all of the Al Bowlly fans of this talented vocalist, but he always sounds to me like he is on the cusp of a yawn.
Re: Midnight, the Stars, and . . . what the?
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 6:46 am
by JerryVan
FredSugarHall_fan wrote: Sun Aug 25, 2024 2:19 pm
£411 is far more reasonable... Was an instrumental version of this ever released? Something I've wondered for a while, because while it is a beautiful song, I don't really care much at all for Al Bowlly's voice. A hot take, yes, and I mean zero offense to all of the Al Bowlly fans of this talented vocalist, but he always sounds to me like he is on the cusp of a yawn.
Agreed. At the risk of insulting Bowlly fans, I am also not a fan. To each their own
