VinylAI 
Data as of Aug 1, 2026
Ry Cooder – Jazz
1978 · US · Warner Bros. Records · Vinyl LP Album
Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Aug 3, 2026
- MMint
- $21.84
- NMNear Mint
- $19.54
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $14.94
- VGVery Good
- $10.34
- G+Good Plus
- $5.75
- GGood
- $3.45
- FFair
- $2.30
- PPoor
- $1.15
66 copies listed on Discogs from $2.90.
These are reference estimates from Discogs sold/asking data for this exact pressing, not offers and not a guaranteed price. Actual value depends on condition, completeness and current demand. Any active seller offers on this page are listed separately above.
Offers · 1
- £5ref VA-XNKSJMedia G+ · Good PlusSleeve G+🇬🇧 Ships from United Kingdom
The Discogs price estimate is a separate reference; offer prices above are sellers’ own.
New to condition grades like NM or VG? Read our vinyl grading guide →
Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- BSK-1-3197 JW-3
- Runout — side B
- BSK-2-3197 LW-1.1
Specifications
- Artist
- Ry Cooder
- Style
- Ragtime
- Year
- 1978
- Label
- Warner Bros. Records
- Catalog number
- BSK 3197
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- A1Big Bad Bill Is Sweet William Now3:34
- A2Face To Face That I Shall Meet Him3:16
- A3The Pearls / Tia Juana4:18
- A4The Dream5:03
- A5Happy Meeting In Glory3:13
- B1In A Mist2:05
- B2Flashes2:17
- B3Davenport Blues2:01
- B4Shine3:43
- B5Nobody5:07
- B6We Shall Be Happy3:13
- Co-producer
- Joseph Byrd
- Co-producer
- Ry Cooder
- Mixed By
- Lee Herschberg
- Arranged By [Quartet]
- Bill Johnson
- Arranged By, Conductor
- Joseph Byrd
- Design [Album]
- Mike Salisbury
About this record
The dead-wax matrix stamps BSK-1-3197 JW-3 and BSK-2-3197 LW-1.1 identify this 1978 Warner Bros. pressing of Ry Cooder's Jazz as a first US release, not a later reissue. With 66 copies currently for sale and a lowest asking price of 2.9 USD, the market is flooded relative to demand—only 168 collectors want it against 2620 who already own one.
The price spread from Mint at 21.84 USD down to Poor at 1.15 USD reflects how condition, not rarity, drives value on this widely held title.
What drives its value
Ry Cooder's Jazz trades on condition far more than scarcity. A Mint copy commands 21.84 USD, while a Near Mint sits at 19.54 USD—a modest premium for flawless vinyl.
The real cliff drops at VG+: 14.94 USD. Below that, a VG copy fetches 10.34 USD, and Good+ only 5.75 USD.
The lowest current asking price of 2.9 USD (likely Poor or Fair condition) underscores that worn copies struggle to hold value. With 66 listings active and want-to-have ratio of 168 to 2620, this pressing is neither scarce nor sought after relative to its installed base.
Its position as a first US pressing on Warner Bros. (catalogue BSK 3197) means no competing original-vs-reissue premium exists, so all value hinges on playability and sleeve condition. Casual collectors treat it as a budget bin find.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the Warner Bros. catalogue number BSK 3197 on the spine and label. The two-sided matrix runout—BSK-1-3197 JW-3 on side one and BSK-2-3197 LW-1.1 on side two—stamps both sides as 1978 US first pressings; absent these codes, you have a later reissue.
The record ships without a barcode, a common trait of late-1970s Warner Bros. vinyl. Grade by examining the vinyl surface under strong light: Mint means unplayed, still in shrink; NM allows only light dust; VG+ permits light surface marks that do not affect playback; VG shows visible groove wear and light scratches but plays through; Good grades show heavy wear and audible ticks.
Sleeve condition (front cover gloss, spine text legibility, seam splits) grades separately and often tracks vinyl condition on this title. The 11-track ragtime-jazz program is consistent across all pressings, so track count does not distinguish editions.
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Frequently asked
What is a VG+ copy of this Ry Cooder Jazz pressing worth?
According to the price guide, a VG+ copy is valued at 14.94 USD. This figure represents an estimate as of the guide's last update and reflects typical dealer asking prices; actual sales may vary. A VG copy drops to 10.34 USD, so condition matters significantly at the mid-range.
How do I know if I have the 1978 first pressing or a reissue?
Check the dead-wax matrix runout on both sides of the vinyl. Side one should read BSK-1-3197 JW-3, and side two should read BSK-2-3197 LW-1.1. These stamps confirm a 1978 US pressing on Warner Bros. Records. Later reissues carry different matrix codes. The catalogue number BSK 3197 on the label and spine also confirms the first pressing.
Why is the lowest asking price only 2.9 USD when the guide says Poor is 1.15 USD?
The lowest price of 2.9 USD represents an actual current listing, likely a copy in Poor or Fair condition that a seller hopes will move quickly. The price guide's Poor estimate of 1.15 USD is a reference value; real-world listings often sit above or below guide estimates depending on seller urgency, shipping costs, and lot bundling.
Is this a rare record?
No. The community data shows 2620 collectors have a copy, while only 168 want one—a want-to-have ratio of roughly 1 to 16. With 66 copies currently for sale, supply outpaces demand. This is a common pressing that many collectors own, making it a budget title rather than a hunt.
What does the rating of 4.04 tell me about the music?
The community rating of 4.04 (from 158 votes) suggests collectors rate the album as good but not exceptional. On a typical 5-point scale, this indicates solid appreciation for the ragtime-jazz content, but it is not a cult classic or universally praised masterpiece. The rating reflects the album's modest standing in Ry Cooder's catalog.