A 78 I inherited from my great uncle. On English Columbia, record date unknown. Edith Piaf discovered this group and recorded with them in French. This is the English version of the song "Les Trois Cloches" she made with them, however this time without Piaf. What's most astonishing about this recording is that it's entirely 'a capella'.
Recorded May 10th 1940. Here you'll find electric guitar, piano, blues singing and kazoo. Sounds great for a record that's been broken and glued back together!
I managed to score a couple of RPM label Lighning Hopkins. The surprising thing is that they play super clean. Mostly, these 78s came from juke boxes are are usually beaten up. But not these. Enjoy.
Great rhythm and blues record.
Gordon was more famous for writing songs for other people and enjoyed some moderate success for himself as a singer. Here he is performing his own '"No More Diggin'", covered by many others including Collin James. This disc is a DJ copy of an RPM pressing, hense the white label.
Ruffo sings Verdi's Il Travatore
Titta Ruffo was a baritone at the time Caruso was famous. It was said that he was the "Caruso of baritones" but Caruso was more famous because, well, tenors get all the chics. This is a rare one-sided English-made HMV pink label. For a 90-year-old disc it is LOUD, especially on the vv50 Victrola.
Damned hot stuff. Watch it full frame and full blast if your speakers can handle it. This is St. James Infirmary the way Van Morrison wished he could sing it.
Another Okeh acoustic of an early 20s female blues singer. This was recorded October 26th 1923 and, as with the rest of my Okehs, still sounds amazing today. Sippie enjoyed a lifetime of successes and wrote many of her songs herself: a rarity back then. Recorded a Grammy-nominated album with Bonnie Raitt in 1983. And yes, my cat Liba makes a brief appearance.
Rockin' Man. This is a MINT copy I bought from ebay. Recorded in 1951. The only background noise is from the street construction outside my apartment. Enjoy.
Born Irene Gibbons, she was a sweet lady with a sweet voice, once billed as The Dixie Nightingale. This Okeh acoustic was recorded 30th May 1923. And she had a right to sing the blues being married to Clarence Williams. She retired in the 40s after having travelled the world and recorded with the best. Note of interest: was grandmother to Clarence Williams III who played Link on The Mod Squad
"Moanin' For My Baby"
This jukebox copy is a litle beat up but Howlin' Wolf murders that background noise. I just know that You Tube will darken the video, can't be helped. Sorry about the shakey camera work - digicam.
Yes, it's a quite-common 78 that shows up on all record shows but I thought I'd give the kids a chance to hear something that's not on iTunes. This is some down and dirty, harlem, girl-dissin', yo'mamma etc. that started it all back in the 1950s. This is Big Maybelle's first and biggest hit. Sadly, she suffered from diabetes and after-effects of drug addiction and her fame did not last long.
Smith started the blues craze in the 20's. Acoustically recorded on the Okeh label on October 10th 1921, played back electrically on November 10th 2006. In 85 years it hasn't lost an ounce of it's brilliance. Vinyl still rules! And so does shellac (whatever).
Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra. Joe "King" Oliver turned down an invitation to play the Cotton Club demanding more money. The job was passed on to Ellington and the rest is history. Here's a sample of history in the making. Recorded November 21st 1930.
This is the flip side to Fattening Frogs for Snakes. Lemon Squeezing Blues - said to be the inspiration behind Led Zeppelin's Lemon Song. "...let me squeeze your lemons, while I'm in your lawn some time." Recorded July 11th 1935
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