1934 Jazz/Blues: Sepia Serenaders, Bluebird 5803, Alligator Crawl & Dallas Blues
$
21
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Description
Up for sale is a very scarce 10 inch, shellac record (78 RPM) featuring a couple of great songs, by some very notable Harlem (New York) performers.
Record Label: Bluebird Record Number: 5803 Year of Release: 1934 (Recorded on December 14, 1934) Artist: Sepia Serenaders (with vocal refrain by George Gray on A side) A side: B-5803-A Dallas Blues (Fox Trot, Lloyd Garret) Wax matrix mark: A B-5803A B side: B-5803-B Alligator Crawl (Fox Trot, Thomas "Fats" Waller) Wax matrix mark: B-5803B
The Sepia Serenaders consisted of: Elmer Snowden, banjo Cliff Jackson, piano Clarence Grimes, clarinet George Gray, vocals On December 14, 1934, they recorded 6 songs in New York, that were released on 3 Bluebird records: 5770, 5782, and 5803
Elmer Snowden (1900 - 1973) was born in Baltimore. He was an important, yet under appreciated figure in in the development of jazz. It was Snowden, in 1923, as leader of "Elmer Snowden and His Black Sox Orchestra" (later called "The Washingtonians"), who brought on board a young Duke Ellington, recently arrived in Harlem. Snowden would leave the group in 1924, and Ellington would assume the leadership of the group. The rest, as they say, is history. Clifton Luther (Cliff) Jackson (1902 - 1970) was born in Culpeper, Virginia. He arrived in Harlem in 1923 and recorded with Snowden then. Jackson was a creative "stride pianist", who was known for his contrapuntal bass work with the left hand. He was a popular solo pianist in New York clubs, but also recorded with such notables as Sidney Bechet.
IMPORTANT NOTE: THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CONDITION ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE A SIDE. See above for description of condition and photos. Additional detail: When I got this record, it was pretty dirty. In addition, there was paper that had adhered to portions of the A side. (The record also already had the water stain you see on the right side of the label of the A side. The adherent paper was on the A side as well.) I cleaned this record (first with water, then with warm water plus a drop of dishwashing soap), which has removed the dirt and the adherent paper on the A side. But I can still see and feel that there is something not right about a section of the grooves on the inner half of the A side. I'm pretty certain this is what is causing the repetitive loud scratchy sound during the second half of the A side song. This record is being sold as is.
Attention US Buyers: I will ship by USPS Media Mail or by USPS Priority Mail, your choice. Please note that if you have a Military Mail (e.g. APO) address, I must ask that you pick USPS Priority Mail as it is my understanding that USPS Media Mail is not reliable to Military Mail addresses.
Attention International Buyers: I will ship by USPS First Class International Mail (to selected countries where E-Delcon is available) or by USPS Priority International Mail (worldwide), your choice. Please note that the price does not include any customs that may be charged by the country to which this is delivered.
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