ALMANAC SINGERS Songs for John Doe 3-78 Set WOODY GUTHRIE/PETE SEEGER orig 1941

$

449

ALMANAC SINGERS Songs for John Doe 3-78 Set WOODY GUTHRIE/PETE SEEGER orig 1941 - missing the book, but the shellac is in incredible un-played condition.  You are not likely to find the shellac in better condition than this.  these have clearly been stored away since the 1940s and not played at all since. 

In early March 1941 a group was organized to finance and produce the Almanacs' first record album, "Songs for John Doe." Among its members were veteran record producer John Hammond, Earl Robinson and Keynote label owner Eric Bernay (nee Bernstein). The principals invited potential investors to a Sunday, March 19 Almanac performance at Peter Lyons' home north of Washington Square.  "We want you to come and hear the songs, give your suggestions, and contribute toward underwriting the albums," a letter explained."Those who join us in pledging money will receive a corresponding number of albums which may be distributed to the cause of peace, and in the cause of a new music which has arisen out of the people." The event raised $300 -- a considerable sum for those days. The day before the session, Seeger approached Josh White about joining them. Not only could White enhance the trio's music, but he would bring a welcome racial diversity as well. According to Lampell, Sam Gary, the Carolinians' bass singer, also joined the session. Six masters ["'C' For Conscription" & "Washington Breakdown" were recorded as one take] were recorded in a two or three hour session in a small Central Park West studio in late March or early April 1941.... Bernay released the album in May 1941. Fearing political repercussions, he was reluctant to release it on Keynote, so "Songs for John Doe" appeared on the "Almanac" label. On June 22, 1941, Hitler's armies invaded the Soviet Union. With the non-agression pact broken, pacifism was out of the question. Bernay quickly pulled "Songs for John Doe" and Paul Robeson's Spring Song from distribution and reportedly destroyed the remaining inventory. The songs that launched the Almanac Singers just four months earlier were now hopelessly out of date.  In summer 1942 the Federal Bureau of Investigation -- believing the Almanac Singers' seditious antiwar messages were still offered for sale -- began searching for the company behind its distribution. After months checking pressing plants around New York City, agents learned that the album was a Keynote production. "When the FBI finally walked into the office of Keystone Records,"David King Dunaway wrote, "the manager boldly told them the discs were collector's items: 'Things have changed since those were recorded.'"  http://www.woodyguthrie.de/doe.html

Visual Grading:

I am experienced at selling and shipping 78rpm shellac discs.  I have never had a 78 arrive broken.  Shellac 78s will be shipped between two pieces of cardboard, then bubble wrapped and set in a 12" x 4" x 12" over-sized box. Bid with confidence.  78s do ship with a 10" sleeve, though not necessarily a company sleeve particular to the record label.  45s and 78s can ship together for savings on total shipping cost.  Buyers should presume that most records will need a light cleaning before playing. 

Check out my other rare LPs, 45s and 78rpm vinyl records for sale now on Ebay:

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SHIPPING (I do combine shipping.  Please read below and request payment total when you are finished bidding on my items): 

US Buyers - $4 for the first LP.  $1 for each additional. Shipping via USPS media mail with delivery confirmation.  If ordering multiple lots, cost will be calculated by weight and buyer location.

International Buyers - $18 for the first LP.  $3 for each additional up to six LPs.  Orders over 4lbs will be calculated by weight and buyer location.

Canadian Buyers - $14 for the first LP.  $2 for each additional LP up to six LPs.  Orders over 4lbs will be calculated by weight and buyer location. 

(PLEASE REQUEST PAYMENT TOTAL when you're finished bidding. Thanks!)

PACKAGING:  I ship all LPs in boxes designed specifically for the purpose.  When shipping a single LP, I also include a cardboard filler to thicken the package.  I always ship the LP outside of the sleeve, with vinyl and sleeve inside of an outer plastic sleeve.  When shipping more than one LP, additional cardboard may not be used if the package is thick enough.  This is pretty well the best that anyone can do in packing an LP record for shipping.  That said, buyers should realize that how the package is handled by the USPS or other postal services around the world is out of the seller's control and very occasionally, records can be damaged in shipping, no matter how well a record is packaged. 

GRADING:

SS (Still Sealed) - Never opened. (I do not believe in grading opened LPs or 45s as "Mint".  A "Mint" record is still sealed.)

NM (Near Mint)  - a near perfect, probably unplayed record.  might be dusty or have a light fingerprint, but has no marks that can be seen.

NM- (Near Mint minus) - absolutely clean with at most a few very superficial marks that have no effect on playback.

VG++ - Super clean and very lightly played.  

VG+ (Very Good Plus) - the record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little deterioration in sound quality.

VG  (Very Good) - a well used copy. There will be obvious signs of wear and the possibility of light surface noise between tracks or during quiet passages.  A VG record may have very small marks that can be felt, but feelable marks will always be specifically noted in my listings)

VG- (Very Good minus)  - significant wear and marks and usually quite noticeable surface noise.  music still dominates over any background noise or pops.  

G (good) - still a playable record without jumps or marks that stick, but a record in this condition will have significant surface noise, pops and other distractions.  

SATISFACTION:

I do my best to grade accurately.  If you are unhappy with any part of your transaction, please contact me before leaving feedback.  I am confident that any problem can be resolved.  It's my intent that buyers are happy with their purchase.  Returns are accepted for a full refund, minus shipping costs.