BESSIE SMITH"STORY"VOLUMES 1-4 PHILIPS 1955 FULL SET

	£		36
	$		48

BESSIE SMITH.

"THE BESSIE SMITH STORY"

A SUPERB COMPLETE SET OF 4 ESSENTIAL LPs FROM 54 YEARS AGO IN EXCELLENT CONDITION!

PHILIPS LABELS WITH HEAVY ULTRA THICK PRESSINGS!!

BBL 7019-7020-7042-7049.

THESE WERE SOLD INDIVIDUALLY AT THE TIME BUT VERY FEW BOUGHT ALL FOUR VOLUMES! 

THE FIRST DECENT SET IN MONO TO BE SEEN ON EBAY OR ANYWHERE IN MONTHS FROM A RELIABLE POWER SELLER AND LONG TERM COLLECTOR!  

BARELY BEEN PLAYED!

TOTALLY WONDERFUL MUSIC!

SOME OF THE EARLIEST FEMALE BLUES RECORDINGS FROM A WORLD FAMOUS INFLUENCE! 

SUPERB EXAMPLES HOUSED IN  THREE GLOSSY COVERS WITH ONLY MINIMAL REPAIRS!

SADLY VOLUME FOUR DOES NOT HAVE IT'S ORIGINAL COVER. 

EARLIEST POSSIBLE UK PRESSINGS! 

ALBUMS THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RARE  BUT 54 YEARS LATER ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN ANY CONDITION,LET ALONE AS GOOD AS THIS SET AND INDEED ALL FOUR VOLUMES!

THE MAJORITY WERE PLAYED ON RADIOGRAMS,PORTABLE PLAYERS AND EVEN THE MOST CAREFUL FANS WOULD HAVE PLAYED IT DOZENS OF TIMES,THIS SET HAS HAD HARDLY ANY PLAYS AT ALL!

SOME MINOR/FAINT SURFACE MARKS, A LITTLE SURFACE NOISE HERE AND THERE+THE ODD SHORT LIVED CLICK BUT GENERALLY AN EXCELLENT SET! 

EARLY LP EQUIPMENT WAS QUITE CRUDE-HEAVY TONEARMS AND MANY BUYERS UNAWARE OF THE NEED TO CHANGE THE STYLI ON A REGULAR BASIS.INFACT IN THE MID 1950s MANY FOOLS TRIED TO PLAY THEM USING 78 RPM STYLI RUINING THEM FOREVER!!!!

YOU MAY NEVER,EVER FIND A BETTER SET THAN THIS!!! 

GLEAMING SURFACES!   

BARELY PLAYED WITH OUTSTANDINGLY QUIET VINYL,WELL MOST OF IT IS!  

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN UPGRADER/ULTIMATE SET THAN THIS COULD BE THE SET FOR YOU!

REALISTIC START £25 FOR THE 4 LPs

IT IS TIME FOR ANOTHER DELIGHT FROM ONE OF THE UKs LEADING RECORD  EXPERTS/DEALERS.

MUSICALLY BESSIE SMITH WAS A GROUND BREAKING PERFORMER AND TEAMED UP WITH SOME OF THE BEST JAZZ MUSICIANS INCLUDING LOUIS ARMSTRONG,JACK TEAGARDEN,BENNY GOODMAN,CLARENCE WILLIAMS,FLETCHER HENDERSON,COLEMAN HAWKINS etc etc WHO ARE FEATURED ON SOME OF THE 48 TRACKS RECORDED BETWEEN 1923 AND 1933!

DETAILED DATES AND LINE UPS+SLEEVE NOTES ON THE THREE COVERS-DO NOT FORGET THE COVER FOR VOLUME FOUR IS MISSING.

WORTH LOOKING AROUND AT A RECORD FAIR FOR ONE WITH A WRECKED DISC INSIDE TO MIX AND MATCH-THESE ARE NOT RARE TO FIND AS INDIVIDUAL LPs BUT AS A FULL SET ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE!

THE LAST FULL SET I HAD AS GOOD AS THIS WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO!!!!!!! 

THESE RECORDINGS ARE TIMELESS.

REGARDED FOR YEARS BY CRITICS/MUSIC EXPERTS/MUSICIANS/BROADCASTERS AND FANS AS THE ULTIMATE INTERPRETATIONS OF THE ART OF THE FEMALE BLUES SONG.

SO MANY OTHER TOP BROADCASTERS OF THE PAST AND PRESENT HAVE PLAYED THEM SUCH AS ALEXIS KORNER/GEORGE MELLY/PAUL JONES etc etc.

LATER SINGERS SUCH AS OTTILIE PATTERSON,JANIS JOPLIN,ELKIE BROOKS,ALISON MOYET etc WOULD RECORD HER SONGS AND SITE BESSIE AS A MAJOR INFLUENCE. 

LADIES!! SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SING THE BLUES A BIT? WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR THE SHEER PERFECTION OF THESE VINTAGE RECORDINGS!

RECORDED FOR 78 RPM DISCS, THE ORIGINALS OF THESE(MOST WERE NEVER ISSUED IN THE UK UNTIL THIS LP SET)ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN ANY PLAYABLE CONDITION!

BLUES 78s ARE USUALLY THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER STYLE OF MUSIC ON THAT BRITTLE FORMAT WITH AMERICAN ORIGINALS USUALLY SELLING FOR HUNDREDS OF POUNDS EACH!!!!

THE CONTENTS OF THESE NICELY SPREAD OUT , 6 TRACKS PER SIDE LPs WERE SQUEEZED ONTO TWO LPs AS A REISSUED SET IN THE 1970s ON WAFER THIN VINYL AND CUT AT LOWER VOLUME LEVELS!!

TRACKS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

DOWN HEARTED BLUES

JAILHOUSE BLUES

TICKET AGENT EASE YOUR WINDOW DOWN

ST LOUIS BLUES

RECKLESS BLUES

YOU'VE BEEN A GOOD OLE WAGON

SOBBIN'HEARTED BLUES

COLD IN HAND BLUES

CARELESS LOVE BLUES

NASHVILLE WOMAN'S BLUES

I AIN'T GONNA PLAY NO SECOND FIDDLE

J.C.HOLMES BLUES

WEEPING WILLOW BLUES

JAZZBO FROM MEMPHIS TOWN

GIN HOUSE BLUES

POOR MAN'S BLUES

ME AND MR.GIN

NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND OUT

NEW ORLEANS HOP SCOP BLUES

BLACK MOUNTAIN BLUES

GIMMIE A PIGFOOT

TAKE ME FOR A BUGGY RIDE

DO YOUR DUTY

I'M DOWN IN THE DUMPS

CAKE WALKING BABIES

THE YELLOW DOG BLUES

AT THE CHRISTMAS BALL

BABY DOLL

MONEY BLUES

LOST YOUR HEAD BLUES

ONE AND TWO BLUES

YOUNG WOMAN'S BLUES

ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND

MUDDY WATER

AFTER YOU'VE GONE

THERE'LL BE A HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT

BACK WATER BLUES

PREACHIN'THE BLUES

MOAN YOU MOURNERS

HE'S GOT ME GOIN'

BLUE SPIRIT BLUES

ON REVIVAL DAY

TROMBONE CHOLLY

SEND ME TO THE 'LECTRIC CHAIR

LONG OLD ROAD

SHIPWRECK BLUES

EMPTY BED BLUES -PARTS 1 & 2 ) 

FROM A RECENTLY PURCHASED COLLECTION OF JAZZ AND BLUES LPs OWNED BY A FORMER ESQUIRE RECORDS MANAGEMENT PERSON WHO HARDLY USED HIS LPs AND STORED AWAY FROM LIGHT AND HEAT ON STURDY SHELVES FOR OVER 50 YEARS!

THERE IS HARDLY ANY SURFACE  NOISE OR SIGNS OF USE.

NO CLEANING WAS NECESSARY! AMAZING!!! 

A BLUES-FEMALE SINGERS COLLECTORS DREAM-PLEASE READ ON FOR IN DEPTH DETAILS!!

I HAVE NOT FOUND SUCH BREATHTAKING QUALITY FOR A SET OF FOUR LPs OF THIS VINTAGE FOR QUITE SOMETIME.THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT TURNING UP AS FREQUENTLY AS THEY DID,EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO.MOST HAVE NOW LEFT THE UK FOR THE COLLECTIONS OF JAPAN,AMERICA AND THE FAR EAST NEVER TO RETURN TO THE SELLING MARKET.

THIS MAY BE YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET SUCH A SET OF 4 BRILLIANT LPs LIKE THESE IN ALMOST AS NEW CONDITION!

NO CLEANING WAS NEEDED,THE SURFACES GLEAM,NO FINGERPRINTS,PATCHES OR BAD STORAGE ISSUES,NO WARPING,NO SCUFFS,NO SCRATCHES,NO FADING etc.

JUST SOME VERY FAINT SURFACE MARKS IN STRONG LIGHT AND THAT IS BEING VERY STRICT!!!!!  

NO WRITING,NO RIPS,NO SPILLAGES,NO STAINS,NO LAMINATION PEELING,SOME TINY EDGE CREASES.

PLEASE NOTE THERE HAS BEEN SOME SELLOTAPE ADDED TO THE LEAD IN EDGES AND MAY BE REMOVABLE WITH EXTREME CARE BUT MAY LEAVE STICKY TRACES BEHIND. 

THE INNERS ARE AS NEW AND VERY CLEAN!

DON'T FORGET JUST HOW EXPENSIVE  LPs WERE FOR THE AVERAGE BUYER 54 YEARS AGO.AN LP,LET ALONE 4 VOLUMES WAS USUALLY A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED PURCHASE OVER WEEKS AND EVEN MONTHS,WHICH EXPLAINS WHY SO FEW TURN UP.

THOSE THAT DID WERE OFTEN SCARED OF HAVING THEM STOLEN OR BORROWED WITHOUT RETURN AND WOULD WRITE NAMES ON THE COVER-JUST COMPARE WITH ANY OTHER SIMILAR LPs ON EBAY-THE MAJORITY HAVE WRITING,SELLOTAPE REPAIR OR WORSE STILL DRAWINGS AND DOODLES ADDED.

THIS IS ABOUT THE BEST SET I HAVE SEEN IN YEARS AND YEARS.

CHECK OUT YOUR SET OR SEE IF YOU HAVE ALL FOUR-CAN YOU REALLY PUT UP WITH THE ONE OR ONES YOU HAVE GOT AND WILL YOU REGRET IT LATER?

IF NOTHING ELSE THIS IS A FANTASTIC INVESTMENT!

I AM SURE TO REGRET NOT KEEPING THEM BUT THAT'S LIFE!

THE HOUSE IS FULL AS IT IS!   

THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH ME ON EBAY SINCE 2002 AND INDEED ELSEWHERE BEFORE SINCE 1986, WILL PROBABLY KNOW I HAVE BEEN A RESPECTED  MUSIC EXPERT AND COLLECTOR FOR MANY YEARS CALLED UPON BY RADIO,TV AND PRICE GUIDES FOR MY ADVICE AND KNOWLEDGE.

WHILST I AM IN THE BUSINESS TO SELL, I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE ITEMS I AM SELLING.

IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET SUCH AS EBAY, THIS IS GETTING RARE SO YOU CAN BID WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE!

VERY NICE THICK PRESSINGS!

PHILIPS WERE WELL KNOWN IN THE 1950s FOR ULTRA THICK VINYL  

MOST COPIES THAT SURVIVE ARE IN POOR CONDITION-THIS SET IS IN  EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH ONLY A LITTLE SURFACE NOISE HERE AND THERE AT HIGH VOLUME WITH THE TREBLE FULL ON TO"CATCH"ANY GROOVE WEAR AND THAT IS BEING STRICT! 

NO STICKS!/NO JUMPS!/HARDLY ANY CLICKS!/NO SWISHES!/NO DISTORTION!

A SET THAT HAS BEEN PLAYED ONLY A HANDFUL OF TIMES,POSSIBLY AS FEW AS 4-5 HAVING SPOKEN AT LENGTH TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER,SELLING DUE TO DOWNSIZING AND A HOUSE MOVE!!!!

Just how many were preserved like this set 

The mono mixes are Superb,Rich,warm and full of bass, with a natural warmth from those VERY EARLY RECORDING days OF THE 1920s and 1930s.

In the mid 1950s, many were using terrible old and heavy equipment and using worn styli or nasty autochangers that would scuff the discs forever in seconds at the time not aware that years later even the slightest damage would be evident on more sophisticated audio.

The 1950s equipment was quite often a bit basic and it was suggested to play LPs at between 5 and 8 grammes, which of course after a few plays would produce on later plays that nasty"film of fizzy distortion"so often IGNORED by sellers and in MY LISTENING GRADING is ALWAYS LISTENED OUT FOR WITH THE TREBLE FULL ON AND PLAYED TWICE TO ENSURE THE BEST AND MOST ACURATE GRADING!!!! 

 To find immaculate copies all these years later is getting almost impossible!FACT!

THEY ARE SIMPLY DRYING UP! 

These mixes are far punchier but are rather flat on the CDs that have come out!

Vinyl is still the best way to hear BESSIE SMITH and always will be!  

GREAT WIDE RANGE SOUND WITH GREAT BASS!

I TEST ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITHOUT FILTERING OR A MONO SWITCH.

There is NO spindle wear.  

Look elsewhere on ebay and you will see other copies-Look closer and you will find they are often reissues,inferior USA issues or lower grade copies with all manner of faults. 

AND CAN YOU FIND ALL 4 VOLUMES IN STEREO ON HMV ELSEWHERE??? 

MOST RECORDS ON EBAY ARE IN DIABOLICAL, BAD CONDITIONS ATTEMPTED TO BE  SOLD BY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GRADE OR BOTHER TO ACTUALLY PLAY THEM FOR AN ACURATE DESCRIPTION!

This is A POSSIBLE UPGRADER SET-EXAMINE YOURS IF YOU HAVE ONE AT ALL AND IT MAY NOT BE AS GOOD AS YOU THINK!

ORIGINAL INNER SLEEVES!!  

AN OUTER PVC COVER WILL BE SUPPLIED.

THE LPs AS USUAL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE COVERS BEFORE SENDING!   

REMEMBER I AM GRADING STRICTLY! PLEASE STUDY THE PHOTO! 

As both a collector and dealer,I AM VERY STRICT ON GRADING but DO CHECKOUT MY FEEDBACK FOR GRADING PROOF!!!!

Realistic  £25 STARTING price with no annoying reserve. 

HARDLY ANY  LPs OF THIS VINTAGE SELL FOR LESS AND I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW GOOD THEY ARE.DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT SELLS QUICKLY.

DON'T LEAVE IT AND REGRET IT LATER!!!!!!!!!!!THIS MAY NOT BE REPEATED FOR A LONG TIME! 

THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE TO OWN A SUPER AND RARE SET OF 4 LPs. A GREAT INVESTMENT! 

Postage is £4 RECORDED DELIVERY -1ST CLASS.SOLID PACKING FAR BETTER THAN THE MAJORITY OF SELLERS-LOOK AT THE FEEDBACK FOR PROOF! YOU WILL GET IT IN FINE SHAPE!!

Outside UK extra depending on destination. PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO SEVERAL ITEMS OVERSEAS BEING"LOST", IF THE OPTION TO SEND INSURED IS REFUSED THEN I CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST ITEMS. I DO NOT DRAMATICALLY INCREASE POSTAGE ON SEVERAL ITEMS BOUGHT.Paypal or cheque within 7 days please.

CHEQUE WILL NEED TIME TO CLEAR BEFORE DELIVERY. 

SPECIAL POSTAGE RATES FOR SEVERAL ITEMS BOUGHT

DO NOT BID UNLESS YOU INTEND TO PAY.Feedback always left. BE AWARE!!!! NON PAYERS AND TIMEWASTERS WILL BE DEALT WITH AND REPORTED TO EBAY AS WELL AS CIRCULATED VERBALLY AND BY EMAIL TO MY MANY DEALER AND COLLECTOR FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!

Checkout my power seller status and my own feedback of OVER 9000 comments of my standards and service many from some of the world's most respected collectors and dealers. BUY with confidence! Always adding quality Records, cd's and related items to ebay several times a week. Customers from all over the world regard my  ebay selections as the #1 for QUALITY,VARIETY AND SERVICE.

I HAVE BEEN A DEALER SINCE 1986 WITH OVER 7 YEARS ON EBAY.

I ACTUALLY LISTEN TO MY ITEMS ON GOOD QUALITY EQUIPMENT, USUALLY TWICE TO ENSURE THE VERY BEST POSSIBLE AND ACURATE GRADE-I WANT LONG TERM REGULAR CUSTOMERS WHO WANT TO RETURN TO BUY FROM ME WITH FAITH AND TRUST.

LOOK AT MY FEEDBACK AND SEE WELL KNOWN RESPECTED COLLECTORS AND DEALERS WHO BUY FROM ME OVER AND OVER-NOTE WHAT THEY SAY-PAGE AFTER PAGE OF GLOWING STATEMENTS! 

UK Customers are very welcome to collect ebay winnings  by prior email arrangement.OVER 7 YEARS ON EBAY and many more before as a keen collector! Thanks for looking and good luck.

OTHER STYLES OF MUSIC ON EBAY FROM ME-SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE-LOOK NO FURTHER!!!!!

DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY,MAYBE FOR THE LAST TIME FOR THIS SET OF FOUR LPs IN THIS CONDITION!

I HAVE MENTIONED EVERYTHING BUT IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK.

PLEASE REMEMBER VOLUME FOUR DOES NOT HAVE IT'S OUTER COVER

MANY MORE FANTASTIC  LPs TO COME IN FUTURE WEEKS FROM THIS COLLECTION FROM THE SAME ERA OF THE LATE 1950s AND EARLY 1960s!

WANT MORE OR CAN'T RUN TO FOUR LPs OF BESSIE SMITH???

NO PROBLEM!!-A SINGLE LP WITH DIFFERENT TRACKS ENDS FROM ME,15 MINUTES AFTER THIS ONE ENDS-ANOTHER VINTAGE PHILIPS PRESSING!

KEEP WATCHING!

 DON'T LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN!

THIS COULD BE YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET SUCH A WONDERFUL SET LIKE THIS ONE!

GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.