BLUES HARMONICA 78: SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON Shady Grove Blues/She Was a Dreamer

$

35

BLUES HARMONICA 78: SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON Shady Grove Blues/ She Was a Dreamer

Bluebird B-8914, recorded July 2, 1941, in Chicago with John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson on vocals & harmonica, Blind John Davis on piano and Ransom Knowling on bass. She Was a Dreamer is basically the same song as Sleepy John Estes’ Little Laura Blues. According to Blues & Gospel Records 1890-1943, Estes didn’t record the song for Bluebird until September 24, 1941, but his record (Bluebird 8891) was issued prior to Sonny Boy’s. Both versions center on “Southern dreams,” which has sexual connotations I won’t go into here. She Was a Dreamer is shiny VG+, Shady Grove plays noisily, G-. Comes in a torn Bluebird Records sleeve.

See grading codes below. See photos for label damage, markings, stickers, etc.

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I have many more records, CDs and magazines listed at my eBay store, BluEsoterica.com Mail Order, and if you are in Kansas City, see my bins at Happy Rock Antiques, 100 NW 72nd St. in Gladstone, MO (10 miles north of downtown KC via U.S. Highway 169). The store is open every day (10am-8 pm Tuesday through Saturday, noon-5pm Sunday, 10am-6pm Monday). My booth is number 152 (the one with the most soul, jazz and blues records; there are several other booths with records, too).

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78 RPM RECORD GRADING
Most of the following descriptions are based on the Vintage Jazz Mart grading codes.
N (new) or M (mint): New and unplayed. NM or N- (near mint): Nearly same as M but played a few times. or showing minimal storage wear.
E+: plays almost like new, with very few signs of handling, such as tiny scuffs from being slipped in and out of jackets.
 E (excellent): Still very shiny, near new looking with few or no visible signs of groove wear but may have a few inaudible scuffs.
 E-: still shiny, but without the luster of a new record. Very little wear, plays distortion-free. May have a few minor scuffs.
 V+ or VG+: An "average" looking 78 in which scuffs and general use has dulled finish somewhat. Wear is moderate but playing is generally free of distortion. Surface noise still not pronounced.
 V or VG (very good): Moderate, even wear throughout but still very playable. Surface noise and scratches audible but not too intrusive. 
V- or VG- = quite playable; may have some distortion in louder passages but music remains loud in most places. Surface noise from wear and scratches are below music level. 
G+: gray throughout or quite scuffed but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled.
 G (good): quite worn/damaged, but surface noise still below music level. Listenable. 
G-: Music muffled from wear but still exceeds surface noise. 
F+: Music remains audible over surface noise but listening uncomfortable. 
F (fair): Surface noise is as loud as the music.
P (poor): unplayable.
 
 [+ and - denote in-between grades. Grades with a slash in between indicate the condition of Side A/Side B.]

Note: Some 78s look mint or near mint and may be graded so, but may play with some surface noise due to poor quality pressing material.