RARE BLUES Reference Test ROBERT JOHNSON When You Got a Good Friend UNISSUED 78
$
400
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Description
Offered is a vinyl test pressing of Robert Johnson's "When You Got a Good Friend" (take 1). Matrix (SA 2584-1) is stamped in dead wax and etched outside the run-in groove.
According to a 2006 release from the Library of Congress, these test pressings were created for Columbia producer Frank Diggs in the late 50s or very early 60s as they were considering releasing some of their back catalog blues recordings. From these recordings Diggs produced the Robert Johnson reissue "King of the Delta Blues" in 1961. Shortly after these pressings were made, Columbia and most other record companies abandoned this older stamper equipment, thus halting the production of these test pressings, making them extremely scarce.
This record was acquired from the collection of Steve LaVere. LaVere was a somewhat controversial and legendary figure in the history of American blues music. He was involved in some of the early efforts in the 1960s by the Imperial label to gather historical blues compilations, and he was a key figure in helping the family of blues legend Robert Johnson establish claim to his publishing rights, a process steeped in public and professional contention, to say the least. Along the way, Steve also amassed a large collection of rare and obscure blues records. This is one of several Robert Johnson test pressings purchased from his collection - and this and the other four currently up are the last five to be auctioned.
This vinyl test pressing grades E, vinyl still has some gloss, only has a few marks and plays extremely well.
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