RARE Elmore James BLUES  Masterpiece Dust My Broom & Catfish Blues TRUMPET 78rpm

$

75

Elmore (Elmo) James,  Dust my Broom/ Catfish Blues, Trumpet, August 5th 1951 accompanied by Sonny Boy Williamson II, Leonard Ware, and Frock Odell
Looks V, plays E+.  There are marker marks on both sides of the label head.  There is a minute edge crack that isn't going anywhere, but isn't getting bigger either.  Asking the lower price because of this imperfections on this perfect blues.
Dust My Broom was first recorded by Robert Johnson, and published on Vocalion & Conqueror.  Elmore James performed Dust My Broom as one of his first standards while still living in Mississippi in the late 1930's.  Ray Topping has suggested Elmore must have learned how to play the song from Robert Johnson at some point.   It was also recorded by Big Boy Crudup and Lockwood, to little success. Though Robert Johnson's Dust My Broom has remained one of the lighthouses of the blues,  it took Elmore Jame's to turn it into a colossus.  Performed at the height of his collaboration with Sonny Boy Williamson II, this classic of the "Chicago" blues was actually recorded in Jackson, Mississippi.  The recording studio hadn't transferred to tape, and the take was done on ONE microphone, on a direct-to-disc cutter.  It was the only song recorded by him that day.    There are a lot of rumors about this recording session in music history; check them out.
Though given amplification and accompaniment, Elmore uses Robert Johnson's rhythm, while adding lyrics similar to Crudup's version.  IN 2003, this original Trumpet recording was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, which commented "James is known to have tinkered with his guitar pickups and fans still argue about how he achieved his signature sound. Whatever combination of guitar and pickup was used in his slide guitar opening, Elmore James created the most recognizable guitar riff in the history of the blues".

I'll ship Elmore extremely carefully.  He's lived a long life, and he is a veteran, so I show respect.

• N. As new and unplayed (there are virtually no 78s that can categorically be claimed to be unplayed).
• N-. Nearly Mint, but has been played. No visible signs of wear or damage.
• E+. Plays like new, with very, very few signs of handling, such as tiny scuffs from being slipped in and out of jackets.
• E . Still very shiny, near new looking, with no visible signs of wear, but a few inaudible scuffs and scratches.
• E-. Still shiny but without the lustre of a new record, few light scratches.
• V+. An average condition 78 in which scuffs and general use has dulled the finish somewhat. Wear is moderate but playing is generally free from distortion. Surface noise not overly pronounced
• V. Moderate, even wear throughout, but still very playable. Surface noise and scratches audible but not intrusive.
• V-. Quite playable still, but distortion and heavy greying in loud passages.Music remains loud in most passages.Surface noise and scratches well below music level.
• G+. Grey throughout but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled. Heavy scratches.
• G. Quite seriously worn and scratched, but music level is still higher than surface noise.
• G-. Music still prominent, but wear and scratch damage extensive.
• F. Most of music remains audible over surface noise, but listening now uncomfortable.
• P. Unplayable