Robert Johnson Test Pressing Own A Piece Of History

$ 204

$ 204 Sold For

Feb 5, 2009 Sold Date

Jan 29, 2009 Start Date

$ 50 Start price

6 Number Of Bids

USA Country Of Seller

eBay Auctioned at

save auction

Description

Here's your chance to own a piece of music history. This auction is for a test pressing of Robert Johnson's "Phonograph Blues". This was part of a group of test pressings that was originally made for Columbia producer Frank Driggs in the late 1950's or early 1960's, when Columbia was considering the reissue of some of its back catalog of country and blues recordings. Shortly afterward, Columbia and most other record companies abandoned their old stamping equipment, thus halting the production of such test pressings.

Based on the pressed matrix numbers (Compared to the original Vocalion issues), "Phonograph Blues" was originally recorded in San Antonio, Texas on November 23, 1936. From these recordings Driggs produced the first reissue anthology of Johnson's recordings, "King of the Delta Blues" in 1961 - an album that proved to be the most influential album for modern popular groups including the Rolling Stones, Cream and Led Zeppelin. Johnson's recorded repertoire consisted of only 29 songs, which he produced in 1936 and 1937, five of which were never issued during his short lifetime.

I purchased two of these test pressings from an auction house. (The other, "Drunken Hearted Man" will be listed in a separate auction). Since I am not a professional grader, I will use the grading that the original auction provided. The grading for "Phonograph Blues" is listed at VG-EX 6. It plays clean. The two pictures attached to this listing are of the actual record and the characters pressed into the matrix (SA 2587). This disc was previously part of Heritage Auctions "Good Rocking Tonight" collection

The shipping for this auction is USPS Priority Mail. Because of the rarity of this item, insurance is required.

price rating