Bessie Smith on Columbia 81893 and other records

[Wolfe]

She was issued on Harmony, too. Unknown to me until I saw one listed on E-Bay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/78-PRE-WAR-BLUE ... 43d51d1e0e

[howardpgh]

The Harmony is a later re-issue. 1940s or 50s?

[phonojim]

Late '40s to mid 50's I believe. However, judging by the matrix number on the label it is likely pressed from the original master rather than being a dub. A dub will show an mx number from a series used at the time the dub was made.
@jboger: 81893 is the matrix (master) number; 14037D is the catalog number under which it was sold. The 14000D block was used for their "Race series".

Jim

[jboger]

Thanks for showing how to read the numbers on the record.

[Roaring20s]

howardpgh and Phonojim, from what I understand, the reissues on post WWII Harmony records were produced briefly, 1949 to 1950.

I guess I have been lucky to have found about six original Bessie Smith's in the wild, all V+ to E, alas none in the last ten years.
Just today I came home with a keeper, Clarence Williams on a 1934 Vocalion, Sugar Blues / Ain't Gonna Give You None Of My Jelly Roll.
Its condition is G+ to V-, with an edge chip and an extra hole in the label, I'm very happy.

James.

[Henry]

Columbia issued a beautiful multi-LP album of "complete" recordings of Bessie Smith, "Empress of the Blues," back in the 80s, IIRC. Wish I had a copy! Probably it's been re-issued again on CD.