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While browsing on eBay, I've encountered two record sides on the Brunswick "Lightning Bolt" label featuring the Kansas City Tin Roof Stompers..."St. Louis Bound" and "Aunt Jemima Stomp", #7066. I've seen other records on this same type of Brunswick label and have wondered... "is there a back-story behind this type of label series from Brunswick" and "who were the Kansas City Tin Roof Stompers?" A seller on eBay has been offering this record for $500.00. Is there a reason for this high an asking price? If anyone has the answers, please share. Thank you.

I can't comment on the rarity of the particular recording, but the "Lightening Bolt" label was merely an artistic way to indicate the electrical recording process. I don't think this style of label is rare at all. Maybe your recording is.

Phototone wrote:I can't comment on the rarity of the particular recording, but the "Lightening Bolt" label was merely an artistic way to indicate the electrical recording process. I don't think this style of label is rare at all. Maybe your recording is.

<<<...the "Lightening Bolt" label was merely an artistic way to indicate the electrical recording process.>>> That makes a lot of sense. I should have thought of that. Thank you for the information.

That record is from 1929, well into the electrical era, I guess the design reflects that. Very common as well.

They had abandoned the "Light Ray" electrical process and the printed "Light Ray" designation on the label by then.

I really doubt that record should be worth 500 bucks, esp. for the amount of wear evident.

Info on the Red Hot Jazz site.

Aunt Jemima= race record = $$$, right?

7000 series was race records and 100 series Country Western


Larry

Retrograde wrote:Info on the Red Hot Jazz site.

Aunt Jemima= race record = $$$, right?

Lots of garden variety "race records" that don't go for the big money - like 500.00.

Popsike had a V copy of this same record sell for 40 bucks a few years ago.

Bruce asked,

"is there a back-story behind this type of label series from Brunswick?"

In 1927, Brunswick launched a 7000 series for African-American artists, and a 100 "Dixie" series for "old-time tunes" (what came to be known as country music), as Larry noted. Prior to this, Brunswick released most of their recordings of such material on their Vocalion subsidiary. Both of these Brunswick series sported the "lightning bolt" label.

"who were the Kansas City Tin Roof Stompers?"

Laird's Brunswick Discography doesn't list personnel, so perhaps the ledgers did not, either. Does Dixon & Godrich's Blues and Gospel Discography do so? I don't have mine to hand.

The sides were recorded in Chicago, on March 15, 1929. Aunt Jemima Stomp is matrix C3127, and three takes were recorded. St. Louis Bound is matrix C3128, and three takes were recorded. A third recording was made but not released. Brunswick 7066 also appeared on Canadian Brunswick 4965, but I don't know if they used the "lightning bolt" label in Canada. An outfit called the "Kansas City Stompers" recorded two issued sides in Chicago on July 2, 1929, which appeared on Brunswick 7091.

"Is there a reason for this high an asking price?"

When Retrograde wrote, "Aunt Jemima= race record = $$$, right?" I took him to mean that this was the thinking the eBay seller used when pricing this disc. Such wishful thinking is common on eBay/antique shops/thrift stores, etc., of course.

Best wishes, Mark

victorIIvictor wrote:Bruce asked,

"is there a back-story behind this type of label series from Brunswick?"

In 1927, Brunswick launched a 7000 series for African-American artists, and a 100 "Dixie" series for "old-time tunes" (what came to be known as country music), as Larry noted. Prior to this, Brunswick released most of their recordings of such material on their Vocalion subsidiary. Both of these Brunswick series sported the "lightning bolt" label.

"who were the Kansas City Tin Roof Stompers?"

Laird's Brunswick Discography doesn't list personnel, so perhaps the ledgers did not, either. Does Dixon & Godrich's Blues and Gospel Discography do so? I don't have mine to hand.

The sides were recorded in Chicago, on March 15, 1929. Aunt Jemima Stomp is matrix C3127, and three takes were recorded. St. Louis Bound is matrix C3128, and three takes were recorded. A third recording was made but not released. Brunswick 7066 also appeared on Canadian Brunswick 4965, but I don't know if they used the "lightning bolt" label in Canada. An outfit called the "Kansas City Stompers" recorded two issued sides in Chicago on July 2, 1929, which appeared on Brunswick 7091.

"Is there a reason for this high an asking price?"

When Retrograde wrote, "Aunt Jemima= race record = $$$, right?" I took him to mean that this was the thinking the eBay seller used when pricing this disc. Such wishful thinking is common on eBay/antique shops/thrift stores, etc., of course.

Best wishes, Mark

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. I appreciate it very much.

Bruce, you are most welcome, but I only amplified points the people who responded earlier made. And luckily, I had Volume 3 of Laird's Brunswick discography handy, so I could not resist!

--Mark