The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I know nothing of record value. Is she a desirable artist? Does this record have much worth?

If it's in good to excellent condition, it's a desirable record. Your picture looks like it's in typical condition for a popular record of the ethnic blues type... poor and over-played with a rusty nail. But it is still a good selection...

Mamie Smith is a desirable artist, but like anything else, value is determined by condition (UNLESS, it's super-rare, like ANYTHING on Black Patti labels).

Listen to it and see if it hits you... if you like it, look for one in better condition. My opinion (which isn't worth much), is that she "moans" too much...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaz4Ziw_CfQ

Harlem Blues - video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AN3pxrRzMM

HAHA OKAY! I am a fan of blues records but as you mentioned its not in the best condition. Maybe ill clean it this weekend and give it a spin

BTW, isn't this record legendary, in that it was the first blues record issued, or something alike? I've always remembered from my 'hobby formative years' that record, Okeh 4169, as something special...
Perhaps Tim Gracyk might jump in, as many things on US records and recording industry I learned from him, through his magnificent 'Victrola and 78 Journal' and all his good collaborators in the magazine (Wakeman, Obrecht, and many others). And many others I learned from the marvelous 78-L people...

dzavracky wrote:HAHA OKAY! I am a fan of blues records but as you mentioned its not in the best condition. Maybe ill clean it this weekend and give it a spin

You should clean it... Wash it with water and dry it, then try this method that I have been doing for years: spray a small amount of WD-40 either on the record or on a clean rag or paper towel. Wipe the WD in a circular motion with the grooves, then wipe off the excess... Then play it with a steel needle to finish cleaning it. It should not only look better, but play better as well. I have used this method especially on worn records for over 40 years (with no damage to the records) and been pleased with the improved sound... It seems to rejuvenate the old shellac giving it a better appearance as well as less surface noise... This is a good record for you to try it on and report the results...

Okay! I think I hve some WD-40 in the garage so I could do this today. I’ll be back to post results.
When you say wash with water, do you mean to use a toothbrush and water or just a towel and water?

Please don't use WD-40....mild dish soap, lukewarm water, wipe dry with a clean cotton cloth, then air dry for a few hours.

This is her most common disc and it's great. Tough to find in unworn shape, but it's out there.

Sean

OrthoSean wrote:Please don't use WD-40....mild dish soap, lukewarm water, wipe dry with a clean cotton cloth, then air dry for a few hours.

This is her most common disc and it's great. Tough to find in unworn shape, but it's out there.

Sean

I'm just curious why you would say "Please don't use WD-40", as this record is in poor condition AND like I have said - "You can't damage a shellac record with WD-40." WD-40 is NOT a shellac solvent... I know from my previous posts on this subject that my method is somewhat controversial, but time has proven it to work well. Here is a challenge: take a worn record that you don't care about, play it in its current condition, then use my method and play it again to actually see the difference... it DOES work, and there is no harm done to the record...

I know from your comment that you have never tried this... My opinion is based on 40+ years of EXPERIENCE with this method, your opinion is based on what? Nothing...

dzavracky wrote:Okay! I think I hve some WD-40 in the garage so I could do this today. I’ll be back to post results.
When you say wash with water, do you mean to use a toothbrush and water or just a towel and water?

Either one will work, just to remove surface dirt...

Curt A wrote:If it's in good to excellent condition, it's a desirable record. Your picture looks like it's in typical condition for a popular record of the ethnic blues type... poor and over-played with a rusty nail. But it is still a good selection...

Mamie Smith is a desirable artist, but like anything else, value is determined by condition (UNLESS, it's super-rare, like ANYTHING on Black Patti labels).

Listen to it and see if it hits you... if you like it, look for one in better condition. My opinion (which isn't worth much), is that she "moans" too much...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaz4Ziw_CfQ

Harlem Blues - video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AN3pxrRzMM

I remember reading that "Harlem Blues"was the original title.Bradford originally wanted Sophie Tucker to record the song for OKeh, but she was unavailable,and a proposed Victor record of Aileen Stanley doing the song.edisonplayer