The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here is my collection of "Race Records". Term for music us negros listened to around the 20s-30s. It's mostly blues here, but there were also a lot of spirituals, jazz, and of course hog-lollow and dirty blues. These blues records are pretty damn rare too, and poorly documented.

Some names are recognizable like Louis Armstrong & Ethel Waters but not so much Peg Leg Howell

Someday I might find a Blind Lemon Jefferson record. Those are really rare.

I could drone on for hours about these things- so ask some questions if you're curious.

Great stuff!

I have a couple of Barbecue Bob Columbias. edisonplayer.

Awesome records. Thanks for sharing. Did you find most of these locally?

R. Crumb has a large collection of these records, and others. Crumb is known for many different reasons, but early blues records is one of his interests.

If interested, check the internet. He wrote and illustrated a book and included a CD of some of these songs.

Marc

Phono-Phan wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 9:42 am Awesome records. Thanks for sharing. Did you find most of these locally?

Thanks! Yes. The Columbia's and Okeh Electrics were part of a lot at a yard sale. Someone had passed and these were her mothers.

The Louis Armstrong Okeh was from an antique store and the Parlaphone was ordered online.

edisonplayer wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 8:25 am I have a couple of Barbecue Bob Columbias. edisonplayer.

Barbecue Bob was great. It's unfortunate a lot of these artists passed away with so little info.

Wonderful!

I've sometimes wondered when and why they used those series, at least for more mainstream artists. For example, Bennie Moten on Victor, one of my favourite jazz artists - issues appear in both the race and regular series through 1928 and 1929.

GroverOverton08 wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 11:17 am

Phono-Phan wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 9:42 am Awesome records. Thanks for sharing. Did you find most of these locally?

Thanks! Yes. The Columbia's and Okeh Electrics were part of a lot at a yard sale. Someone had passed and these were her mothers.

The Louis Armstrong Okeh was from an antique store and the Parlaphone was ordered online.

Which came first, the intentional purchases or the yard sale finds?

GroverOverton08 wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 11:17 am

Phono-Phan wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 9:42 am Awesome records. Thanks for sharing. Did you find most of these locally?

Thanks! Yes. The Columbia's and Okeh Electrics were part of a lot at a yard sale. Someone had passed and these were her mothers.

The Louis Armstrong Okeh was from an antique store and the Parlaphone was ordered online.

As an FYI, the Armstrong Okeh is an acoustic recording.

Steve