The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I picked this up today, for $55.00. I know it's a bit much, but it is the first Blind Blake Paramount record that I have found, in the wild. I did play it, but there is so much surface noise the recording is barely audible. It is pretty scratched, but at least I have a Blind Blake Paramount 78 in my collection.

Paul

Wear is a common problem with blues and early country recordings. I suppose the relative isolation of the socio-economic groups that purchased those records initially didn't lend itself to supplies of fresh needles, and records were a major purchase and listened to a lot.

JohnM wrote:Wear is a common problem with blues and early country recordings. I suppose the relative isolation of the socio-economic groups that purchased those records initially didn't lend itself to supplies of fresh needles, and records were a major purchase and listened to a lot.

Paramount discs wore quickly, too. Heard it said that they used sand in the shellac mixture, which would in due course make grooves that ground away pretty fast.

Neat record! I like Blind Blake, but only have him on CD.

I was present once when a Paramount with a blue label and multicolor 'splatter' shellac changed hands, but wasn't able to hane the record myself. What may that have had on it? Anyone ever see/have one of those?

Thank You John!

Thank You Wolfe!