EARLY BLUE NOTE 78 RPM RECORDS

Gave a listen to a very early Blue Note 78 record today.  In 1941, Meade "Lux" Lewis recorded a  couple piano solos at Blue Note studios.  "Honky Tonk Train Blues" b/w "Tell Your Story".  Blue Note #15.

The fun part is how I ran across this (and a handful of other rare jazz 78's).

Back around 2005, I stopped into a St Vincent de Paul thrift store to give the records a look over.  They mainly have beat up alums from the 70's, like a bunch of Kenny Rogers records...but usually had a few old 78 records sitting there.  I noticed a stack of 12" 78's  (usually 10') and thought they were some symphony cuts, like most were.  

I pulled them out and see the Blue Note label, and my heart skipped a beat.  There were 4 Blue Notes,  #2, 5, 15, and 16.   Next to those were a few Commodore 12" jazz records, also quite rare, as well as a 12" Black and White 78, yet another rare black jazz label from around 1940.   Next to that were some 10" 78 of Billie Holiday on Commodore.  OMG

I then proceeded to shit my pants.   $10 later, I drove them home realizing this was a find of a lifetime.

Lewis had first recorded Honky Tonk Train Blues for the legendary Paramount records back in 1927, for Victor in 1937, and also for Decca and Columbia throughout the years.
The Paramount recording is ULTRA scarce.   This early Blue Note is also quite rare and goes for around $65.  This copy is in near mint condition.

Here's the only You Tube clip of this recording.  My copy is in near mint condition and does not have the pops.   Enjoy..

MOTHER OF ALL THRIFT STORE FINDS

 As many of you already know, my main hobby is collecting vinyl records.  How Gen X of me..   Through garage sales, junk stores, used bins at record shops, and collectable editions through stores, I have amassed over 3,500 records.  

Every once in a while, I come across a great find.  Like "Hey Hey what Can I Do" by Led Zeppelin for 25 cents.   Or the rare Blue Note 78s I found at a thrift store   Early Blue Note 78.   

This past weekend was the Mother of All Thrift Store Finds.  Another Blue Note discovery.   

We went to the thrift store looking for joke gifts for Christmas.  This also requires a stop by the old records for sale.  I wanted to pick up any old records in decent shape to add to my hoarde.  Especially jazz.  I'm lacking in good jazz records

Sitting there among the ruined andy Williams album and multiple Barbara Streisand records was a nice copy of Cannonball Adderley's "Somethin' Else" on blue Note records.  Vinyl looked fairly clean.  And was extra heavy and thick, so I knew it was an old copy.   Picked that up along with a Stan Getz and a Charlie Parker compilation.  

Once I got home, I looked up my Cannonball Adderley on Discogs.   The first release had these qualities:

• West 63 street address and no ® and a "micorgroove" on the labels
• Deep groove on both sides
• no "Inc." after Blue note on the address on the back cover and printed in Serif font
• "P" for Plastylite Recording plant etched on run out.
• RVG stamped on the run out

Well how about that.... This copy had ALL of these. Wha?  This was a first release of this record!   And in VG condition for the vinyl.  The cover is in G condition, a bit worn on the back and bit smudgy on the front.  but not bad for a record from 1958.

This record cost me $1.95.   This sells for around $600 in this condition.   What an absolute monumental find.  I don't think I will ever find a more collectable record.  OF course, I thought that the last time I found some Blue Notes...

I will keep it and listen to it for a while.  If I find a nice clean reissue, I will then sell.    IMO it's one of the best jazz albums ever made and right up my alley.   Sometimes you just get lucky.

Here's a track from this release.   Awesome!