There are these rare moments when musicians together touch something sweeter than they've ever found before in rehearsals or performance, beyond the merely collaborative or technically proficient, when their expression becomes as easy and graceful as friendship or love. This is when they give us a glimpse of what we might be, of our best selves, and of an impossible world in which you give everything you have to others, but lose nothing of yourself. Out in the real world there exist detailed plans, visionary projects for peaceable realms, all conflicts resolved, happiness for everyone, for ever – mirages for which people are prepared to die and kill. Christ's kingdom on earth, the workers' paradise, the ideal Islamic state. But only in music, and only on rare occasions, does the curtain actually lift on this dream of community, and it is tantalizingly conjured, before fading away with the last notes - Ian McEwan, from his novel Saturday
The Blind Blake find brings to mind this topic: What important "missing" 78s are there left to find? I know there are unissued sides that would be a "holy grail" like Patton's remaining Vocalions or the Lemon Jefferson Okehs (and there are a couple of unissued Blake titles too), but let's face it, those are probably gone forever. Now that Blake's last two missing ones have turned up, and Son House's Mississippi County Farm/Clarksdale Moan, what's left that was issued (or at least that we're reasonably sure was issued)? Hopefully folks can add to this list.
Willie Brown Kicking in My Sleep/Window Blues - Pm 13099 Sorry Blues/Grandma Blues (pretty sure I've read this somewhere, but it's not in B&GR)
William Harris Nothin' Right Blues - Ge 6904 (Papa Charlie Hill Blues by Charlie Hill on other side, whoever that is) Gonna Get Me a Woman That I Calls My Own - Ge 6677 (B&GR doesn't list who's on the flip) I'm a Roamin' Gambler/I Was Born in the Country Raised in Town - Ge 6737
in old-time I know of
Rutherford and Foster Taylor's Quickstep (exists on Supertone)/Sally Johnson - Ge 6913
Dock Roberts My Old Coon Dog/Smoky Row (exists on Supertone) - Ge 6588
there are a couple of Mangrum and Shriver waltzes that I read somewhere that were unissued by Victor that supposedly exist; I've never heard them but would like to -- Mammoth Cave Waltz and Rose Waltz
At least one Uncle Dave Macon test from 1945 - Prettiest Little Gal/Fame Apart From God's Approval was made and given to someone who sponsored the recording trip; it hasn't been found -- the other tests from that session have been issued.
Three of J.D. Short's Paramount records have never been found:
"Steamboat Rousty b/w Gittin Up On The Hill" (Paramount 13012 ) "Drafted Mama b/w "Wake Up Bright Eye Mama" (Paramount 13040) "Flaggin' It To Georgia b/w Tar Road Blues" (Paramount 13091)
The notation in B&GR is "Barefoot Bill is believed to have made a record for Paramount. So far the record has not turned up and the issue number is uncertain."
Bow Leg Baby on Pe 169 (rev. My Texas Blues by Georgia Tom [which looks like it exists on other labels]) I Can't Be Satisfied - Ge 7230 (rev. Western Blues by Frank Brasswell as Western Kid) That Won't Do/How You Want It Done (latter exists on Superior or Savoy) - Ch 16172 How You Want It Done/Station Blues - Pm 13084
Ishman Bracey and the New Orleans Nehi Boys B&GR lists: Low Down Blues - Pm ? Run to Me at Night - Pm ? with no matrix numbers - was this mentioned in an ad somewhere?