"Would you like to play with me?" - Henry Townsend's reply to soundman Warren Argo's query as to whether anyone would be playing with Henry at his concert set at the first Port Townsend Country Blues Workshop
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?
Goodness, I hadn't realized there are some missing Bracey solo tracks! I reckon I'm very much in the minority, but I'd rather hear those than the missing Willie Brown tracks, and for that matter, I'd also rather hear the missing Jaydee Short tracks. Those would be hugely exciting. Actually, just about anything listed so far would be hugely exciting. All best, Johnm
Bracey told me in the 1960s that he only saw one of his PM records--Pm 12949 "Where's My Shoes At?" with 44 Charley Taylor. He never saw any of his guitar records--including "Woman Woman Blues" Pm 12970 and said he made "Doodleville Blues" with his guitar. Said he did at least 6 songs just with his guitar..But one of those he remembered was "Farish Street Rag" which has the New Orleans Nehi Boys with him and is an instrumental not a blues with guitar. There are no known listings ever found--including the PM catalogs and monthly listings John Tefteller bought in Port Washington. WI back in the early 2000s that listed any Bracey PMs with his guitar alone beside Pm 12970. Those early sides "Run To Me At Night" were in the first Dixon and Godrich but I never found where they came from and no ads nor the actual Pm record have ever been seen. NYC collectors Pete Whelan and Bernie Klatzko in the early 1960s had never seen a copy of them nor an ad for them. My guess is they never existed. If they did, they died with whoever reported them to Dixon and Godrich. The same with a Barefoot Bill PM. No one has ever seen one nor any listing of any such PM listing in any ad or monthly supplement. But there are still about 20 missing gaps in the PM 12900 to 13100 series that are unknown. What lies there is probably gone forever. gdw
"Funny Paper" Smith: Hobo Blues/Old Rounder's Blues Vocalion 1582
We'll probably never find this one, though, as the comment in B&GR states "Vocalion 1582 was probably never issued, or was withdrawn immediately after release.", so probably only a few copies ever saw the light of day.
"lost" music - the two unissued Willie Walker sides. I think that I had gotten Baby Tate up for playing them for me, but he died before I could record him doing those songs. So close!
I think some things will turn up over the years,like they've always done...but not so often....there's still attics and basements and storage lockers.......things will turn up ,now and again.
The Memphis Jug Band made IIRC 12 recordings in 1932 for Champion - and only 5 titles appear on reissues. No explanations ever given, the DG 3rd edition (the only one I have) lists them as if they were originally issued but I?m afraid I have never found those 7 titles on any reissue
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You canīt trust your baby when the ice man comes hanging around
The next wave is going to be home movie enthusiast films of local Blues players playing in the street. Unfortunately they'll have no sound, but still. You just Knoooow they're out there!
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My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)