ALICE MOORE Black Evil Blues Riverside Blues DECCA 7028 1934 Pre-War 78 RPM E-
£
45
$
60
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Description
Known affectionately in the Midwest as "Little Alice," Alice Moore (1904–1949) was a powerhouse of the gritty, urban St. Louis blues scene. This historic 10-inch shellac features her legendary, spine-chilling pairing with the unmatched trombonist Ike Rodgers and pianist Henry Brown on the A-side. Rodgers’ signature, deep, guttural trombone growls play a masterful call-and-response duet with Moore's dark, melancholic vocals.
The B-side, "Riverside Blues," shifts gears dramatically, backed by the legendary "Devil's Son-in-Law" himself, Peetie Wheatstraw, on piano alongside a haunting, highly unusual unnamed blues violinist.
Collector’s Provenance Note:This vintage archive-grade disc comes from a highly meticulous, old-school pre-war blues estate. The original collector noted "Unrecorded Take A" on both sleeves—a common and fascinating historical misinterpretation from the pre-internet era, caused by Decca's early factory stamping system (9317A) crossing paths with early printed discography guides. A wonderful, authentic piece of record-collecting history that adds immense character to this specific item!
Cut in Chicago in the summer of 1934, "Black Evil Blues" is a definitive pillar of St. Louis low-down blues poetry. The lyrics explore themes of heavy psychological dread, nighttime paranoia, and urban isolation ("Did you ever lay down at night... and you look behind you anyway... because I'm so blank and evil scared..."), acting as a raw sonic document of the Black working-class struggle in Depression-era USA
Decca Records launched its fabled 7000 "Race Records" series in 1934. By pricing their discs at an aggressive, cut-rate 35 cents, they successfully sustained Black blues musicians through the worst years of the Great Depression. However, because these early 7000-block releases were bought by everyday workers and played to absolute destruction on heavy, tracking domestic gramophones, finding any 1934 Decca blues 78 that has retained its gloss is a phenomenon. Finding an immaculate, glossy Excellent Minus (E-) copy is an event.
CONDITION REPORT
Grade (VJM System): Excellent Minus (E-).
Play Surface: Exceptional, top-tier archive preservation. The fragile 1934 early Decca shellac retains a beautiful, deep factory gloss and clean luster. Under bright inspection lighting, only a few light superficial paper-sleeve wisps are visible on either side. Completely free of deep scratches, gray acoustic groove-wear, needle digs, structural stress lines, or rim chips.
Audio Performance: Both sides play beautifully loud, crisp, and robust. The raw acoustic contrast between Alice's commanding vocals and Ike Rodgers’ deep, growling trombone tracks with phenomenal clarity. Surface noise is remarkably light, steady, and entirely non-intrusive—an exceptionally quiet play for mid-1930s shellac compound.
Center Labels: Iconic early 1930s blue-and-gold Decca 7000 series labels. Lettering and graphics remain clear. Spindle hole is tight and crisp with zero trailing wear. Free of modern ink writing, layout tearing, or vintage dealer sticker residue.
POSTAGE &PACKAGING
Professionally packed by an experienced 78 RPM specialist trader. The disc will be strictly sandwiched between multiple layers of heavy cardboard stiffeners and fully suspended in a rigid box with loose-fill padding to guarantee zero movement during domestic or international transit.
Worldwide shipping available.
Carefully packed and promptly dispatched.
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