Sonny Boy Williamson RCA Victor 20-3218 Better Cut That Out 78 RPM Shellac
£
40
$
53
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Description
John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson (Sonny Boy Williamson I) was a foundational architect of American roots music, widely regarded as the pioneer of the blues harp as a solo instrument. This RCA Victor (20-3218) original release pairs two late-period masterpieces recorded before his passing:
"Better Cut That Out": A lively, rhythmically sharp track pairing a driving harmonica attack with witty, cautionary storytelling lyricism.
"The Big Boat": A deeply layered, rolling ensemble blues piece highlighting fluid vocal transitions and robust acoustic rhythms.
Year Recorded: 1947 (Released December 1948). "Better Cut That Out" was cut during a prolific Chicago studio session on November 12, 1947.
Released at the close of 1948, this disc reflects the shifting socio-economic realities of Black urban life in the immediate post-war era. As the Great Migration reshaped midwestern factories, working-class communities faced changing labor boundaries, housing challenges, and evolving cultural spaces. The conversational, witty warnings in "Better Cut That Out" capture the everyday survival humor and streetwise resilience of urban neighborhoods navigating a rapidly modernising, industrial landscape.
This 1947 session featured an elite tier of Chicago blues musicians backing Williamson. The studio group included Big Bill Broonzy handling guitar duties, Blind John Davis on piano, Ransom Knowling on bass, and Judge Riley keeping time on drums.
Though recorded in late 1947, RCA Victor did not clear the track for commercial release until December 1948. This was months after Williamson's tragic passing in June 1948, making this disc an essential posthumous tribute that became a significant radio and jukebox favorite.
Condition Report (VJM 78rpm Grading System)
Overall Visual Grade: Excellent (E).
Media Surfaces: Beautifully preserved condition. The vintage shellac surfaces carry a strong native mirror gloss under direct lighting. There are a few light superficial paper storage sleeve lines, but no deep feelable scratches, structural cracks, or edge chipping can be found.
Audio Playback: Clear, bright, and highly satisfactory audio tracking. Surface noise remains consistently low and well below the music signal, allowing the vocals and harmonica leads to dominate the mix.
Labels: Highly presentable. The distinctive deep black RCA Victor labels with gold font lines are completely clean and legible, showing minimal spindle track marks around the center hole.
Postage, Packaging & Delivery Information
Packaging Method: Fragile post-war shellac demands specialized defensive shielding. The disc will be placed in a protective sleeve, securely sandwiched between oversized thick card stiffeners, and wrapped in multiple layers of heavy-gauge bubble wrap.
Handling: The entire flat pack is safely suspended within a rigid, heavy-duty doubleskin box to completely eliminate interior transit movement and fill any remaining internal void.
Carefully packed and promptly dispatched.
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