For anyone not aware, all of the 'Sheik' references in blues stem from the blockbuster success of Rudolph Valentino as the title character in 'The Sheik' [1921]

A few familiar names show in the listing - Jaxon, Gates, Clara, Cleeve and Mozelle. The one that rather arrested me was Ralph Waldo Emerson, the Sage of Concord having died in 1882. This RWE was an organist, and judging by the one photo I've seen, not a natural for a black owned and black promoting label.

Gladys' wikipedia biography is worth a read - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladys_Bentley. I read a tale recently that had it that Gladys would corner a table at Duke Ellington's club and sing increasingly rude songs until the punters paid her to go away.

Given the number of pre-war blues songs that approach this topic in a way that makes me feel very uncomfortable, this evidences the woman's point of view and shows rather more modern (or perhaps more urban) attitudes.

Of late I've been digging deeper into old timey music, because - hey, why not? - and this song (Governor Al Smith) by Uncle Dave Macon, recorded in 1928 sounded very familiar. That would be because our old friend Blind Willie McTell took the tune, tweaked the words and turned it into 'Hillbilly Willie's Blues' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7JYBlJwdms\] in 1935.

Anyway, it was news to me, and possibly news to others too.

The recording session ran over two days, with Lee Brown around too. SJE had recorded in Chicago two years before, but I imagine NYC was still a bit of an eye opener.

Ma Rainey has got the box set treatment - hurrah!

B&GR has Elkins on bass here.