VICTOR 78 RPM Record 17612 Golden and Hughes “I’se Gwine Back to Arkansas”/”The

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VICTOR 78 RPM Record 17612 Golden and Hughes “I’se Gwine Back to Arkansas”/”The Servant Girls” E + Visible Condition, beautiful record. Both sides are the non-politically correct and are labeled “Darky Speciality” which is basically a vaudevillian act recorded to increase the audience size. Play is excellent but less volume due to it being an acoustical. I’se Gwine Back to Arkansas starts out with a gentleman yelling down to another man who is fishing. He asks the man who is fishing if he had caught many fish-to which he replied “man I caught over 155 black bass!”. The first gentleman says that is a $50 fine and asks the fishing man “do you know who I am?” The gentleman fishing says no I don’t know who you are-“I’m the game warden!”, To which the gentleman who is fishing prompt replies you know who I am?-“No”-“why I’se the biggest liar in this whole county!”

Both sides are recorded Vaudevillian acts using the stereotypical “humor” of the early 1900s.

William B. Shires (June 9, 1858 – January 29, 1926), who performed and recorded as Billy Golden, was an American blackface comic and singer who was a popular recording artist between the 1890s and the 1910s. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in St Louis, Missouri. He began performing as a blackface act in vaudeville in 1874 before working as a duo with, first, John Merritt, and then Billy Draiton. He originated a dance move known as the "cane pat" which became popular with blackface minstrels, and, as part of Bailess and Kennedy's "Brightlights" vaudeville act, became particularly associated with the song "Turkey in the Straw". In 1885, he started performing in a duo with his wife, May Golden.

In 1891, he recorded "Turkey in the Straw" for Columbia Records; it became one of the best-selling recordings of the year. He later re-recorded the piece for the Victor Company. Other successful recordings by Golden included "Uncle Jefferson" (1891), "Bye Bye, My Honey" (1898), and "Roll On The Ground" (1901). Most of his early recordings were as a solo performer. In 1907 he formed a new duo act with Joe Hughes, and they recorded together for several labels. Golden and Hughes were among the first two-man teams to record blackface minstrel humor in black dialect.

After Hughes retired from performing, Golden began working with Jim Marlowe and then, after Marlowe's death in 1917, with Billy Heins. In 1919, Golden reunited with Hughes for several more recordings. After 1920, Golden continued to perform and record as a solo act. He died in New York City in 1926

The scratches on the left of every photo are my broken glass on scanner – not on item. Images of artists etc. are for information only and not included in auction, record & sleeve only.

If possible we gladly combine shipping items to lessen postage. PLEASE don’t use eBay auto pay. I will invoice you for general shipping costs which will be easier and cheaper for you: insurance added for all items $10+ or at your request. We will pack securely – but are not responsible for shipping company damage if uninsured.

1 record - $4.70 – Add $1 for each additional record (+ insurance if required). (USA ONLY) (Int’l use eBay calculator and I will adjust to get cheapest rate)

More of all the types of records listed: Odd tunes, Political, Blues, Hot Jazz, Hillbilly, Odd labels, Doo-Wop, etc. More of all the types of records listed: Odd tunes, Political, Blues, Hot Jazz, Hillbilly, Odd labels, Doo-Wop, etc.

E++, Visibly nearly new with no visible signs of wear or damage.

E+, Looks and plays like new with only few signs of handling and play.

E Still very shiny, near new looking, with slight visible signs of wear and a few nearly inaudible scuffs and scratches

E- Still shiny but without the luster of a new record, few scuffs that have little or no effect on play, some light scratches.

E- - Mostly shiny but with even less of the luster of an E- record, more scuffs than E- that have little or no effect on play, light scratches with some light noise.

VG+, Slightly above average condition 78 in which scuffs and general use has dulled the finish somewhat. Wear is moderate but playing is generally free from distortion. Surface noise not overly pronounced.

VG, An average condition 78 - moderate wear throughout, but still very playable and enjoyable. Surface somewhat dull with noise and scratches audible but not intrusive.

VG-, Quite playable still, but with some distortion and may have some graying in loud passages. Music remains loud in most passages. Surface noise and scratches well below music level.

VG- - Quite playable still, but with distortion and most have some graying in loud passages. Music remains loud in most passages. Surface noise and scratches noticeable and may be loud at times.

G+ Quite worn and scratched, but music level is still higher than surface noise. Grey may be throughout but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled.

G Not so good. Wear and scratch damage extensive. Listening can become uncomfortable as music and surface noise probably blending. Lowest level music can be understood.

G-, Music barely audible over surface noise & listening is uncomfortable. Record is borderline unplayable.

P Used only for high dollar space fillers like Black Patti, Okeh blues, etc. Music covered by surface noise, scratches, and needle digs, label may be trashed, & listening is almost if not definitely impossible. Record is basically unplayable. What you keep because you can’t bear to toss – while you look for that E+ copy of Robert Johnson on Vocalion at the local flea markets for $(Good Luck!)

See Description, A wildcard grade that can be used when standard grading does not apply or when a record (or item) has special attributes (or defects) that can affect how the item is assigned a grade.