Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Here is an extremely rare shellac master "test pressing" of the unissued (on 78) take 2 of "Cross Road Blues" (a.k.a. "Crossroad Blues") by delta blues singer and guitarist Robert Johnson, recorded in 1936. The issued take is take 1.
This test was pressed in the 1940s from the original ARC (American Record Corporation) metal parts by George Avakian, a young producer at Columbia Records (Columbia had bought ARC in 1938). Avakian was an avid jazz and blues fan who had discovered numerous unreleased master recordings held by Columbia, including those by Robert Johnson, in the company's Bridgeport factory in 1940.
ROBERT JOHNSON
Vocals accompanied by own guitar
Recorded at the Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, on November 27, 1936.
SA 2629-2…….Cross Road Blues…….shellac test pressing
Avakian planned to release the masters as part of his comprehensive "Hot Jazz Classics" series of 78 rpm albums, but he prioritized other reissues. The masters were eventually released in 1961, when they were dubbed to microgroove for the Columbia LP "Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers", with a follow-up volume two issued in 1970. As far as I know, all the unissued takes were reissued on these LPs.
Many thanks to Richard at Adrem78 for lending me his original test pressing of this rare delta blues recording, and allowing me to transfer, restore and upload it here. Check out Adrem78's regular 78s blues and jazz auctions on eBay.
Here is an extremely rare shellac master "test pressing" of the unissued (on 78) take 2 of "Cross Road Blues" (a.k.a. "Crossroad Blues") by delta blues singer and guitarist Robert Johnson, recorded in 1936. The issued take is take 1.
This test was pressed in the 1940s from the original ARC (American Record Corporation) metal parts by George Avakian, a young producer at Columbia Records (Columbia had bought ARC in 1938). Avakian was an avid jazz and blues fan who had discovered numerous unreleased master recordings held by Columbia, including those by Robert Johnson, in the company's Bridgeport factory in 1940.
ROBERT JOHNSON
Vocals accompanied by own guitar
Recorded at the Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, on November 27, 1936.
SA 2629-2…….Cross Road Blues…….shellac test pressing
Avakian planned to release the masters as part of his comprehensive "Hot Jazz Classics" series of 78 rpm albums, but he prioritized other reissues. The masters were eventually released in 1961, when they were dubbed to microgroove for the Columbia LP "Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers", with a follow-up volume two issued in 1970. As far as I know, all the unissued takes were reissued on these LPs.
Many thanks to Richard at Adrem78 for lending me his original test pressing of this rare delta blues recording, and allowing me to transfer, restore and upload it here. Check out Adrem78's regular 78s blues and jazz auctions on eBay.
