Do Not Sell At Any Price : The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World's Rarest 78rpm Records

The untold story of a quirky and important subculture: The world of 78rpm records and the insular community that celebrates them—by acclaimed music critic and author Amanda Petrusich, who contributes regularly to __Pitchfork__, __The Oxford American__, and __The New York Times__.Before MP3s, CDs, and cassette tapes, even before LPs or 45s, the world listened to music on 78rpm records—those fragile, 10-inch shellac discs. While vinyl records have enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, good 78s are exponentially harder to come by and play. A recent eBay auction for the only known copy of a particular record topped out at $37,100. __Do Not Sell at Any Price__ explores the rarified world of the 78rpm record—from the format’s heyday to its near extinction—and how collectors and archivists are working frantically to preserve the music before it’s lost forever. Through fascinating historical research and beguiling visits with the most prominent 78 preservers, Amanda Petrusich offers both a singular glimpse of the world of 78 collecting and the lost backwoods blues artists whose 78s from the 1920s and 1930s have yet to be found or heard by modern ears. We follow the author’s descent into the oddball fraternity of collectors—including adventures with Joe Bussard, Chris King, John Tefteller, Pete Whelan, and more—who create and follow their own rules, vocabulary, and economics and explore the elemental genres of blues, folk, jazz, and gospel that gave seed to the rock, pop, country, and hip-hop we hear today. From Thomas Edison to Jack White, __Do Not Sell at Any Price__ is an untold, intriguing story of preservation, loss, obsession, art, and the evolution of the recording formats that have changed the ways we listen to (and create) music. "A thoughtful, entertaining history of obsessed music collectors and their quest for rare early 78 rpm records" ( Los Angeles Times ), Do Not Sell at Any Price is a fascinating, complex story of preservation, loss, obsession, and art. Before MP3s, CDs, and cassette tapes, even before LPs or 45s, the world listened to music on fragile, 10-inch shellac discs that spun at 78 revolutions per minute. While vinyl has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, rare and noteworthy 78rpm records are exponentially harder to come by. The most sought-after sides now command tens of thousands of dollars, when they're found at all. Do Not Sell at Any Price is the untold story of a fixated coterie of record collectors working to ensure those songs aren't lost forever. Music critic and author Amanda Petrusich considers the particular world of the 78—from its heyday to its near extinction—and examines how a cabal of competitive, quirky individuals have been frantically lining their shelves with some of the rarest records in the world. Besides the mania of collecting, Petrusich also explores the history of the lost backwoods blues artists from the 1920s and 30s whose work has barely survived and introduces the oddball fraternity of men—including Joe Bussard, Chris King, John Tefteller, and others—who are helping to save and digitize the blues, country, jazz, and gospel records that ultimately gave seed to the rock, pop, and hip-hop we hear today. From Thomas Edison to Jack White, Do Not Sell at Any Price is an untold, intriguing story of the evolution of the recording formats that have changed the ways we listen to (and create) music. "Whether you're already a 78 aficionado, a casual record collector, a crate-digger, or just someone...who enjoys listening to music, you're going to love this book" ( Slate ). The untold story of a quirky and important subculture: The world of 78rpm records and the insular community that celebrates them—by acclaimed music critic and author Amanda Petrusich, who contributes regularly to Pitchfork , The Oxford American , and The New York Times . Before MP3s, CDs, and cassette tapes, even before LPs or 45s, the world listened to music on 78rpm records—those fragile, 10-inch shellac discs. While vinyl records have enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, good 78s are exponentially harder to come by and play. A recent eBay auction for the only known copy of a particular record topped out at $37,100. Do Not Sell at Any Price explores the rarified world of the 78rpm record—from the format’s heyday to its near extinction—and how collectors and archivists are working frantically to preserve the music before it’s lost forever. Through fascinating historical research and beguiling visits with the most prominent 78 preservers, Amanda Petrusich offers both a singular glimpse of the world of 78 collecting and the lost backwoods blues artists whose 78s from the 1920s and 1930s have yet to be found or heard by modern ears. We follow the author’s descent into the oddball fraternity of collectors—including adventures with Joe Bussard, Chris King, John Tefteller, Pete Whelan, and more—who create and follow their own rules, vocabulary, and economics and explore the elemental genres of blues, folk, jazz, and gospel that gave seed to the rock, pop, country, and hip-hop we hear today. From Thomas Edison to Jack White, Do Not Sell at Any Price is an untold, intriguing story of preservation, loss, obsession, art, and the evolution of the recording formats that have changed the ways we listen to (and create) music. An Air Of Impoverishment And Depleted Humanity -- That's Mine Now, I Got That Before You Could Get It -- An Obnoxious, Bitter, Hateful Old Creep -- This Is One Of The Things I Would Say Is Inexplicable -- A Form Of Protection Against The Loss Of Self -- Suck All The Blossoms And He Leave You An Empty Square -- We Are Not Drowning -- I Like To Get Into The Field And Hunt Them Down In The Wild, So To Speak -- All I'm Saying Is There's No Way You Can Game This Kind Of System -- Now There's A Man On His Way Down -- I Saw America Changed Through Music -- There Will Be No Service -- But There's Another Part Of Me That Finds It Kind Of Disgusting -- Luring Me Out Here For Nothing But A Damn Bunch Of Lp Records! -- An Obsessive Need For Tings To Stay The Same And An Immersion In Arcane Knowledge -- Who Wants To Hear A Story About A Boy Learning Guitar From A Book. Amanda Petrusich. "Through engaging historical research and visits with the most prominent 78 collectors, Petrusich offers an extraordinary glimpse into the world of 78 collecting and of the astonishing single-mindedness required to amass a significant collection. 'Do not sell at any price' also explores the history of the lost backwoods blues artists from the 1920s and 30s whose work has barely survived (with most prewar vernacular recordings, no masters were kept, meaning the records themselves are the only evidence of these sessions) and introduces the oddball fraternity of men -- including Joe Bussard, Chris King, John Tefteller, and others -- who are helping to save and digitize the blues, country, jazz, and gospel records that ultimately gave seed to the rock, pop, and hip-hop we hear today." -- from the dustjacket A celebration of 78 rpm record subculture reveals the growing value of rare records and the determined efforts of their collectors and archivists, exploring the music of blues artists who have been lost to the modern world