Vocal (with) piano accomp.
Prewar Female Blues, Jazz
Bessie Smith (vocals); James P. Johnson (piano)
A) 143190-2
B) 143191-1
Recorded New York, NY, February 17, 1927
Images
Number:3412850 THUMBNAIL Uploaded By:xiphophilos Description: Columbia 14185-D A side label [non-hyphenated title, sans-serif font] (Bridgeport pressing, 2-A-1 in runout)
Number:3412851 Uploaded By:xiphophilos Description: Columbia 14185-D B side label [non-hyphenated title, sans-serif font] (Bridgeport pressing, 1-A-1 in runout)
Number:3412572 Uploaded By:Mike Gann Description: Columbia 14195-D A side label (title in serif font, Oakland pressing)
Number:3412573 Uploaded By:Mike Gann Edited By:xiphophilos Description: Columbia 14195-D B side label (title in serif font, Oakland pressing)
The fact that images 3412572 / 3412573 are Oakland pressings fits with the fact that they were sold in California, as the record store sticker shows. Spikes Bros. & Elsworth Music House at 1203 S Central Ave in Los Angeles, California was founded in 1919 as the first store on the West Coast that sold music by Black performers. More info at https://la.curbed.com/maps/central-avenue-history-jazz and in an article that quotes an interview with Benjamin "Reb" Spikes, http://basinstreet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/wcstjazz.pdf (page 9f.).
I've rearranged the labels chronologically per M. Sherman & K. Nauck, "Note the Notes," page 32.
Images 3412850 / 3412851 (and the hidden 3412574) (Bridgeport) and 3412572 / 3412573 (Oakland) are first pressings. They show Viva-tonal style labels marked as "Viva-tonal Recording" with three lines of registration text in English and Spanish under the Columbia logo and with two patent dates (Jan. 21, '13 and May 22, '23) (used from Feb. 1927 to 1928).
Images 3412568 and 3412569 are 1928-1929 Bridgeport represses on Viva-tonal style labels marked as "Viva-tonal Recording" with one patent date (Jan. 21, '13) and patent nr. RE. 16588.
From 1927 Bridgeport typesetters began using their sans serif 10-point Gothic Condensed No. 1 for song titles - very possibly to distinguish from Oakland pressings that between Fall 1926-1935 used a larger serif font, 12 point Century Expanded, see W.B.lbl (=[u=W.B.])’s comments at https://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/15304d&rc=322333#322333