Andrew "Smokey" Hogg remains one of the most singular, rhythmically idiosyncratic figures of the post-war Texas country blues tradition. Born near West-Kaufman, Texas, his style was deeply rooted in the down-home acoustic traditions of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Big Bill Broonzy. However, his post-WWII output seamlessly bridged rural folklore with the urban jukebox market.
Recorded and released in 1951, "Oohw Baby" paired with "Bottle Up An' Go" captures Hogg at a distinct crossroads. While major labels dominated national distribution, this release was handled by Combo Records—the pioneering, independent, Black-owned West Coast label founded by jazz trumpeter Jake Porter in Los Angeles.
This session presents Hogg's signature wandering time signatures and conversational vocal delivery, backed by a sparse, raw arrangement that resisted the slicker, heavily electrified Chicago blues trends of the early 1950s.
The early 1950s marked the peak of the Second Great Migration, during which hundreds of thousands of African Americans left the rural South for industrial hubs in California and the North.
Independent labels like Combo Records emerged directly from this demographic shift, catering to a displaced audience that craved the familiar, unpolished sounds of the Mississippi Delta and rural Texas.
Releasing country blues on a 10-inch shellac 78 RPM format in 1951 was a calculated economic move targeted directly at neighborhood jukebox operators and Southern migrants. Records like Combo 4 provided a vital cultural anchor, serving as an emotional link back home during a period of rapid urbanization, shifting labor markets, and deep social transition.

The A-side "Oohw Baby" features a notoriously eccentric spelling on the Combo label typography, distinct from the standard "Ooh! Baby" variants found on Hogg's later Modern or Imperial recordings.

"Bottle Up An' Go" is a timeless blues standard, famously cut by Blind Boy Fuller in 1937 and Tommy McClennan in 1939. Hogg’s 1951 Combo performance strips the song down to its rawest essentials, highlighting his famously unpredictable rhythmic timing that routinely caught studio session musicians off guard.

Condition Report
Visual Grade: E- (Excellent Minus) under strong, direct light.Shellac Condition: The disc retains the vast majority of its original factory gloss. It shows minor signs of handling, including a few faint sleeve whisps and light surface marks. There is absolutely no heavy gray groove-wear, deep structural scratches, or heavy pitting. It plays wonderfully with just a touch of light, standard shellac surface hiss that never overpowers the music.
Labels: The deep red Combo labels are clean and vibrant, with light spindle wear around the center hole. The typography remains fully legible.

Shipping & Packaging Policy
Shipping fragile 78 RPM records safely requires specialized materials and strict attention to detail.
This disc will be packed securely using a professional multi-layered system:
The record is placed in a protective sleeve and sandwiched between thick, rigid cardboard squares.The entire assembly is wrapped securely in multiple layers of heavy-duty bubble wrap.This bundle is suspended inside a sturdy, double-skin corrugated cardboard box with ample void fill to absorb impact and eliminate internal movement.
Rest assured, this item will be carefully packed and promptly dispatched.