This rare 10-inch shellac single features the enigmatic blues artist Robert Henry, delivering an intense, raw dose of post-war independent blues. Side A features "Something's Wrong With My Lovin' Machine", a driving down-home blues track with standard rhythm accompaniment, utilising classic industrial and mechanical double entendres typical of the era's urban and rural traditions. Side B features "Miss Anna B" (often spelled Anna B. King on alternative master iterations), a swinging, country-blues styled composition highlighting a traditional acoustic delivery and an unfiltered, live room presence. Recorded and released by Cincinnati’s legendary King Records in 1953, this pressing is a classic mirror of mid-century independent black music marketing in the American North and Midwest.
King Records leaned into expanding urban distribution networks, capitalizing on the massive migration of Southern rural music styles into Northern industrial cities. This particular disc represents the raw, unpolished aesthetic of early fifties independent blues—a low-budget, high-energy counterweight to corporate major-label studios, capturing a sound that directly cross-pollinated into early rock 'n' roll. The lyrical metaphor of the "lovin' machine" directly reflects an era increasingly dominated by domestic automation, automotive culture, and rapid industrialisation. Furthermore, this specific copy is sourced directly from the estate archive of Michel Chaigne, a foundational post-war French blues discographer. Chaigne’s exhaustive documentation and preservation efforts helped establish international academic recognition for American roots music, highlighting how mid-century Black American culture resonated globally and became institutionalised through European scholarship.
The Discographical Mystery: The Robert Henry moniker remains an exceptionally obscure figure in post-war discography. With very few biographical details available, his handful of King releases are highly sought after by historical researchers.
No Safety Nets: Typical of independent operations in the early fifties, this entire single was captured live on a single-track machine without multi-track overdubbing. The ambient room presence allows modern listeners to experience the precise sonic atmosphere of the recording room.
Jukebox Survival: Finding original 10-inch shellac pressings of King 4624 in clean condition is an immense hurdle. The vast majority of these 78s were immediately loaded into regional highway roadhouse jukeboxes and played until the heavy tracking arms literally scraped away the fidelity.
Condition Report

Visual Grade (Side A / Side B): E+ to E / E+ to N- (Using standard 78 RPM grading definitions).
Side A (Something's Wrong With My Lovin' Machine): Excellent Plus to Excellent (E+ to E). Preserves an exceptional mirror-like factory sheen. Shows only light surface storage wisps and a couple of non-feeling paper marks. Audio delivery is stunningly crisp, tracking with massive dynamics over near-silent baseline surface levels.
Side B (Miss Anna B): Excellent Plus to Near Mint Minus (E+ to N-). A breathtaking, archival-grade side displaying immaculate deep black gloss. Free from noticeable blemishes or structural mars. Playback is remarkably clean, clear, and bright.
Labels: Highly defined King Records graphics. The text is sharp and unmarred, displaying zero center spindle friction or flaking.
Structural Note: There is a mild physical warp present on the shellac disc. This structural trait was specifically reviewed and considered entirely inconsequential by Chaigne during his archival cataloging, as it has no adverse effect on playback (NAP).
A comprehensive video showing the record rotating and tracking steadily on a turntable has been uploaded directly to the eBay media gallery above for complete verification.

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Postage & Packing Information
78 RPM shellac discs require uncompromising protection to ensure safe transit. This item will be sandwiched securely between layers of thick card, enveloped thoroughly in multiple layers of heavy-duty bubble wrap, and suspended within a sturdy, oversized doubleskin box to eliminate any internal movement or shifting, ensuring all perimeter voids are fully buffered against impact.

Your order will be carefully packed and promptly dispatched.