Recorded in Chicago on 22 May 1936, this 10-inch shellac represents an absolute masterclass in pre-war acoustic blues collaboration. Alice Moore’s deep, melancholic St. Louis vocals are backed by a powerhouse studio duo. On piano is her long-time musical anchor, the legendary Peetie Wheatstraw (the "Devil's Son-in-Law"). Joining them on acoustic guitar is the slide-guitar titan Kokomo Arnold ("Gitfiddle Jim"). Arnold’s intricate, rapid-fire fingerpicking style perfectly matches Wheatstraw’s heavy, percussive piano stride, creating a moody and layered background for Moore.
Side A: Dark Angel (Matrix 90746)
Side B: Money Tree Man (Matrix 90747)
Format: 10" Shellac Single (78 RPM)
Label & Catalog Number: Decca 7227
Recorded: 22 May 1936 (Chicago)

By mid-1936, the Great Migration had firmly established complex urban blues subcultures in cities like Chicago and St. Louis.
The B-side, "Money Tree Man," explores a highly popular, traditional folk metaphor regarding economic desperation during the Great Depression. The lyrics address the search for an elusive, wealthy partner to escape industrial poverty ("I'm looking for a man that's got a money tree... to shake those greenbacks down on me"). It stands as a witty socio-economic commentary delivered with the distinct, defiant edge of a working-class Black female identity navigating mid-1930s urban America.
Decca Records dominated the pre-war blues market with its successful 7000 "Race Records" pricing tier. Selling discs at an accessible 35 cents kept independent Black artists in the studio during brutal economic times, but the cheap shellac mixture used was notoriously soft and brittle. Because these early 7000-block records were bought for immediate social use and thrashed on heavy tracking domestic gramophones, finding a 1936 copy that has retained its deep black gloss is an exceptional feat.
The Dynamic Trio: This specific session represents one of the few instances where Peetie Wheatstraw and Kokomo Arnold—two defining forces of 1930s blues—combined their distinct individual styles behind a single vocalist.
The Trademark Phrase: Pianist Peetie Wheatstraw famously used this session to display his signature interlocking rhythmic patterns, helping define the pre-war St. Louis blues sound blueprint.
The 35-Cent Salvation: Decca's budget pricing scheme revolutionized the recording industry during the Depression, allowing working-class people to access music while saving independent roots artists from absolute financial insolvency.
Detailed Condition Report
Grade (VJM System): Excellent/Excellent Minus (EE-).
Play Surface: Exceptional, top-tier archive preservation. The mid-1930s Decca shellac retains a beautiful, deep factory gloss and clean luster. Under bright inspection lighting, only a few light superficial paper-sleeve wisps or fine scuffs are visible on either side. Completely free of deep scratches, gray acoustic groove-wear, needle digs, or edge chips.
Audio Performance: Both sides play beautifully loud, crisp, and robust. Peetie Wheatstraw’s signature piano trills and Kokomo Arnold's stinging acoustic slide guitar licks track with phenomenal clarity and presence. Surface noise is remarkably light, steady, and entirely non-intrusive—an exceptionally clean play.
Center Labels: Early 1930s blue-and-gold Decca 7000 series labels. Typography and graphics remain legible. Spindle hole is tight and crisp with minimal trailing wear. Note a faint, vintage hand-written "72" on the Side A label as visible in the photos.

This copy hails directly from the celebrated Michel Chaigne Collection, heavily revered within international blues discographical circles for its rigorous quality standards and historical depth. Discs sourced from this archive are highly regarded by specialists for their exceptional preservation and careful curation, making this pristine archive specimen an important centerpiece for any serious prewar blues discography.

Postage & Packing Information
We specialize in shipping highly fragile prewar shellac. Because commercial UK couriers explicitly exclude 78 RPM records from damage compensation, we assume full responsibility for structural safety via specialized, over-engineered defensive packaging designed to completely isolate the disc from external pressures, handling drops, and transit shocks:
Double-Skin Box: Enclosed within an ultra-rigid, double-walled outer corrugated shipping box.
Thick Card Packaging: Strictly sandwiched and locked securely between multiple oversized layers of thick, heavy cardboard stiffeners to guarantee absolutely zero flexing.
Bubble Wrap: Generously wrapped in layers of shock-absorbing bubble wrap to insulate it from vibration.
Void Fill: The entire internal assembly is locked in place using dense void-fill material to ensure absolutely zero movement within the box during shipping.

Your order will be carefully packed and promptly dispatched.