OMMA Catalogue Number

OMMA-0076

Artist

Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Title

“Dixieland Jass Band One-Step / Livery Stable Blues”

Release Details

10-inch shellac disc issued by the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1917 (catalogue number 18255). Commercial retail release pressed in the United States and sold at a list price of 75¢, as indicated on both labels. Recorded in New York City on February 26, 1917, with “Dixieland Jass Band One-Step” (matrix B-19332, take 3) on the A-side and “Livery Stable Blues” (matrix B-19331, take 1) on the B-side.

Edition & Variant Identification

Original first commercial pressing on the Victor “Batwing” label, identifiable by the presence of the price notice (“75c. in U.S.A.”) and the absence of the word Victor printed on the side of Nipper’s gramophone, an established label configuration used from mid-1916 through Fall 1917. This early state retains the full “Dixieland” spelling on the A-side title, later shortened to “Dixie” on subsequent pressings. The B-side label reads “Composed and played by Original Dixieland ‘Jass’ Band,” a credit line omitted from later releases.

Matrix & Pressing Data

Side A (stamped runout): T 18255A

Side B (stamped runout): S 18255B

Physical Description

10-inch black shellac disc. Issued without a picture sleeve, consistent with standard Victor retail practices of the period; originally housed in a generic paper sleeve. No inserts accompany the record.

Factory-Origin Characteristics

No factory-origin anomalies are observed. Label layout, typography, and pricing information are consistent with Victor’s standard manufacturing and retail specifications for early 1917 commercial issues.

Condition Report

The shellac surface exhibits moderate to heavy, even wear across both sides, consistent with repeated acoustic-era playback using steel needles. Groove walls show uniform dulling, and numerous fine radial scuffs and light scratches are present; these appear superficial rather than gouged. No cracks, edge chips, lamination failure, or structural defects are observed.

Labels are complete and intact, with gold print remaining legible despite softening from handling. Central spindle wear is present but not excessive for a record of this age. No writing, stickers, or paper loss are visible.

Overall condition is assessed as VG (Very Good), reflecting historical wear typical of early jazz records while remaining fully playable and structurally sound.

Provenance

Sold by collector Jeffrey Harvey in a private transaction on 11 December 2025.

Photomatching & Verification

Photographic documentation of the present copy is maintained in the OMMA visual archive, confirming label configuration, price markings, batwing design details, and stamped runout codes consistent with authenticated first-press Victor copies of catalogue number 18255.

Market Context & Historical Notes

“Dixieland Jass Band One-Step / Livery Stable Blues” is widely regarded as the first jazz record to be commercially issued, marking a pivotal moment in the international dissemination of jazz during World War I. Its release introduced a new musical idiom to mass audiences through the established distribution networks of the Victor Talking Machine Company, transforming a regional performance style into a global commercial phenomenon.

The first-press configuration documented here preserves several elements removed or altered in later pressings, including the full “Dixieland” spelling and the explicit “Composed and played by” credit on the B-side. As such, this pressing occupies a foundational position in recorded music history, serving as a primary artifact for the study of jazz’s transition from live performance to recorded form.

Canonical Status in OMMA

This release is recognized by the Origins of Modern Music Archive as the canonical debut recording associated with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

Bibliography / References

Discogs. “Original Dixieland Jazz Band – Dixieland Jass Band One-Step / Livery Stable Blues” (Victor 18255). https://www.discogs.com/master/585387-Original-Dixieland-Jass-Band-Dixieland-Jass-Band-One-Step-Livery-Stable-Blues

Bruyninckx, Walter. 60 Years of Recorded Jazz, 1917–1977. Vol. 1. Storyville Publications.

Rust, Brian. Jazz Records 1897–1942. 6th ed. Storyville Publications.