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# Ultra-Rare 1936 Pre-War Trinidad Calypso 78 RPM
## King Radio – "Man Smart, Woman Smarter" b/w "Frederick Street"
### Decca 17287 (West Indian 17000 Series)
Up for sale is an exceptional, historic original pressing of **Decca 17287** featuring **King Radio** accompanied by **Gerald Clark and His Caribbean Serenaders**. Recorded during the landmark 1930s Decca studio sessions, this pre-war 10-inch shellac release is an essential piece of West Indian recording history.
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### 🎵 Cultural & Historical Significance
Side B features the **original 1936 root recording of "Man Smart, Woman Smarter"**—the foundational calypso standard later popularized worldwide by Harry Belafonte and adopted as a staple live show anthem by **The Grateful Dead**, who performed it live over 200 times between 1981 and 1995. Holding this original 10-inch shellac pressing means owning the primary source recording where the song first entered the global music lexicon.
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### Item Details & Specifics
* **Artist:** King Radio (with Gerald Clark and His Caribbean Serenaders)
* **Title:** *Man Smart, Woman Smarter* b/w *Frederick Street*
* **Label:** Decca (Blue & Gold U.S. Patent Label)
* **Catalog Number:** 17287
* **Matrix Stamping:** Side A: `61013 A` | Side B: `61015 B`
* **Format:** 10" Shellac 78 RPM
* **Release Date:** 1936
* **Genre / Style:** Pre-War Trinidadian Calypso / West Indian Folk / Roots
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### Condition & Visual Grading
* **Shellac Surface:** Outstanding, deep original black gloss with minimal superficial sleeve whisper. Has been carefully hand-cleaned with purified water and dry microfiber.
* **Audio Grooves:** Full, crisp, deep music grooves showing virtually no friction wear or graying.
* **Labels:** Original blue and gold Decca labels are clean, vibrant, and fully legible with no center-hole spindle wear, tears, or writing.
* **Structural Integrity:** No cracks, no edge chips, no hairline fractures, and no needle skips.
* **Overall Visual Grade:** **E- / E** (Excellent Minus to Excellent)
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### Professional 78 RPM Packaging & Shipping
We specialize in handling and shipping fragile vintage 78 RPM shellac records:
* **Double-Boxed Delivery:** The record is sleeve-protected, floating between rigid cardboard stiffener squares, wrapped in thick heavy-duty bubble wrap, and suspended inside a sturdy primary outer box.
* **Insurance & Tracking:** Shipped via USPS Media Mail or Ground Advantage with full postal insurance and tracking included.
