Shave 'Em Dry

Common card · No. 443035

"Shave 'Em Dry" is a dirty blues song, first recorded by Ma Rainey in August 1924 in Chicago. It was released on Paramount Records in 1924. Rainey was accompanied on the recording by two unknown guitarists (one of them was possibly Miles Pruitt). The record was advertised in The Chicago Defender on the same date as the record's release. As a turn of phrase, "Shave 'Em Dry" can be interpreted as referring to mean any aggressive action, alternatively (as here) as meaning sexual intercourse without any preliminary 'love-making'. Big Bill Broonzy stated "Shave 'em dry is what you call makin' it with a woman; you ain't doin' nothin', just makin' it." However, Ma Rainey in her version made no specific reference to its meaning or content. Rudi Blesh commented upon its importance as an archaic eight-bar blues which was "complete, harmonically and poetically". Rainey, previously a minstrel and tent-show singer, quite possibly knew of the broad outline of the number and "Shave' Em Dry" was probably...

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