Together Again My Nights Were So Lonely 1920s Song

July 15th 2012

The offset commercially licensed radio broadcast in America went out in 1920. By 1922 there were 600 radio stations in the The states. Between 1923 and 1930, threescore% of American families purchased radios. Meanwhile as music publishers turned their attention from selling sail music to making records, phonograph production rose from just 190,000 in 1923 to 5 1000000 in 1929. In the first half of the decade sales were poor every bit the quality compared unfavourably to radio, but after 1925 recording techniques improved and sales picked upwards. The most popular songs were now selling in their hundreds of thousands.

Alter was in the air. Many Americans now owned cars, radios, and telephones for the first time. In 1920 the 19th Amendment had given women the right to vote, but women's liberation did not cease there. The 20s was the historic period of the flapper, of women who wore their skirts and their pilus short, who sought excitement, and whose behaviour was as unconventional equally their fashion.

The hunger for change was reflected in music, and nowhere more then than in jazz. The outset jazz record was released in 1917 and the 20s was to see some of the greatest jazz music e'er made as virtuoso performers like Louis Armstrong, Jabbo Smith and Johnny Dodds were playing with wonderful abandon. Across u.s.a. and over in Europe of trip the light fantastic toe bands were playing to packed houses, playing all the latest hits, copying their heroes, and picking up on new trends. New dance crazes like the Charleston and the Shimmy sprang upwards overnight, and the music and the dancing was fast and furious – it was young peoples music.

Blues music was as well new and popular, and interestingly many of the early on blues singers were women. White folk musicians were doing fine things with the banjo and the fiddle. Jimmie Rodgers walked into a recording studio i day and country music was born. Argentinian tango music was booming in America and Europe; while Jewish immigrants from places like Poland and Russian federation were introducing western countries to the delights of klezmer.

The songs on this list are chosen from the period 1921 – 1930. The aim was to have one vocal per artist – but this was not straightforward, as many artists recorded under a variety of band names and aliases, and information technology was common for musicians to practise sessions performing with other bands. The dominion of thumb was i song for each band leader or headline creative person, only I've had to be flexible. Links to Amazon are provided where available. Please leave your comments at the foot of the page.

100. Mother McCollum – Jesus Is My Air O Plane 1930

These gospel singers are crazy !

99. Dr Humphrey Bate and His Possum Hunters – Billy in the Depression Ground

Allmusic.com : "This old-time string ring was led by one of the peachy land harmonica players, who likewise happened to exist a dr. and a graduate of Nashville's Vanderbilt Academy. His group was known equally the Augmented Orchestra when it arrived for what would exist the celebrated get-go ever circulate for the Yard Ole Opry, but disc jockey, promoter, and host George Hay insisted the group change its name to the Possum Hunters in one of his typical attempts to establish hick personalities for his performers. The expert Dr. Bate was told to dress in overalls when he played his harmonica, and his ukulele-strumming daughter Alcyone Bate Beasley was forced into the kind of rustic gingham dress that no self-respecting Nashville city slicker would take been caught dead in. Dead, no, only live on the Opry, aye."

98. Frank Jenkin's Airplane pilot Mountaineers – Railway Flagman's Sweetheart 1929

Folk/land band from Virginia which included the prolific Ernest Stoneman.

97. Dock Boggs – New prisoner's song 1929Dock Boggs

Appalachian banjo player who briefly quit his chore every bit a coal miner to become a professional musician – until the Depression came along.

96. Dinny (Jimmy) Doyle & Larry Griffin – Allow Mr McGuire Sit DownwardlyV/A Ballinasloe Off-white – Early Recordings Of Irish Music In America 1920-1930

Traditional Irish song, later recorded by the Clancy Brothers under the title Mick Maguire.

95. Carolina Tar Heels – In that location Own't No Employ in me working so difficult V/A Serenade The Mountains: Early One-time Time Music On Tape, CD B

This was an early on Tar Heels recording, earlier Clarence Ashley joined the band. Dock Walsh plays banjo and Gwen Foster harmonica.

94. Breaux Frères – Tiger Rag Blues

The grouping who did the commencement recording of the cajun standard Jolie Blonde (not on Spotify unfortunately)

93. Bobbie Cadillac – He throws that matterTexas Girls 1926-1929

Obscure pianoforte dejection from Texas.

92. Frank Crumit – Abdul Abulbul Amir  1927The Gay Caballero

Yous can't but dearest lyrics like this – "Then this bold Mameluke drew his trusty skibouk, With a weep of "Allah-Akbar!" And with murderous intent, he ferociously went for Ivan Skavinsky Skavar." Originally a verse form by Percy French.

91. Paul Specht and his Orchestra – Sugariness Music 1929 5/A Love Songs Of The 1920s

Pop dance orchestra who are little remembered now, merely in 1929 they got to play for Herbert Hoover's inaugural ball, and information technology'south claimed they were the first orchestra to play in a motion picture with sound.

90. Isa Kremer – Oy, Avrom 1928

An émigré from revolutionary Russia, Kremer recorded this in New York. The championship translates equally Oh Abraham. The older woman is still deeply in honey with her married man, whom she reminds of their youthful romance, ending each stanza with a kiss.

89. Lonnie Johnson & Clarence Williams – Wipe It Off 1930 Lonnie Johnson Vol. 5 1929 – 1930

Bawdy duet past Johnson and Williams, with James P Johnson on the piano. Lonnie Johnson was a hugely influential dejection guitarist, just he also tried his manus at other genres in the course of a long career.

88. Elsie Carlisle – I love My Baby 1926Five/A Charleston – Great Stars Of The 1920s

Manchester lass Elsie Carlisle was one of the near pop radio stars in England in the 1930s, and was appropriately known as "Radio Sweetheart Number Ane."

87. Ace Brigode & his fourteen Virginians – Yes, Sir, That's My Baby 1925V/A The Roots of Steampunk 1903-1929

Music by Walter Donaldson and lyrics by Gus Kahn. Over the years this song'south been covered in many different genres.

86. Louis Dumaine'southward Jazzola Eight – Franklin Street Blues 1927V/A New Orleans : Where Jazz Is Born

Authentic New Orleans jazz.

85. Tanz-Orchester Geza Komor – Bimbambulla

Géza Komor was a Hungarian Jew who performed in Berlin until Hitler'southward ascent to power forced him to return to Hungary.

84. Sam Lanin & His Orchestra – Am I Wasting My Time On You lot

Sam Lamin was a band leader who recorded with many different musicians and under numerous band names and aliases. For a while his ring was chosen Ipana Troubadours equally a result of a sponsorship deal with Bristol-Myers which fabricated Ipana toothpaste.

83. The Charleston Chasers – Hither Comes Emily Brown 1930 The Charleston Chasers 1929-1930

According to redhotjazz.com, "The Charleston Chasers recording sessions were oft a pseudonym for Red Nichols Five Pennies, just the name was used by Columbia for various other outfits". On this session the vocalist is Eddie Walters, Phil Napoleon is on trumpet, Tommy Dorsey on trombone, Benny Goodman on clarinet, Babe Russin sax, Ward Lay bass, Arthur Schutt piano and Stan King drums.

82. Robert Wilkins – That's No Manner To Get Forth 1929V/A Century Of The Dejection – The Definitive Country Blues Collection

In 1935 Wilkins's wife became seriously ill, so Wilkins did what any good married man would do and offered his life to God in commutation for that of his wife. Sure enough, his wife survived and Wilkins kept his pledge and became an ordained minister. Later on he wrote new religious lyrics to some of his songs, and then this one became Dissipated Son. In 1968 the Rolling Stones covered Prodigal Son on their Beggars Feast album, and the Rev Wilkins earned a prodigious corporeality of money.

81. Bennie Moten's Kansas Urban center Orchestra – Somebody Stole My GalBennie Moten'southward Kansas City Orchestra: 1930-1932

Moten was a jazz pianist from Kansas City. Count Basie played in his ring for a few years before forming his own ring : this rail is notable for scat vocals by Count Basie.

80. Bessie Dark-brown – Song from a Cotton Field 19295/A Tight Women and Loose Bands 1921-1931

Jazz / blues vocaliser from Cleveland Ohio, accompanied here by the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra with Coleman Hawkins on sax.

79. The Brox Sisters – Kentucky's Mode Of Maxim Good Morning 1925

Before the Andrews Sisters, even before the Boswell Sisters, there were the Brox Sisters. It'south very difficult at present to get concur of any recordings past them, allow's promise someone is looking into this, considering their harmonies were the tops.

78. Sam Morgan's Jazz Band – Over In The Gloryland 1927 V/A New Orleans Jazz Of The 1920s

Along the Mississippi and nearby rivers, steamboats offered dance excursions, which provided employment for many New Orleans jazz musicians. Sam Morgan's Jazz Band, and Oscar Celestin'due south Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra were amongst the riverboat bands.

77. Jack Jackson – Flat Tire Dejection 1929

One of the very first artists to tape in Nashville, in 1928, were the Binkley Brothers Dixie Clodhoppers (Amos & Gale Binkley and Jack Jackson). Here Jackson tries some solo yodelling.

76. Art Shryer's Yiddish Orchestra – Czortkow'er Chusid Five/A Classic Yiddish Klezmer Vol. 3 1925-1928

Early on American klezmer band.

75. Clara Smith – Strugglin' Adult female'southward Dejection 1927The Essential Clara Smith: 1924-1929

Popular and successful blues singer. On this rail she justifies her tag every bit Queen of the Moaners.

74. Uncle Dave Macon – Wreck of the Tennessee Gravy Train 1930The Definitive: Uncle Dave Macon

I found surprisingly few 1920s protest songs. This response to the Wall Street Crash is perchance more than social commentary than proper protest vocal : "Now I could've been a banker without the least excuse, But look at the treasury of Tennessee and tell me what'southward the utilise. Nosotros lately bonded Tennessee for just five one thousand thousand bucks, The bonds were issued, the money tied upwards, and now nosotros're in tough luck."

73. Émile Vacher – Reine de Musette  1927 V/A Les Inoubliables De 50'accordéon Vol. 2

Accordion waltz from France.

72. The Skillet Lickers – Dance All Night With A Bottle in Your Mitt The Skillet-Lickers Vol. 1 1926-1927

One of the most of import and commercially successful string bands of the era, The Skillet Lickers from Georgia were a collection of top musicians centred around Gid Tanner, Clayton McMichen and Riley Puckett. One thing that marked them out from other string bands was the inclusion of three dabble players.

71. Hattie Hudson – Dog Gone My Adept Luck Soul 1927Texas Girls 1926-1929

Piano dejection from Dallas Texas.

lxx. Clarence (Tom) Ashley – Coo Coo Bird 1929 Five/A Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways

A clawhammer banjo thespian, Ashley rearranged this traditional vocal for the banjo. Information technology was his about popular song, but the 1929 Columbia recording doesn't really do it justice. After the vocal was rereleased on a Folkways compilation in the 1950s, folk collectors came looking for Ashley and asked him to record again. He agreed, but Coo Coo Bird wasn't on his first album, as he was determined to become it perfect this fourth dimension. Somewhen in 1961 he recorded a version with Doc Watson backing him on guitar which captured the beauty of the song.

69. The Original Memphis 5 – Hootin' de Hoot 1923The Original Memphis Five Collection Vol. 1  1922-1923

Early jazz ring led by Phil Napoleon and featuring Miff Mole on trombone. They were from New York, not from Memphis at all

68. Sippie Wallace – I'm A Mighty Tight Adult female 1929Five/A Dingy Blues Licks

"I'g a real tight woman, I'm a jack of all trades. I can be yo' sweetness woman an' besides be yo' slave". Accompanied here by the clarinetist Johnny Dodds.

67. Edith Wilson – My man is good for zilch only love 1929 V/A Tight Women and Loose Bands 1921-1931

Not all female person dejection singers followed the "screamin', hollerin' and cryin" path ready past Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. Edith Wilson was a "cabaret blues" star who worked the theatres and the nightclubs and was only as happy singing prove tunes equally more traditional material. As this vocal shows, she wasn't short of attitude.

66. Ruth Etting – Back in Your Own Back Yard 1928Five/A The Roaring 20s

Sweet nostalgiac tape. Etting's habitation life was zilch similar as idyllic equally you might suppose from these lyrics. Her husband and manager was the Chicago gangster Moe Snyder, known equally The Gimp. Subsequently their divorce in the belatedly 30s he followed her to California and shot and wounded her then boyfriend.

65. BF Shelton – Pretty Polly 1927V/A Bristol Sessions Vol. 1

Track from the famous Bristol Sessions in Bristol, Tennessee which launched the careers of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. BF Shelton however, who worked at the time equally a barber, was never to record over again.

64. Packie Dolan – A Drink in the Morn  Ballinasloe Fair – Early on Recordings Of Irish Music In America 1920-1930

Irish music hasn't inverse all that much : "Oh, a drinkable in the morning is good for the sight, and twenty or 30 between that and night. Drink it up, go to bed and just think it no sin to get upwardly in the morning and at information technology again."

63. Carlos Gardel – La Cumparsita 1928Coleccion Original

Gardel was a celebrated Argentinian tango vocaliser, and this is one of the most famous tangos.

62. Carl T Sprague – Following the cow trail 1925Five/A Western Cowboy Ballads & Songs 1925-1939

As the start recording creative person to make cowboy songs his speciality he'southward quite an important figure in land music, but his rough rustic way is a long fashion abroad from the sanitized Nashville sound.

61. Original Dixieland Jazz Band – Bow Wow Blues 1921Original Dixieland Jazz Ring Selected Favorites Vol. 1

The band that released the very start jazz tape – Livery Stable Blues – in 1917. It went downwards a storm, and the jazz age was born. Judging by this track, they also had a sense of fun.

60. Bill and Belle Reed – Onetime Lady And The Devil 1928 V/A American Folk Music

Married man and married woman duo who recorded i session in Tennessee in 1928, creating this American folk classic, and were never heard of again.

59. Red Allen & his New York Orchestra – Longin' for Domicile 1929 Henry 'red' Allen & His New York Orchestra 1929-1930

If Louis Armstrong was the greatest trumpeter of the age, New Orleans's Red Allen was a worthy rival. This ensemble besides includes Charlie Holmes on sax, Luis Russell pianoforte, Volition Johnson guitar, and the guest vocalist is Sugariness Peas Spivey, younger sister of Victoria Spivey.

58. Ted Wallace and his Campus Boys – My baby but cares for me 1930Show Tunes of the 1920s Vol. 2

Later adopted past Nina Simone equally her signature tune, the vocal was written in 1930 for the moving-picture show Whoopee! by Walter Donaldson with lyrics by Gus Kahn. Ted Wallace and his Campus Boys was 1 of the many names that Ed Kirkeby recorded nether.

57. The California Ramblers – Vo do do de o Blues 1927Jazz Classics

Novelty vocal written by Jack Yellen and Milton Ager and recorded by numerous artists in 1927 alone, ordinarily under the championship Crazy Words, Crazy Tune. The California Ramblers who came from Ohio (where else ?) featured the talents of jazz cornettist Red Nichols.

56. Coletha Simpson – Blackness Man DejectionV/A Bluish Girls Vol. ane 1924-1930

She'due south a bit of a mystery : just a scattering of tracks on compilations of rare blues music, no information well-nigh her anywhere. Her vocalism is raw and creased with feeling.

55. Geeshie Wiley – Concluding Kind Words Blues 1930Five/A 40 Delta Blues Gems

Haunting dejection classic by an obscure Mississippi singer/guitarist who recorded merely a handful of tracks.

54. Mike Markel's Orchestra – Flamin' Mamie 1926V/A Jazz Age Chronicles Vol. six: The Vocal Hits of 1926

Paul Whiteman and Fred Rose wrote the racy lyrics : "She's Flamin' Mamie, a sure fire vamp, the hottest baby in town … She carries burn insurance on every affair she wears. When information technology comes to lovin she'south a human being oven, It's so difficult to sympathize. Information technology may audio funny, but baby coin burns correct in her manus."

53. Barbecue Bob – She's coming dorsum some cold rainy day 1930Blues Essentials

Georgian bluesman who played a 12 string guitar. The tune is very similar to Sittin' on Top of the Earth by The Mississippi Sheiks (#15).

52. Charlie Johnson'due south Paradise Ten – You Ain't The One 1928V/A Harlem Big Bands

David Sager : "an insouciant melody with a hip lyric virtually irresistibly tossed off hither by Monette Moore (with some engaging fiddling by Edgar Sampson behind her). Peradventure the thing nearly will remember about this recording is the stabbing, biting trumpet of Jabbo Smith, then just xix years old and with so much to say musically. But we as well should non ignore the inventive drumming of the little-recorded George Stafford. Uneasiness pervades, however, due to the band'due south rushing the tempo. In just over three minutes, they pick up most 24 beats per infinitesimal by the end of the performance."

51. Louisiana Rhythm Kings – Basin Street Blues 1929Basin Street Dejection

Basin Street is in New Orleans, and the song was written by a New Orleans musician, Spencer Williams. Confusingly though, the Louisiana Rhythm Kings were based in New York. Jack Teagarden is on trombone and vocals, Red Nichols plays trumpet, Pee Wee Russell clarinet, Bud Freeman sax, Joe Sullivan piano, and Dave Tough the drums.

50. Chicago Rhythm Kings – Baby Won't You Delight Come Home 1928V/A Jazz From The Windy City 1927 – 1930

Eddie Condon is on vocals, but is no match for Bessie Smith or Eva Taylor, who also recorded this song in the 1920s. He's ably assisted though past Frank Teschemacher on clarinet, Muggsy Spanier cornet, Mezz Mezzrow sax, Jim Lannigan tuba, Joe Sullivan piano and Gene Krupa drums.

49. Jed Davenport And His Beale Street Jug Band – Beale Street Breakdown 1930Jugband Specials – 25 Not bad Original Recordings 1926-1935

Beale Street is in Memphis. At least eight jug bands were active in the city by the end of the decade. On this track Davenport works the harmonica like a man possessed.

48. Factor Autry – Frankie and Johnny 1929 A Yodeling Hobo (1929 – 1946)

Signed with Columbia Records in 1929, so this was i of his offset recordings. Subsequently he would make his name as the archetypal singing cowboy but his early repertoire was more than various. Frankie and Johnny is an an onetime folk song, now a famous murder ballad.

47. Mattie Delaney – Tallahatchie River Blues 19305/A 100 1920s Blues Classics

The Tallahatchie river is in the state of Mississippi, and was one of the areas affected by the floods of 1927. Mattie Delaney is 1 of a small number of female delta blues singers : sadly this is one of only two songs that she recorded.

46. Rev Sis Mary Nelson – Sentence 1927Five/A American Folk Music

It's believed that Rev. Sister Mary Nelson was a store-front preacher from Memphis, Tennessee. This was her i and only recording session. The rough masculine vocalisation comes as a daze.

45. Lily Morris – Don't have any more, Missus Moore 1928V/A Music Hall Greats Vol. 1

In researching this I listened to several British music hall songs and most all of them were dire. (Besides, the age of the music hall had all simply concluded by the 1920s.) This number though makes me grin every fourth dimension. Morris was built-in in London in 1882.

44. The Clevelanders – Puttin' On The Ritz 1930

An Irving Berlin song. Wikipedia tells me that the slang expression "putting on the Ritz," meant to wearing apparel very fashionably. The Clevelanders was it seems a name of convenience for Jack Albin'due south Orchestra.

43. Lovie Austin & Her Blues Serenaders – Charleston Mad 1924V/A The Best of Charleston

In the years afterward 1923, hundreds of songs were recorded trying to cash in on the new dance craze named The Charleston later on James P Johnson'south original vocal. This number features Tommy Ladnier on cornet.

42. Victoria Spivey – How practise They Do It That Way 1929V/A Those Muddy Blues, Vol i

Difficult hit dejection vocaliser. The lively trumpet playing is by one Louis Armstrong.

41. Ted Lewis & His Band – The New St Louis Blues 1926 Ted Lewis & His Ring : Is Everybody Happy? (1923-1931)

This WC Handy tune is an essential part of any traditional jazz band's repertoire. Ted Lewis himself is on clarinet and sax, Walter Kahn and Dave Klein on cornet, George Brunies trombone, Sol Klein violin, Dick Reynolds pianoforte, Tony Gehardi banjo & guitar, Harry Barth tuba, and John Lucas drums.

40. Northward Carolina Cooper Boys – Ruddy Rose Of Texas

String band from Lexington, North Carolina.

39. The Savoy Orpheans – Baby Face 19265/A British Trip the light fantastic Bands of the 1920s

British trip the light fantastic toe band, who were based as you might imagine at the Savoy Hotel, performing one of the top American hits of the solar day.

38. Fiddlin' John Carson – Hell Spring for Alabama 1927 Fiddlin John Carson Vol. four 1926 – 1927

By the time his opportunity came around to make a phonograph record, Carson "was fifty-four years sometime, had won the Georgia Fiddlin' Championship seven times, and had a colorful reputation equally a traveling performer who made a living playing and passing the lid when he was not working in the cotton mill, painting houses, or making moonshine". Thankfully he could still play the fiddle, and any fiddler alive today would be happy to lucifer this performance.

37. Blind Blake – Georgia Jump 1929The Very Best Of Blind Blake

I of the most successful bluesmen of the 20s, he was a gifted and innovative fingerstyle guitar player sometimes referred to as the Male monarch of the Ragtime Guitar.

36. Annette Hanshaw – True Blueish Lou 1929Annette Hanshaw Vol. half-dozen 1929

Vocal almost a woman who sticks faithfully with a bad human : "He gave her nothing / She gave him all". The lyrics (written by by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin) suggest she should exist thought of as virtuous rather than foolish – but it's a stretch, and that makes for an interesting tension in the vocal.

35. Washington Phillips – Denomination Blues, Pts 1&2 1927V/A Early Gospel Greats

Texan gospel vocaliser.

34. Ethel Waters & Her Ebony Iv – Sweet Georgia Brown 1925Best of Ethel Waters

Jazz standard. Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard wrote the music and Kenneth Casey the lyrics.
Waters was a black jazz singer whose struggles to attain recognition in the white world of nighttime clubs, Broadway, radio and films helped open many doors.

33. Naftule Brandwein – Six tsvey iz Naftule der driter (Where in that location are two, Naftule is always the third) 1923Five/A 100 Traditional Yiddish, Hewbrew & Jewish Folk Classics

Born in Poland, he emigrated to the U.s.a. at the historic period of 19. A cocky promoter, a colourful personality, and a brilliant and influential klezmer clarinetist.

32. Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra – Riverboat Shuffle 1927V/A Hoagy Carmichael- The First Of The Vocalist Songwriters- Key Cuts: CD A- 1924-1929

Hoagy Carmichael'due south first known tune. Trumbauer, Scarlet Ingle and Don Murray play sax, with Bix Beiderbecke on cornet, Eddie Lang on guitar, Bill Rank on trombone, Chauncey Morehouse is on drums and Itzie Riskin on piano.

31. McKinney's Cotton Pickers – If I could exist with you 1 60 minutes tonight 1930Vocal & Jazz Classics – Vol. 2 (1928-1931)

Jazz standard written by James P Johnson, lyrics by Henry Creamer. Vocals on this track are by George Thomas.

30. Meta Seinemeyer – Un bel di vedremo 1928 The Vocalism Of Meta Seinemeyer

High german opera star with a piece from Puccini'south Madame Butterfly (I believe she'south singing here in Italian rather than German, just I actually tin can't tell). In 1929 she died of leukemia at the age of 33.

29. Grayson and Whitter – Short Life Of Trouble 1928The Recordings Of Grayson & Whitter

Two fiddlers, many of whose songs were to become bluegrass standards.

28. Charlie Patton – Mississippi Bo Weavil Blues 1929Male parent Of Delta Blues

Charlie Patton is revered by dejection afficionados more than than whatsoever other, regarded as the true father of the Delta blues. He'southward not an easy mind at present, with his growling slurred vocalization and scratchy recordings. But the power of the music lies across the words : "Patton's guitar way was archaic and raw on the ane manus, and subtle and refined on the other. Patton played with a very ambitious and percussive way oftentimes accompanying melody notes past beating syncopated rhythms on the guitar. Patton's voice is harsh and cute at the same time. Anyone who has listened to Patton knows that deciphering the lyrics can be practically impossible at times. Notwithstanding, the power of Patton'due south voice, like his guitar, resides in the feel and the intensity rather than in the actual words song. At the same time, Patton's lyrics are important considering they present a historical certificate of the culture of his time."

27. Johnny Dodds & the Beale Street Washboard Band – Piggly Wiggly 1929Rex of the New-Orleans Clarinet (1926-1938)

Vivid jazz clarinetist from New Orleans who played with all the tiptop musicians of the day. In this ensemble his brother Babe Dodds plays washboard.

26. Alberta Hunter (feat Fats Waller) – Sugar 1927Beale Street Dejection

Born 1895, at age 12 Alberta Hunter ran abroad from her hometown of Memphis to get to Chicago to get a Dejection singer. She constitute success in the 1920s when she was very agile; continued to perform effectually the world in the 30s and 40s; then revived her career in the 70s and 80s.
Songwriting credits are shared by Maceo Pinkard (who also cowrote Sweet Georgia Brown), Edna Alexander and Sidney Mitchell.

25. Jelly Gyre Morton's Crimson Hot Peppers – Mint Julep 1929Mister Jelly Lord Volume 2

Jazz pianist from New Orleans (though based in New York when this was recorded). The band are Jelly Curlicue Morton pianoforte, Crimson Allen trumpet, JC Higginbotham trombone, Albert Nicholas clarinet, Will Johnson guitar, Pops Foster bass, and Paul Barbarin drums.

24. Jabbo Smith's Rhythm Aces – Croonin' the blues 1929V/A Harlem Jazz from the 20s

Brilliant jazz trumpet thespian, ranked up there with the greats.

23. The Carter Family – Motherless Children 1929The Complete Carter Family Collection, Vol. 2

Influential white folk group from Virginia. The song was first recorded in 1927 by Blind Willie Johnson and the Rev Gary Davis though I think its origins are much older. This version has a kind of dignity to it – it doesn't demand your pity.

22. Duke Ellington Orchestra (feat Adelaide Hall) – Creole Love Phone call 1927Duke Ellington (Amazing Collection)

Y'all can just see the record visitor execs eyes bulging. "Wordless lyrics ? Who's gonna want to mind to that !" Just it worked. And people liked it.

21. Libby Holman – In that location Aint No Sugariness Human Worth the Salt of my Tears 1928The Very All-time Of Libby Holman

Fred Fisher wrote the song, which was later memorably covered by Norma Waterson. Holman was a Broadway star with a scandalous personal life.

20. The Boswell Sisters – Gee, But I'd Like to Make Yous Happy 1930The Boswell Sisters Swing!

Their cord of Billboard hitting singles didn't begin until 1931, afterward they'd started doing national radio broadcasts, simply the sisters from Louisiana were already knocking off beautiful harmonies well before then.

19. Mamie Smith – Goin' Crazy With The Blues 1926V/A Jazz The World Forgot Vol one

The first dejection recording was Mamie Smith'southward Crazy Blues in 1920. The Chicago Defender fabricated much of the issue : ""Well, you've all heard the famous stars of the white race chirping their stuff on the different makes of phonograph records … merely we take never – up to now – been able to hear one of our ain ladies deliver the canned goods." It sold like crazy, and paved the way for an explosion of interest in the blues in the next few years. This is a later on number, penned by Andy Razaf and JC Johnson.

18. Frank Hutchinson – Railroad Bill 1929V/A Erstwhile Time Music from West Virginia 1927 – 1929

Hutchinson worked as a coal miner in Logan County, West Virginia where he learned the dejection from black miners, and it's said that he was the first white man to tape the blues.

17. Charlie Poole & His North Carolina Ramblers – He Rambled 1929Onetime Fourth dimension Songs

In June every yr music lovers gather in Eden Due north Carolina for the Charlie Poole Music Festival which is testament to the enduring popularity of the hard living banjo player. A sign has been erected in the boondocks proverb "Welcome to Eden: Domicile of Charlie Poole."

xvi. The Rhythmic 8 – Tain't No Sin 1930 V/A The Peachy American Songbook – Walter Donaldson (My Babe Only Cares for Me)

Edgar Leslie wrote the music and Walter Donaldson the wonderful lyrics : "The polar bears aren't green up in Greenland, They've got the right idea. They call back information technology'due south great to refrigerate while we all cremate down here. Just be like those bamboo babies, In the South Ocean tropic zones. 'Tain't No Sin to take off your peel, And trip the light fantastic around in your basic." The Rhythmic 8 was ane of diverse band names used by the English bandleaders brothers Bert and John Firman.

15. The Mississippi Sheiks – Sitting On Summit Of The World 1930V/A The Roots Of Robert Johnson

In the early on 30s their songs which composite blues, folk and fiddle music were hugely popular, none more so than this, which has become an American classic.

xiv. Hoagy Carmichael & His Orchestra (feat Bix Beiderbecke) – Georgia On My Mind 1930V/A Georgia In My Mind – Bix Beiderbecke 1929 – 1930

Hoagy Carmichael wrote the music and Stuart Gorrell the lyrics, which could refer either to a woman or to the state of Georgia (which made this its official state song). Of the many excellentl covers, Ray Charles's no 1 hit is especially noteworthy.

13. Mississippi John Hurt – Own't No Tellin' 1928 Candy Human being Blues

Gentle country blues : he'south a gifted fingerpicking guitarist and he has a sugariness vocalism.

12. New Orleans Bootblacks – Mad Canis familiaris 19265/A New Orleans Jazz

While Louis Armstrong was under contract with Okeh, members of Louis Armstrong's Hot Five recorded a couple of sessions for Columbia in 1926 under the names New Orleans Bootblacks and New Orleans Wanderers. Personnel : Lil Armstrong piano, Johnny Dodds clarinet, George Mitchell cornet, Child Ory trombone, Baby Dodds drums, Johnny St Cyr banjo.

eleven. Abe Schwartz Orchestra – Unzer Toirele 1928V/A Yiddish Songs – Traditionals (1911 – 1950) Vol. i

Romanian musician who emigrated to the United States at the age of xviii, where he was to become i of the most influential Jewish bandleaders and musicians of his day.

10. Irving Mills & His Hotsy Totsy Gang – Diga Diga Doo 1928 V/A The History of Jazz – New York, Vol. ane

Music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. The female vocaliser is Elizabeth Welch and the band include Jimmy McPartland on cornet, Fud Livingston clarinet/sax, Jack Pettis sax, Dudley Fosdick, mellophone, Vic Breidis pianoforte/celeste, Perry Botkin banjo/ukelele, Eddie Lang guitar, Harry Goodman tuba, Ben Pollack drums.

9. Clarence Williams Blue 5 – Everybody Loves My Baby (simply my baby don't honey nobody just me) 1924V/A 100 Vocal & Jazz Classics – Vol. i (1921-1927)

Music by Spencer Williams and lyrics by Jack Palmer. Eva Taylor is the singer, Louis Armstrong's on cornet, Aaron Thompson trombone, Buster Bailey sax, Buddy Christian banjo, and Clarence Williams himself piano.

viii. Jimmie Rodgers – Waiting For A Train 1928The Very Best Of Jimmie Rodgers

Rodgers worked on the railroad from the age of fourteen, learning the dejection from black workers on his coiffure. He brought a variety of influences into his music, which helped information technology to stand out from the oversupply, though it'southward surprising to learn that someone revered as "The Father of State Music" had such a short career.

7. Tommy Johnson – Cool drinkable of water blues 1928V/A Legends Of Country Blues

Mississippi bluesman once heard, never forgotten, with his eerie otherworldly falsetto vocalization.

half dozen. Bessie Smith – Nobody Knows You lot When You're Downwards And Out 1929Jazz Heroes – Bessie Smith

Jimmy Cox wrote the famous words, but the existent story hither is a adult female raised in poverty who started off busking on the streets of Chattanooga, and who became the greatest blues singer of the era singing her soul out on tape after record, and who is now an icon and an inspiration to so many people manner beyond her home land.

five. Bascom Lamar Lunsford – Mount Dew 1928Five/A Serenade The Mountains: Early Old Fourth dimension Music On Record, CD B

The mountain dew in question is Poitín (poteen), or Irish moonshine. It was outlawed in Ireland from 1661 to 1997, only illegal brews could accomplish upwards to 95% ABV. Although this vocal is referenced in Fairytale of New York by the Pogues I only recently heard information technology, and then it came equally a surprise that it's so funny.

iv. Blind Willie Johnson – Night Was The Dark, Common cold Was The Ground 19275/A Tom Waits' Jukebox

Captivating blues spiritual. Likewise as existence one of the great bottleneck slide guitarists, Johnson was a street corner evangelist.

3. Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five – Due west End Blues 1928The Best of The Hot 5 & Hot 7 Recordings

1 of the most celebrated jazz recordings of all time : Louis Armstrong plays trumpet and throws in some scat vocals, Fred Robinson is on trombone, Jimmy Potent clarinet, Earl Hines piano, Mancy Carr banjo, and Zutty Singleton hand-cymbals. The music was written by one of Armstrong'southward heroes, King Oliver.

2. Rex Oliver & his Orchestra – St James Infirmary 1930Five/A 100 Vocal & Jazz Classics – Vol. 2 (1928-1931)

Besides tutoring the immature Louis Armstrong, Oliver played with many of the greats, and they all looked up to him. Aye, Louis Armstrong's St James Infirmary from 1928 is a masterpiece, but I'm beginning to call up that Iike this fifty-fifty better. King Oliver, Cerise Allen and Bubber Miley play trumpet, Jimmy Archey the trombone, Bobby Holmes and Glyn Pacque clarinet/sax, Walter Wheeler sax, Don Frye pianoforte, Arthur Taylor banjo, Jean Stultz guitar, Clinton Walker tuba, Carroll Dickerson violin, Frank Marvin drums & vocals.

i. Fats Waller – Ain't Misbehavin' 1929Legends Of Jazz: Fats Waller – Own't Misbehavin'

A lot of jazz blues songs from that period were quite sexually suggestive, and female blues singers were always going on almost cheating husbands, simply this song proclaimed a elementary message of fidelity which perhaps surprisingly became function of its appeal. Afterwards on Fats Waller liked to say that when he wrote the vocal the reason he wasn't cheating because he was in prison, just this is nigh certainly untrue. In fact information technology seems it was written at 1 of their apartments in simply 45 minutes by Waller and the songwriter Andy Razaf, but it's become one of the well-nigh enduring songs from the 1st one-half of the 20th century.

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