Perry Bradford - Perry Bradford & the Blues Singers in Chronological Order 1923-1927 (1927)

"Lucy Long" by Perry Bradford's Jazz Phools


If you were a blues singer in the early twenties, you likely worked with Perry Bradford.  He wrote songs, arranged music, and lead the band that backed you up on recordings (often playing piano).  Besides the fact that Willie "The Lion" Smith often played in bands with Perry Bradford, the connection between them includes a dispute between the two about which one of them played the piano for Mamie Smith on her landmark "Crazy Blues" recording, a song Bradford also wrote.

The collection of Perry Bradford's contributions to Blues and Jazz is largely incomplete because his work was mostly in the background.  A few compilations exist that feature Bradford bands, like his Jazz Phools or "His Gang," and an accompanying solo blues singer that was sometimes Perry Bradford himself (like in two of the songs embedded here).  The compilation album featured for this slide whistle stop is Document Records's Perry Bradford & the Blues Singers in Chronological Order 1923-1927.  Bradford would transition his career into managing and publishing until, due to a hard hit taken from the Depression, he fell out of the industry and slowly into obscurity.

Here is Perry Bradford's discography:

Perry Bradford & the Blues Singers in Chronological Order 1923-1927
A Panorama 1923-1927

"Hoola Boola Dance" by Perry Bradford's Jazz Phools


"Kansas City Blues" by Perry Bradford and His Gang


Pass the Headphones!!

Willie "The Lion" Smith - The Chronological Classics: Willie "The Lion" Smith 1925-1937 (1937)

"Breeze (Blow My Baby Back to Me)" by Willie "The Lion" Smith & His Cubs


Mamie Smith was the first African-American to record a blues song.  The accompaniment on those first blues recordings was the stride pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith (still no relation... none of the Smiths are related).  After starting his career as a session musician and rent party professional, The Lion, after a while, grew to be a successful band leader.  His first recordings are collected on The Chronological Classics: Willie "The Lion" Smith 1925-1937.

Here is the discography surrounding Willie "The Lion" Smith's debut recordings:

The Chronological Classics: Willie "The Lion" Smith 1925-1937

"Finger Buster" by Willie "The Lion" Smith


"There's Gonna Be the Devil to Pay" by Willie "The Lion" Smith & His Cubs


"The Old Stamping Ground" by Willie "The Lion" Smith & His Cubs


Pass the Headphones!!

Mamie Smith - Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Volume 1 1920-1921 (1921)

"Crazy Blues" by Mamie Smith


The greatest Blues singers were royalty.  Bessie Smith was The Empress of the Blues.  Clara Smith was The Queen of the Moaners.  But none were more royal than the first recorded Blues singer, The Queen of the Blues, Mamie Smith.  (All Smiths mentioned are unrelated).  Mamie Smith's earliest recordings have been collected on her Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Volume 1 1920-1921 released by the ever-reliable Document Records.

Here is the discography surrounding Mamie Smith's debut recordings:

Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Volume 1 1920-1921

"Lovin' Sam from Alabam'" by Mamie Smith


"That Thing Called Love" by Mamie Smith


"That Thing Called Love" by Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds


Pass the Headphones!!