Jorma Kaukonen's nickname "Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane" (which sounds more like a short-lived inside joke) was given to him by a friend after one of his influences Blind Lemon Jefferson. Jorma proposed the shortened Jefferson Airplane as a silly idea for a band name which then seriously became the band's name.
When the band released their debut album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (in 1966 on the RCA Victor label), they were a tight musical group with folk-inspired harmonies and a killer bass player in Jack Casady. The band's songwriting wasn't yet a match for their musical talent and the album came too early in LP history to highlight their exciting, extended jam sessions.
Included in this entry is Marty Balin's first folk group, The Town Criers.
Here is the discography surrounding Jefferson Airplane's debut album:
Live in San Francisco (1964 live recording by The Town Criers)
It's No Secret (1966 single)
Come Up the Years (1966 single)
Bringing Me Down (1966 single)
Jefferson Airplane Take Off
Signe's Farewell (1966 live album)
"It's No Secret" by Jefferson Airplane
"And I Like It (alternate version)" by Jefferson Airplane
A formative event in the life of Lightnin' Hopkins was his fateful meeting, at the age of eight, with Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church function in 1920. Blind Lemon Jefferson carved out the definition of Texas Blues with his improvisational, fast-paced guitar picking. His first compilation album, The Folk Blues of Blind Lemon Jefferson, came out in 1955 on London Records long after he passed away (in 1929.)
Here is the discography surrounding Blind Lemon Jefferson's "debut" album:
Booster Blues (1926 single)
Long Lonesome Blues (1926 single)
Long Lonesome Blues (1926 single)
Black Horse Blues (1926 single)
Jack O Diamond Blues (1926 single)
All I Want Is That Pure Religion (1926 single as Deacon L. J. Bates)
Old Rounders Blues (1926 single)
That Black Snake Moan (1926 single)
Wartime Blues (1927 single)
Bad Luck Blues (1927 single)
Rabbit Foot Blues (1927 single)
Black Snake Moan (1927 single)
Match Box Blues (1927 single)
Rising High Water Blues (1927 single)
Hot Dogs (1927 single)
Black Snake Dream Blues (1927 single)
Rambler Blues (1927 single)
Chinch Bug Blues (1927 single)
Gone Dead on You Blues (1927 single)
Where Shall I Be (1928 single as Deacon L. J. Bates)
Sunshine Special (1928 single)
'Lectric Chair Blues (1928 single)
Lemon's Worried Blues (1928 single)
Balky Mule Blues (1928 single)
Lemon's Cannon Ball Moan (1928 single)
Piney Woods Money Mama (1928 single)
Blind Lemon's Penitentiary Blues (1928 single)
Lockstep Blues (1928 single)
How Long How Long (1928 single)
Christmas Eve Blues (1928 single)
D B Blues (1929 single)
Competition Bed Blues (1929 single)
Eagle Eyed Mama (1929 single)
That Black Snake Moan No. 2 (1929 single)
Oil Well Blues (1929 single)
Peach Orchard Mama (1929 single)
Bakershop Blues (1929 single)
Bed Springs Blues (1929 single)
Pneumonia Blues (1929 single)
Hometown Skiffle (1930 single by The Paramount All Stars)
Southern Woman Blues (1930 single)
Cat Man Blues (1930 single)
The Cheaters Spell (1930 single)
Bootin' Me 'Bout (1930 single)
The Folk Blues of Lemon Jefferson
Blind Lemon's Penitentiary Blues and Other Folk Songs by Blind Lemon Jefferson (1955 compilation album)
Blind Lemon Jefferson Sings the Blues (1957 compilation album)
Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Volume 1 (compilation album)
Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Volume 2 (compilation album)
Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Volume 3 (compilation album)
Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Volume 4 (compilation album)
"That Black Snake Moan" by Blind Lemon Jefferson
"Corinna Blues" by Blind Lemon Jefferson
"Shuckin' Sugar Blues" by Blind Lemon Jefferson
"Easy Rider Blues" by Blind Lemon Jefferson
"Hot Dogs" by Blind Lemon Jefferson
"D B Blues" by Blind Lemon Jefferson
"I Want to Be Like Jesus in My Heart" by Deacon L. J. Bates
Smokey Hogg was reputed to be the cousin of fellow Blues musician Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins though there seems to be no proof of it.
Lightnin' Hopkins and his guitar cut some of the alchemical records where you hear the undefinable transition from blues to rock. He released his debut album Lightnin' Hopkins Strums the Blues (actually a compilation album of his Aladdin Records stuff) in 1958.
Also included: the small output of his early partner Wilson "Thunder" Smith.
Here is the discography surrounding Lightnin' Hopkins's debut album:
Freddie Mae Blues (1946 single by Wilson Smith)
Can't Do Like You Used To (1947 single by Thunder Smith)
Can't Do Like You Used To (1947 single by Lightnin' Hopkins and Thunder Smith)
L. A. Blues (1947 single by Thunder Smith)
Katie Mae Blues (1947 single)
I Feel So Bad (1947 single)
Short Haired Woman (1947 single)
Short-Haired Woman (1947 single)
Fast-Mail Rambler (1947 single)
Down Now Baby (1947 single)
Cruel-Hearted Woman (1947 single by Thunder Smith)
Santa Fe Blues (1947 single by Thunder Smith)
Picture on the Wall (1948 single)
Nightmare Blues (1948 single)
You're Not Going to Worry My Life Anymore (1948 single)
Thunder's Unfinished Boogie (1948 single by Thunder Smith)
New Worried Life Blues (1948 single by Thunder Smith)
Low Down Dirty Ways (1948 single by Thunder Smith)
Lightnin' Hopkins Strums the Blues
The Chronological Classics: Lightnin' Hopkins 1946-1948 (compilation album)
The Chronological Classics: Lightnin' Hopkins 1948 (compilation album)
The Complete Aladdin Recordings (compilation album)
"Katie Mae Blues" by Lightnin' Hopkins
"You Are Not Going to Worry My Life Anymore" by Lightnin' Hopkins
"L. A. Blues" by Thunder Smith
"Fast-Mail Rambler" by Lightnin' Hopkins
"Let Me Play with Your Poodle" by Lightnin' Hopkins
In his youth, Black Ace toured and played with fellow Texas blues guitarist Smokey Hogg. Unlike Turner, Hogg met musical success after World War II where he saw consistent recording output up until his death in 1960. His debut record Smokey Hogg Sings the Blues came out posthumously in 1961 on Crown Records.
Here is the discography surrounding Smokey Hogg's debut album:
Kind Hearted Blues (1937 single as Andrew Hogg)
To Many Drivers (1947 single)
Unemployment Blues (1947 single)
Hard Times (1947 single as Smoky Hogg)
Anytime Is the Right Time (1948 single)
Long Tall Mama (1948 single)
Jivin' Little Woman (1948 single)
Golden Diamond Blues (1948 single)
Be My So and So (1948 single)
My Christmas Baby (1948 single)
I'm Gonna Find Your Trick (1949 single)
Little School Girl (1949 single)
Nobody Treats Me Right (1949 single)
Evil Mind Blues (1949 single)
I Want My Baby for Christmas (1949 single)
Low Down Woman Blues (1949 single)
He Knows How Much We Can Bear (1949 single as Andrew Hogg)
Restless Bed Blues (1949 single)
You Better Watch That Jive (1950 single)
Everybody Gotta Racket (1950 single)
You Gotta Go (1950 single as Smoky Hogg)
Baby, Baby (1950 single as Smoky Hogg)
Worried Blues (1950 single)
The Way You Treat Me (1950 single)
Classification Blues (1950 single)
Let's Get Together and Drink Some Gin (1950 single)
One of Oscar Woods's acolytes was the young BK Turner, or Black Ace, who like Woods (The Lone Wolf) earned his nickname from his most famous song. Black Ace recorded even fewer records than Woods but had the benefit of being rediscovered in the early sixties when he recorded his only album BK Turner and His Steel Guitar for Arhoolie Records.
Here is the discography for Black Ace:
Black Ace (1937 single)
You Gonna Need My Help Some Day (1937 single)
Christmas Time Blues (Beggin' Santa Claus) (1937 single)
BK Turner and His Steel Guitar
I'm the Boss Card in Your Hand (compilation album)
Early in his music career, Jimmie Davis played Blues tunes and often collaborated with or was accompanied by black musicians. One such collaborator was guitarist Oscar Woods — sometimes known as Buddy Woods. His recording career was inconsistent with only a handful of session work, a few singles and nary an album. Document Records put out compilation album of his work Oscar "Buddy" Woods: The Lone Wolf 1930-1938.
Note: As usual, the compilation album is marked in the title, not by year of release, but by year of the last recording on said album.
Here is the discography for Oscar Woods:
Fence Breakin' Blues (1930 single by Shreveport Home Wreckers)
Flying Crow Blues (1932 single by Eddie and Oscar)
Lone Wolf Blues (1936 single as Oscar Woods (The Lone Wolf))
Evil Hearted Woman Blues (1936 single as Oscar Woods (The Lone Wolf))
Swingology (1937 single by Kitty Gray and Her Wampus Cats)
Muscat Hill Blues (1937 single as Buddy Woods with The Wampus Cats)
I Can't Dance (Got Ants in My Pants) (1937 single by Kitty Gray and Her Wampus Cats)
You're Standing on the Outside Now (1937 single by Kitty Gray and Her Wampus Cats)
My Baby's Ways (1937 single by Kitty Gray and Her Wampus Cats)
Baton Rouge Rag (1937 unissued single by Kitty Gray and Her Wampus Cats)
Jam Session Blues (1937 single as Buddy Woods)
Doing the Dooga (1938 single by Kitty Gray and Her Wampus Cats)
Low Life Blues (1938 single as Buddy Woods)
Oscar "Buddy" Woods: The Lone Wolf 1930-1938
Jerry's Saloon Blues (1940 Library of Congress Recordings)
"Jam Session Blues" by Buddy Woods
"Fence Breakin' Blues" by Shreveport Home Wreckers
Leon Chappelear and the Shelton Brothers broke up after only a couple of years due to creative differences. The Sheltons ended up performing with Jimmie Davis for a time in his backing band. Jimmie Davis started recording in 1928 and released his "debut album" Souvenir Album in 1947 on Decca Records.
Here is the discography surrounding Jimmie Davis's debut album:
Ramona (1928 single)
You'd Rather Forget Than Forgive (1928 single)
The Barroom Message (1929 single)
Out of Town Blues (1930 single)
Doggone That Train (1930 single)
My Louisiana Girl (1930 single)
Settling Down for Life (1930 single)
Arabella Blues (1931 single)
In Arkansas (1931 single)
Penitentiary Blues (1931 single)
I'll Be Happy Today (1931 single)
There's Evil in Ye Children, Gather 'round (1931 single)
She Left a Runnin' Like a Sewing Machine (1931 single)
Midnight Blues (1931 single)
Get on Board, Aunt Susan (1931 single)
Down at the Old Country Church (1932 single)
My Arkansas Sweetheart (1932 single)
Red Nightgown Blues (1932 single)
I'll Get Mine Bye and Bye (1932 single)
1982 Blues (Davis' Last Day Blues) (1932 single)
High Behind Blues (1932 single)
Cowboy's Home Sweet Home (1932 single)
You Can't Tell About the Women Nowadays (1932 single)
Home in Caroline (1932 single)
Tom Cat and Pussy Blues (1933 single)
Gambler's Return (1933 single)
Yo Yo Mama (1933 single)
The Keyhole in the Door (1933 single)
When It's Round-Up Time in Heaven (1933 single)
Would You (1934 single)
Beautiful Texas (1934 single)
You've Been Tom Cattin' Around (1934 single)
There Ain't Gonna Be No Afterwhile (1934 single)
Triflin' Mama Blues (1934 single)
It's Been Years (Since I've Seen My Mother) (1934 single)
Good Time Papa Blues (1934 single)
Jellyroll Blues (1935 single)
When It's Round-Up Time in Heaven (1935 single)
Moonlight and Skies (No. 2) (1935 single)
Are You Tired of Me Darling? (1935 single with Buddy Jones)
The Answer to Nobody's Darling But Mine (1936 single)
Bed Bug Blues (1936 single)
In My Cabin Tonight (1936 single)
'Twill Be Sweet When We Meet (1936 single with Buddy Jones)
My Blue Bonnet Girl (1936 single)
Come on Over to My House (Ain't Nobody Home But Me) (1936 single)
Don't Say Goodbye If You Love Me (1936 single)
The Greatest Mistake of My Life (1937 single)
That's Why I'm Nobody's Darling (1937 single)
High Geared Daddy (1937 single)
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1937 single)
Pi-Rootin' Around (1937 single)
Honky Tonk Blues (1937 single)
Just Forgive and Forget (1937 single)
Jimmie's Travelin' Blues (1937 single)
Sweet Lorene (1937 single)
Nobody's Darlin' But Mine (1937 single)
There's a Gold Mine in the Sky (1938 single)
By the Grave of Nobody's Darling (My Darling's Promise) (1938 single)
Shackles and Chains (1938 single)
Goodbye Old Booze (1938 single)
Call Me Back Pal O' Mine (1938 single)
Just a Girl That Men Forget (1938 single)
There's a Ranch in the Rockies (1938 single)
Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland (1938 single)
It Makes No Difference Now (1938 single)
You Tell Me Your Dream I'll Tell You Mine (1938 single)
I'm Drifting Back to Dreamland (1939 single)
What Good Will It Do (1939 single)
Memories (1939 single)
I've Tried So Hard to Forget You (1939 single)
Down at the End of Memory Lane (1939 single)
In My Heart You'll Always Be Mine (1939 single)
The Last Letter (1939 single)
Leanin' on the Old Top Rail (1939 single)
Two More Years (And I'll Be Free) (1939 single)
Why Do You Treat Me Like the Dirt Under Your Feet (1939 single)
Why Should I Care (1939 single)
What Else Can I Do (1940 single)
Your Promise Was Broken (1940 single)
You Are My Sunshine (1940 single)
Baby Your Mother (Like She Babied You) (1940 single)
There's a Chill on the Hill Tonight (1940 single)
Why Should I Be to Blame (1940 single)
I Feel the Same as You (1940 single)
I'm Waiting for Ships That Never Come In (1940 single)
You're My Darling (1940 single)
On the Sunny Side of the Rockies (1940 single)
I'm Sorry Now (1941 single)
Too Late (1941 single)
I'll Be True to the One I Love (1941 single)
The Prisoner's Song (1941 single)
I Hung My Head and Cried (1941 single)
Pay Me No Mind (1941 single)
Won't You Forgive Me? (1941 single)
Sweetheart of the Valley (1941 single)
Tears on My Pillow (1942 single)
You'll Be Sorry (1942 single)
The End of the World (1942 single)
Live and Let Live (1942 single)
Don't You Cry Over Me (1942 single)
Plant Some Flowers by My Grave (1942 single)
A Sinner's Prayer (1942 single)
Walkin' My Way Blues (1943 single)
Is It Too Late Now (1944 single)
There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder (1944 single)
No Good for Nothin' (1944 single)
Grievin' My Heart Out for You (1945 single)
Wave to Me, My Lady (1946 single)
Bang Bang (1946 single)
I Just Dropped In to Say Goodbye (1947 single)
I'm Only in the Way (1947 single)
Souvenir Album
Golden Curls (1948 single)
Rockin' Blues (compilation album)
Barnyard Stomp (compilation album)
The Jimmie Davis Collection 1929-47 (compilation album)
"You Won't Be Satisfied That Way" by Jimmie Davis
"Out of Town Blues" by Jimmie Davis
"My Louisiana Girl" by Jimmie Davis
"The Davis Limited" by Jimmie Davis
"Nobody's Darlin' But Mine" by Jimmie Davis
"'Twill Be Sweet When We Meet" by Jimmie Davis and Buddy Jones
