Tracing the origins of the blues is a problematic and somewhat theoretical venture, because the music is an oral, not a written, tradition. BROKE, BLACK & BLUE tries to follow the development of recorded blues during its first 20 odd years. In most cases we have avoided its greatest stars by featuring the lesser known but no less deserving artists, from the obscure to the previously unreleased. Among the many included here are BLIND BLAKE, BARBECUE BOB, MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT, FRANK STOKES, TOMMY JOHNSON, VICTORIA SPIVEY, SON HOUSE, KOKOMO ARNOLD, JAZZ GILLUM and CRIPPLE CLARENCE LOFTON. There is also plenty of previously unreleased material which will be of great interest to collectors and historians. 100 tracks, over four hours of music, 44 page illustrated booklet.
 

Disc 1

1. Barrel House Blues 2:48 - Andrews, Ed
2. Georgia Stockade Blues 3:25 - Delaney, Tom
3. Sun Brimmers Blues 3:23 - Memphis Jug Band, The
4. Goin' To Leave You Blues 2:49 - Cleveland, Big Boy
5. Dry Bone Shuffle 2:39 - Blake, Blind
6. Up Country Blues 3:13 - Bailey, De Ford
7. Dead Drunk Blues 3:13 - Wallace, Sippie
8. Original Stack O'Lee Blues 2:38 - Reed, Long
9. Easy Rider Don't You Deny My Name 2:56 - Barbecue Bob
10. Bo- Lita 2:39 - Brown, Kid
11. Everybody Help The Boys Come Home 2:22 - Smith, William And Versey
12. Church Bells Blues 3:14 - Jordan, Luke
13. Two Ways To Texas 3:00 - Glen, Emery
14. It Won't Be Long Now 3:28 - Barbecue Bob And Laughing Charley
15. Bottleneck Blues 2:51 - Weaver & Beasley
16. Rock Island Blues 2:58 - Black, Lewis
17. Midnight Blues 2:42 - Moore, Wild Bill
18. Fare Thee Blues, Pt.1 2:30 - Head, Johnnie
19. My Monday Woman Blues 3:05 - Jackson, Jim
20. What's The Matter Blues 2:58 - Stokes, Frank
21. School Girl Blues 3:13 - Moore, Rosie Mae
22. Cool Drink Of Water Blues 3:23 - Johnson, Tommy
23. Left Alone Blues 3:18 - Bracey, Ishman
24. T And T Blues 3:10 - Richardson,
25. T.C. Johnson Blues 3:20 - Johnson, T.C And

Disc 2

1. Ham Hound Crave 2:48 - Lacy, Rube
2. No More Women Blues 2:36 - Texas Alexander
3. How Long- How Long Blues 3:06 - Jackson,
4. Unknown Blues 2:53 - Tarter And Gay
5. Chicken Wilson Blues 2:47 - Wilson, Chicken And Skeeter Hinton
6. Stack O'Lee Blues 2:54 - Hurt, Mississippi John
7. Broke And Hungry Blues 2:54 - Howell, Peg Leg
8. Funny Feathers 2:47 - Spivey, Victoria
9. Pitchin' Boogie 2:54 - Ezell, Will
10. Mr. Devil Blues 2:40 - Davenport, Jed
11. Mississippi Bottom Blues 2:55 - Bailey, Kid
12. Weary Heart Blues 2:30 - Wiggins, James
13. Poor Man Blues 2:42 - Townsend, Henry
14. Framer's Blues 2:48 - Framer, Eli
15. Trinity River Blues 2:35 - Walker, Aaron
16. Heavy Suitcase Blues 2:43 - Taylor, Charley
17. Traveling Mama Blues 2:41 - Calicott, Joe
18. Jumpin' And Shoutin' Blues 2:50 - Akers, Garfield
19. Bedside Blues 2:36 - Thompkins, Jim
20. Walking Blues 2:51 - Son House
21. Future Blues 2:43 - Brown, Willie
22. Long Ways From Home 2:49 - Johnson, Louise
23. Frisco Blues 2:43 - Bayless Rose
24. Good Boy Blues 2:44 - Pettis, Arthur
25. No Special Rider Blues 2:37 - Montgomery, Little Brother

Disc 3

1. Married Man Blues 3:14 - Reynolds, Blind Willie
2. Dupree Blues 3:28 - Walker, Willie
3. 22 20 Blues 2:48 - Skijames
4. Lonesome Road Blues 3:02 - Collins, Sam
5. Midnight Hour Blues 3:04 - Carr, Leroy & Scrapper Blackwell
6. Fat Mama Blues 3:13 - Williams, Jabo
7. Never Mind Blues 3:11 - Boyd, Georgia
8. The Twelves (Dirty Dozen) 3:10 - Kokomo Arnold
9. Little Leg Woman 3:02 - Williams, Big Joe
10. That's What My Baby Likes 2:58 - Jackson, Bessie
11. Good Whiskey Blues 3:06 - Wheatstraw, Peetie
12. Strut That Thing 2:55 - Lofton, Cripple Clarence
13. Teasin' Brown Blues 2:43 - Lasky, Louie
14. Cold Blooded Murder, No.2 3:00 - Bumble Bee Slim
15. Baby, You Gotta Change Your Mind 3:13 - Fuller, Blind Boy
16. Ashes In My Whiskey 2:33 - Davis, Walter
17. It's Cold In China Blues 2:46 - Mississippi Moaner, The
18. Jockey Blues 2:47 - Jazz Gillum
19. Prisoner Blues 3:07 - Clarke, George
20. Back Door Blues 3:07 - Weldon, Casey Bill
21. Don't Sell It (Don't Give It Away) 2:30 - Woods, Buddy
22. Booker T. Blues 2:37 - Washboard Sam
23. Hard Scufflin' Blues 2:38 - Doyle, Little Buddy
24. Jersey Belle Blues 2:57 - Johnson, Lonnie
25. Baby, Please Don't Tell On Me 2:44 - McLennan, Tommy

Disc 4

1. East St. Louis Blues 2:51 - Smith, Faber And Jimmy Yancey
2. Bukka's Jitterbug Swing 3:00 - White, Bukka
3. Can't You Read 2:56 - Big Maceo
4. Life Is Like That 3:02 - Memphis Slim
5. Memory Of Sonny Boy 3:06 - Forest City Joe
6. Horse Shoe Boogie 2:55 - Brown, Lee
7. Ruby Moore Blues 3:19 - Brown, Lee
8. Low Land Blues 3:15 - Brown, Lee
9. Round The World Boogie 3:01 - Brown, Lee
10. Rock That Boogie 3:07 - Gordon, Jimmie
11. Fast Life 2:46 - Gordon, Jimmie
12. Mistreated Blues 2:40 - Gordon, Jimmie
13. I Ain't Like That No More 2:56 - Gordon, Jimmie
14. Chain Gang Blues 3:03 - Temple, Johnny
15. Yum, Yum, Yum 3:10 - Temple, Johnny
16. My Baby's Acting Funny 3:06 - Gordon, Jimmie
17. It's Time To Go 3:12 - Gordon, Jimmie
18. That Woman's A Pearl Diver 3:05 - Gordon, Jimmie
19. Jumpin' At The Club Blue Flame 3:03 - Gordon, Jimmie
20. I Believe I'll Go Downtown Again 2:56 - Temple, Johnny
21. Something In The Moon That Gives Me A Thrill 2:58 - Temple, Johnny
22. Dixie Flyer 3:26 - Temple, Johnny
23. Believe My Sins Have Found Me Out 3:05 - Temple, Johnny
24. Rhythm Mama 3:09 - Temple, Johnny
25. New Little Girl, Little Girl 2:51 - Brown, Lee Discography
Disc One
Ed Andrews, voc, g. - Atlanta, Ga., late March or early April 1924B617A - BARREL HOUSE BLUES Okeh 8137

Tom Delaney, voc; Fred Longshaw, p - New York City, June 18, 1925140699-2 - GEORGIA STOCKADE BLUES Columbia 14082

Memphis Jug Band : Will Shade, hca; Ben Ramey, kazoo; Will Weldon, voc, g; Charlie Polk, jug. - Memphis, Tenn., February 24, 1927.A37941-2 -
SUN BRIMMERS BLUES Victor 20552

Big Boy Cleveland, voc, g. - Chicago, Ill., or Richmond, Ind., April 12, 192712700 - GOIN' TO LEAVE YOU BLUES Gennett GE 6108

Blind Blake, g, speech; Unknown, rattlebones. - Chicago, Ill., April 13, 14, 1927.4462-1 - DRY BONE SHUFFLE Document DOCD5062

De Ford Bailey, hca. - New York City, April 19, 1927.E22503/04 - UP COUNTRY BLUES Brunswick BR 147

Sippie Wallace, voc, p; Louis Armstrong, cnt; Artie Starks, cl. - Chicago, Ill., May 6, 1927.80837-A - DEAD DRUNK BLUES Okeh 8499

Down Home Boys : Little Harvey Hull, Long "Cleve" Reed, voc, g; Unknown, g. - Chicago, Ill., May 1927.ORIGINAL STACK O'LEE BLUES Black Patti 8030

Barbecue Bob (Robert Hicks) voc, g. - New York City, June 16, 1927.144284-3 - EASY RIDER DON'T YOU DENY MY NAME Columbia 14257D

Kid Brown and his Blues Band :Kid Brown, voc; unknown, cl, as; probably Troy C. Snapp, p; Unknown bjo. - Chicago, circa July 15, 1927.12930 - BO-LITA Black Patti 5049

William Smith, Versey Smith, voc; one of them, g; one of them, tam. - Chicago, circa August 1927.4686 - EVERYBODY HELP THE BOYS COME HOME Paramount 12505

Luke Jordan, voc, g. - Charlotte, N.C., August 16, 1927.39891-1 -
CHURCH BELLS BLUES Document DOCD 5045

Emery Glen, voc, g. - Atlanta, Ga., November 7, 1927.145155-2 -
TWO WAYS TO TEXAS Columbia 14283

Barbecue Bob and Laughing Charley : Robert Hicks, voc, g; Charlie Hicks, g. - Atlanta, November 9, 1927.145192-2 -
IT WON'T BE LONG NOW, PT.1 Columbia 14268D

Sylvester Weaver & Walter Beasley, g. - New York City, November 27, 1927.81883-A -
BOTTLENECK BLUES Okeh 8530

Lewis Black, voc, g. - Memphis, Tenn., December 10, 1927.145361-3 -
ROCK ISLAND BLUES Columbia 14429

William (Bill)Moore, voc, g. - Chicago, circa January 1928.20312-3 - MIDNIGHT BLUES Paramount PM 12636

Johnnie Head, voc, g, kazoo. - Chicago, circa January 1928.20274-2 - FARE THEE BLUES, PT.1 Paramount 12628

Jim Jackson, voc, g. - Memphis, Tenn., January 30, 1928.41800-1 -
MY MONDAY WOMAN BLUES Victor 21236

Frank Stokes, voc, g, unknown, g. - Memphis, Tenn., February 1, 1928.41826-1 -
WHAT'S THE MATTER BLUES Victor V38531

Rosie Mae Moore, voc., Charlie McCoy, g. - Memphis, Tenn., February 3, 1928.41832-2 -
SCHOOL GIRL BLUES Victor V 21408

Tommy Johnson, voc, g; Charlie McCoy, g. - Memphis, Tenn., February 3, 1928.41836-2 -
COOL DRINK OF WATER BLUES Victor
V 21279

Ishman Bracey, voc, g; Charlie McCoy, g. - Memphis, Tenn., February 4, 1928.41843-2 - LEFT ALONE BLUES Victor V 21349

Jim "Mooch" Richardson, voc, g. - Memphis, Tenn., February 13, 1928.400213-B - T AND T BLUES Okeh 8554

T.C. Johnson and "Blue Coat" Tom Nelson : T.C. Johnson, voc, g; Tom Nelson, violin. - Memphis, Tenn., February 16, 1928.400250-B -
T.C. JOHNSON BLUES Okeh 8838

Disc Two

Rube Lacey (Reubin Lacy) voc, g; Ralph Lembo, voc. - Chicago, Ill., March 1928.20420-3 - HAM HOUND CRAVE Paramount 12629

Texas Alexander, voc, Lonnie Johnson, g. - San Antonio, TX., March 9, 1928.400446-A - NO MORE WOMEN BLUES Okeh 8624

Sonny Porter ("New Orleans" Willie Jackson), voc; J.C. Johnson, p; Eddie Lang, g. - New York City, October 5, 1928.147108-3 - HOW LONG-HOW LONG BLUES Columbia 14366

Tarter and Gay : Stephen Tarter, voc, g; Harry Gay, g. - Bristol, Tenn., November 2, 1928.47280-3 -
UNKNOWN BLUES Victor 38017

Chicken Wilson and Skeeter Hinton : George "Chicken" Wilson, g; Jimmy "Skeeter" Hinton, hca. - Long Island City, NYC., circa December 1928.319-A - CHICKEN WILSON BLUES QRS R 7052

Mississippi John Hurt, voc, g. - New York City, December 28, 1928.401481-B - STACK O'LEE BLUES Okeh 8654

Peg Leg Howell, voc, g; unknown, violin. - Atlanta, Ga., April 10, 1929.148236-1 - BROKE AND HUNGRY BLUES Columbia 14438-D

Victoria Spivey, voc., Louis Armstrong, tp; Fred Robinson, tb; Jimmy Strong, cl, ts; Gene Anderson, p; Mancy Cara, bj; Zutty Singleton, d. - New York City, July 10, 1929.402525C - FUNNY FEATHERS Okeh 8713

Will Ezell, voc, p; Baby Jay, cnt; Blind Roosevelt Graves, g; Uaroy Graves, tamb. - Richmond, Ind., September 20, 1929.15650 -
PITCHIN' BOOGIE Paramount 12855

Joe Williams, voc, g; Jed Davenport, hca. - Memphis, Tenn., September 23, 1929.M196 -
MR. DEVIL BLUES Vocalion 1457

Kid Bailey, voc, g; unknown, g. - Memphis, Tenn., September 25, 1929M209/10 - MISSISSIPPI BOTTOM BLUES Brunswick 7114

James Wiggins, voc, hca; Blind Leroy Garnett, p. - Richmond, Ind., October 12, 1929.15765A - WEARY HEART BLUES Paramount 12878

Henry Townsend, voc, g. - Chicago, Ill., November 15, 1929.403303-A - POOR MAN BLUES Columbia 14491Eli Framer, voc, g. - Atlanta, Ga., November 29, 1929.56640 -
FRAMER'S BLUES Victor 23409

Oak Cliff T-Bone (T-Bone Walker), voc, g; Douglas Fernell, p. - Dallas, Tx., December 5, 1929.W 149548-1 -
TRINITY RIVER BLUES Columbia CO 14506D

Charley Taylor, voc, p. - Grafton, Wis., circa December 1929. L-251-1 - HEAVY SUITCASE BLUES Paramount 12967

Joe Calicott, voc, g. - Memphis, Tenn., February 20, 1930.MEM-778 - TRAVELING MAMA BLUES Brunswick 7166

Garfield Akers, voc, g. - Memphis, Tenn., circa February 21, 1930.MEM-777A - JUMPIN' AND SHOUTIN' BLUES Vocalion 1481

Jim Thompkins, voc, g. -Memphis, Tenn., February 21, 1930.MEM 780 - BEDSIDE BLUES Brunswick 7200

Son House, voc, g. - Granton, Wis., May 28, 1930.9-2No.1 - WALKING BLUES Document DOCD 5002

Willie Brown, voc, g. - Grafton, Wis., May 28, 1930.1-418-2 - FUTURE BLUES Paramount 13090

Louise Johnson, voc, p; Son House and/or Willie Brown, speech. - Grafton, Wis., May 28, 1930.L399-2 - LONG WAYS FROM HOME Paramount 12992

Bayless Rose, g. - Richmond, Ind., June 7, 1930.16739 -
FRISCO BLUES Champion 16772

Arthur Pettis, voc, g. - Chicago, Ill., circa July 25, 1930.C5921 -
GOOD BOY BLUES Brunswick 7182

Little Brother Montgomery, voc, g. - Grafton, Wis., circa September 1930.L501-1 - NO SPECIAL RIDER BLUES Paramount 13006

Disc Three

Blind Willie Reynolds, voc, g. - Memphis, Tenn., November 26, 1930.64721-2 - MARRIED MAN BLUES Victor 23258

Willie Walker, voc, g; Sam Brooks, voc, g. - Atlanta, Ga., December 6, 1930.151063 - DUPREE BLUES Columbia 14578

Skip James, voc, p., foot tapping. - Grafton, Wis., circa February 1931.L765-1 - 22-20 BLUES Paramount 13066

"Salty Dog Sam" (Sam Collins), voc, g. - New York City, March 16, 1932.10836 - LONESOME ROAD BLUES Banner 32669

Leroy Carr, voc, p; Scrapper Blackwell, g. - New York City, March 16, 1932.11499-A - MIDNIGHT HOUR BLUES Vocalion 1703

Jabo Williams, voc, p. - Grafton, Wis., circa May 1932.L1408-1 -
FAT MAMA BLUES Paramount 13130

Georgia Boyd, voc; J.D. Short, g. - Chicago, Ill., August 2, 1933.76835-1 - NEVER MIND BLUES Bluebird B 5573

Kokomo Arnold, voc, g. - Chicago, Ill., January 18, 1935.C-9671-A -
THE TWELVES (THE DIRTY DOZENS)
Decca 7083

Big Joe Williams, voc, g. - Chicago, Ill., February 25, 1935.85487-1 - LITTLE LEG WOMAN Bluebird B 5900

Bessie Jackson (Lucille Bogan) voc., Walter Roland, p. - New York City, March 5, 1935.16965-2 -
THAT'S WHAT MY BABY LIKES
Conqueror 8559

Peetie Wheatstraw, voc, p; Will Weldon, steel-g. - Chicago, Ill., March 25, 1935.C-924-A -
GOOD WHISKEY BLUES Vocalion 02978

Cripple Clarence Lofton, voc, p; Unknown, wbd. - Chicago, Ill., April 2, 1935.C-947-B - STRUT THAT THING Vocalion 02951

Louie Lasky, voc, g. - Chicago, Ill., April 2, 1935.C-945-B -
TEASIN' BROWN BLUES Vocalion 02955

Bumble Bee Slim (Amos Easton), voc; Big Bill Broonzy, g; Myrtle Jenkins, p. - Chicago, Ill., July 18, 1935.C-1073-A -
COLD BLOODED MURDER, NO.2 Vocalion 03165

Blind Boy Fuller, voc, g; Blind Gary Davis, g; Bull City Red, wbd. - New York City, July 25, 1935.17874-1 - BABY, YOU GOTTA CHANGE YOUR MIND Vocalion 03014

Walter Davis, voc, p; poss. Henry Townsend, g. - Chicago, Ill., October 1, 1935.BS96237 - ASHES IN MY WHISKEY Bluebird B6201

The Mississippi Moaner (Isaiah Nettles), voc, g. - Jackson, Miss., October 20, 1935.JAX-202-1 -
IT'S COLD IN CHINA BLUES Vocalion 03166

Jazz Gillum, voc, hca; Big Bill Broonzy, g; unknown, b. - Chicago, Ill., April 3, 1936.100313 -
JOCKEY BLUES Bluebird B6409

George Clarke, voc, hca; unknown, g. - Chicago, Ill., August 5, 1936.100897-1 -
PRISONER BLUES Bluebird B7485

Casey Bill Weldon, voc, steel-g; Black Bob, p; Big Bill Broonzy, g; poss Bill Settles, b. - Chicago, September 16, 1936.C 1471-2 - BACK DOOR BLUES Vocalion 03330

Buddy Woods with The Wampus Cats : Buddy Woods, voc, g; unknown, 2nd g; unknown, p; unknown, b. - San Antonio, TX., October 30, 1937.SA-2845-1 - DON'T SELL IT (DON'T GIVE IT AWAY) Vocalion 03906

Washboard Sam, voc, wbd; Joshua Altheimer, p; Big Bill Broonzy, g; Ransom Knowling, b. - Chicago, Ill., May 15, 1939.034793 - BOOKER T. BLUES Bluebird B 8211

Little Buddy Doyle, voc, g; probably Walter Horton, hca. - Memphis, Tenn., July 1, 1939.MEM-17-1 -
HARD SCUFFLIN' BLUES Okeh 05771

Lonnie Johnson, voc, g; Joshua Altheimer, p. - Chicago, Ill., November 2, 1939.BS 044050 -
JERSEY BELLE BLUES Bluebird B8387

Tommy McClennan, voc, g. - Chicago, Ill., November 22, 1939.044246-1 - BABY PLEASE DON'T TELL ON ME
Bluebird B8444

Disc Four

Faber Smith, voc., Jimmy Yancey, p. - Chicago, Ill., February 23, 1940.WC-2955-A -
EAST ST. LOUIS BLUES Vocalion 05464

Big Maceo Merriweather, voc, p; Tampa Red, voc., g. - Chicago, Ill., June 24, 1941.064193-1 -
CAN'T YOU READ Bluebird B 8772

Memphis Slim, voc, p; Alex Atkins, as; Ernest Cotton, ts; Charles Jenkins, b. - Chicago, Ill., 1946.UB 21182 - LIFE IS LIKE THAT CD Charly 249

Forest City Joe (Joe B. Pugh), voc, hca; poss J.C. Cole, g. - Chicago, Ill., December 2, 1948.U 7164 -
MEMORY OF SUNNY BOY Aristocrat 3101

Lee Brown, "The Heartbreaker" & his Barber Town Boogie Woogie Cats : Lee Brown, voc, p, unknown, ts; Leroy Foster, g; Big Crawford, b. - Chicago, Ill., September, 1946.
K 5138 - HORSE SHOE BOOGIE Unissued
K 5139 - RUBY MOORE BLUES Unissued
K 5140 - LOW LAND BLUES Unissued
K 5141 - ROUND THE WORLD BOOGIE Unissued

Jimmie Gordon Bip Bop Band : Jimmie Gordon, voc, p; poss. Johnny Temple, voc; unknown tp, ts, b, d. - Chicago, Ill., September 1946.
K 5142 - ROCK THAT BOOGIE Queen/King 4150
K 5143 - FAST LIFE King 4191, LP 859
K 5144 - MISTREATED LIFE Unissued
K 5145 - I AIN'T LIKE THAT NO MORE Queen/King 4150

Johnny Temple, voc, unknown tp; Jimmie Gordon, p; Unknown, b, d, bjo. - Chicago, September 1946.
K 5146 - CHAIN GANG BLUES Unissued
K 5147 - YUM, YUM, YUM Queen/King 4150

Jimmie Gordon and his band : Jimmie Gordon, voc, p; unknown, tp, ts, bs, d. - September, 1946.
K 5148 - MY BABY'S ACTING FUNNY Unissued
K 5149 - IT'S MY TIME TO GO Unissued
K 5150 - THAT WOMAN'S A PEARL DIVER Unissued
K 5151 - JUMPIN' AT THE CLUB BLUE FLAME King 4191

Johnny Temple, voc, g; Unknown, tp, ts, p, b, d. - September, 1946.
K 5152 - I BELIEVE I'LL GO DOWNTOWN AGAIN Queen/King 4151
K 5154 - SOMETHING IN THE MOON THAT GIVES ME A THRILL Unissued
K 5156 - DIXIE FLYER Unissued
K 5158 - BELIEVE MY SINS HAVE FOUND ME OUT Unissued
K 5159 - RHYTHM MAMA Unissued

Lee Brown and his Barbertown Boogie Woogie Cats : Lee Brown, voc, p; Unknown, ts; Leroy Foster, g; Big Crawford, b. - Chicago, Ill., September 1946.
K 5160 - NEW LITTLE GIRL, LITTLE GIRL Queen/King 4157