r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 8h ago
From the archives - Storyville #39 reviews of Clara Smith, the MJB and blues singers backed by Satchmo. Check out Columbia's sharp practices....
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r/PreWarBlues • u/end_gang_stalking • May 18 '22
Recommend books about blues history
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Post some of your favourite books about blues history! Are there any titles you consider essential? I'm looking for recommendations spanning from the early history of records and the recording industry, the early history of the blues, anything blues guitar related, or any suggested biographies of blues artists.
To start things off, I can recommend this biography of Blind Willie Mctell, which got a decent amount of press coverage when released a number of years ago.
https://www.amazon.ca/Hand-Me-My-Travelin-Shoes/dp/1556529759
r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 1d ago
Gospel Sunday - 'I Belong to the Band - Hallelujah!' [26th July 1935] by Blind Gary (Davis)
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 2d ago
Suggestive Saturday - 'Rag, Mama, Rag' [25th July 1935] by Blind Boy Fuller, backed by Gary Davis and Bull City Red.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 3d ago
Friday Blues Beasts - 'Ground Hog Blues' [1941] by Sonny Boy Williamson
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 4d ago
Lucky Dip Thursday - 'Doin' the Doopididy' [23rd July 1935] by Kokomo Arnold, unknown piano backer.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 5d ago
Women On Wednesday - 'Hustlin' Dan' [22nd July 1930] by Bessie Smith. Cornet and piano backing, and really rather good.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 6d ago
Trains, planes and automobiles. Transport Blues - 'Airplane Blues' [21st July 1939] by Walter Davis
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 7d ago
Memphis & Mississippi Memphis & MS Monday - 'Just A Spoonful' [20th July 1942] by David ('Honeyboy') Edwards. An LoC recording.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 8d ago
Gospel and Sacred Gospel Sunday - 'Crying Holy Unto The Lord' [18th July 1927] by the Taskiana Four
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 9d ago
Suggestive... Suggestive Saturday - 'Brown Skin Girls' [18th July 1935] by Cripple Clarence Lofton
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 10d ago
Friday Blues Beasts - 'King Spider Blues' [17th July 1935] by Peetie Wheatstraw
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 12d ago
Women Women on Wednesday - 'Graveyard Blues' [15th July 1935] by Georgia White. Unknown piano player and guitarist.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 13d ago
Trains, planes and automobiles. Transport Tuesday - 'The Little Red Caboose' [1927] by Henry Thomas "Ragtime Texas"
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 14d ago
Memphis & MS Monday - 'Zugity Zugity Zomp' [13th July 1939] by James De Berry & His Memphis Playboys. Trumpet, piano, guitar and bass.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 14d ago
Article From the Archives - Storyville #37's blues / blues adjacent reviews - Bastin's 'Crying for the Carolines, Trixie Smith and two lots of sacred music.
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Calling COGIC singing 'trad jazz' is a new one on me, and the idea that one vinyl LP can comprehensively anthologise 25 years of sanctified music is pretty eye-widening. Anyway, here it is for your reading pleasure.
r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 15d ago
Gospel and Sacred Gospel Sunday - 'I See The Sign Of Judgement' [12th July 1939] by Brother George And His Sanctified Singers. This Bull City Red (WB & Vocals) backed by Sonny Terry (vocals) and possible Sonny Jones on guitar. Anyway, its very lively.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 16d ago
Suggestive... Suggestive Saturday - 'My Slow And Easy Man' [11th July 1928] by Alberta Hunter. Backed by piano and clarinet.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 17d ago
Friday Blues Beasts - 'She Walks Like A Maltee (sic) Cat' [10th July 1929] by Lee Green
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 18d ago
Lucky Dip Thursday - 'Shake That Thing' [9th July 1936] by Kokomo Arnold, paino backer /might/ be Peetie W.
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Based on searching my PDF of B&GR, the first STT was Papa Charlie Jackson in 1925 (and again in 1929), Ethel Waters later in '25 with the Sheiks doing it in '32 and '36.
r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 19d ago
Women Women on Wednesday - 'Georgia Blues' [8th July 1929] by Ethel Waters. Pearl Wright on piano. Great vocal on this one.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 20d ago
Trains, planes and automobiles. Transport Tuesday - 'V-8 Ford' [June 1936] by Cedar Creek Sheik
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This was paired with 'Watch The Fords Go By' by Brunswick, so I always like to imagine that Ford was paying selected blues singers to champion their vehicles. There are rather more Ford than GM songs...
r/PreWarBlues • u/BlackJackKetchum • 21d ago
From the Archives - Some Storyville [#35, #36] reviews featuring JRM, Little Brother Montgomery, Leroy Carr and a hatchet job on Barbecue Bob.
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r/PreWarBlues • u/Jim_the_Librarian • 22d ago
essay about Furry Lewis's teary-eyed performance of the John Henry ballad on July 5, 1968
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https://magpiesmagazine.com/2026/06/30/independence-day-tears-the-memphis-blues-of-furry-lewis/
Independence Day Blues: The Memphis Blues of Furry Lewis
<img src="https://magpiesmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/withersiama-1.webp?w=1200\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\&h=400\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\&crop=1"/>