Seven of our race-record favorites, from the company that broke the mold and started it all — Check out the full story in Race Records and the American Recording Industry, 1919–1945, available from Mainspring Press.
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MAMIE SMITH & HER JAZZ HOUNDS: Jazzbo Ball
New York: February 1921
Okeh 4295 (mx. S 7788 – B)
The February 21 recording date shown in some discographies is speculative and not from the Okeh recording files (which do not exist for this period).
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KING OLIVER’S JAZZ BAND: Dipper Mouth Blues
Chicago (Consolidated Talking Machine Co. offices): June 23, 1923
Okeh 4918 (mx. 8402 – A)
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BENNIE MOTEN’S KANSAS CITY ORCHESTRA: 18th Street Strut
Kansas City, MO: May 1925
Okeh 8242 (mx. 9123 – A)
The May 14 recording date shown in some discographies is speculative and not from the Okeh recording files (which do not exist for this Kansas City series).
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CLIFFORD [HAYES]’ LOUISVILLE JUG BAND: Struttin’ the Blues
Chicago: May 1925
Okeh 8238 (mx. 9143 – A)
The May 20 recording date shown in some discographies is speculative and not from the Okeh recording files (which do not exist for this session), but probably is fairly accurate, as the preceding session (consisting of Polish vocals) is dated May 19 in the Okeh files.
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WHISTLER [BRUFORD THRELKELD] & HIS JUG BAND: Pig Meat Blues
St. Louis: April 30, 1927
Okeh 8816 (mx. W 80799 – )
From a tape dubbing supplied by the late Mike Stewart.
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NAP HAYES & MATTHEW PRATER: Nothin’ Doin’
Memphis: February 15, 1928
Okeh 45231 (mx. W 400243 – B)
Issued in the white country-music series, although Hayes and Prater were African American. Lonnie Johnson performed with them on the first four titles from this eight-title session.
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JESSE STONE & HIS BLUE SERENADERS: Starvation Blues
St. Louis: April 27, 1927
Okeh 8471 (mx. W 80761 – C)
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ARIZONA DRANES (vocal and piano): I Shall Wear a Crown
Chicago: July 3, 1928
Okeh 8600 (mx. W 400980 – )
From a tape dubbing supplied by the late Mike Stewart. The accompanying vocalists and mandolin player are unidentified on the labels and in the Okeh files.
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Filed under: 78 and Other Disc Records, 78 rpm records, African-American Recording Pioneers, American roots music, American vernacular music, Jazz, Mainspring Press Books & CDs, MP3, Okeh 78 records, Okeh 78-rpm records, Okeh race records 78, Race Records, Record Collectors' Books, Regional Jazz Bands
