James "Jimmy" Blythe is one of the most revered hot piano roll artists among roll collectors, although his name is not widely known outside our circles. He recorded dozens of rolls for Supertone and Capitol roll labels, and cut some of the hottest tunes to appear on Capitol style "A" nickelodeon rolls (examples of which can be found on my BluesTone "A" roll recut section and 88-note roll conversions may be found below). He also recorded over 100 phonograph records as accompanist to many well-known Chicago blues vocalists. Blythe's best piano solos can be heard on an outstanding CD on the Johnny Parth's RST Label (see cover art above). Mike Montgomery wrote outstanding liner notes for this, which are not to be missed!

137371 Poor Papa / played by James Blythe $13
(originally issued on Capitol 1425 / ca. 1926) - lyric sheet included with roll

James Blythe's recording of Poor Papa (He's Got Nothin' At All) is a real delight. He uses lots of walking bass, syncopation, and neat right-hand riffs throughout. It's also a cute song about "Mama" having the run of the house.

The Capitol Music Roll Company issued 88-note rolls under the Supertone and Capitol labels, among others. The Capitol versions are always longer than their Supertone equivalents, as is the case here. Poor Papa played by Blythe has never been reissued before!

137343 Black Eyed Blues played by James Blythe $13 This roll is currently out of stock
(originally issued on Columbia 450 / Nov. 1922) - lyric sheet included with roll (but no color label)

Black Eyed Blues is one of Blythe's earlier rolls (©1922). In this case the black eyes belong to a beautiful señorita who occupies the mind of the composer. You'll hear a nicely swinging tune with a touch of Spanish Tinge, as Jelly Roll Morton might say. This is the first time this Blythe roll has ever been recut!

137166 Blue Hoosier Blues (Meskill - Baer) played by James Blythe $13
(originally issued on Supertone 5335) - lyric sheet included with roll

Here's a well-known popular blues song, played by Jimmy Blythe for the Supertone label. This tune also appeared on Capitol A rolls, but in a shortened version which omits about half of the material which appears here! This roll was never before recut.

137321 Cuddle Up Blues (Jerome & DeCosta) played by James Blythe $13 This roll is currently out of stock
(originally issued on Columbia 385) - lyric sheet included with roll

137322 Temper'mental Papa played by James Blythe $13
(originally issued on Columbia 1001) - lyric sheet included with roll

These 2 rolls were both issued on Columbia, and both live up to Columbia's reputation for issuing some of the tastiest, bluesiest rolls to be found. Neither has ever been recut! Cuddle Up is one of Blythe's earliest rolls (©1922) and has a nice 4-bar coda. Temper'mental Papa is a typical "mistreated mama" tune with tasty licks throughout.

137247 Farewell Blues (Schoebel, Ehrlich & Robbolo) played by James Blythe $13
(originally issued on Columbia 589) - lyric sheet included with roll

You are going to LOVE this new Blythe recut! It's never been recut before, and it's HOT! The arrangement is nice and lean, Blythe uses a boogie-woogie left hand in much of it, and it's a dream to foot-pump. This tune also appeared on rolls by Edythe Baker and James P. Johnson (which I must tell are both excellent rolls), but this one is at least as good if not better.

137212 High Brown Blues (Ager & Yellen) played by James Blythe $13 This roll is currently out of stock
(originally issued on Columbia 357) - lyric sheet included with roll

No list would be complete without a James Blythe roll, and this early Columbia roll is super. It's been recut only once before (from the Supertone release) and long overdue to be readily available once again. The lyrics are oh-so-politically-incorrect to the point of almost being shocking (really!), but what the hell. Great syncopation, great Blythe...

137074 I've Got The Yes! We Have No Banana Blues (Brown, Hanley & King)
played by James Blythe $13
(originally issued on Supertone 5332) - lyric sheet included with roll

Here we have a popular song written as a rebuttal to the obvious pop song, which the vocalist has had more than enough of ("I'd give up most everything just to go where they don't sing 'Yes! We Have no Bananas'"). Blythe is superb all the way through as usual, but he saves the best for last and gives us one of his best codas ever - it's wild, and it's over 16 bars long!

137262 Triflin' Blues (Grainger & Rickets) played by James Blythe $13 This roll is currently out of stock
(originally issued on Columbia 696) - lyric sheet included with roll

Triflin' Blues is a terrific James Blythe performance, complete with a delicious 12-bar coda after the final chorus. Beautiful!

137336 Dizzy Blues possibly played by James Blythe or Clarence Johnson
and One Sweet Letter From You played by Charlie Garland

137337 Mississippi Blues possibly played by James Blythe or Clarence Johnson
and Sunset Mama possibly played by James Blythe or Clarence Johnson

137338 You've Got Those Wanna Go Back Again Blues played by James Blythe or Clarence Johnson
and Shorty George Blues possibly played by James Blythe or Clarence Johnson

137339 Dixie Dreams Blues possibly played by James Blythe or Clarence Johnson
and Crying With The Blues possibly played by James Blythe or Clarence Johnson

137340 Blue Kentucky Blues possibly played by James Blythe or Clarence Johnson
and Joe Turner Blues possibly played by James Blythe or Clarence Johnson

$60 SPECIAL: SOLD ONLY AS A 5-ROLL SET (5 long-play, 2-tune rolls, discounted $15) $70

Capitol "A" Roll #2077 : It's been about 25 years since a classic all-blues Capitol "A" roll was converted to 88-note player rolls, and I'm very proud to offer this new conversion for you. This roll surfaced last year, and I was able to have it recut in its original 65-note A roll format. The files were then converted for use on the 88-note perforator. These 10 tunes are all excellent examples of the early 1920's Chicago blues piano style associated with the Capitol Music Roll Co. and its star arrangers.

Capitol "A" Roll #2077 is also available in its original 10-tune, 65-note format!! Please follow this link to my BluesTone "A" Roll listing.