137040 Blooie-Blooie played by the Composer Edythe Baker $15
and Jean (Shelton Brooks) played by Edythe Baker
(originally issued on Universal 203545 and 203575)

Edythe Baker's Blooie-Blooie was never published, copyrighted, or released in any form other than this terrific composer-played roll. This is a great rag that probably belongs in the "novelty" rag category, but it's unlike any other novelty rag! Read more about it in Rags and Ragtime. Baker's style is unmistakeable and just great. Jean is a pop standard which is transformed by another marvelous Baker performance into a real gem! Both are superior Baker efforts, showing off her trade mark left hand.

137294 When You're Good You're Lonesome played by Edythe Baker $12
(originally issued on Mel-O-Dee 3749) - lyric sheet included with this roll

Edythe Baker has a unique style unlike any other. This tune is featured on the Biograph CD "Jazzin' Baby Blues" and I liked it so well I asked Mike Montgomery for permission to recut it. I promise you'll like it too, both for the great piano part and for the funny lyrics.

137087 Eliza played by Robert Billings $12
(originally issued on U.S. Music 42326) - lyric sheet included with this roll

This is possibly the classiest, jazziest piano roll arrangement I have ever heard. I first heard it when Mike Schwimmer recut it in 1985, and jumped when the opportunity arose to offer it again, with lyrics added. It swings all the way through and has several classy solo verses steeped in hot tricks, blue notes and counter melodies. Billings rolls are usually above average, but this is outstanding. It just doesn't get any better than this!

137072 Boll Weevil Blues played by Eubie Blake $12
(originally issued on Mel-O-Dee 4259) - lyric sheet included with this roll

Eubie Blake's piano rolls usually have a more heavily arranged style than do other popular rolls of the era. I have always preferred rolls that sound like they could be played by a single human being, but I have come to love the clever details in many more intricate rolls such as this one from Eubie. This almost sounds like a full band playing, perhaps like the bands in the Broadway shows Eubie was involved with at the time. Eubie includes a nice, long, interesting solo verse amid the equally interesting verses and choruses. This version of Boll Weevil Blues is very satisfying and has never been recut. The melody is very strong and one you will likely remember after playing the roll a few times.

137295 Don't Tell Your Monkey Man played by Eubie Blake $12
(originally issued on Mel-O-Dee 2966) - lyric sheet included with this roll

Eubie Blake's version of Don't Tell Your Monkey Man is quite satisfying and has never been recut. The lyrics are great, and refer to Pretty Baby (or Pretty Monkey in this case)!

137246 Down Home Blues (Tom Delaney) played by Eubie Blake $12
(originally issued on Mel-O-Dee 3001) - lyric sheet included with this roll

Somehow this roll has never been recut before. The James P. Johnson version seems to be the standard for this tune, but Eubie's performance here is outstanding, and this is one of the least-heavily-arranged of Eubie's Mel-O-Dee rolls. One section in particular is very unique to this roll, and deserves to be heard: in the middle of the chorus repeat Eubie inserts a 16-bar interlude with gospel chords and a sort of "Mammy" theme lyric. It's NEAT, very effective, and appropriate for this tune.

137341 It's Right Here For You played by Eubie Blake $12
(originally issued on Mel-O-Dee S2948 / Feb. 1921) - lyric sheet included with roll

137342 War Bride Blues played by Eubie Blake $12
(originally issued on Mel-O-Dee S2961 / March 1921) - lyric sheet included with roll

Here are a couple of neat Eubie Blake rolls. It's Right Here For You (If You Don't Get It, 'Tain't No Fault Of Mine) is a 1920 tune by the famous black composer Perry Bradford (what a great subtitle!). War Bride Blues is a 1917 tune about the sad wife of a man going off to fight in World War I. Both tunes are reprinted in Richard Riley's great "Early Blues Vol. 1" folio, and both feature Eubie's full, orchestral arrangements and nice solo sections. This War Bride Blues roll has never been reissued before!

137261 If You Don't Want Me Blues played by Eubie Blake $12
(originally issued on MelODee S2980) - lyric sheet included with roll

137263 Don't Wanta Blues played by J. Milton Delcamp $12
(originally issued on Republic 39718) - lyric sheet included with roll

These two rolls are actually the same tune, written by Perry Bradford around 1920. The Eubie Blake roll features many of his typical "tricks", and has two tasty solo verses. The J. Milton Delcamp roll is an incredible surprise: it's full of terrific bluesy effects, and features three excellent solo verses - all different. It's a really driving performance, and one of the biggest surprises on this list!

James Blythe has his own page, with many of his great hand-played popular rolls.

137179 Nashville Blues (Booty) played by the composer Charlie Booty $15
(original issue / Front Porch 019 / recorded August 11, 1991 in Evansville, IN)

The same 1991 session that netted This Is The Blues also afforded me the opportunity to meet Charlie Booty, who I had known of for some time and was thrilled to meet. Booty is one of the highly-regarded pianists who was profiled in Peter Silvester's boogie-woogie bible A Left Hand Like God. This particular tune is a smooth, driving blues Charlie wrote around 1957. It was released on George Buck's Jazzology label in 1983 on an album featuring Charlie with fellow boogie ace (and Front Porch artist!) Ben Conroy.

137306 Colorado Blues (Euday Bowman) played by Adam Carroll $15
and Washin' Blues (Frank Black) played by the composer Frank Black
(originally issued on Deluxe 15474 and Deluxe 15482)

Euday Bowman / Frank Black : I reissued Bowman's Colorado Blues from a U. S. Music original a few years ago, but this early hand-played roll is real nice and quite scarce so I jumped at the chance to reissue it. This is an 88-note roll from the Deluxe company in the years before Welte took it over and used the label for reproducing rolls. Washin' Blues is another neat, early hand-played rag / blues by an artist we know little about, but Frank's rendition is lively in a style that reminds me of the raggy stuff Charley Straight recorded.

137329 Flamin' Mamie (A Red Hot Stepper) played by J. Lawrence Cook $12
(originally issued on Imperial X5920) ­ copy of original sheet music included with roll

A good friend up north (hey, dere!) requested this one, and went so far as to send me the sheet music to include! When you see the lyrics you'll understand that they're vital to enjoying this tune. The roll features an opening chorus then both verses followed by the chorus, so you'll be able to sing the entire thing when you put this roll on. It's a fun one all right, and it should keep 'em all warm in Ontario. ;-)

137367 Darktown Is Out Tonight (©1898 / Will Marion Cook) / arranged roll $15
(orig. issued on Symphony 58-note roll X4231) ­ copy of original sheet music included
and My Creole Belle (J. Rosamond Johnson) / arranged roll
(originally issued on QRS 58-note roll 4602)

Here are two very early popular songs by important black composers. Will Marion Cook wrote the first black show on Broadway - Cloridy - for which Darktown Is Out Tonight is the "roaring cakewalk finale", as described in Spreadin' Rhythm Around (see pages 79-95). The lyrics are very racy (both literally and figuratively) as you will see: I've been fortunate again to locate a copy of the original sheet music for inclusion with this recut of a scarce Symphony 58-note roll.

Also reissued here is a popular song by J. Rosamond Johnson, who is best known today for transcribing two books of Negro Spirituals, which are still in print. Read more about J. R. Johnson in Spreadin' Rhythm Around (see pages 95-117). I have been unable to find the sheet music for My Creole Belle, and I have to guess it was published around 1900. It has a very nice melody and makes a good companion to Darktown. If I find the original sheet, I will make note of it here and gladly send a copy to anyone who ordered the roll.

137150 Hurry and Bring It Home Blues (Davenport) $12
played by the composer Charles "Cow Cow" Davenport
(originally issued on Vocalstyle 13482 / November 1925) - lyric sheet included with roll

Cow Cow Davenport was a great blues figure. You're no doubt familiar with his Cow Cow Blues, both from the roll and the phonograph recording. That very unique sound is Davenport's trademark, but here we have a completely different tune without any hint of the Cow Cow Blues. This roll is so straight and honest, it really strikes you as a hand-played roll. What's even better about this recut is that we've corrected all the rhythmic irregularities which make Vocalstyle rolls so annoying and restored what is more likely the sound Davenport intended. Once again the credit goes to Robbie Rhodes for doing an outstanding job at cleaning this up (of course, no attempt was made to change anything on this roll other than to correct the mistakes). This is the piano roll equivalent of remastering tunes like you hear about on CD's all the time, and I'm confident you will be able to tell the difference and agree that this is a vast improvement.

137168 5th Street Blues (Davenport) $12
played by the composer Charles "Cow Cow" Davenport
(originally issued on Vocalstyle 13520 / January 1926) - lyric sheet included with roll

137169 He Sho' Don't Mean No Harm (Davenport) $12
played by the composer Charles "Cow Cow" Davenport
(originally issued on Vocalstyle 13602 / ca. April 1926) - lyric sheet included with roll

Cow Cow Davenport was one of the most original and exciting artists who recorded piano rolls. His stuff has remained very obscure, and this is the very first time either of these rolls has been recut. I don't believe that He Sho' Don't Mean No Harm has even been recorded for an LP or CD, so you'll have to believe me that these are both knockout performances! As with Hurry And Bring It Home Blues, Robbie Rhodes has corrected the occasional sloppy editing which marred the Vocalstyle originals. Sure you'll read it elsewhere on this list ('cause it's true), but these really are killer blues.

Lem Fowler has his own page, with many of his great hand-played popular rolls.

137344 Black Snake Blues played by "Lew" Jackson $12
(originally issued on Mel-O-Art 1052 / ca. May 1926) - lyric sheet included with roll

Black Snake Blues is one of the hottest rolls I've ever reissued!! It has a great, gutbucket feel to it and a very interesting story behind it. This is a tune by Victoria Spivey, which she recorded in 1926. Blind Lemon Jefferson then recorded the same tune as his own Black Snake Moan, and got Victoria mad at him! It is interesting how different this roll sounds from Victoria's recording, and yet how effective this rendition is. If you like low-down blues then this will probably be one of your favorites. It comes highly recommended!

137170 Hock Shop Blues played by Cliff Jackson $12
(originally issued on QRS 3616 / September 1926) - lyric sheet included with roll

I'd wanted to reissue this for a long time -- it hadn't been done for some time, and was one of the first piano rolls to be recorded when that became popular in the 1950's. This is one of those blues that you want to play as slow as you can stand, it's so tasty. Cliff Jackson was a legendary Harlem stride pianist who recorded with many blues singers and later with his own band, but this is the only piano roll of his that has been found (he recorded one other for Melodee that's never been found). This one's great -- don't miss it!

137297 Aunt Hagar's Blues played by Clarence Johnson $12
(originally issued on Columbia 527) - lyric sheet included with roll

I didn't intend to issue multiple versions of Aunt Hagar's Blues on this list, but after you've heard both you'll agree I couldn't issue 1 in lieu of the other. This is a terrific 1920's version and a typically fine arrangement as Columbia is so well known for.

137265 Don't Think You'll Be Missed played by Clarence Johnson $12
(originally issued on Columbia 601) - lyric sheet included with roll

137266 Your Mama's Gonna Slow You Down played by Clarence Johnson $12
(originally issued on Columbia 793 / American 793) - lyric sheet included with roll

Don't Think You'll Be Missed is another terrific performance, with funny lyrics as implied by the title ("...got a girl in Alabama with a roll of money, enough to choke a cow...") warning an unfaithful lover to get in line. Along the same vein is the second Clarence Johnson roll in this year's list, Your Mama's Gonna Slow You Down. This time the lyrics poke fun at the unfaithful lover's lack of class ("I remember when you got here from the south - you were so raggedy you had your money hid in your mouth"). Clarence treats us to two full 12-bar solo verses at the end of this one; don't miss it!

James P. Johnson has his own page, with many of his great hand-played ragtime & popular rolls.

137301 Jazzin' Baby Blues played by Clarence Jones $12
(originally issued on Columbia 457) - lyric sheet included with roll

137302 Poor Papa played by Clarence Jones $12
(originally issued on Staffnote 571W) - lyric sheet included with roll

The next two are played by Clarence Jones on two different roll labels. The former is by Richard M. Jones and was issued in December 1922; the latter issue date is unknown, but the tune was copyrighted in 1926. Both are fun, hot popular tunes that can be heard on the Biograph CD mentioned elsewhere. Clarence Jones is one of the earliest hot piano roll stylists and is credited with helping pioneer the distinctive piano roll style of many hot tunes of the 1920's.

Continue browsing the blues at Blues Pianists, K-Z (Scott Kirby, Jim Hession, Carl "Sonny" Leyland, Max Kortlander, Jelly Roll Morton, Luckey Roberts, J. Russel Robinson, Butch Thompson, Teddy Weatherford, Pete Wendling, etc.)