Jimmie Rodgers - Recordings 1927-1933 (CD)

Born in September 1897, son of a railroad maintenance boss, Jimmie Rodgers was interested in little but music. He disliked school and struggled to hold down a regular job. By 1920, a failed marriage behind him, Jimmie married Carrie Williamson, in spite of her parents' opposition. In 1925 Jimmie was diagnosed with TB. He concentrated on music which he augmented with irregular railroad work. 1927 found Jimmie, Carrie and their daughter family boarding with Carrie's parents. Work and Jimmie's strength were waning. Seeking a job, Jimmie visited Asheville, NC. Finding no work, he stuck in town, hanging out with local musicians. He started to perform unpaid on local radio which led to live gigs. By mid 1927, Jimmie and his band had a residency at a local resort. Enter Ralph Peer. Peer toured the south for the Victor label on 'field recording' trips. Jimmie and his band attended a Peer session in Bristol, Tennessee. Jimmie fell out with the band, so he cut two sides solo - Sleep, Baby Sleep and The Soldier's Sweetheart. Sales of the resulting record were said to be fair. To get the facts, Jimmie chased Peer to New York. A session at Victor's Camden Studios resulted. T For Texas (known as Blue Yodel) and Away Out On The Mountain sold at least half a million. The next session, in February 1928, featured two sidemen who had run into Rodgers by chance. In The Jailhouse Now and Blue Yodel #2 were among eight songs - two co-written by one of the pick-up players. By the end of 1928, Jimmie was headlining a package touring through the southern states and was rich. His success continued. During the next few years, as revealed here, he had many more hits and recorded, incredibly, with Louis Armstrong. Success was marred only by his need to tour incessantly, making his failing health even worse. By his last recording in 1933, he was almost too weak to stand. He died two days later. At the time of his death, his sales were 10% of Victor's total.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. The Soldier's Sweetheart
2. Sleep, Baby Sleep
3. Ben Dewberry's Final Run
4. Mother Was a Lady
5. Blue Yodel
6. Away Out on the Mountain
7. Dear Old Sunny South By the Sea
8. Treasures Untold
9. The Brakeman's Blues
10. The Sailor's Plea
11. In the Jailhouse Now
12. Blue Yodel #2
13. Memphis Yodel
14. Blue Yodel #3
15. My Old Pal
16. My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
17. You and My Old Guitar
18. Daddy and Home
19. My Little Lady
20. Lullaby Yodel
21. Never No Mo' Blues
22. My Carolina Sunshine Girl
23. Blue Yodel #4

Disc: 2

1. Waiting for a Train
2. I'm Lonely and Blue
3. Desert Blues
4. Any Old Time
5. Blue Yodel #5
6. High Powered Mama
7. I'm Sorry We Met
8. Everybody Does It in Hawaii
9. Tuck Away My Lonesome Blues
10. Train Whistle Blues
11. Jimmie's Texas Blues
12. Frankie and Johnnie
13. Whisper Your Mother's Name
14. The Land of My Boyhood Dreams
15. Blue Yodel #6
16. Yodeling Cowboy
17. My Rough and Rowdy Ways
18. I've Ranged, I've Roamed, I've Traveled
19. Hobo Bill's Last Ride
20. Mississippi River Blues
21. Nobody Knows But Me
22. Anniversary Blue Yodel
23. She Was Happy Till She Met You

Disc: 3

1. Blue Yodel #11
2. A Drunkard's Child
3. That's Why I'm Blue
4. Why Did You Give Me Your Love?
5. My Blue Eyed Jane
6. Why Should I Be Lonely
7. Moonlight and Skies
8. Pistol Packin' Papa
9. Take Me Back Again
10. Those Gambler's Blues
11. I'm Lonesome Too
12. The One Rose
13. For the Sake of Days Gone By
14. Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues
15. The Myster of Number Five
16. Blue Yodel #8
17. In the Jailhouse Now #2
18. Blue Yodel #9
19. TB Blues
20. Travelin' Blues
21. Jimmie the Kid
22. Why There's a Tear in My Eye
23. The Wonderful City

Disc: 4

1. Let Me Be Your Sidetrack
2. Jimmie Rodgers Visits the Carter Family
3. The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers in Texas
4. When the Cactus Is in Bloom
5. Gambling Polka Dot Blues
6. Looking for a New Mama
7. What Is It?
8. My Good Gal's Gone Blues
9. Southern Cannon Ball
10. Roll Along Kentucky Moon
11. Hobo's Meditation
12. Ninety Nine Year Blues
13. Mississippi Moon
14. Down the Old Road to Home
15. Blue Yodel #10
16. Home Call
17. Mother, the Queen of My Heart
18. Rock All Our Babies to Sleep
19. Whippin' That Old TB

Disc: 5

1. No Hard Times
2. Long Tall Mama Blues
3. Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia
4. Gambling Bar Room Blues
5. I've Only Loved Three Women
6. In the Hills of Tennessee
7. Prairie Lullaby
8. Miss the Mississippi and You
9. Sweet Mama Hurry Home
10. Blue Yodel #12
11. Dreaming with Tears in My Eyes
12. The Cowhand's Last Ride
13. I'm Free (From the Chain Gang Now)
14. Yodeling My Way Back Home
15. Jimmie Rodgers' Last Blue Yodel
16. The Yodeling Ranger
17. Old Pal of My Heart
18. Old Love Letters
19. Mississippi Delta Blues
20. Somewhere Down Below the Mason Dixon Line
21. Years Ago