Interracial Jazz Recording (#34). Jimmie Rodgers w. Louis and Lil Armstrong

Here's the Jimmie Rodgers-Louis Armstrong recording I promised some posts ago, with the bonus of Lil Armstrong on piano. The Armstrongs were not billed because Louis was signed with Okeh and this is a Victor recording. 

              

In 1970, Armstrong played the tune with Johnny Cash on his television show and said:  “I had been knowin’ Jimmie for a long time and following his music. After meeting one morning, Jimmie said, ‘Man, I feel like singing some blues.’ I said, ‘Okay, daddy, you sing some blues and I’m gonna blow behind you.’ And that’s how the record started.” 

It's a blues, but doesn't strictly adhere to the standard 12-bar chord sequence, except during Louis' solo. Despite the labels given to what each plays-country, blues, jazz- they share a foundational emotional approach and mesh perfectly. The group was never reunited as Rodgers died from tuberculosis in 1933.

Jimmie Rodgers (vcl,g) acc by Louis Armstrong (tp) Lil Armstrong (p) Hollywood, CA, July 16, 1930.

• Blue yodel no 9 [Standing on the corner]- Vic 23580, RCA LPM2112, Jazum 13, RCA (Eu)NL89823, (F)FXM1-7106, Franklin Mint GJR054, BBC (E)REB683, RCA Victor 68682-2 [CD], RCA 2115517-2 [CD]

All entries are from my book “As Long as They Can Blow. Interracial Jazz Recording and Other Jive Before 1935.”