The OKeh Records label has risen phoenix-like a number of times, and is at present home to notable artists like Bill Frisell and John Medeski. Tonight, we return to the independent roots of the label that was rescued by Columbia in 1940 and has been resurrected a number of times since. Influential recordings by some of jazz, blues and country music's most important early players, all courtesy of the dream of a German-American phonograph salesman, launched nearly a century ago in New York City.
The OKeh Laughing Record Anonymous - The Roaring Twenties - Intersound |
Crazy Blues Mamie Smith & Her Jazz Hounds - Folk, Gospel & Blues - Columbia |
Dippermouth Blues King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band - Jazz - Columbia |
Singin' the Blues Frank Trumbauer & His Orchestra - Bix Beiderbecke - Time-Life |
Heebie Jeebies Louis Armstrong Hot Five - The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings - Columbia |
The Last Scene of the Titanic Frank Hutchison - Roots n' Blues - The Retrospective (1925-1950) - Columbia |
I Wanna Hot Dog for my Roll Butterbeans and Susie - Stars of the Apollo - Columbia |
Blue Grass Twist South Georgia Highballers - Roots n' Blues - Columbia |
Warming by the Devil's Fire Reverend Johnny Blakey - Roots n' Blues - Columbia |
Stack O' Lee Blues Mississippi John Hurt - The Story of the Blues - Columbia |
Old Man Blues Harlem Footwarmers - The OKeh Ellington - Columbia |
The Jazz Fiddler Mississippi Sheiks - Roots n' Blues - Columbia |
Worried Blues Gladys Bentley - Roots n' Blues - Columbia |
It's Tight Like That Papa Too Sweet and Harry Jones - Roots n' Blues - Columbia |
Hallelujah Side Tindley Quaker Gospel Singers - Roots n' Blues - Columbia |
Gimme a Pigfoot Bessie Smith - Stars of the Apollo - Columbia |