1920s-1940s

The Birth and Development of the Blues:

1. Ma Rainey: “Jealous Hearted Blues” (1924) 

2. Ma Rainey: “Those Dogs Of Mine (Famous Cornfield Blues)” (1924)

3. Ma Rainey: “Moonshine Blues” (1924)      

4. Ma Rainey: “Bo-Weavil Blues” (1924)

5. Ma Rainey: “Bad Luck Blues” (1924)          

6. Ma Rainey: “Shave 'Em Dry Blues” (1924)                

7. Ma Rainey: “Walking Blues” (1924)

8. Ma Rainey: “Dream Blues” (1924)              

9. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Got the Blues" (1926)

10. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Long Lonesome Blues" (1926)

11. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Booster Blues" (1926)

12. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Dry Southern Blues" (1926)

13. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Black Horse Blues" (1926)

14. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Corinna Blues" (1926)

15. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Got the Blues" (1926)

16. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Jack O'Diamonds" (1926)

17. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Chock House Blues" (1926)

18. Blind Lemon Jefferson:  "Beggin' Back" (1926)

19. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Old Rounders Blues" (1926)

20. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Stocking Feet Blues" (1926)

21. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Black Snake Moan" (1926)

22. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Wartime Blues" (1926)

23. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Shuckin' Sugar Blues" (1926)

24. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Booger Rooger Blues" (1926)

25. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Rabbit Foot Blues" (1926)

26. Ma" Rainey And Her Georgia Band: “Mountain Jack Blues” (1926)                                     

27. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Black Snake Moan" (1927)

28. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Match Box Blues" (1927)

29. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Easy Rider Blues" (1927)

30. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Rising High Water Blues" (1927)

31. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Weary Dogs Blues" (1927)

32. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Right of Way Blues" (1927)

33. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Teddy Bear Blues (Take 2)" (1927)

34. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Black Snake Dream Blues" (1927)

35. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Hot Dogs" (1927)

36. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Struck Sorrow Blues" (1927)

37. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Rambler Blues" (1927)

38. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Cinch Bug Blues" (1927)

39. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Deceitful Brownskin Blues" (1927)

40. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Sunshine Special" (1927)

41. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Gone Dead on Your Blues" (1927)

42. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" (1927)

43. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "One Dime Blues" (1927)

44. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Lonesome House Blues" (1927)

45. Blind Willie McTell: "Stole Rider Blues" (1927)                        

46. Blind Willie McTell: "Mr. McTell Got the Blues" (1927)                                          

47. Blind Willie McTell: "Writing Paper Blues" (1927)   

48. Blind Willie McTell: "Mamma, Tain't Long Fo' Day" (1927)

49. Ma Rainey And Her Georgia Band: “Soon This Morning” (1927)          

50. Ma Rainey: “Little Low Mamma Blues” (1927)           

51. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Penitentiary Blues" (1928)

52. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "'Lectric Chair Blues" (1928)

53. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Worried Blues" (1928)

54. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Mean Jumper Blues" (1928)

55. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Balky Mule Blues" (1928)

56. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Change My Luck Blues" (1928)

57. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Prison Cell Blues" (1928)

58. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Cannon Ball Moan" (1928)

59. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Long Lastin' Lovin'" (1928)

60. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Piney Woods Money Mama" (1928)

61. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Low Down Mojo Blues" (1928)

62. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Competition Bed Blues" (1928)

63. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Lock Step Blues" (1928)

64. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Hangman's Blues" (1928)

65. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Sad News Blues" (1928)

66. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "How Long How Long" (1928)

67. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Christmas Eve Blues" (1928)

68. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Happy New Year Blues" (1928)

69. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Maltese Cat Blues" (1928)

70. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "D.B. Blues" (1928)

71. Blind Willie Johnson: “I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole” (1928)

72. Blind Willie Johnson: “Mother's Children Have A Hard Time” (1928)

73. Blind Willie Johnson: “Dark Was The Night - Cold Was The Ground” (1928)

74. Blind Willie McTell: "Three Women Blues" (1928)                  

75. Blind Willie McTell: "Statesboro Blues" (1928)                        

76. Blind Willie McTell: "Dark Night Blues" (1928)                         

77. Blind Willie McTell: "Loving Talking Blues" (1928)

78. Ma Rainey: “Prove It On Me Blues” (1928)

79. Ma Rainey: “Black Cat Hoot Owl Blues” (1928)

80. Mississippi John Hurt: "Frankie" (1928)

81. Mississippi John Hurt: "Stack O' Lee" (1928)

82. Mississippi John Hurt: "Blessed Be the Name" (1928)

83. Mississippi John Hurt: "Blue Harvest Blues" (1928)

84. Mississippi John Hurt: "Louis Collins"  (1928)

85. Mississippi John Hurt: "Ain't No Tellin'" (1928)

86. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Eagle Eyed Mama" (1929)

87. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Dynamite Blues" (1929)

88. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Disgusted Blues" (1929)

89. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Peach Orchard Mama" (1929)

90. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Oil Well Blues" (1929)

91. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Tin Cup Blues" (1929)

92. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Saturday Night Spender Blues" (1929)

93. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Black Snake Moan #2" (1929)

94. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Bed Springs Blues" (1929)

95. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Yo, Yo Blues" (1929)

96. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Mosquito Moan" (1929)

97. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Southern Woman Blues" (1929)

98. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Bakershop Blues" (1929)

99. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Pneumonia Blues" (1929)

100. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Long Distance Moan" (1929)

101. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "That Crawlin' Baby Blues" (1929)

102. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Fence Breakin' Yellin' Blues" (1929)

103. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Cat Man Blues" (1929)

104. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "The Cheaters Spell" (1929)

105. Blind Lemon Jefferson: "Bootin' Me 'Bout" (1929)

106. Blind Willie Johnson: “Lord I Just Can't Keep From Crying” (1929)

107. Blind Willie McTell: "Atlanta Strut" (1929)

108. Blind Willie McTell: "Kind Mama" (1929)                  

109. Blind Willie McTell: "Travelin' Blues" (1929)             

110. Blind Willie McTell: "Come on Around to My House Mama" (1929)                   

111. Blind Willie McTell: "Drive Away Blues" (1929)                    

112. Blind Willie McTell: "Love Changing Blues" (1929)

113. Charley Patton: “Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues” (1929)                 

114. Charley Patton: “Down The Dirt Road Blues” (1929)  

115. Charley Patton: “Pony Blues” (1929)          

116. Ma Rainey: “Deep Moaning Blues” (1929)

117. Ma Rainey And Papa Charlie Jackson: “Ma And Pa Poorhouse Blues” (1929)

118. Ma Rainey: “Tough Luck Blues” (1929)      

119. Ma Rainey: “Log Camp Blues” (1929)         

120. Ma Rainey: “Blame It On The Blues” (1929) 

121. Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe: “When The Levee Breaks” (1929)

122. Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe: “I Want That” (1929)        

123. T-Bone Walker: "Wichita Falls Blues" (1929)

124. Blind Willie Johnson: “Take Your Burden To The Lord And Leave It There” (1930)                                          

125. Blind Willie Johnson: “Can't Nobody Hide From God” (1930)               

126. Blind Willie Johnson: “Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right” (1930)                      

127. Blind Willie Johnson: “The Rain Don't Fall On Me” (1930)     

128. Blind Willie Johnson: “You'll Need Somebody On Your Bond” (1930)                 

129. Blind Willie Johnson: “When The War Was On” (1930)                         

130. Blind Willie Johnson: “John The Revelator” (1930) 

131. Blind Willie Johnson: “Let Your Light Shine On Me” (1930)                   

132. Charley Patton: “Mean Black Moan” (1930) 

133. Charley Patton: “High Water Everywhere, Part I” (1930)                       

134. Charley Patton: “Green River Blues” (1930)             

135. Charley Patton: “Moon Going Down” (1930)           

136. Charley Patton: “Some Happy Day” (1930)               

137. Charley Patton: “Hammer Blues” (1930)                   

138. Charley Patton: “Lord I'm Discouraged” (1930)       

139. Charley Patton: “Mean Black Cat Blues” (1930)                                   

140. Charley Patton: “Shake It And Break It But (Don't Let It Fall Mama)” (1930)                     

141. Charley Patton: “Rattlesnake Blues” (1930)

142. Ma Rainey: “Leaving This Morning” (1930)

143. Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe: “What's The Matter With The Mill?” (1930)                                

144. Memphis Minnie: “I'm Talking About You” (1930)                  

145. Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe: “What Fault You Find Of Me? “ (1930)         

146. Memphis Minnie: “I'm Gonna Bake My Biscuits” (1930)

147. Memphis Minnie: “Good Girl Blues” (1930) 

148. Son House: “Preachin' The Blues Part I” (1930)                       

149. Son House: “Dry Spell Blues Part I” (1930)                                                                   

150. Blind Willie Johnson: “Sweeter As The Years Roll By” (1931)

151. Blind Willie McTell: "Southern Can Is Mine" (1931)

152. Blind Willie McTell: "Broke Down Engine Blues" (1931)         

153. Blind Willie McTell: "Low Rider's Blues" (1931)

154. Blind Willie McTell: "Georgia Rag" (1931) 

155. Blind Willie McTell: "Stomp Down Rider" (1931)     

156. Blind Willie McTell: "Scarey Day Blues" (1931)

157. Charley Patton: “Circle Round The Moon” (1931)

158. Memphis Minnie: “Bumble Bee No. 2” (1931)

159. Memphis Minnie: “New Dirty Dozen” (1931)

160. Memphis Minnie: “Frankie Jean (That Trottin' Fool)” (1931)

161. Skip James: "Cherry Ball Blues" (1931)

162. Skip James: "22-20 Blues" (1931)

163. Skip James: "Illinois Blues" (1931)

164. Skip James: "How Long 'Buck'” (1931)       

165. Skip James: "Devil Got My Woman" (1931)

166. Skip James: "I'm So Glad" (1931)

167. Skip James: "Four O'Clock Blues" (1931)

168. Skip James: "Drunken Spree" (1931)

169. Son House: “My Black Mama” (1931)                        

170. Son House: “Mississippi County Farm Blues” (1931)

171. Blind Willie McTell: "Mama, Let Me Scoop for You" (1932)   

172. Blind Willie McTell: "Rollin' Mama Blues" (1932)    

173. Blind Willie McTell: "Lonesome Day Blues" (1932) 

174. Blind Willie McTell: "Searching the Desert for the Blues" (1932)

175. Memphis Minnie: “Outdoor Blues” (1932)

176. Blind Willie McTell: "Savannah Mama" (1933)         

177. Blind Willie McTell: "B and O Blues No. 2" (1933)   

178. Blind Willie McTell: "Broke Down Engine" (1933)   

179. Blind Willie McTell: "Death Cell Blues" (1933)         

180. Blind Willie McTell: "Warm It Up to Me" (1933)      

181. Blind Willie McTell: "Runnin' Me Crazy" (1933)       

182. Blind Willie McTell: "It's a Good Little Thing" (1933)

183. Blind Willie McTell: "Southern Can Mama"  (1933)

184. Blind Willie McTell: "Lord Have Mercy, if You Please" (1933)

185. Blind Willie McTell: "Don't You See How This World Made a Change" (1933)   

186. Blind Willie McTell: "My Baby's Gone" (1933)          

187. Blind Willie McTell: "Weary Hearted Blues" (1933)

188. Charley Patton: “Hang It On The Wall” (1934)         

189. Charley Patton: “Love My Stuff” (1934)                    

190. Charley Patton: “High Sheriff Blues” (1934) 

191. Charley Patton: “Poor Me” (1934)

192. Memphis Minnie: “Dirty Mother For You” (1934)                   

193. Big Joe Williams: “Little Leg Woman” (1935)

194. Big Joe Williams: “49 Highway Blues” (1935)

195. Blind Boy Fuller: “Baby, I Don't Have To Worry ('Cause That Stuff Is Here)” (1935)         

196. Blind Willie McTell: "Bell Street Blues" (1935)         

197. Blind Willie McTell: "Ticket Agent Blues" (1935)     

198. Blind Willie McTell: "Dying Gambler" (1935)

199. Blind Willie McTell: "God Don't Like It" (1935)         

200. Blind Willie McTell: "Ain't It Grand to Be a Christian" (1935)

201. Blind Willie McTell: "We Got to Meet Death One Day" (1935)             

202. Blind Willie McTell: "Your Time to Worry" (1935)                   

203. Blind Willie McTell: "Hillbilly Willie's Blues" (1935) 

204. Blind Willie McTell: "Cold Winter Day" (1935)           

205. Blind Willie McTell: "Lay Some Flowers on My Grave" (1935)

206. Lead Belly: "All Out and Down" (1935)

207. Lead Belly: "Packin' Trunk" (1935)

208. Lead Belly: "Four Day Worry Blues" (1935)

209. Lead Belly: "New Black Snake Moan" (1935)

210. Memphis Minnie: “Minnie's Lonesome Song” (1935)

211. Blind Boy Fuller: “Mama Let Me Lay It On You” (1936)                                          

212. Blind Boy Fuller: “Rag, Mama, Rag” (1936)

213. Blind Boy Fuller: “Big Bed Blues” (1936)

214. Blind Boy Fuller: “Babe You Got To Do Better” (1936)

215. Lead Belly: "Becky Deem, She Was a Gamblin' Girl" (1936)

216. Lead Belly: "Pig Meat Papa" (1936)

217. Memphis Minnie: “Hoodoo Lady” (1936)

218. Memphis Minnie: “Caught Me Wrong Again” (1936) 

219. Memphis Minnie: “Out In The Cold” (1936) 

220. Robert Johnson: "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day" (1936)

221. Robert Johnson: "Ramblin' on My Mind" (1936)

222. Memphis Minnie: “Down In The Alley” (1937)         

223. Memphis Minnie: “Moonshine” (1937)     

224. Memphis Minnie: “Living The Best I Can” (1937)                    

225. Memphis Minnie: “It's Hard to Be Mistreated” (1937)

226. Robert Johnson: “Cross Road Blues” (1937) 

227. Robert Johnson: “Malted Milk” (1937)      

228. Robert Johnson: “Come On In My Kitchen” (1937)                 

229. Robert Johnson: “Hell Hound On My Trail” (1937)  

230. Robert Johnson: “Stones In My Passway” (1937)                    

231. Robert Johnson: “Sweet Home Chicago” (1937)

232. Robert Johnson: "Hellhound on My Trail" (1937)

233. Robert Johnson: "Milkcow's Calf Blues" (1937)

234. Robert Johnson: "Kind Hearted Woman Blues" (1937)          

235. Robert Johnson: "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" (1937)  

236. Robert Johnson: “I Believe I'll Dust My Broom” (1937)          

237. Robert Johnson: “32-20 Blues” (1937)

238. Robert Johnson: “Terraplane Blues” (1937) 

239. Robert Johnson: "Walkin' Blues" (1937)    

240. Robert Johnson: “Me And The Devil Blues” (1937)

241. Blind Boy Fuller: “Pistol Slapper Blues” (1938)

242. Blind Boy Fuller: “Jivin' Woman Blues” (1938)                                         

243. Blind Boy Fuller: “Painful Hearted Man” (1938)      

244. Blind Boy Fuller: “I'm Goin' To Move (To The Edge Of Town)” (1938)                                                 

245. Blue Lu Barker With Danny Barker's Fly Cats: “That Made Him Mad” (1938)                    

246. Blue Lu Barker: “Scat Skunk” (1938)           

247. Memphis Minnie: “I Hate To See The Sun Go Down” (1938)                

248. Memphis Minnie: “Don't Lead My Baby Wrong” (1938)                                    

249. Robert Johnson: “Stop Breakin' Down Blues” (1938)       

250. Lead Belly: Negro Sinful Songs (1939)        

251. Robert Johnson: “Preaching Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)” (1939)

252. Lead Belly: "Sail On, Little Girl, Sail On" (1940)

253. Lead Belly: "Don't You Love Your Daddy No More?" (1940)

254. Lead Belly: "Alberta" (1940)

255. Lead Belly: "T.B. Blues" (1940)

256. Lead Belly: "Easy Rider" (1940)

257. Lead Belly: "Worried Blues" (1940)

258. Lead Belly: The Midnight Special and Other Southern Prison Songs (1940)

259. T-Bone Walker: "T-Bone Blues" (1940)

260. Lead Belly: "Roberta" (1941)

261. Lead Belly: "The Red Cross Store Blues" (1941)

262. Lead Belly: "New York City" (1941)

263. Lead Belly: "You Can't Lose-a Me Cholly" (1941)

264. Lead Belly: "Good Morning Blues" (1941)

265. Lead Belly: "Leaving Blues" (1941)

266. Lead Belly: Play Parties in Song and Dance (1941)  

267. Memphis Minnie: “This Is Your Last Chance” (1941)  

268. Muddy Waters: "Country Blues" (1941)                                    

269. Big Joe Turner: “Sun Risin' Blues “ (1942)                 

270. Big Joe Williams: “Break 'Em On Down” (1942)       

271. Big Joe Williams: “Someday, Baby” (1942)

272. Blind Boy Fuller: “Walking And Looking Blues” (1942)

273. Lead Belly: "I'm on My Last Go-Round" (1942)

274. Lead Belly: "Rock Island Line" (1942)

275. Lead Belly: "Eagle Rock Rag" (1942)

276. Lead Belly: Work Songs of the U.S.A. (1942)

277. T-Bone Walker: "Mean Old World" (1942)

278. Lead Belly: Songs by Lead Belly (1944)

279. Memphis Minnie: “When You Love Me” (1944)

280. Lead Belly: Songs by Lead Belly (1944)

281. T-Bone Walker: "Evening" (1944)

282. Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup: "Rock Me Mamma" (1945)

283. Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup: "Who's Been Foolin' You" (1945)  

284. Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup: "Keep Your Arms Around Me" (1945)

285. Lead Belly: "Yellow Gal" (1946)

286. Lead Belly: "When the Boys Were on the Western Plain" (1946)

287. Lead Belly: "Roberta"(1946)

288. Lead Belly: "John Hardy" (1946)

289. Lead Belly: "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" (1946)

290. Lead Belly: "In New Orleans" (1946)

291. Lead Belly: "Bill Brady" (1946)

292. Lead Belly: "Pretty Flowers in Your Back Yard" (1946)

293. Lead Belly: "Easy Rider" (1946)

294. Lead Belly: "Pigmeat" (1946)

295. Lead Belly: Negro Folk Songs (1946)                          

296. Memphis Minnie: “Mean Mistreater Blues” (1946)

297. T-Bone Walker: "Bobby Sox Blues" (1946)

298. T-Bone Walker: "I'm in an Awful Mood" (1946)                 

299. Lead Belly: "Sweet Mary Blues" (1947)

300. Lead Belly: "Grasshopers in My Pillow" (1947)

301. Lead Belly: Midnight Special (1947)

302. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “Shining Moon” (1947)                

303. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “Katie Mae Blues” (1947)

304. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “I Feel So Bad” (1947)  

305. Memphis Minnie: “Lonesome Shark Blues” (1947) 

306. Muddy Waters: "Gypsy Woman" (1947)

307. Smiley Lewis: “Turn On Your Volume, Baby” (1947)

308. T-Bone Walker: "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)" (1947)  

309. Lead Belly: "Irene” (1948)

310. Lead Belly: "Backwater Blues" (1948)

311. Lead Belly: "Digging My Potatoes" (1948)

312. Lead Belly: "Defense Blues" (1948)

313. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “Walking Blues” (1948)                                                

314. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “Mercy” (1948) 

315. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “No Mail Blues” (1948)                                                

316. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “Jail House Blues” (1948)

317. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “Mad With You” (1948)

318. Memphis Minnie: “Daybreak Blues” (1948)

319. Muddy Waters: "I Can't Be Satisfied" (1948)

320. Muddy Waters: "Train Fare Home" (1948)

321. Muddy Waters: "You're Gonna Miss Me (When I'm Dead and Gone)" (1948)

322. Muddy Waters: "Streamline Woman" (1948)

323. Muddy Waters: "Little Geneva" (1948)      

324. T-Bone Walker: "I Want a Little Girl" (1948)

325. T-Bone Walker: "West Side Baby" (1948)

326. T-Bone Walker: "T-Bone Shuffle" (1948)

327. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “Unsuccessful Blues” (1949)       

328. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “Lonesome Home” (1949)

329. Lightnin’ Hopkins: “Baby Please Don't Go” (1949)

330. Muddy Waters: "Screamin' and Cryin'" (1949)

331. T-Bone Walker: "Hypin' Women Blues" (1949)