Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-55 is an eight-disc, 211-track collection covering Mercury's first decade as a label. Each of the four discs is arranged thematically according to region -- East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, and Southwest -- and each features a number of blues and R&B classics, including cuts from Professor Longhair, Johnny Otis, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Dinah Washington, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Big Bill Broonzy. 22 unreleased performances are mixed into the compilation, making the set enticing for collectors, but the main value of Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-55 is as a concise overview of one of the most influential R&B labels in history.CD 1 [Midwest Blues I]
CD 2 [Midwest Blues II]
CD 3 [Southwest Blues I]
CD 4 [Southwest Blues II]
CD 5 [West Coast Blues I]
CD 6 [West Coast Blues II]
CD 7 [East Coast Blues I]
CD 8 [East Coast Blues II]
CD 1 Midwest Blues
1. The Four Jumps of Jive - It's Just the Blues [9-12-45 Chicago] (3:30)
2. Sippie Wallace with Albert Ammons & His Rhythm Kings - Bedroom Blues [9-25-45 Chicago] (3:16)
3. Sippie Wallace with Albert Ammons & His Rhythm Kings - Buzz Me [9-25-45 Chicago] (3:04)
4. T-Bone Walker - My Baby Left Me [12-19-45 Chicago] (2:55)
5. T-Bone Walker - Come Back to Me Baby Blues [12-19-45 Chicago] (3:08)
6. T-Bone Walker - She Is Going to Ruin Me [12-19-45 Chicago] (2:57)
7. Dinah Washington - Joy Juice [1-14-46 Chicago] (2:50)
8. Julia Lee - If It's Good [8-16-46 Kansas City] (2:56)
9. Julia Lee - Show Me Missouri Blues [8-16-46 Kansas City] (3:02)
10. Julia Lee - Dream Lucky Blues [8-19-46 Kansas City] (3:06)
11. Albert Ammons & His Rhythm Kings with Mildred Anderson - Doin' the Boogie Woogie [9-12-46 Chicago] (2:51)
12. Albert Ammons & His Rhythm Kings - Suitcase Blues [9-12-46 Chicago] (2:53)
13. Myra Taylor - Tell Your Best Friend Nothing [10-31-46 Kansas City] (2:20)
14. Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Railroad Porter's Blues [4-29-47 St. Louis] (2:49)
15. Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Gonna Send You Where I Got You From [4-29-47 St. Louis] (2:26)
16. Gene Ammons Sextet with Earl Coleman - Hold That Money [10-23-47 Chicago] (2:26)
17. Myra Taylor - I'm in the Sins This Morning [1947 Chicago] (2:39)
18. Myra Taylor - Booted [1947 Chicago] (2:45)
19. Dinah Washington - Long John Blues [7-1-48 Chicago] (3:14)
20. Big Bill Broonzy & His Fat Four - (I'm A) Wonderin' Man [1-4-49 Chicago] (3:09)
21. Big Bill Broonzy & His Fat Four - I Love My Whiskey [1-4-49 Chicago] (3:05)
22. Big Bill Broonzy & His Fat Four - You've Been Mistreating Me [1-4-49 Chicago] (2:57)
23. Big Bill Broonzy & His Fat Four - I Stay Blue All the Time [1-4-49 Chicago] (2:29)
24. Big Bill Broonzy & His Fat Four - Water Coast Blues [1-4-49 Chicago] (2:52)
25. St. Louis Jimmy - Shame On You Baby [4-6-49 Chicago] (3:09)
26. St. Louis Jimmy - I'm Not Satisfied [4-6-49 Chicago] (3:21)
CD 2
1. Sunnyland Slim & His Sunny Boys - Mud Kickin' Woman (3:01)
2. Sunnyland Slim & His Sunny Boys - Everytime I Get to Drinkin' (2:54)
3. Memphis Slim & His Orchestra - Train Is Comin' (2:48)
4. Memphis Slim & His Orchestra - The Question (2:56)
5. Ray Snead - I'm a Good Rockin' Daddy (2:36)
6. Memphis Slim & His Orchestra - Drivin' Me Mad (2:45)
7. Memphis Slim & His Orchestra - Never Let Me Love (2:52)
8. Memphis Slim & His Orchestra - Train Time (2:50)
9. Memphis Slim & His Orchestra - Blue Evening (2:30)
10. Big Bill Broonzy - Get Back (Black, Brown and White) (3:02)
11. Big Bill Broonzy - Willie Mae (2:50)
12. Big Bill Broonzy - I Know She Will (3:14)
13. Big Bill Broonzy & His Big Little Orchestra - Leavin' Day (3:01)
14. Big Bill Broonzy & His Big Little Orchestra - South Bound Train (2:59)
15. Big Bill Broonzy & His Big Little Orchestra - Tomorrow (2:51)
16. Big Bill Broonzy & His Big Little Orchestra - You Changed (2:37)
17. Robert Jr. Lockwood & His Band - (I'm Gonna) Dig Myself a Hole (2:39)
18. Robert Jr. Lockwood & His Band - Dust My Broom (2:41)
19. Robert Jr. Lockwood & His Band - Glory for Man (2:28)
20. Robert Jr. Lockwood & His Band - My Daily Wish (2:41)
21. Memphis Slim & His Orchestra - No Mail Blues (2:45)
22. Memphis Slim & His Orchestra - You're Gonna Need My Help Someday (2:50)
23. Sunnyland Slim & His Trio - Ain't Nothing but a Child (2:47)
24. Sunnyland Slim & His Trio - Brown Skinned Woman (2:57)
25. Sunnyland Slim & His Trio - Hit the Road Again (3:13)
26. Sunnyland Slim & His Trio - Gin Drinkin' Baby (2:59)
27. Sax Mallard & His Orchestra with Andrew Tibbs - Leap Year Blues (2:37)
CD 3 Southwest Blues
1. Jay McShann & His Orchestra - Garfield Avenue Boogie [7-7-45 Dallas] (3:04)
2. Jay McShann & His Orchestra - Crown Prince Blues [7-7-45 Dallas] (2:51)
3. Jay McShann & His Orchestra - Shipyard Woman Blues [7-7-45 Dallas] (3:02)
4. Walter Brown - W.B. Blues [6-10-47 Houston] (2:30)
5. Walter Brown - Sloppy Drunk [6-10-47 Houston] (2:46)
6. Walter Brown - Lovin' a Beggar [6-10-47 Houston] (2:55)
7. Alma "The Lollipop Mama" Mondy - Miss Lollipop's Confession [8-18-49 New Orleans] (2:45)
8. Alma "The Lollipop Mama" Mondy - Love Troubles [8-18-49 New Orleans] (3:04)
9. Alma "The Lollipop Mama" Mondy - Baby Get Wise [8-18-49 New Orleans] (2:33)
10. Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers - Byrd's Blues [8-19-49 New Orleans] (2:48)
11. Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers - Her Mind Is Gone [8-19-49 New Orleans] (2:39)
12. Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers - Bald Head [8-19-49 New Orleans] (2:31)
13. Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers - Hey Now Baby [8-19-49 New Orleans] (2:49)
14. Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers - Oh Well [8-19-49 New Orleans] (2:27)
15. George Miller & His Mid-Driffs - Boogie's the Thing [8-22-49 New Orleans] (2:48)
16. Little Joe Gaines - She Won't Leave No More [8-22-49 New Orleans] (2:26)
17. Hosie Dwine Craven - Mercury Boogie [8-23-49 New Orleans] (2:38)
18. Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers - Hadacol Bounce [9-8-49 New Orleans] (3:01)
19. Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers - Longhair Stomp [9-8-49 New Orleans] (2:46)
20. Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers - Been Fooling Around [9-8-49 New Orleans] (3:00)
21. Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers - Between the Night and Day (In the Wee Wee Hours) [9-8-49 New Orleans] (2:45)
22. Alma "The Lollipop Mama" Mondy - Streetwalkin' Daddy [9-10-49 New Orleans] (2:39)
23. Alma "The Lollipop Mama" Mondy - A Job for a Jockey [9-10-49 New Orleans] (2:28)
24. Alma "The Lollipop Mama" Mondy - Still My Little Angel Child [9-10-49 New Orleans] (2:34)
25. Lee Graves - Cloudy Weather Blues [1-4-51 Houston] (3:00)
26. Lee Graves - Sixty Years and a Day [1-4-51 Houston] (2:58)
CD 4
1. Lee Graves - Papa Said Yes, Mama Said No, No, No [1-4-51 Houston] (2:30)
2. Lee Graves - I'm From Texas [1-4-51 Houston] (2:02)
3. Luther Stoneham - Sittin' Here Wonderin' [5-8-51 Houston] (3:35)
4. Luther Stoneham - January 11, 1949 Blues [5-8-51 Houston] (2:37)
5. L.C. "Lightnin' Jr." Williams - I Don't Want No Woman [5-11-51 Houston] (3:15)
6. L.C. "Lightnin' Jr." Williams - Louise [5-11-51 Houston] (3:07)
7. L.C. "Lightnin' Jr." Williams - I Don't Like to Travel [5-11-51 Houston] (3:08)
8. "Smokey" Hogg - Miss Georgia [6-6-51 Houston] (3:01)
9. "Smokey" Hogg - She's Always on My Mind [6-6-51 Houston] (2:40)
10. "Smokey" Hogg - Dirty Mistreater [6-6-51 Houston] (2:37)
11. "Smokey" Hogg - I'm Looking for My Baby [6-6-51 Houston] (2:32)
12. Violet Hall - (All Alone) I Sit and Cry [6-8-51 Houston] (2:53)
13. Violet Hall - Six Foot Papa (I'm a Whole Lot of Woman) [6-8-51 Houston] (2:31)
14. John Hogg - Got a Mean Woman [6-9-51 Houston] (2:47)
15. John Hogg - Why Did You Leave Me? [6-9-51 Houston] (2:52)
16. Lightnin' Hopkins - Sad News from Korea [7-13-51 Houston] (3:08)
17. Lightnin' Hopkins - Let Me Fly Your Kite [7-13-51 Houston] (3:45)
18. Lightnin' Hopkins - Gone with the Wind [9-7-51 Houston] (2:38)
19. Lightnin' Hopkins - She's Almost Dead [9-7-51 Houston] (3:39)
20. Elmore "Elmo" Nixon - Married Woman Blues [11-29-51 Houston] (2:55)
21. Elmore "Elmo" Nixon - Playboy Blues [11-29-51 Houston] (2:49)
22. Elmore "Elmo" Nixon - Cave Man Blues [11-29-51 Houston] (3:34)
23. Elmore "Elmo" Nixon - Million Dollar Blues [11-29-51 Houston] (2:38)
24. Lightnin' Hopkins - Ain't It a Shame [1-5-52 Houston] (3:20)
25. Lightnin' Hopkins - Crazy 'Bout My Baby [1-5-52 Houston] (2:44)
CD 5 West Coast Blues
1. Jay McShann & His Sextette with Jimmy Witherspoon - Ernestine (2:50)
2. Jay McShann & His Sextette with Jimmy Witherspoon - Roll On Katy (3:05)
3. Jay McShann & His Sextette with Jimmy Witherspoon - Voodoo Woman Blues (2:36)
4. Jay McShann & His Sextette with Jimmy Witherspoon - I Want a Little Girl (2:33)
5. Jay McShann & His Sextette with Jimmy Witherspoon - Bar Fly Blues (2:31)
6. Jay McShann & His Sextette with Jimmy Witherspoon - Please Stop Playing These Blues, Boy (2:57)
7. Jay McShann & His Sextette with Jimmy Witherspoon - All My Geets Are Gone (2:34)
8. Jay McShann & His Sextette with Jimmy Witherspoon - Strange Woman Blues (3:08)
9. Vivian Greene - Bowlegged Boogie (3:06)
10. Vivian Greene - He's the Man (He's Tall and Cool) (2:55)
11. Vivian Greene - Red Light (2:58)
12. Smiley Turner - When a Man Has the Blues (2:37)
13. Smiley Turner - Lonely Boy Blues (2:38)
14. Billy Valentine - Beer Drinking Baby (2:38)
15. Chuck Norris & His Guitar - What's Good for One's Good for All (2:54)
16. Chuck Norris & His Guitar - Kinda Sick, Mostly Worried (3:04)
17. Chuck Norris & His Guitar - Hey Everybody (2:26)
18. Frankie Ervin with Austin McCoy & His Combo - I'd Rather Be like a Hermit (2:40)
19. Frankie Ervin with Austin McCoy & His Combo - High School Baby (2:51)
20. Big Jim Wynn & His Band - West Coast Lover (2:42)
21. Big Jim Wynn & His Band - Dog House Blues (3:01)
22. Meredith Howard - Just Kiss Me Once (and You'll Be Back) (2:39)
23. Ike Lloyd - Worrying Blues (2:40)
24. Ike Lloyd - Boogie on the 88 (2:31)
25. Ike Lloyd - I Only Want Your Love (3:07)
26. J.D. Edwards - West Coast Blues (2:51)
27. Red Johnson & His Orchestra - Mama Does the Boogie (Washington Ave. Boogie) (2:47)
CD 6
1. Johnny Otis & His Orchestra - Call Operator 210 [6-13-52 LA] (3:09)
2. Johnny Otis & His Orchestra - Baby Baby Blues [6-13-52 LA] (3:04)
3. Johnny Otis & His Orchestra - Gypsy Blues [6-13-52 LA] (2:32)
4. Johnny Otis & His Orchestra - Sugar Sugar [6-13-52 LA] (3:09)
5. Johnny Otis & His Orchestra - Last Mile [6-13-52 LA] (2:34)
6. Johnny Otis & His Orchestra - The Candle's Burning Low [6-13-52 LA] (2:16)
7. Johnny Otis & His Orchestra - The Love Bug Boogie (That's the Way It's Gonna Be) [7-14-52 LA] (2:41)
8. Johnny Otis & His Orchestra - Brown Skin Butterball [7-14-52 LA] (2:53)
9. Johnny Otis & His Orchestra - The Game Is Over [7-14-52 LA] (3:06)
10. Pat Valdelar - Keep Your Hand on Your Heart [1953 LA] (2:48)
11. Pat Valdelar - Rock Me Baby [1953 LA] (2:43)
12. Ray Johnson - Boogie the Blues [1953 LA] (2:46)
13. Ray Johnson - House of Blues [1953 LA] (2:41)
14. Ray Johnson - I'll Never Let You Go [1953 LA] (2:45)
15. Ray Johnson - Smilin' Blues [1953 LA] (2:29)
16. Herbert "Woo Woo" Moore - Something's Wrong [1953 LA] (2:15)
17. Herbert "Woo Woo" Moore - Five Long Letters [1953 LA] (2:49)
18. Mel Walker - Unlucky Man [10-17-53 LA] (2:46)
19. Mel Walker - My Baby [10-17-53 LA] (2:29)
20. Mel Walker - Another Sad Night [10-17-53 LA] (2:29)
21. Mel Walker - Feelin' Mighty Lonesome [10-17-53 LA] (2:48)
22. Mel Walker - I Have Decided [10-20-53 LA] (2:46)
23. Joe Liggins & His Orchestra - They Were Doing the Mambo [8-7-54 LA] (2:48)
24. Joe Liggins & His Orchestra - Honeydrippin' Daddy [8-7-54 LA] (3:05)
25. Joe Liggins & His Orchestra - Yeah, Yeah, Yeah [8-7-54 LA] (2:54)
26. Rollee McGill - In My Neighborhood [6-8-55 LA] (2:48)
27. Rollee McGill - Rhythm Rockin' Blues [6-8-55 LA] (2:42)
CD 7 East Coast Blues
1. Bill Samuels & the Cats 'n Jammers Three - Jockey Blues (2:36)
2. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Cherry Red Blues (2:48)
3. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Somebody's Gotta Go (2:55)
4. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Too Many Women Blues (2:43)
5. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Just a Dream (2:54)
6. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - I Like to Be Home Blues (2:38)
7. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Cleanhead Blues (2:48)
8. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - When a Woman Loves Her Juice (2:57)
9. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Kidney Stew Blues (2:58)
10. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - King for a Day Blues (3:06)
11. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Old Maid Boogie (2:47)
12. Helen Humes - Jet Propelled Papa (2:46)
13. Trenier Twins - Hey, Sister Lucy! (2:39)
14. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - When I Get Drunk (2:42)
15. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Oil Man Blues (2:48)
16. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Ever-Ready Blues (2:45)
17. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Have You Ever Missed Your Baby (2:46)
18. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Some Women Do (2:24)
19. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - Alimony Blues (2:25)
20. Eddie "Mr. Cleanhead" Vinson & His Orchestra - I Took the Front Door In (I Took the Backdoor Out) (2:55)
21. Dinah Washington - Record Ban Blues (3:15)
22. Dinah Washington - Good Daddy Blues (2:24)
23. Dinah Washington - Baby Get Lost (2:51)
24. Dinah Washington - Fine Fine Daddy (2:32)
25. Dinah Washington - Please Send Me Someone to Love (3:01)
26. Junior Tamplin - Under the Viaduct (in Atlanta G.A.) (2:49)
27. Junior Tamplin - Love Is a Sin (3:08)
CD 8
1. Joyce Jackson - Lonely Blues [7-24-51 Atlanta] (2:44)
2. Joyce Jackson - Body Rocking Daddy [7-24-51 Atlanta] (2:31)
3. Joyce Jackson - Lovin' Blues [7-24-51 Atlanta] (2:40)
4. Dinah Washington - New Blowtop Blues [9-24-51 Chicago] (2:37)
5. Joe Houston - Worry, Worry, Worry [1951 Atlanta] (2:17)
6. "Manhattan" Paul Bascomb - Mumbles Blues [8-25-52 NY] (2:36)
7. Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra - Hittin' on Me [2-17-53 NY] (3:09)
8. Zilla Mayes - Don't Give My Good Love Away [1953 Atlanta] (2:48)
9. Zilla Mayes - Thank You [1953 Atlanta] (2:41)
10. Zilla Mayes - The Other Side [1953 Atlanta] (2:42)
11. Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra - I'm Just Your Fool [9/1953 NY] (2:54)
12. Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra - Shut Your Big Mouth (Girl) [9/1953 NY] (2:56)
13. Stomp Gordon - Sloppy Daddy Blues [6-21-53 NY] (2:42)
14. Stomp Gordon - Juicy Lucy [6-21-53 NY] (3:06)
15. Stomp Gordon - What's Her Whimsey, Dr. Kinsey [7-1-53 NY] (2:47)
16. Stomp Gordon - Walk Around the Corner [7-1-53 NY] (2:48)
17. Dinah Washington - Short John [2-5-54 NY] (2:53)
18. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - This Is All [1-10-55 NY] (2:54)
19. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - What That Is [1-10-55 NY] (2:26)
20. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - She Put the Wamee on Me [1-10-55 NY] (3:04)
21. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Well I Tried [5-11-55 NY] (2:35)
22. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Talk About Me [5-11-55 NY] (2:33)
23. Titus Turner - Sweet and Slow [5-18-55 NY] (2:53)
24. Titus Turner - Big John [5-18-55 NY] (2:44)
25. Titus Turner - All Around the World [5-18-55 NY] (2:39)
26. Arthur Prysock - Woke Up This Morning [7-8-55 NY] (2:53)
