The Memphis Jug Band was an American musical group active from the mid-1920s to the late 1950s. The band featured harmonica, kazoo, fiddle and mandolin or banjolin, backed by guitar, piano, washboard, washtub bass and jug. They played slow blues, pop songs, humorous songs and upbeat dance numbers with jazz and string band flavors. The band made the first commercial recordings in Memphis, Tennessee, and recorded more sides than any other prewar jug band.
Beginning in 1926, African-American musicians in the Memphis area grouped around the singer, songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player Will Shade (also known as Son Brimmer or Sun Brimmer). The personnel of the band varied from day to day, with Shade booking gigs and arranging recording sessions. The band was as a training ground for musicians who would go on to make careers of their own.
Vol. 1 (24th February to 13th February 1928)
01 - Sun brimmers blues (take 2)
02 - Stingy woman-blues (take 2)
03 - Memphis Jug blues (take 2)
04 - Newport news-blues (take 1)
05 - Sometimes I think I love you
06 - Sunshine blues
07 - Memphis boy-blues
08 - I`m looking for the bully of the town
09 - I packed my suitcase, started to the train
10 - State of Tennessee blues
11 - Bob Lee junior blues
12 - Kansas City blues
13 - Beale Street mess around
14 - I`ll see you in the spring, when the birds begin to sing
15 - Snitchin` gambler-blues (take 2)
16 - Evergreen money blues
17 - Coal oil blues
18 - Papa long blues
19 - Peaches in the springtime
20 - She Stays Out All Night Long
Vol. 2 (13th February 1928 to October 1929)
01 - She stays out all night long (take 2)
02 - Lindberg hop (overseas stomp) (take 1)
03 - Sugar pudding
04 - A black woman is like a black snake
05 - On the road again
06 - Whitewash station blues
07 - Stealin` stealin`
08 - Jug band waltz
09 - Mississippi River waltz
10 - I can`t stand it
11 - What`s the matter?
12 - Dirty butter (Minnie Wallace, vcl)
13 - The old folks started it (take 1) (Minnie Wallace, vcl)
14 - Feed your friend with a long handled spoon
15 - I can beat you plenty
16 - Taking your place
17 - Tired of you driving me
18 - Memphis yo yo blues
19 - K.D. moan
20 - I whipped my woman with a single-tree
Vol. 3 (1930)
01 - Everybody`s talking about Sadie Green
02 - Oh ambulance man
03 - Cocaine habit blues
04 - Jim Strainer blues
05 - Cave man blues
06 - Fourth Street mess around
07 - It won`t act right
08 - Bumble bee blues
09 - Meningitis blues
10 - Aunt Caroline dyer blues
11 - Stonewall blues
12 - Spider`s nest blues
13 - Papa`s got your bath water on
14 - Going back to Memphis
15 - He`s in the jailhouse now
16 - Got a letter from my darling
17 - Round and round
18 - You may leave but this will bring you back
19 - Move that thing
20 - You got me rollin'
