The Harlem Hamfats were a crack studio band formed in 1936 by black talent scout Mayo "Ink" Williams. Its main function was backing jazz and blues singers such as Johnny Temple, Rosetta Howard, and Frankie "Half Pint" Jackson for Decca Records; the Hamfats' side career began when its first record "Oh Red" became a hit. Despite its name, none of the band's members came from Harlem, and none were hamfats, a disparaging term referring to indifferent musicians. Brothers Joe and Charlie McCoy were blues players from Mississippi; leader Herb Morand, Odell Rand, and John Lindsay were from New Orleans; Horace Malcolm and drummers Pearlis Williams and Freddie Flynn were from Chicago. This territorial disparity created a sound which blended various blues styles with New Orleans, Dixieland, and swing jazz. The band's high-spirited playing and excellent musicianship compensated for what some critics have called lack of improvisational skill. The Hamfats' music has been somewhat neglected over the years. The vocalists tended to be derivative of other popular singers of the day such as Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, and various blues singers. The lyrical content of their songs often revolved around subjects like drinking and sex, leading some to dismiss them as a lightweight novelty act. Although it is not seen as an innovative group, the Harlem Hamfats' riff-based style was influential to Louis Jordan, early Muddy Waters, and what would eventually become rhythm & blues and rock & roll.
- "Kansas" Joe McCoy - Guitar/Vocal
- "Papa" Charlie McCoy - Guitar/Mandolin
- Herb Morand - Trumpet/Vocals
- Horace Malcolm - Piano
- Pearlis Williams - Drums
- Fred Flynn - Drums
- Odell Rand - Clarinet
- John Lindsay - Bass [String Bass]
Volume 1 - 1936
1. Oh! Red (2:36)
2. Lake Providence Blues (3:06)
3. Live and Die for You (2:40)
4. New Oh Red! (2:39)
5. What You Gonna Do (2:38)
6. She's Gone Again (2:34)
7. Let's Get Drunk and Truck (2:58)
8. Move Your Hand (2:59)
9. Sales Tax on It (But It's the Same Thing) (3:00)
10. You Done Tore Your Playhouse Down (2:49)
11. Little Girl (2:50)
12. Southern Blues (3:11)
13. My Garbage Man (2:27)
14. Weed Smoker's Dream (Why Don't You Do Now) (3:18)
15. If You Want to Live (2:49)
16. I Feel Like a Millionaire (2:47)
17. Bad Luck Man (2:46)
18. My Daddy Was a Lovin' Man (2:48)
19. She's Trickin' Me (2:39)
20. We Gonna Pitch a Boogie Woogie [take A] (2:49)
21. We Gonna Pitch a Boogie Woogie [take C] (2:51)
22. Hamfat Swing (3:01)
23. Who Done It? (2:51)
24. Growling Dog (2:31)
Volume 2 - 1936-1937
1. Keep It Swinging Round and Round (2:56)
2. Ooh-Wee Babe (2:54)
3. I Don't Want You Loving Me (2:20)
4. She's a Mellow Mother for You (2:44)
5. Hallelujah Joe Ain't Preachin' No More (2:58)
6. What's My Baby Doin'? (3:00)
7. It Was Red (2:39)
8. I Feel Like Going to Town (2:25)
9. I'm So Glad (2:25)
10. Jam Jamboree (Jam Sesh Jam) (2:45)
11. Down in Shady Lane (2:56)
12. I'm Cuttin' Out (2:34)
13. Hoodooin' Woman (2:27)
14. I Love That (3:16)
15. My Old Lady Blues (2:39)
16. Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes (2:42)
17. You Drink Too Much (2:30)
18. Empty Bed Blues (2:54)
19. Let Your Linen Hang Low (3:06) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
20. If You're a Viper (3:11) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
21. Rosetta Blues (2:52) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
22. It's Your Turn (3:03) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
23. Let's Fall in Love Again (3:08) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
24. Worried Mind Blues (3:01) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
Volume 3 - 1937-1938
1. Tempo De Bucket (2:37)
2. You Got the Devil to Pay (3:07)
3. Time's A-Wastin' (2:36)
4. Black Gal You Better Use Your Head (2:37)
5. Root Hog or Die (2:55)
6. You Got to Be Satisfied (2:27)
7. Toodle Oo Blues (2:37)
8. Rampart and Gravier Blues (2:40)
9. What's on Your Mind? (2:42)
10. Broken Hearted Blues (3:08)
11. Don't Start No Stuff (2:41)
12. Let Me Feel It (2:45)
13. Little Girl (2:51)
14. I'd Rather Be with You (2:40)
15. I'm in So Much Trouble Now (2:46)
16. I Believe I'll Make a Change (3:00)
17. It Will Never Happen Again (2:51) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
18. Trading Old Love for New (2:45) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
19. Stay on It (2:30) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
20. Delta Bound (3:00) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
21. You Got to Go When the Wagon Comes (2:34) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
22. How Long Baby (Will You Keep Me This Way) (2:23) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
23. Harlem Jamboree (3:06) (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
Volume 4 - 1938-1939
01. Mellow Little Devil
02. The Barefoot Boy
03. Stomp It Out Gate (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
04. The Candy Man (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
05. Oh Rider (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
06. Stay Away From My Door (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
07. All On Account Of You (Rosetta Howard, vcl)
08. You've Had Your Last Good Time With Me
09. What Was You Doing
10. Something Wrong With My Mind
11. Way Down That Lonely Road
12. When The Sun Goes Down In Harlem
13. That's Going To Ruin Your Beauty Spot
14. Bartender's Blues
15. Ready For The River
16. Rockin' Myself To Sleep
17. Business Is Gone Away
18. You Done Turned Salty On Me
19. You Brought Me Everything But Love
20. Oh Babe, Has Your Money Come?
21. Take Me In Your Alley
22. You Can't Win In Here
23. When My Love Has Come Down
