The Mississippi Sheiks were one of the most popular string bands of the late '20s and early '30s. Formed in Jackson around 1926, the band blended country and blues fiddle music -- both old-fashioned and risqué -- and included guitarist Walter Vinson and fiddler Lonnie Chatmon, with frequent appearances by guitarists Bo Carter and Sam Chatmon, who were also busy with their own solo careers. The musicians were the sons of Ezell Chatmon, uncle of Charlie Patton and leader of an area string band that was popular around the turn of the century. The Mississippi Sheiks (who took their name from the Rudolph Valentino movie The Sheik) began recording for Okeh in 1930 and had their first and biggest success with "Sitting on Top of the World," which was a crossover hit and multi-million seller. In fact, the song became a national standard and has been recorded by Howlin' Wolf, Ray Charles and many more. The Mississippi Sheiks' popularity peaked in the early '30s, and their final recording session happened in 1935 for the Bluebird label. By the end of their career, the prolific and influential string band had recorded well over 60 songs, including the successful "Stop and Listen."
Volume 1 - 1930
1. Driving That Thing [3:24]
2. Alberta Blues [3:16]
3. Winter Time Blues [3:19]
4. The Sheik Waltz [3:15]
5. The Jazz Fiddler -tkB [3:13]
6. Sitting On Top Of The World [3:05]
7. Stop And Listen Blues [3:35]
8. Lonely One In This Town [3:24]
9. We Are Both Feeling Good Right Now [3:04]
10. Cracking Them Things [3:16]
11. Grinding Old Fool [2:50]
12. Jake Leg Blues [3:09]
13. Back To Mississippi [3:14]
14. West Jackson Blues [3:19]
15. Jail Bird Love Song [2:59]
16. Yodeling Fiddling Blues [3:13]
17. Baby Keeps Stealin' Lovin' On Me [3:10]
18. River Bottom Blues [3:07]
19. Bootlegger's Blues [3:34]
20. Loose Like That [2:59]
Volume 2 - 1930-1931
1. Sitting On Top Of The World No. 2 [3:19]
2. Your Good Man Caught The Train And Gone [3:12]
3. Times Done Got Hard [3:27]
4. Unhappy Blues [3:25]
5. Still I'm Travelling On [3:04]
6. Honey Babe Let The Deal Go Down [3:25]
7. She Ain't No Good [3:12]
8. Ramrod Blues [2:51]
9. Stop And Listen Blues No. 2 [3:17]
10. Church Bell Blues [3:21]
11. Please Don't Wake It Up [3:29]
12. Please Baby [3:17]
13. Things About Comin' My Way [3:07]
14. The World Is Going Wrong [3:25]
15. She's A Bad Girl [3:20]
16. Tell Me What the Cats Fight About [3:14]
17. Kind Treatment [3:17]
18. Livin' In A Strain [3:09]
19. Lazy Lazy River [3:12]
20. Too Long [3:03]
Volume 3 - 1931-1934
1. Shake Hands And Tell Me Goodbye [2:56]
2. Bed Spring Poker [3:13]
3. When You're Sick With The Blues [3:09]
4. I've Got Blood In My Eyes for You [3:18]
5. Shooting High Dice [3:32]
6. Isn't A Pain To Me [3:46]
7. She's Crazy About Her Lovin' [3:09]
8. Tell Me to Do It Right [3:33]
9. New Stop And Listen [3:47]
10. Go 'Way Woman [3:25]
11. New Shake That Thing [3:05]
12. The New Sittin' On Top Of The World [3:13]
13. He Calls That Religion [3:30]
14. Don't Wake It Up [3:37]
15. Please Baby [3:35]
16. I'll Be Gone, Long Gone [3:19]
17. Kitty Cat Blues [3:16]
18. Show Me What You Got [3:11]
19. Hitting The Numbers [3:01]
20. It's Done Got Wet [3:18]
21. Pencil Won't Write No More [2:56]
22. I Am The Devil [3:10]
23. Baby, Please Make A Change [3:11]
Volume 4 - 1934-1936
1. She's Got Something Crazy [3:13]
2. You'll Work Down to Me Someday [3:24]
3. Somebody's Got to Help Me [3:12]
4. Good Morning Blues [2:50]
5. Blues on My Mind [2:42]
6. Lonesome Grave Took My Baby [3:13]
7. Pop Skull Blues [3:17]
8. Sweet Maggie [3:16]
9. Sales Tax [3:03]
10. It's Backfiring Now [2:47]
11. Lean to One Woman [3:02]
12. I Can't Go Wrong [3:09]
13. Dead Wagon Blues [3:03]
14. She's Going to Her Lonesome Grave [2:37]
15. Fingering With Your Fingers [2:46]
16. If You Don't Want Me Please Don't Dog Me 'Round [3:16]
17. Wake Me Just Before the Day [2:53]
18. Old Grey Mule, You Ain't What You Used to Be [2:53]
19. What's the Name of That Thing? [2:49]
20. Stir It Now [2:48]
21. Jumping Out Blues [2:46]
22. Radio Blues [3:15]
23. Please Don't Give My Love Away [2:55]
