Discography

Scope and Sources
This a list of all known recordings of titular made in America before January 1, 1921.  I have also included the few recordings of blues that American bands made outside America in the same period.  Entries are arranged in alphabetical order of song title, multiple recordings of entries being placed in chronological order under the title.

Explanation of Column Headings
Song Title.  These reproduce the titles as they appear in the listing of titular blues.  Where variant titles are used on the label or in contemporaneous company catalogs, I have noted this in square parentheses in column 4.  I give composer and lyricist in parenthesis after the song title.  For further details see entry in the listing of titular blues.

Column 1.  This lists the record company of each recording and the number of the first known issue.  Where this is not known, I have listed possible candidates in numerical order.  I have also included details of recordings made but never released where that recording represents the only known recording of that work by a particular group or artist for a particular label.  These are indicated by “rej.” (for “rejected”) after the company name.  Although rejected records were never commercially issued, test pressings may exist in some cases.

Abbreviations for record companies as follows:
AV = Aeolian Vocalion
Cdl = Cardinal
Col = Columbia
Ed = Edison
Em = Emerson
Emp = Empire
GG = Grey Gull
Gnt = Gennett
HMV = His Master’s Voice
Imp = Imperial
LW = Little Wonder
Med = Medallion
OK = OKeh
Op = Operaphone
PA = Pathé Actuelle
Par = Paroquette
Pat = Pathé
Phon = Phonola
Pm = Paramount
Vic = Victor
Voc = Vocalion

Other record companies given by their full names.

Column 2.  This lists the name of principal artist/s or group given as they appear on recordings.  Extra clarifiers are placed in square brackets.  There are instances where the same artist or group recorded the same title for different, or even the same record companies in close chronological proximity.  Where these are listed separately, they are, as far as is known, different recordings, not different issues of the same recording.

Column 3. This lists the date of recording (r.) or issue (i.).  My preference is to list the date of recording.  When this is not known, I have listed the date of issue.  Records were typically issued about three to four months after recording, but this varies considerably.  As the aim of the discography is to list all blues recorded before January 1 1921, I have included blues issued up till the end of May 1921, as it is probable that these recordings were made before the cut-off date.  This is not entirely reliable, however, and it is possible that some records issued from February to May 1921 were recorded after the cut-off date, and also that some items recorded before the cut-off date were not issued until after May 1921. Note: r. = recorded; i.= issued; c. = circa.

Column 4.  This lists variant titles found on the record label or in company catalogs, which appear in square brackets.  In addition, I note where a composition is played as part of a medley on a particular recording.  Where the other compositions played on the medley are not blues, I do not list them, and state “as part of medley” in column 4.  Where they are blues, I list the titles in column 4 (“with ‘The x Blues’”), as well as including the recording as a separate entry under each of the titles.