The Legends of the Rocking Dutchman - episode 255

The QRS label

Today I spotlight the QRS label, one of the few independent labels of the late twenties, and from that label, the 7000 series, that brought blues and jazz. Clarence Williams was involved in this business and his band served somewhat as the house band of the label, backing blues singers and recording under different names.

The catalog also brings us one of the most fascinating stories of early African-American music - the Old South Quartette, put together by Polk Miller in the late 1890s, bringing plantation-style music from the middle of the 1900s. Long after Miller's death, the Quartette reunited for a few recordings for the QRS label.

Transcript

Playlist

  1. Ki Ki Johnson - Lady Your Clock Ain't Right
  2. Anna Bell - Hopeless Blues
  3. Polk Miller & His Old South Quartette - Watermillion Party
  4. State Street Ramblers - Endurance Stomp
  5. Katherine Henderson - Have You Ever Felt That Way
  6. Earl Hines - Panther Rag
  7. Stump Johnson - The Duck's Yas Yas Yas
  8. Chicken Wilson & Skeeter Hinton - Myrtle Avenue Stomp
  9. Clarence Williams as Barrelhouse Five - Scufflin' Blues
  10. QRS Boys - Wiggle Yo Toes
  11. J.C. Johnson & His Five Hot Sparks - Red Hot Hottentot
  12. Coot Grant & Socks Wilson - Uncle Joe
  13. Ed Bell - She's a Fool Gal
  14. Slim Barton & Eddie Mapp - It's Tight Like That
  15. Clifford Gibson - Sunshine Moan

Outtro:

  • Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce
The following music served as background music during the spoken parts:
  • Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
  • Clarence Williams - Beau-Koo-Jack
  • Clarence Williams - Long, Deep And Wide
  • Clarence Williams - Speakeasy
  • Clarence Williams - Squeeze Me
  • Earl Hines - Chicago High Life
  • Earl Hines - Stowaway