The Legends of the Rocking Dutchman - episode 266

The Jax label

Today I spotlight the Jax label, one of the many labels started by Bob and Morty Shad, two businessmen and jazz fanatics from New York. Jax was not their most important label - we know Bob Shad for his Sittin' In With label. Their labels specialized in Rhythm & Blues, that was drifting apart from the jazz and that would soon start off the Rock 'n Roll craze.

Jax - together with Sittin' In With - is the label that brought a lot of recordings for Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, but also some great sides for Lightnin' Hopkins, and the earliest recordings of Larry Dale, be it that he was not credited on the label. It just billed Paul Williams - whom we know from the Huckle-Buck, a few years before.

Transcript

Playlist

  1. Rufus Beacham - Since I Fell For You (Jax 300)
  2. Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - A Letter To Lightnin' (302)
  3. Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Key To The Highway (304)
  4. James Widemouth Brown - Boogie woogie Nighthawk (306)
  5. Bob Gaddy & His Alley Cats - No Help Wanted (308)
  6. Ray Abrams - Moondog's Blues (311)
  7. Brownie McGhee & His Jook Block Busters - I'm 10.000 Years Old (312)
  8. Paul Williams feat. Larry Dale - Shame, Shame, Shame (313)
  9. Bobby Hall & The Kings - Why Oh, Why (314)
  10. Lightnin' Hopkins - I've Been A Bad Man (315)
  11. Bobby Hall & The Kings - Baby Be There (316)
  12. Paul Williams feat. Larry Dale - The Woman I Love Is Dying (317)
  13. Lightnin' Hopkins - Automobile Blues (318)
  14. The Ramblers - 50 50 love (319)
  15. Bobby Hall & The Kings - Love No One (320)
  16. Lightnin' Hopkins - Contrary Mary (321)
  17. Brownie McGhee - New Bad Blood Blues (322)

Outtro:

  • Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce
The following music served as background music during the spoken parts:
  • Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
  • Bob Gaddy & his Alley Cats - Little Girl's Boogie (Jax 308)
  • Paul 'Hucklebuck' Williams - The Thin Man (313)
  • Paul 'Hucklebuck' Williams - Shuck-Foot (317)
  • Lightnin' Hopkins - Organ Blues (318)