"Wabash Blues"
Single by Isham Jones Orchestra
A-side"Ma"
PublishedSeptember 16, 1921 (1921-09-16) Leo Feist, Inc., New York[1]
ReleasedNovember 1921 (1921-11)[2]
RecordedAugust 1921 (1921-08)[3]
StudioBrunswick Studios, New York City
GenreAmerican Dance Music, Jazz
Length2:52
LabelBrunswick 5065[4]
Composer(s)Fred Meinken
Lyricist(s)Dave Ringle
Isham Jones Orchestra singles chronology
"Make Believe"
(1921)		 "Wabash Blues"
(1921)		 "On the Alamo"
(1922)

"Wabash Blues", with words by Dave Ringle and music by Fred Meinken, was the first major success for pianist, saxophonist and song composer Isham Jones (1894–1956). Recorded in 1921 by Isham Jones and his Orchestra, this million-seller stayed twelve weeks in the U.S. charts, six at No. 1.[5] Other popular recordings were by Benson Orchestra of Chicago, Dolly Kay (both in 1922), Ted Lewis (1930) and Russ Morgan (1939).[6]

The author of the original melody of the "Wabash Blues" is unknown. Though the song was recorded by Isham Jones and his ensemble, the piece was arranged by Joseph E. Maddy. Prior to being called "Wabash Blues", the first name of this significant early jazz standard was called "The Trombone Jazz" and was orchestrated by Joseph E. Maddy in the summer of 1918 at Kansas City's Electric Park - a then summer proving ground for vaudeville artists. At the beginning of Jones' career in Chicago he played in the Edgewater Beach hotel dance band with Maddy and the early jazz sax team of Jones on alto and Maddy on tenor were in great demand—it is through this partnership that Jones came in contact with "Wabash Blues".

This song has subsequently been covered over the years by many artists, including Les Paul and Mary Ford (for their album Bye Bye Blues! (1952)),[7] The Andrews Sisters (1952),[8] Dinah Shore (for her album Dinah Shore – Sings The Blues (1954)),[9] Shirley Bassey (for her album Born to Sing the Blues (1957)), Duke Ellington, Ace Cannon, and Paul Revere and the Raiders.

References

  1. ↑ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1920). Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1920 Music Last Half of 1920 New Series Vol 15 Part 2. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  2. ↑ "Tim Gracyk's Phonographs, Singers, and Old Records -- Brunswick Records: The Early Years". www.gracyk.com. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  3. ↑ "Brunswick matrix 6247-6248. Wabash blues / Isham Jones Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  4. ↑ "Brunswick 5065 (10-in. double-faced) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  5. ↑ CD liner notes: Chart-Toppers of the Twenties, 1998 ASV Ltd.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 602. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  7. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved September 22, 2018.


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