JIM JACKSON'S KANSAS CITY BLUES (PART 1) - JIM JACKSON (1927) on Vocalion 78 RPM (original) HQ HD
It was Wilbert Harrison's hit in 1959, "Kansas City", written by two 19-year-old blues fans, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, that became a smash hit, but the deep roots of that particular song stemmed from this original 1927 release by Jim Jackson. Jackson penned 'Kansas City Blues' Parts 1 and 2, and was also known to have been a musical influence of Jerry Leiber. Part 2 is also on my YouTube channel at: • JIM JACKSON'S KANSAS CITY BLUES (PART 2) -... Recorded in October of 1927, Kansas City Blues was Jim Jackson's first release and became an early blues hit, said to be one of the first million-selling records. It became popular among Mississippi and Memphis bluesman and, notably, Charly Patton is believed to have directly used the song's melody in his song "Going to Move to Alabama". Kansas City Blues was also later recorded by Janis Joplin who included a tip-of-her-hat recognition to Jim Jackson in her rendition. At the time, this release was the biggest selling record the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, of which Vocalion was a subsidiary label. Considered then as a 'race record', the record found success outside of territorial demand. In Memphis, the record reportedly sold 10,000 copies in just ten days at the Watson Company. Jim was born in Mississippi. He was nearly 30 years old when he began playing professionally in minstrels and night clubs, including becoming a regular on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. His popularity earned him a prestigious residency at Memphis' historic Peabody Hotel. He later became a talent scout for Brunswick records. I recorded this video of my original 1927 Jim Jackson release on Vocalion Records 78 RPM playing on my turntable to share the experience of playing 78s with those who also enjoy the hobby and history of vinyl records, especially of early and original Blues. I do not claim or own, nor imply ownership, of the song or music recording in any way. Lyrics I woke up this morning feelin’ bad; Thought about the good times I once have had. I’m gonna move to Kansas City; I’m gonna move to Kansas City; I’m gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you. My mother told me, Daddy told me too, Everybody grins in your face son ain’t no friend to you. You oughta move to Kansas City; you oughta move to Kansas City; You oughta move to Kansas City, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you. I’ve got me a bulldog, shepherd and two greyhounds; Two high yellas, three blacks and one brown. We gonna move to Kansas City; we gonna move to Kansas City; We gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you; It takes a rockin’ chair to rock, a rubber ball to roll; Nice lookin’ teasin’ brown to satisfy my soul. Then I’ll move to Kansas City; then I’ll move to Kansas City; I’m gonna move to Kansas City, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you. T is for Texas, T’s for Tennessee; Boll weevil’s got the Mississippi, and the women wants me. I’m gonna move to Kansas City; I’m gonna move to Kansas City; I’m gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you. You can always tell when your good girl wanta flirt; Wanta pair red slippers to match that old matchin’ skirt. Then she’ll move to Kansas City; Then she’ll move to Kansas City; Then she’ll move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.
