| Artist: | Jimmie Rodgers |
| Compilation: | 72 |
| Ep: | 11 |
| Singles: | 57 |
| Music Videos: | 1 |
The discography of Jimmie Rodgers is composed of 111 songs that spanned the blues, jazz and country music genres. His first recording was made on August 4, 1927, during the Bristol sessions. The sessions were organized by Ralph Peer, who became Rodgers' main producer. Rodgers enjoyed success. At the height of his career, he made US $75,000 in royalties in 1929. After the Great Depression, his sales dropped to US$60,000 . His last recording session took place in New York City on May 24, 1933. Rodgers died two nights later at the Taft Hotel after years of suffering from tuberculosis.
Music historian Norm Cohen categorized Rodgers' discography in four different types of songs: nineteenth century songs, songs stemming from vaudeville and minstrel shows, traditional songs, and his thirteen Blue Yodels. Rodgers was known as "America's Blue Yodeler" for his signature use of yodeling. Additional to his recordings, he appeared on Columbia Pictures' short The Singing Brakeman. Two versions by different directors were shot, one in 1929 and the second one, the following year. Rodgers was given writing credits on the labels of eighty-nine releases, though he did not compose most of his songs. He was aided by his sister-in-law Elsie McWilliams, who wrote thirty-nine of the songs. Other songs by Rodgers consisted of already existing numbers that originated from traditional, blues or vaudeville show sources. Rodgers modified the tune, lyrics and interpretation "beyond recognition" to create material that his producer, Ralph Peer, could copyright. He added his signature guitar playing and yodeling. Though McWilliams did not desire credits or financial gain for her contributions, and clarified she did it to help Rodgers and the family, the song publisher added her name to the song credits. McWilliams received US$50 for each song, and with her permission some of her writing credits were omitted. Other usual collaborators of Rodgers included Raymond Hall and Waldo O'Neal.
Rodgers' music directly influenced two generations of musicians including Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison. Rodgers was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame with the inaugural class in 1961, to the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the inaugural class in 1970, and to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the inaugural class in 1986 as an "Early Blues Influence".
| Song Title | Recording Number | Recording Date | Recording Location | Release Date | Recording Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Soldiers Sweetheart | 39767-4 | Aug 4, 1927 | Bristol, Tennessee | Oct 4, 1927 | First recording session; Vocals, guitar |
| Sleep Baby Sleep | 39768-3 | ||||
| Ben Dewberry's Final Run | 40751-2 | Nov 30, 1927 | Camden, New Jersey | April 6, 1928 | Vocals, guitar; written by Andy Jenkins |
| Mother Was A Lady (If Brother Jack Were Here) | 40752-2 | Aug 3, 1928 | Vocals, guitar. The record had to be re-issued after a lawsuit by Joseph Stern and Edward B. Marks for the title, and crediting authorship to Rodgers. | ||
| Blue Yodel (T For Texas) | 40753-2 | Feb 3, 1928 | Rodgers' most popular recording, sold over a million copies. Vocals, guitar. | ||
| Away Out On The Mountain | 40754-2 | Vocals, guitar | |||
| Dear Old Sunny South By The Sea | 41736-2 | Feb 14, 1928 | Oct 5, 1928 | Vocals, guitar with The Three Southerners | |
| Treasures Untold | 41737-2 | Aug 3, 1928 | Vocals, guitar | ||
| Brakeman's Blues (Yodeling The Blues Away) | 41738-2 | May 4, 1928 | Vocals, guitar, ukulele | ||
| Sailors Plea | 41739-2 | April 19, 1929 | With the Three Southeners; co-written McWilliams | ||
| In The Jailhouse Now | 41740-2 | Feb 15, 1928 | April 6, 1928 | Vocals, guitar, banjo | |
| Blue Yodel 2 (Lovin' Gal Lucille) | 41741-2 | May 4, 1928 | Vocals, guitars | ||
| Memphis Yodel | 41742-2 | Nov 2, 1928 | Singing and yodeling with guitar | ||
| Blue Yodel 3 (Evening Sun Yodel) | 41743-2 | Sept 7, 1928 | Vocals, guitar | ||
| My Old Pal | 45090-2 | June 12, 1928 | Dec 2, 1928 | Singing with guitar, co-written with McWilliams | |
| Mississippi Moon (Early Version) | 45091-2 | Feb 4, 1932 | Vocals, guitar | ||
| My Little Home Down In New Orleans | 45093-2 | Oct 5, 1928 | Vocals, guitar | ||
| You And My Old Guitar | 45094-2 | June 7, 1929 | Co-written with McWilliams, singing and yodeling with guitar | ||
| Daddy And Home | 45095-2 | Dec 2, 1928 | Singing with guitar, co-written with McWilliams | ||
| My Little Lady | 45096-2 | June 7, 1929 | Co-written with McWilliams, singing and yodeling with guitar | ||
| Lullaby Yodel | 45098-2 | Nov 2, 1928 | Co-written with McWilliams, singing and yodeling with guitar | ||
| Never No Mo’ Blues | 45099-3 | Sept 7, 1928 | Co-written with McWilliams, singing and yodeling with guitar | ||
| My Carolina Sunshine Girl | 47215-3 | Oct 20, 1928 | Atlanta, Georgia | Aug 22, 1929 | Singing and yodeling with orchestra |
| Blue Yodel 4 (California Blues) | 47216-4 | Feb 8, 1929 | Singing with orchestra | ||
| Waiting For A Train | 47223-4 | Oct 22, 1928 | Singing with orchestra. Second best-selling song by Rodgers, with 365,0000 copies sold. | ||
| I'm Lonely And Blue | 47224-5 | April 19, 1929 | Singing with orchestra, co-written with McWilliams | ||
| Desert Blues | 48384-3 | Feb 21, 1929 | New York City, New York | Aug 22, 1929 | Singing and yodeling with orchestra |
| Any Old Time | 48385-2 | Sept 5, 1930 | Singing with guitar and orchestra. | ||
| Blue Yodel 5 (It's Raining Here) | 49990-2 | Feb 23, 1929 | Sept 20, 1929 | Singing with yodeling and guitar | |
| High Powered Mama | 49991-3 | Oct 17, 1930 | Singing with guitar | ||
| I'm Sorry We Met | 49992-2 | Sept 20, 1929 | Singing with yodeling and guitar | ||
| Everybody Does It In Hawaii | 55307-2 | Aug 8, 1929 | Dallas, Texas | Nov 22, 1929 | Singing with guitar. Co-written with McWilliams |
| Tuck Away My Lonesome Blues | 55308-3 | Jan 3, 1930 | Co-written with McWilliams and Joe Kaipo. Singing with guitar, whistling by Bob MacGimsey | ||
| Train Whistle Blues | 55309-2 | June 5, 1930 | Singing with guitar | ||
| Jimmie's Texas Blues | 55332-2 | Aug 10, 1929 | Singing with guitar | ||
| Frankie And Johnny | 55333-2 | Nov 22, 1929 | Singing with guitar | ||
| Home Call | 55445-3 | Aug 12, 1929 | Co-Written with McWilliams. Singing with guitar | ||
| Whisper Your Mother's Name | 56449-4 | Oct 22, 1929 | April 4, 1930 | Singing with guitar | |
| The Land Of My Boyhood Dreams | 56450-4 | July 14, 1933 | Singing with guitar | ||
| Blue Yodel 6 (She Left Me This Morning) | 56453-3 | Feb 21, 1930 | Singing with guitar | ||
| Yodeling Cowboy | 56454-3 | Co-Written with McWilliams. Singing with guitar | |||
| My Rough And Rowdy Ways | 56455-3 | Jan 3, 1930 | Singing with guitar. Co-written with McWilliams | ||
| I've Ranged I've Roamed And I've Travelled | 56456-3 | April 10, 1935 | Co-Written with McWilliams. Singing with guitar | ||
| Hobo Bill's Last Ride | 56528-3 | Nov 13, 1929 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Aug 1, 1930 | Written by Waldo Lafayette O'Neal. Singing with yodeling and guitar |
| Mississippi River Blues | 56594-4 | Nov 25, 1929 | Atlanta, Georgia | April 24, 1931 | Singing with guitar |
| Nobody Knows But Me | 56595-4 | March 13, 1931 | Co-Written with McWilliams. Singing with guitar | ||
| Blue Yodel 7 (Anniversary Yodel) | 56607-3 | Nov 26, 1929 | Sept 5, 1930 | Co-Written with McWilliams. Singing with guitar | |
| She Was Happy Till She Met You | 56608-3 | July 1, 1932 | Co-Written with McWilliams. Singing with guitar | ||
| Blue Yodel 11 (I've Got A Gal) | 56617-4 | Nov 27, 1929 | June 30, 1933 | Singing with guitar | |
| Drunkards Child | 56618-3 | Nov 28, 1929 | April 4, 1930 | Singing with guitar, co-written with Andrew Jenkins | |
| That's Why I'm Blue | 56619-3 | Aug 1, 1930 | Co-Written with McWilliams. Singing and yodeling with guitar | ||
| Why Did You Give Me Your Love | 56620-4 | April 10, 1935 | Singing with guitar | ||
| My Blue Eyed Jane | 54849-3 | June 30, 1930 | Hollywood, California | June 5, 1931 | Singing with orchestra. Co-written with Mrs. Lulu Belle White |
| Why Should I Be Lonely | 54850-3 | Dec 4, 1931 | Co-written with Estelle Lovell. Singing with Hawaiian guitars | ||
| Moonlight And Skies | 54851-3 | Oct 23, 1931 | Co-written with Raymond E. Hill. Singing with orchestra | ||
| Pistol Packin' Papa | 54852-2 | July 1, 1930 | Dec 5, 1930 | Co-written with Waldo O'neal. Singing with guitar | |
| Take Me Back Again | 54854-3 | July 2, 1930 | May 25, 1938 | Co-written with Raymond E. Hill. Singing with the Lani McIntire's Hawaiians | |
| Those Gambler's Blues | 54855-3 | July 5, 1930 | Dec 5, 1930 | Singing with guitar | |
| I'm Lonesome Too | 54856-3 | July 7, 1930 | July 17, 1931 | Singing with Hawaiian orchestra | |
| The One Rose | 54857-3 | Dec 1, 1937 | Written by Del Lyon, McIntire. Singing with McIntire's Hawaiians | ||
| For The Sake Of Days Gone By | 54860-2 | July 9, 1930 | April 8, 1932 | Co-written with Jack White. Singing with Hawaiian guitar | |
| Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues | 54861-3 | July 10, 1930 | Feb 6, 1931 | Singing with orchestra. Written by Walter O'Neal, Bob Sawyer | |
| Mystery Of Number 5 | 54862-3 | July 11, 1930 | March 13, 1931 | Singing with guitar | |
| Blue Yodel 8 (Muleskinner Blues) | 54863-3 | Feb 6, 1931 | Singing with guitar | ||
| In The Jailhouse Now 2 | 54864-3 | July 12, 1930 | Oct 17, 1930 | Singing with guitar | |
| Blue Yodel 9 (Standin' On The Corner) | 54867-3 | July 16, 1930 | Sept 11, 1931 | Singing with orchestra. Uncredited appearances by Louis Armstrong (trumpet) and Lil Hardin Armstrong (piano). | |
| Pullmans Porters | 1302-1 | ||||
| T.B. Blues | 67133-3 | Jan 31, 1931 | San Antonio, Texas | April 24, 1931 | Singuing with guitar. Co-written by R. Hall |
| Travellin' Blues | 67134-3 | July 17, 1931 | Singing with orchestra. Co-written with Shelly Lee Alley | ||
| Jimmie The Kid | 67135-3 | June 5, 1931 | Singing with guitars and string bass. Co-written with Neville | ||
| Rodger's Puzzle Record | 67135-3 | Dec 31, 1931 | Contains three songs. Studio edit joining "Train Whistle Blues", "Blue Yodel" and "Everybody Does it in Hawaii" | ||
| Why There's A Tear In My Eye | 69412-3 | June 10, 1931 | Louisville, Kentucky | Nov 23, 1936 | Recorded with Sara Carter. Singing with guitar |
| The Wonderful City | 69413-3 | Feb 17, 1937 | Co-written with McWilliams. With Sara Carter, singing with guitars | ||
| Let Me Be Your Side Track | 69424-4 | June 11, 1931 | Dec 31, 1931 | Singing with guitar | |
| Rodgers Visits The Carter Family | 69427-1 | June 12, 1931 | Oct 23, 1931 | Assisted by the Carter Family. Singing with Mandolin and guitar | |
| The Carter Family Visit Rodgers In Texas | 67428-1 | Jan 20, 1937 | With the Carter Family. Singing with guitars | ||
| Cactus Is In Bloom | 69432-3 | June 13, 1931 | Feb 26, 1932 | Singing with guitar | |
| Gambling Polka Dot Blues | 69439-3 | June 15, 1931 | Co-written with R. Hall. Singing with piano | ||
| Looking For A New Mama | 69443-3 | Sept, 11, 1931 | Singing with guitars | ||
| What's it? | 69448-4 | June 16, 1931 | Dec 4, 1931 | Co-written with J. Neville. Singing with piano | |
| My Good Gals Gone | 69449-3 | May 22, 1935 | Singing with Louisville Jug Band | ||
| Southern Cannonball | 69458-4 | June 17, 1931 | July 14, 1933 | Co-written with McWilliams. Singing with guitar | |
| Roll Along Kentucky Moon | 70645-2 | Feb 2, 1932 | Dallas, Texas | April 8, 1932 | Written by Halley. Singing with Hawaiian guitars |
| Hobos Meditation | 70646-2 | Feb 3, 1932 | Sep 23, 1932 | Singing with guitars and string bass | |
| My Time Ain't Long | 70647-2 | Feb 4, 1932 | May 20, 1932 | Co-written with Waldo O'Neal. Singing with guitars, ukulele and string bass | |
| Ninety-Nine Year Blues | 70648-2 | Co-written with Hall. Singing with guitars and string bass | |||
| Mississippi Moon (Later Version) | 45091-2 | Aug 12, 1932 | Co-Written with McWilliams. Singing with guitar | ||
| Down The Old Road To Home | 70649-2 | Feb 5, 1932 | Sep 23, 1932 | Co-written with Carey D. Harvey. Singing with guitars | |
| Blue Yodel 10 (Ground Hog Rootin' In My Backyard) | 70650-2 | Feb 6, 1932 | Aug 12, 1932 | Singing with guitars | |
| Home Call (1932) | 55345-2 | July 1, 1932 | Co-Written with McWilliams. Singing with guitar | ||
| Mother Queen Of My Heart | 58961-2 | Aug 11, 1932 | Camden, New Jersey | Oct 21, 1932 | Co-written with Hoyt Bryant. Singing with violin, banjo and guitar |
| Rock All Our Babies To Sleep | 58963-2 | Arranged by Rodgers. Singing with violin, banjo and guitar | |||
| Whippin' That Old T.B. | 58964-2 | Jan 13, 1933 | Singing with violin, banjo and guitars | ||
| No Hard Times | 58968-3 | Aug 15, 1932 | Singing with violin, banjo and guitars | ||
| Long Tall Mama Blues | 58969-1 | Feb 24, 1933 | Singing with banjo and guitars | ||
| Peach Picking Time In Georgia | 58970-2 | April 7, 1933 | Co-written with C. McMichen. Singing with banjo and guitar | ||
| Gambling Barroom Blues | 58971-3 | Feb 24, 1933 | Co-written with Shelly Lee Alley. Singing with fiddle, banjo and guitar. | ||
| I've Only Loved Three Women | 58972-1 | Feb 17, 1937 | Co-written with Harvey. With violin, banjo and guitar | ||
| In The Hills Of Tennessee | 73324-2 | Aug 29, 1932 | New York City, New York | Dec 2, 1932 | Sam M. Hills, Ira Schuster. Singing with orchestra |
| Prairie Lullaby | 73325-2 | April 7, 1933 | Co-written with George Brown. Singing with violins, guitar, clarinet and piano | ||
| Miss The Mississippi And You | 73326-2 | Dec 2, 1932 | Written by Bill Halley. Singing with orchestra | ||
| Sweet Mama Hurry Home | 73327-2 | June 30, 1933 | Singing with guitar, violin, clarinet and piano | ||
| Blue Yodel 12 (Barefoot Blues) | 76138-1 | May 17, 1933 | June 27, 1933 | Singing with guitars | |
| Dreaming With Tears In My Eye | 76139-1 | May 25, 1938 | Co-written with Waldo O'Neal. Singing with guitar. | ||
| The Cowhand's Last Ride | 76140-1 | June 27, 1933 | Co-written with Arza Hitt Singing with guitar | ||
| I'm Free From The Chain Gang Now | 76141-1 | Sep 8, 1933 | Written by Lou Herscher. Singing with guitar | ||
| Yodeling My Way Back Home | 76151-2 | May 18, 1933 | Dec 1, 1937 | Singing with guitars | |
| Jimmie Rodgers' Last Blue Yodel (The Women Make A Fool Out Of Me) | 76160-1 | Dec 20, 1933 | Singing with guitars | ||
| The Yodeling Ranger | 76191-2 | May 20, 1933 | Sept 8, 1933 | Co-written with Raymond Hall, singing with guitar | |
| Old Pal Of My Heart | 76192-2 | July 28, 1933 | Co-written with Joe B. Mason. Singing with guitar | ||
| Old Love Letters | 76327-1 | May 24, 1933 | Oct 20, 1933 | Co-written with Herscher and Butcher. Singing with guitars | |
| Mississippi Delta Blues | 76328-2 | July 28, 1933 | Co-written with Jack Neville | ||
| Somewhere Down Below The Dixson Line | 76331-2 | Oct 20, 1933 | Co-written with Ryan. Singing with guitar | ||
| Years Ago | 76332-2 | Dec 20, 1933 | Singing with guitar. Co-written with Herscher, Richards |
| "The Sailors Plea" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Camden, New Jersey | Feb 14, 1928 | |
| "Mississippi Moon" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | June 12, 1928 | ||
| "I'm Lonely and Blue" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Any Old Time" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | New York City, New York | Feb 21, 1929 | |
| "High Powered Mama" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Feb 23, 1929 | ||
| "Frankie and Johnny" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | Dallas, Texas | Aug 10, 1929 | |
| "Frankie and Johnny" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | Aug 12, 1929 | ||
| "Home Call" (Alternate take 1) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Home Call" (Alternate take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Whisper Your Mothers Name" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | Oct 22, 1929 | ||
| "Whisper Your Mothers Name" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "The Land of My Boyhood Dreams" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "The Land of My Boyhood Dreams" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "The Land of My Boyhood Dreams" (Alternate Take 3) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Blue Yodel 6" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Blue Yodel 6" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Yodeling Cowboy" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "My Rough and Rowdy Ways" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "My Rough and Rowdy Ways" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "I've Ranged, I've Roamed, and I've Travelled" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "I've Ranged, I've Roamed, and I've Travelled" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Mississippi River Blues" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Atlanta, Georgia | Nov 13, 1929 | |
| "Blue Yodel 7" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Nov 26, 1929 | ||
| "She was Happy Till She Met You" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Blue Yodel 11" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Nov 27, 1929 | ||
| "Why Did You Give Me Your Love?" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Nov 28, 1929 | ||
| "My Blue Eyed Jane" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Hollywood, California | June 30, 1930 | |
| "Moonlight and Skies" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Take Me Back Again" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | July 2, 1930 | ||
| "Those Gambler's Blues" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | July 5, 1930 | ||
| "I'm Lonesome Too" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | July 7, 1930 | ||
| "For the Sake of Days Gone by" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | July 8, 1930 | ||
| "T.B. Blues" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | July 11, 1930 | ||
| "Travellin' Blues" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | San Antonio, Texas | Jan 31, 1931 | |
| "Travellin' Blues" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Jimmie The Kid" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Why There's A Tear in My Eye" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Louisville, Kentucky | June 10, 1931 | |
| "Let Me Be Your Sidetrack" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | June 11, 1931 | ||
| "Let Me Be Your Sidetrack" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "When The Cactus is in Bloom" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | June 15, 1931 | ||
| "Gambling Polka Dot Blues" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Gambling Polka Dot Blues" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
"Looking For A New Mama" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "What's It?" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | June 16, 1931 | ||
| "My Good Gal's Gone Blues" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Southern Cannonball" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | June 17, 1931 | ||
| "Jimmie Rodgers' Puzzle Record" (Alternate Pressing) | Victor Unissued | Camden, New Jersey | Oct 27, 1931 | |
| "Roll Along Kentucky Moon" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Dallas, Texas | Feb 2, 1932 | |
| "Hobo's Meditation" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Feb 3, 1932 | ||
| "My Time Ain't Long" (Alternate Take 1) | Victor Unissued | Feb 4, 1932 | ||
| "My Time Ain't Long" (Alternate Take 2) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "Mississippi Moon (Later Version)" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Feb 5, 1932 | ||
| "In The Hills of Tennessee" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Camden, New Jersey | Aug 10, 1932 | |
| "Prohibition Has Done Me Wrong" (Unreleased) | Victor Unissued | Aug 11, 1932 | ||
| "Whippin' That Old T.B." (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | |||
| "No Hard Times" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | Aug 15, 1932 | ||
| "Dreaming With Tears in My Eyes" (Alternate Take) | Victor Unissued | New York City, New York | May 18, 1933 |
| In The Jailhouse Now No. 2 (Overdubbed Version) | RCA | 1955 | Overdubbed by The Rainbow Ranch Boys |
| Blue Yodel 8 (Muleskinner Blues) (Overdubbed Version) | |||
| Peach Pickin' Time In Georgia (Overdubbed Version) | |||
| Mother, Queen Of My Heart (Overdubbed Version) | |||
| Never No Mo' Blues (Overdubbed Version) | |||
| Blue Yodel (T For Texas) (Overdubbed Version) | |||
| Daddy And Home (Overdubbed Version) | |||
| Memphis Yodel (Overdubbed Version) |
| Year | Director | Film | Studio | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Jasper Ewing Brady | The Singing Brakeman | Columbia Pictures | Both Recordings were recorded on the same day in 1930. Just had different directors. Released within a month of each other. the Basil Smith Recording is the more popular one. |
| 1930 | Basil Smith | |||