Mercury's early beginnings

Mercury founded in 1945 in Chicago and it was not just another indepent label. The two jazz fanatics who started it, made it a big enterprise from the beginning, with two large-scale pressing plants and a roster, initially in Rhythm & Blues only, with the great names on it. Soon they expanded their interest to pop and in the early fifties they embraced the new microgroove long-playing format with what still is regarded as the best classical recordings of the era.

But on this show, we're interested in the Rhythm & Blues and Mercury started with great names, such as Dinah Washington, Jay McShann, Albert Ammons and Julia Lee.

Transcript

Playlist

1. Rex Stewart - Jug Blues (Mercury 8001)
2. Jay McShann - Hootie Boogie (8002)
3. Julia Lee - Show Me Missouri Blues (8005)
4. Bill Samuels & the Cats 'n Jammer Three - That Chick's Too Young To Fry (8006)
5. Albert Ammons feat. Mildred Anderson - Doin' The Boogie Woogie (8007)
6. Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson - Too Many Women Blues (8009)
7. Dinah Washington - Oo Wee Walkie Talkie (8010)
8. Helen Humes - Jumpin' On Sugar Hill (8011)
9. Bill Samuels & the Cats 'n Jammer Three - Port Wine (8012)
10. Julia Lee - Dream Lucky Blues (8013)
11. Jay McShann feat. Crown Prince Waterford - Crown Prince Boogie (8014)
12. T-Bone Walker - My Baby Left Me (8016)
13. Four Bluejackets - I Know Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well (8017)
14. Jay McShann feat. Jimmy Witherspoon - Roll on Katy (8018)
15. Albert Ammons feat. Jack Cooley - I Don't Want To See You (8022)
16. Myra Taylor - The Spider and The Fly (8025)
17. Myra Taylor - Take It Easy, Greasy (8027)

Outtro:

• Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce

• Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
• Rex Stewart - Boy Meets Horn (Mercury 8001)
• Red Nichols - Battle Hymn of the Republic (8015)
• Jay Mcshann - Bucktown Boogie (8020)
• Albert Ammons - Swanee River Boogie (8022)
• Jay McShann - Jimtown Boogie (8026)