Album Information

Gene Autry: Blues Singer 1929-1931 "Booger Rooger Saturday Nite!"

 

Released: 10/08/1996
Label: Columbia/Legacy

Few may recall that Gene Autry got his start performing and writing country blues, mimicking the very popular Jimmie Rodgers. Gene Autry: Blues Singer 1929-1931 "Booger Rooger Saturday Nite!" is the first and only collection devoted entirely to that period of the Singing Cowboy. This 23-track release features classic traditional blues songs, such as "Frankie and Johnny," "Blue Yodel No. 5," and "In the Jailhouse Now No. 2," plus Gene Autry originals, including "A Yodeling Hobo," "Bear Cat Papa Blues," and "Do Right Daddy Blues." The liner notes are by professor and historian Jon Guyot Smith, offering a revealing and moving insight into the musical roots of a true American icon.

Track Listing

1. Birmingham Daddy (2:43)
   (Gene Autry)
   Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Roy Smeck, banjo.
   November 11, 1931. New York, NY
   10984-2, Ba 33131, Me M13098, Or 8365, Pe 13026, Ro 5365, Cq 7909
2. The Rheumatism Blues (2:26)
   (Gene Autry)
   Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Roy Smeck, steel guitar.
   October 29, 1931. New York, NY
   10940-2, Ba 32350, Me M13098, Or 8365, Pe 13026, Ro 5365, Cq 7913
3. Dallas County Jail Blues (3:01)
   (Gene Autry/W.R. Calaway)
   Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Roy Smeck, steel guitar.
   April 14, 1931. New York, NY.
   10567-3, Ba 32201, Or 8070, Pe 12722, Re 10379, Ro 5070, Bw 4064 (performing as Bob Clayton), Cq 7832
4. Jail-House Blues (2:39)
   (Gene Autry)
   Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
   April 10, 1931. New York, NY
   10556-3, Ba 32350, Me M12384, Or 8110, Pe 12776, Ro 5110, Bw 4067 (performing as Bob Clayton), Cq 7838
5. I'm Atlanta Bound (2:39)
   (Gene Autry)
   Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Roy Smeck, banjo.
   October 29, 1931. New York, NY
   10941-1, Ba 32350, Me M12384, Or 8110, Pe 12776, Ro 5110, Cq 7907, Bw 4071
6. In The Jailhouse Now No. 2 (2:43)
   (Jimmie Rodgers)
   Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
   November 20, 1930. New York, NY
   10263-1, Ba 32082, Je 20035, Or 8035, Pe 12667, Cq 7708 (as "He's In The Jailhouse Now No. 2"), Re 10259, Ro 5035
7. Bear Cat Papa Blues (2:49)
   (Gene Autry/Frankie Marvin)
   Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Frank Marvin, steel guitar.
   February 25, 1931. New York, NY
   10448-2, Ba 32200, Me M12383, Or 8069, Pe 12721, Re 10378, Ro 5069, Cq 7838
8. Wildcat Mama Blues (2:22)
   (Gene Autry)
   Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Roy Smeck, banjo.
   November 16, 1931. New York, NY
   11013-3, Ba 32473, Me M12429, Or 8147, Pe 12817, Ro 5147, Cq 7913
9. High Steppin' Mama Blues (2:41)
   (Gene Autry)
   Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Roy Smeck, banjo.
   October 29, 1931. New York, NY
   10942-1, Ba 32473, Me M12429, Or 8147, Pe 12817, Ro 5147, Cq 7909
10. A Yodeling Hobo (3:00)
    (Gene Autry)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    November 18, 1930. New York, NY
    10257-1, Ba 32082, Je 20035, Or 8035, Pe 12667, Re 10259, Ro 5035, Cq 7708
11. T.B. Blues (2:56)
    (Jimmie Rodgers/R. Hall)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Roy Smeck, steel guitar.
    April 14, 1931. New York, NY
    10569-3, Ba 32244, Or 8090, Pe 12742, Ca 7842, Bw 4067 (performing as Bob Clayton)
12. California Blues (Blue Yodel #4) (2:33)
    (Jimmie Rodgers)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    December 6, 1929. New York, NY
    149692-1, Di 6032-G, Vt 7058-V, Cl 5155-C
13. Slu-Foot Lou (2:41)
    (Frankie Marvin)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    December 5, 1929. New York, NY
    149686-1, Di 6031-G, Vt 7057-V, Cl 5154-C, Ok 45472
14. Stay Away From My Chicken House (2:43)
    (Frankie Marvin/Johnny Marvin)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Frank Marvin, animal imitations.
    December 5, 1929. New York, NY
    149687-2, Di 6032-G, Vt 7058-V, Cl 5155-C, Ok 45462
15. Waiting for a Train (2:38)
    (Jimmie Rodgers)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    December 5, 1929. New York, NY
    149688-3, Di 6031-G, Vt 7057-V, Cl 5155-C
16. Frankie and Johnny (2:41)
    (Jimmie Rodgers)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    December 3, 1929. New York, NY
    149668-3, Di 6037-G, VT 7063-V, Cl 5026-C, Ok 45417 & Pa A3061 (performing as Johnny Dodds)
17. Do Right Daddy Blues (2:44)
    (Gene Autry)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    April 13, 1931. New York, NY
    10563-3, Ba 32201, Or 8070, Pe 12722, Re 10379, Ro 5070, Cq 7832
18. Blue Yodel No. 5 (2:36)
    (Jimmie Rodgers)
    Gene Autry (Yodelin' Cowboy), vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    October 24, 1929. New York, NY
    149179-3, Ha 1046-H, Vt 2046-V, Di 3046-G
19. My Rough and Rowdy Ways (2:44)
    (Jimmie Rodgers/E. McWilliams)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    March 5, 1930. New York, NY
    150065-1, Di 6049-G, Vt 7075-V
20. Left My Gal in the Mountains (2:36)
    (C.J. Robison)
    Gene Autry (Yodelin' Cowboy), vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    October 24, 1929. New York, NY
    149180-3, Ha 1046-H, Vt 2046-V, Di 3046-G, Cl 5329-C
21. I've Always Been A Rambler (2:32)
    (H. Whitter/G.B. Grayson)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Frank Marvin, steel guitar.
    February 25, 1931. New York, NY
    10446-3, Ba 32244, Or 8090, Pe 12742, Cq 7842
22. Dust Pan Blues (2:44)
    (Frankie Marvin/Johnny Marvin)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar.
    December 3, 1929. New York, NY
    149663-2, Cl 5154-C
23. That's Why I Left the Mountains (3:09)
    (A. Fields/F. Hall)
    Gene Autry, vocal/yodeling & guitar; Frank Marvin, steel guitar.
    March 3, 1930. New York, NY
    150048-2, Di 6049-G, Vt 7075-V, Cl 5025-C