SHREVEPORT'S GONNA BE THE DEATH OF YOU: OUR CITY'S SONGS (1927-1972)
Compiled in December 2005, liner notes revised April 2018.
Songs about Shreveport, songs recorded in Shreveport, songs by Shreveporters, songs on Shreveport record labels.
Listen online https://www.mixcloud.com/shreveportsongs/shreveports-gonna-be-the-death-of-you-our-citys-songs-1927-1972/
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1 JELLY-ROLL MORTON'S RED HOT PEPPERS - Shreveport (Victor 21658, 1928)
2 LILLIAN GLINN - Shreveport Blues (Columbia 14519-D, 1929)
3 HENRY THOMAS "RAG TIME TEXAS" - Red River Blues (Vocalion 1137, 1927)
4 JIMMIE DAVIS - She's A Hum-Dinger (Victor 40286, 1930)
5 JESSE ("BABYFACE") THOMAS - Blue Goose Blues (Victor 38555, 1929)
6 JOE HARRIS AND KID WEST - Nobody's Business If I Do (1940)
7 LEAD BELLY - Fannin Street (Musicraft 225, 1939)
8 BUDDY JONES - Mean Old Lonesome Blues (Decca 5372, 1937)
9 TILLMAN FRANKS AND HIS RAINBOW BOYS - Hayride Boogie (Pacemaker 1011, 1951)
10 JIMMY LEE & JOHNNY MATHIS - If You Don't Somebody Else Will (Chess 4859, 1954)
11 ELVIS PRESLEY - Baby Let's Play House (1955)
12 TOMMY BLAKE WITH THE RHYTHM REBELS - Koolit (Buddy 107, 1956)
13 CHICO CHISM AND HIS JETANAIRS - Hot Tamales & Bar-B-Que (Clif 102, 1957)
14 BOB LUMAN - Red Hot (Imperial X8313, 1957)
15 T. V. SLIM AND HIS HEARTBREAKERS - Flatfoot Sam (Clif 103, 1957)
16 JOHNNY HORTON - Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor (Columbia 4-41110, 1957)
17 DALE HAWKINS - La-Do-Dada (Checker 900, 1958)
18 THE RUN-A-WAYS - Night Creature (Ram A-2090, 1960)
19 GRACE TENNESSEE AND THE AMERICAN SPIRITS - Pow Wow (WLS 1450, 1961)
20 THE UNIQUES - You Ain't Tuff (Paula 231, 1965)
21 TOM AND THE CATS - Good, Good Lovin' (Paula 253, 1966)
22 TOUSSAINT MCCALL - Shimmy (Ronn 3, 1967)
23 TOUSSAINT MCCALL - Nothing Takes The Place Of You (Ronn 3, 1967)
24 EDDY GILES - Losin' Boy (Murco 1031, 1967)
25 REUBEN BELL WITH THE CASANOVAS - It's Not That Easy (Murco 1035, 1967)
26 ANN ALFORD - Got To Get Me A Job (Hy-Sign 2111, 1972)
27 AFRICAN MUSIC MACHINE - Black Water Gold (Pearl) (Soul Power 109, 1972)
28 FIVE BY FIVE - 15 Going On 20 (Paula 326, 1970)
29 LEAD BELLY - Talk About Fannin Street (1948)
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1 JELLY-ROLL MORTON'S RED HOT PEPPERS - Shreveport (Victor 21658, 1928)
Hailing from New Orleans, pianist J-RM made this record after relocating to New York from his previous home in Chicago.
2 LILLIAN GLINN - Shreveport Blues (Columbia 14519-D, 1929)
LG, from Dallas, sings of her Shreveport man that she's ready to love "10 or 12 times a week."
3 HENRY THOMAS "RAG TIME TEXAS" - Red River Blues (Vocalion 1137, 1927)
The Red River, which borders Shreveport, is the theme for East Texas songster HT and his accompanying quills.
4 JIMMIE DAVIS - She's A Hum Dum Dinger (Victor 40286, 1930)
At the time of this recording, JD worked as a clerk in the criminal division of Shreveport’s city court. Guitar accompaniment provided by locals Oscar Woods and Ed Schaffer.
5 JESSE ("BABYFACE") THOMAS - Blue Goose Blues (Victor 38555, 1929)
Located at the intersection of Snow Street and Wilson Street Alley, the Blue Goose has been described as a pool hall, recreation parlor, domino hall, grocery store, and speakeasy. Raised in nearby Logansport, JT lived in Dallas, Oklahoma, Los Angeles, and points between before moving to Shreveport in 1957.
6 JOE HARRIS AND KID WEST - Nobody's Business If I Do (1940)
Guitarist JH and mandolin player KW performed this song for John Lomax when he visited town and made recordings for the Library of Congress’s Archive of American Folk Song.
7 LEAD BELLY - Fannin Street (Musicraft 225, 1939)
As described in this song...against his mother’s and sister's wishes, LB would hang around Fannin Street in Shreveport’s red light district. At the time of this recording, he was out on bail while serving an 8-month sentence at Rikers Island.
8 BUDDY JONES - Mean Old Lonesome Blues (Decca 5372, 1937)
Shreveport police officer BJ combines blues and country and yodelling.
9 TILLMAN FRANKS AND HIS RAINBOW BOYS - Hayride Boogie (Pacemaker 1011, 1951)
Webb Pierce on vocals. Pacemaker Records was operated by WP and Louisiana Hayride emcee Horace Logan.
10 JIMMY LEE & JOHNNY MATHIS - If You Don't Somebody Else Will (Chess 4859, 1954)
J&J joined the Louisiana Hayride and partnered with Tillman Franks, who became their manager and bass player. They recorded this song after hours at KWKH radio station. Recording supplied by record store owner Stan Lewis to Chicago’s Chess Records for their short-lived country music series.
11 ELVIS PRESLEY - Baby Let's Play House (1955)
EP began making weekly appearances on the Louisiana Hayride in October 1954. This live recording comes from August 20, 1955.
12 TOMMY BLAKE WITH THE RHYTHM REBELS - Koolit (Buddy 107, 1956)
TB’s first record. Released on Buddy Records based in nearby Marshall, Texas.
13 CHICO CHISM AND HIS JETANAIRS - Hot Tamales & Bar-B-Que (Clif 102, 1957)
Drummer/singer CC’s ode to food on Texas Avenue. He later moved to Chicago and played in Howlin’ Wolf’s band.
14 BOB LUMAN - Red Hot (Imperial X8313, 1957)
East Texan BL joined the Louisiana Hayride and hired teenage guitarist James Burton.
15 T. V. SLIM AND HIS HEARTBREAKERS - Flatfoot Sam (Clif 103, 1957)
Oscar Wills -- television repair shop employee and singer/guitarist. After this song appeared on local Clif Records, it was reissued by Checker Records, then re-recorded for release on their subsidiary Argo.
16 JOHNNY HORTON - Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor (Columbia 4-41110, 1957)
JH moved to Shreveport in 1951, became a regular on the Louisiana Hayride, and teamed up with bass player/manager Tillman Franks.
17 DALE HAWKINS - La-Do-Dada (Checker 900, 1958)
Stan’s Record Shop clerk DH recorded this after hours at KWKH radio station. The band on this recording includes Joe Osborne (guitar), DJ Fontana (drums), Mark Mathis (bass), Dean Mathis (piano), and Margaret Lewis (backup vocals).
18 THE RUN-A-WAYS - Night Creature (Ram A-2090, 1960)
From Dallas, Texas, this group also recorded as the Royal Jokers (Murco Records) and the Castaways (Capitol Records). Released by Mira Smith.
19 GRACE TENNESSEE AND THE AMERICAN SPIRITS - Pow Wow (WLS 1450, 1961)
Mira Smith: songwriter, guitarist, RAM Records label owner, RAM Record Shop owner, RAM Recording Studio owner, aka “Grace Tennessee” on this 45.
20 THE UNIQUES - You Ain't Tuff (Paula 231, 1965)
Hailing from Springhill, Louisiana, the Uniques featured Joe Stampley on vocals.
21 TOM AND THE CATS - Good, Good Lovin' (Paula 253, 1966)
Tom Colquitt’s band covers James Brown.
22 TOUSSAINT MCCALL - Shimmy (Ronn 3, 1967)
23 TOUSSAINT MCCALL - Nothing Takes The Place Of You (Ronn 3, 1967)
Hailing from Monroe, Louisiana, TM lip-synced this ballad in 1988 for John Waters’ movie “Hairspray.” Preceded by the instrumental b-side “Shimmy.”
24 EDDY GILES - Losin' Boy (Murco 1031, 1967)
EG’s first and most successful record. These days proclaiming, “I’m a winner now,” he’s pastor of Salem Missionary Baptist Church and disc jockey on KOKA.
25 REUBEN BELL WITH THE CASANOVAS - It's Not That Easy (Murco 1035, 1967)
Cedar Grove neighborhood resident RB’s first record...and a deep soul classic.
As described in this song...against his mother’s and sister's wishes, LB would hang around Fannin Street in Shreveport’s red light district. At the time of this recording, he was out on bail while serving an 8-month sentence at Rikers Island.
8 BUDDY JONES - Mean Old Lonesome Blues (Decca 5372, 1937)
Shreveport police officer BJ combines blues and country and yodelling.
9 TILLMAN FRANKS AND HIS RAINBOW BOYS - Hayride Boogie (Pacemaker 1011, 1951)
Webb Pierce on vocals. Pacemaker Records was operated by WP and Louisiana Hayride emcee Horace Logan.
10 JIMMY LEE & JOHNNY MATHIS - If You Don't Somebody Else Will (Chess 4859, 1954)
J&J joined the Louisiana Hayride and partnered with Tillman Franks, who became their manager and bass player. They recorded this song after hours at KWKH radio station. Recording supplied by record store owner Stan Lewis to Chicago’s Chess Records for their short-lived country music series.
11 ELVIS PRESLEY - Baby Let's Play House (1955)
EP began making weekly appearances on the Louisiana Hayride in October 1954. This live recording comes from August 20, 1955.
12 TOMMY BLAKE WITH THE RHYTHM REBELS - Koolit (Buddy 107, 1956)
TB’s first record. Released on Buddy Records based in nearby Marshall, Texas.
13 CHICO CHISM AND HIS JETANAIRS - Hot Tamales & Bar-B-Que (Clif 102, 1957)
Drummer/singer CC’s ode to food on Texas Avenue. He later moved to Chicago and played in Howlin’ Wolf’s band.
14 BOB LUMAN - Red Hot (Imperial X8313, 1957)
East Texan BL joined the Louisiana Hayride and hired teenage guitarist James Burton.
15 T. V. SLIM AND HIS HEARTBREAKERS - Flatfoot Sam (Clif 103, 1957)
Oscar Wills -- television repair shop employee and singer/guitarist. After this song appeared on local Clif Records, it was reissued by Checker Records, then re-recorded for release on their subsidiary Argo.
16 JOHNNY HORTON - Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor (Columbia 4-41110, 1957)
JH moved to Shreveport in 1951, became a regular on the Louisiana Hayride, and teamed up with bass player/manager Tillman Franks.
17 DALE HAWKINS - La-Do-Dada (Checker 900, 1958)
Stan’s Record Shop clerk DH recorded this after hours at KWKH radio station. The band on this recording includes Joe Osborne (guitar), DJ Fontana (drums), Mark Mathis (bass), Dean Mathis (piano), and Margaret Lewis (backup vocals).
18 THE RUN-A-WAYS - Night Creature (Ram A-2090, 1960)
From Dallas, Texas, this group also recorded as the Royal Jokers (Murco Records) and the Castaways (Capitol Records). Released by Mira Smith.
19 GRACE TENNESSEE AND THE AMERICAN SPIRITS - Pow Wow (WLS 1450, 1961)
Mira Smith: songwriter, guitarist, RAM Records label owner, RAM Record Shop owner, RAM Recording Studio owner, aka “Grace Tennessee” on this 45.
20 THE UNIQUES - You Ain't Tuff (Paula 231, 1965)
Hailing from Springhill, Louisiana, the Uniques featured Joe Stampley on vocals.
21 TOM AND THE CATS - Good, Good Lovin' (Paula 253, 1966)
Tom Colquitt’s band covers James Brown.
22 TOUSSAINT MCCALL - Shimmy (Ronn 3, 1967)
23 TOUSSAINT MCCALL - Nothing Takes The Place Of You (Ronn 3, 1967)
Hailing from Monroe, Louisiana, TM lip-synced this ballad in 1988 for John Waters’ movie “Hairspray.” Preceded by the instrumental b-side “Shimmy.”
24 EDDY GILES - Losin' Boy (Murco 1031, 1967)
EG’s first and most successful record. These days proclaiming, “I’m a winner now,” he’s pastor of Salem Missionary Baptist Church and disc jockey on KOKA.
25 REUBEN BELL WITH THE CASANOVAS - It's Not That Easy (Murco 1035, 1967)
Cedar Grove neighborhood resident RB’s first record...and a deep soul classic.
26 ANN ALFORD - Got To Get Me A Job (Hy-Sign 2111, 1972)
Mysterious AA cut this funk song for Dee Marais’ label.
27 AFRICAN MUSIC MACHINE - Black Water Gold (Pearl) (Soul Power 109, 1972)
Recorded locally at Sound City recording studio. Louis Villery (aka Rasheed) was the bandleader/bassist.
28 FIVE BY FIVE - 15 Going On 20 (Paula 326, 1970)
Lascivious rock and roll from Magnolia, Arkansas.
29 LEAD BELLY - Talk About Fannin Street (1948)
LB talks about his teenage experiences in Shreveport’s Saint Paul’s Bottoms neighborhood, a red light district from 1903 to 1917. In 1982, the area was renamed Ledbetter Heights in his honor.
27 AFRICAN MUSIC MACHINE - Black Water Gold (Pearl) (Soul Power 109, 1972)
Recorded locally at Sound City recording studio. Louis Villery (aka Rasheed) was the bandleader/bassist.
28 FIVE BY FIVE - 15 Going On 20 (Paula 326, 1970)
Lascivious rock and roll from Magnolia, Arkansas.
29 LEAD BELLY - Talk About Fannin Street (1948)
LB talks about his teenage experiences in Shreveport’s Saint Paul’s Bottoms neighborhood, a red light district from 1903 to 1917. In 1982, the area was renamed Ledbetter Heights in his honor.
Des Marais said that Ann Alford's husband was her "manager and her pimp." They seem to have lived on 67th Street in Cedar Grove. As I recall, he had quite an arrest record.
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