Papa Charlie Jackson & Hokum Blues

Papa Charlie Jackson

Source: Terry's Songs

Born in New Orleans on 10 November 1887, banjo player, Papa Charlie Jackson (William Henry Jackson), first recorded blues in Chicago circa August of 1924 per 'Airy Man Blues' and 'Lawdy Lawdy Blues' (Paramount 12219). Chronological stacking and majority of data below are per Stefan Wirz [refs below].

'Papa's Lawdy Lawdy Blues'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c August 1924   Paramount 12219 A

Composition: Jackson perhaps inspired by Ida Cox' 'Lawdy Lawdy Blues' of 1923

'Airy Man Blues'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c August 1924   Paramount 12219 B

Composition: Jackson

Jackson recorded a total of 66 sides, largely for Paramount in Chicago, though he held a few sessions in Grafton, Wisconsin, in 1930 including with Blind Blake ('Talk About It'). Jackson is responsible for a couple of well-known hokum blues standards, that is, bawdy blues with slippery innuendos. He recorded 'Salty Dog Blues' twice during his second session in Chicago circa September of 1924. Two versions of Gertrude Davis' 'Salt Lake City Blues' were documented as well. Just which of each that was issued on Paramount 12236 I've not identified. Fletcher Henderson later backed Clara Smith on 'Salty Dog' on 25 May of 1926 toward Columbia W142252 about a month before Jackson sang 'Salty Dog' with Freddie Keppard's Jazz Cardinals on 26 July 1926 in Chicago, issued on Paramount 12399. A later well-known version with lyrics by Zeke Morris went down by the Morris Brothers on 29 September 1938 titled 'Let Me Be Your Salty Dog' toward Bluebird B-7967. "Salty dog" is vernacular for a sexual partner. If you order one at a bar you should get a Greyhound consisting of vodka and grapefruit juice rimmed with salt.

'Salty Dog Blues'    Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c Sep 1924   Take 1   Composition: Jackson

'Salty Dog Blues'    Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c Sep 1924   Take 2   Composition: Jackson

Another famous composition by Jackson was 'Shake That Thing' gone down in May of 1925 toward Paramount 12281, politely referring to dance. Jackson's 'All I Want Is a Spoonful' probably references cocaine at the least. Blues similar in tow were Luke Jordan's 'Cocaine Blues' in 1927 and Charlie Patton's 'A Spoonful Blues' in 1929. It was 1960 that the blues standard, 'Spoonful', arrived by Willie Dixon, initially recorded by Howlin' Wolf.

'Shake That Thing'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c May 1925 in Chicago   Paramount 12281   Composition: Jackson

'Drop That Sack'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c May 1925   Paramount 12289   Composition: Jackson

'Take Me Back Blues'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c August 1925   Paramount 12296   Composition: Jackson

'Hot Papa Blues'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c August 1925   Paramount 12305   Composition: Gertrude Davis

'All I Want Is a Spoonful'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c Sep 1925   Paramount 12320   Composition: Jackson

'The Judge Cliff Davis Blues'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c April 1926   Paramount 12366   Composition: Clarke Tate

'Hot Papa Blues No.2'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c March 1929   Paramount 12765   Composition: Jackson

'You Put It In, I'll Take It Out'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c June 1934   Vocalion 03048   Composition: Jackson

'What's That Thing She's Shaking'   Papa Charlie Jackson

Recorded c June 1934   OKeh 8954   Composition: Jackson

'You Put It In...' and 'What's That Thing...' are as far as Wirz traces Jackson, the latter retiring in Chicago until his early death at age fifty on May 7, 1938.