What was the first ever r&b song to be recorded?

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OK so let's talk about early r&b from the 40s and 50s! Tell me where it came from, what it is, when did the term r&b first arise, point me to any good Web links etc.

― curious person, Friday, 20 August 2004 08:41 (nineteen years ago) link

I have no idea what the first r&b song was - my understanding of R&B is that it is what happened when rural blues music collided with urban dance music in the 1930s and 1940s, and it eventually evolved into soul in the late 50s. I may be wrong though.

― Jonathan Z. (Joanthan Z.), Friday, 20 August 2004 09:20 (nineteen years ago) link

i dont think anyone can point to the first R&B song, the same way you cant point to the first rock n roll song (unles you work for elvis' PR machine).

― dickvandyke (dickvandyke), Friday, 20 August 2004 10:23 (nineteen years ago) link

Jerry Wexler, soon of Atlantic Records, coined the phrase "rhythm and blues" while he was at Billboard -- 1953, I think.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 20 August 2004 10:24 (nineteen years ago) link

No idea where it fits historically but I do enjoy this compilation quite a bit.

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 20 August 2004 15:43 (nineteen years ago) link

came about as the big bands became economically unfeasible. small-group semi-jazz groups like louis jordan. that's the genesis of r&b. post-WW2.

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Friday, 20 August 2004 15:55 (nineteen years ago) link

"Crazy Blues" by Mamie Smith & Her Jazz Hounds. 1920. The first "crossover" record (black to white audience) and also the first record to feature all black musicians. Though it came years before the term R&B was coined, think of it as the precursor to urban or commercial blues -- sounds nothing like rural/folk/accoustic blues.

― lovebug starski (lovebug starski), Friday, 20 August 2004 16:32 (nineteen years ago) link

but r&b has a lot to do with other forms of black music that were recorded before 1920.

anyway, there is no answer to this question, but one often put forward is lionel hampton--"flying home" w/that illinois jacquet solo

― amateur!!!st, Friday, 20 August 2004 16:34 (nineteen years ago) link

"but r&b has a lot to do with other forms of black music that were recorded before 1920."
Like ragtime, jazz and minstrelry aka "coon songs"?? Your point is well taken but I wouldn't say "a lot." But yeah, I guess honking sax instrumentals like "Flying Home" Lucky Millender etc are the beginning of modern R&B. Where the singing style started is still open to debate.

― lovebug starski (lovebug starski), Friday, 20 August 2004 16:59 (nineteen years ago) link

Didn't Jerry Wexler come up with the name "rhythm & blues" as a substitute for the prior term "race music"

― stevek, Friday, 20 August 2004 20:41 (nineteen years ago) link

the same way you cant point to the first rock n roll song (unles you work for elvis' PR machine).
I've heard it pretty much stated as fact from a few different sources that the first rock n roll song to be released was "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston feat. Ike Turner on piano in 1951.
Though if someone can name an earlier rock n roll song, I'm all ears.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 20 August 2004 20:48 (nineteen years ago) link

i think it was reignition (the remix)

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 20 August 2004 21:16 (nineteen years ago) link

sixteen years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkHze8KUBeE

i'm completely obsessed with this song. 'Baby Please Don't Go' by somebody called Rose Mitchell.

who was she? there's no information about her anywhere on the internet.

listen to that voice. on the above youtube video a commenter says:

Waxed at the J&M studio, New Orleans, circa 1953. Dave Bartholomew was involved. Poss., guitar by Ernest McLean; bass Frank Fields; & certainly drums Earl Palmer.

but rose. rose mitchell. good god.

― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 22 October 2020 21:32 (three years ago) link

oh and the instrumentation. absolutely hypnotic. i could listen to this for hours.

― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 22 October 2020 21:34 (three years ago) link

That's awesome. It's clearly updated & personalized from the Big Joe Williams song with the same title (and covered by Them, AC/DC, etc). Here's Big Joe Williams in 1935:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g22l1hnAnlA

― that's not my post, Friday, 23 October 2020 00:15 (three years ago) link

Omg this Rose Mitchell is insanely good. I live for this. Gimme more please.

― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 23 October 2020 00:36 (three years ago) link

Spotify has a jazzman single with 3 versions of the song:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3fMBJXqUibU7pcSrE3X2ur

A what it appears to be a live rendition by Big Maybelle which is also pretty good and a Jo Ann Henderson version which sounds raw and fun but I think the Rose Mitchell is outstanding.

― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 23 October 2020 00:40 (three years ago) link

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