20. “Graveyard Dream Blues” by Bessie Smith
“Graveyard Dream Blues,” originally released in 1923, is one of Bessie Smith’s finest songs. She sings a slow, mournful melody over a lively piano accompaniment one-third of the way between ragtime, vaudeville and jazz, while the humorous tale she tells is about a woman who dreams her husband’s been buried six feet under. Both musically and lyrically, “Graveyard” is a tremendous example of Smith’s total control over a tune.
19. “Black and Tan Fantasy” by Duke Ellington
Although Duke Ellington’s longest and most fruitful collaboration was with pianist Billy Strayhorn, his most influential may have been with trumpeter James “Bubber” Miley (who played in Ellington’s orchestra from 1923 until his death in 1932). In “Black and Tan Fantasy,” Miley opens his first solo with a memorable, sustained single note and closes his second solo with an excerpt from Frédéric Chopin’s “Funeral March.” Although Ellington is the featured artist, Miley’s inventive muted trumpet completely steals the show.
18. “Treasures Untold” by Jimmie Rodgers
A proficient yodeler and adept guitar player, Jimmie Rodgers was the original country superstar. “Treasures Untold” is an eerie, slow-paced ballad that strips down Rodgers’ trademark elements to their bare essentials. Despite (or rather, because of) its subverted formula, “Treasures Untold” remains one of Rodgers’ greatest songs.
17. “Mahogany Hall Stomp” by Louis Armstrong
The highlight of “Mahogany Hall Stomp” comes when Louis Armstrong holds a single, piercing note for 15 seconds. It serves as a de facto solo in a song full of musical discovery and invention. Recorded in 1929, “Mahogany Hall” already shows tremendous growth from Armstrong’s earliest sessions. In fact, this is where the legendary trumpeter leaves Dixieland behind and begins to chart the future of jazz.
16. “I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground” by Bascom Lamar Lunsford
Harry Smith’s 1952 compilation album Anthology of American Folk Music includes a 1928 recording by Bascom Lamar Lunsford, who himself was a collector of traditional Appalachian music. A North Carolina neighbor passed on “I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground” to Lunsford in 1901, and the origins of the song are probably even older than that. Yet the introverted message remains timeless — to sink away into obscurity, to be unseen; ‘I wish I was a mole in the ground.’ Juxtaposing simplistic banjo with surrealistic lyrics, “Mole” continues to influence a wide range of American artists, from Bob Dylan to Deerhunter.
15. “Muggles” by Louis Armstrong
An ode to marijuana, “Muggles” is a stoned march into the hot New Orleans nighttime. Opening with a bluesy piano fanfare, the song slowly lumbers along, then picks up tremendous speed, before finally winding down for its grand finale. Louis Armstrong delivers several tremendous solos throughout this rhythmic exercise, which happens to be one of the master’s greatest songs.
14. “Crazy Blues” by Mamie Smith
Blues music traces its roots back to the 1800s, yet the genre’s first commercially recorded song wasn’t released until 1920. Mamie Smith’s “Crazy Blues” remains a touchstone over 100 years after its release — a combination of dizzy Dixieland brass and soulful singing that created a new template for American popular music.
13. “Ain’t No Tellin'” by Mississippi John Hurt
Mississippi John Hurt was always relaxed. His voice never wavered, his guitar playing never faltered and he still resided in his hometown of Avalon, Mississippi when his music was “rediscovered” in 1963. In other words, Hurt’s melodic and unhurried style of music was a perfect representation of the artist himself. Recorded in 1928, “Ain’t No Tellin'” is the most laidback song of the decade.
12. “Mississippi Boweavil Blues” by Charley Patton
The fast-paced “Mississippi Boweavil Blues” is one of Charley Patton’s simplest and most effective songs. Buried under the straightforward song structure, however, is a world of complexity. For starters, it’s incredible that “Boweavil” only features one guitar — a true testament to Patton’s singular abilities. Likewise, his raspy vocals fit perfectly within the tune’s rustic framework. Anyone looking to explore Patton’s small yet highly influential discography should start here.
11. “In the Jailhouse Now” by Jimmie Rodgers
The greatest country music songs often contain an element of comedy, which is why Jimmie Rodgers’ “In the Jailhouse Now” remains one of the finest in the genre’s history. The lyrics tell about the humorous misadventures of Ramblin’ Bob, a degenerate gambler destined for the hoosegow. Yet the tale wouldn’t be so amusing if it wasn’t for the excellent musicianship — and yodeling — that carries the song through.
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