KOKOMO ARNOLD — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 1 : 1930-1935 | DOCD-5037 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

All of Kokomo Arnold's 1930s recordings have been made available on four Document CDs. Vol. 1 features the singer/guitarist on two songs from 1930 (recorded in Memphis, TN, as "Gitfiddle Jim") and then the first 22 selections that he cut in Chicago during 1934-1935, two of which were previously unreleased. Best known is "Milk Cow Blues," but the memorable and sometimes haunting blues singer also performs such numbers as "Old Original Kokomo Blues," "Front Door Blues," "Back Door Blues," "Chain Gang Blues," and "Hobo Blues." Blues collectors will definitely want all four CDs in this perfectly done series. Scott Yanow

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. Putting a bottleneck onto the little finger of the fretting hand and ‘sliding’ it up and down the strings of a guitar to produce a spine-chilling and almost vocal sound is a trick employed by many blues players. From Bukka White to Joe Louis Walker, many blues players have made startling use of the style, two of the most famous being Elmore James and James Kokomo Arnold. Kokomo, often placing his guitar in his lap Hawaiian-style and ran a glass across the strings. He was left-handed and had a somewhat erratic sense of time – but he was probably the fastest bottleneck guitarist ever to record.

On 17 May 1930 he was in Memphis, Tennessee, cutting a record for Victor under the pseudonym of Gitfiddle Jim. The two sides were outstanding – and, in the early depression, went nowhere. One was his own blues Rainy Night Blues and the other, Paddlin’ Blues, a manic, breakneck display piece with a vocal loosely based on the popular song “Paddling Madelaine Home”. Unimpressed by his own debut, Kokomo went back to Chicago and it was here that Kansas Joe McCoy, some-time husband of Memphis Minnie, heard him and introduced him to Mayo ‘Ink’ Williams who was producing records for Decca. Despite a lack of interest on the part of Kokomo, who was reluctant to leave his basement bootlegging business unattended, they finally got him into a studio on 10th September 1934 when he recorded four tracks. The first coupling released from this session produced a two sided hit. Old Original Kokomo Blues, a tune he remembered from a Jabo Williams recording, gave him his nickname and supplied the model for dozens of later variants, the most famous being Robert Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago” in which form it remains a blues standard to this day. Equally prolific was Milk Cow Blues which spawned no less than four more versions by Kokomo himself and saw reanimation in the rock and roll repertoires of Elvis Presley and Eddie Cochran in the fifties. Sagefield Woman Blues utilises the same tune as “Milk Cow” but includes the line “I believe I’ll dust my broom” another thread stretching between Arnold, Robert Johnson and Elmore James. To complete the session Arnold cut Charlie Spand’s Back To The Woods picking like a mad-man. The unexpected success of these recordings ensured that Mayo Williams got Kokomo back into the studio at the first opportunity – and kept him there for the next four years.

Of the remaining recordings offered here, revel in the elaborate threats of You Should Not ‘A Done It and pay particular attention to the rollicking versions of The Twelves (The Dirty Dozens) and Monday Morning Blues (which sees the first appearance of ‘John Russel’). Things ‘Bout Coming My Way, is a reading of the staple “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” and there are two tracks that were not released until microgroove age; the railroad blues Lonesome Southern Blues and the classic depression song Hobo Blues. DOCD-5037
Tracklist :
1    Gitfiddle Jim–    Rainy Night Blues    2:55
2    Gitfiddle Jim–    Paddlin' Madeline Blues    3:16
3    Kokomo Arnold–    Milk Cow Blues    3:07
4    Kokomo Arnold–    Old Original Kokomo Blues    2:50
5    Kokomo Arnold–    Back To The Woods    3:03
6    Kokomo Arnold–    Sagefield Woman Blues    3:01
7    Kokomo Arnold–    Old Black Cat Blues (Jinx Blues)    3:20
8    Kokomo Arnold–    Sissy Man Blues    3:07
9    Kokomo Arnold–    Front Door Blues (32 20 Blues)    3:20
10    Kokomo Arnold–    Back Door Blues    3:22
11    Kokomo Arnold–    The Twelves (Dirty Dozens)    3:09
12    Kokomo Arnold–    Feels So Good    3:12
13    Kokomo Arnold–    Milk Cow Blues - No. 2    3:05
14    Kokomo Arnold–    Biscuit Roller Blues    3:10
15    Kokomo Arnold–    Slop Jar Blues    2:57
16    Kokomo Arnold–    Black Annie    2:58
17    Kokomo Arnold–    Chain Gang Blues    3:02
18    Kokomo Arnold–    Monday Morning Blues    3:01
19    Kokomo Arnold–    How Long, How Long Blues    3:10
20    Kokomo Arnold–    Things 'Bout Coming My Way    2:44
21    Kokomo Arnold–    You Should Not A'Done It (Gettin' It Fixed)    3:13
22    Kokomo Arnold–    Lonesome Southern Blues    3:02
23    Kokomo Arnold–    Black Money Blues    3:03
24    Kokomo Arnold–    Hobo Blues    3:09
Credits :
Vocals, Guitar – Kokomo Arnold

KOKOMO ARNOLD — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 2 : 1935-1936 | DOCD-5038 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For completists, specialists, and academics, Document's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1935-1936) is invaluable, offering an exhaustive overview of Kokomo Arnold's early recordings. For less-dedicated listeners, the disc is a mixed blessing. There are some absolutely wonderful, classic performances on the collection -- "Policy Wheel Blues" and "'Cause You're Dirty" to name just two -- but the long running time, exacting chronological sequencing, and poor fidelity (all cuts are transferred from original acetates and 78s) are hard to digest. The serious blues listener will find all these factors to be positive, but casual listeners will find the collection of marginal interest for the very same reasons. Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. By 1935 Kokomo Arnold was firmly ensconced in Chicago. He was still a country boy to many of his associates but, never an unworldly man; he was quickly getting wise to the big city and its ways. Despite his dedication to his basement bootlegging business and a strong desire to “go fishing instead” he had become a fixture on the local entertainment scene, working beside most of the big names in the blues at that time. The session on July 23th 1935 saw the first use of a piano to support his highly personal slide style and speculation among collectors has it that this was his first collaboration with Peetie Wheatstraw. It was during the period covered by this albujm that Kokomo returned to Milk Cow Blues; covering his own hit in an attempt to recreate its success. This concentration on a winning theme may have made sense commercially but artistically Kokomo had much more to offer. He drew his subject matter from all over and if in April he was celebrating that rural scourge/hero the boll weavil by July he was commenting on the big city preoccupation of Policy. The mysterious John Russell also reappears in the sub title to Big Leg Woman where he seems to be giving Kokomo considerable trouble. I wonder if this was a real person who Kokomo felt the need to castigate in song or a fictional character from black urban mythology. DOCD-5038
Tracklist :
1    Kokomo Arnold–    Southern Railroad Blues    2:59
2    Kokomo Arnold–    Bo Weavil Blues    3:04
3    Kokomo Arnold–    Busy Bootin'    2:27
4    Kokomo Arnold–    Let Your Money Talk    2:47
5    Kokomo Arnold–    'Cause You're Dirty    2:59
6    Kokomo Arnold–    Tonic Head Blues    2:48
7    Kokomo Arnold–    Policy Wheel Blues    2:54
8    Kokomo Arnold–    Travelling Rambler Blues    2:54
9    Kokomo Arnold–    Stop, Look And Listen    3:04
10    Kokomo Arnold–    Doin' The Doopididy    2:57
11    Kokomo Arnold–    The Mule Laid Down And Died    2:51
12    Kokomo Arnold–    Big Leg Mama (John Russel Blues)    2:40
13    Kokomo Arnold–    Milk Cow Blues - No. 3    2:50
14    Kokomo Arnold–    Milk Cow Blues - No. 4    2:53
15    Kokomo Arnold–    Down And Out Blues    3:02
16    Kokomo Arnold–    Model "T" Woman Blues    2:54
17    Roosevelt Sykes–    Jet Black Snake    3:18
18    Kokomo Arnold–    I'll Be Up Someday    3:04
19    Kokomo Arnold–    I Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff    2:36
20    Kokomo Arnold–    Desert Blues    2:50
21    Kokomo Arnold–    Bull Headed Woman Blues    2:53
22    Kokomo Arnold–    Sundown Blues    2:38
23    Roosevelt Sykes–    The Honey Dripper    2:47
Credits :
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold (tracks: 17, 23)
Vocals, Guitar – Kokomo Arnold (tracks: 1 to 16, 18 to 22)
Vocals, Piano – Roosevelt Sykes (tracks: 17, 23)

KOKOMO ARNOLD — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 3 : 1936-1937 | DOCD-5039 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Another invaluable offering from the blues archivists at Document, Kokomo Arnold's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1936-1937) compiles 22 performances, recorded between May 1936 and March 1937. Despite the inclusions of a few Arnold classics, including "Dark Angel" and "Wild Water Blues," the disc is a mixed blessing. The combination of a long running time, chronological sequencing, and poor fidelity make for a difficult listen. While serious blues listeners won't have a problem with any of these factors, beginners are advised to look elsewhere first. Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. On 22 May 1936 Decca proposed to record sessions with two of its female artists and needed a backing group. Both of the ladies came from a St. Louis background and belonged to the same loose aggregation of performers that included primitive trombonist Ike Rogers, pianists Henry Brown and Roosevelt Sykes, Charlie Jordan and… Peetie Wheatstraw. One of them, “Signifying” Mary Johnson had achieved her current surname by being married to blues guitarist Lonnie Johnson between 1925 and 1932. Alice Moore had a similar story, having recorded for Paramount during 1929-30 and joining Decca in 1934. She had worked with Peetie Wheatstraw before, so he was an obvious choice to back her up. And for a guitarist? Wheatstraw usually worked with Charlie Jordan or Casey Bill Weldon though, of late, Mayo Williams had paired him off with Kokomo Arnold. The results open this 3rd volume of the complete works of Kokomo Arnold. His efforts, both before and after this session, in the support of Peetie Wheatstraw and Roosevelt Sykes will be found on volumes dedicated to those worthies. Alice Moore had a somewhat nasal voice nicely set off by Wheatstraw’s rolling piano and some untypical single string work from Kokomo who only busts out with his trademark bottleneck rushes here and there on Three Men and I’m Going Fishing Too (a title that must have appealed to the angler in Arnold). Only one of the Mary Johnson tracks was issued; an ode to Delmar Avenue (actually Boulevard), formerly Morgan Street, a famous St. Louis thoroughfare running west from the Mississippi. Mary was just as tough voiced as her nickname made her out to be. Decca decided on a little experiment in July of 1936 when they incorporated Kokomo into Oscar’s Chicago Swingers a sort of Harlem Hamfats set-up backing the vocals of Lovin’ Sam Theard. Just how successfully Kokomo’s unique sound fitted in with a group that consisted of two guitars, a clarinet, piano and drums you can judge yourself. Kokomo’s career had about two years to run at this date. He was still recording under his own name and if his performances were getting to be a little stereotyped he could still pull minor blues masterpieces like Wild Water Blues out of the bag and was far from being a burnt out case. He was always a strong personality and in the final analysis would do what suited him best. At the moment he was sitting pretty, he worked for money as much as any enjoyment he might gain, and with his booze business to fall back on he could take or leave the music game at his choice. DOCD-5039
Tracklist :
1    Alice Moore–    Grass Cutter Blues 2:54
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
2    Alice Moore–    Telephone Blues 2:55
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
3    Alice Moore–    Dark Angel 3:06
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
4    Alice Moore–    Money Tree Man 3:02
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
5    Signifying Mary Johnson–    Delmar Avenue 3:02
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Roosevelt Sykes
6    Alice Moore–    I'm Going Fishing Too 3:04
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
7    Alice Moore–    Three Men 3:08
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
8    Kokomo Arnold–    Shake That Thing 2:38
Piano – Unknown Artist
9    Oscar's Chicago Swingers–    Try Some Of That    2:57
10    Oscar's Chicago Swingers–    My Gal's Been Foolin' Me    2:40
11    Kokomo Arnold–    Running Drunk Again 3:06
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
12    Kokomo Arnold–    Coffin Blues 3:15
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
13    Kokomo Arnold–    Lonesome Road Blues 2:57
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
14    Kokomo Arnold–    Mister Charlie 2:40
Bass [String Bass] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
15    Kokomo Arnold–    Backfence Picket Blues    3:05
16    Kokomo Arnold–    Fool Man Blues    3:05
17    Kokomo Arnold–    Long And Tall    2:45
18    Kokomo Arnold–    Salty Dog    2:47
19    Kokomo Arnold–    Cold Winter Blues    3:08
20    Kokomo Arnold–    Sister Jane Across The Hall    2:37
21    Kokomo Arnold–    Wild Water Blues    3:12
22    Kokomo Arnold–    Laugh And Grin Blues    3:07
Credits :
Clarinet – Odell Rand (tracks: 9, 10)
Compiled By, Producer – Johnny Parth
Drums – Unknown Artist (tracks: 9, 10)
Guitar – Kokomo Arnold (tracks: 9, 10), Unknown Artist (tracks: 9, 10)
Piano – Albert Ammons (tracks: 9, 10)
Vocals – Alice Moore (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 7), Signifying Mary Johnson* (tracks: 5), Sam Theard (tracks: 9, 10)
Vocals, Guitar – Kokomo Arnold (tracks: 8, 11 to 22)

KOKOMO ARNOLD — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 4 : 1937-1938 | DOCD-5040 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Like its predecessors, the final volume in Document's Complete Recorded Works series alternates a few excellent performances with many more additions intended for collectors only. Drawn from Kokomo Arnold's last few sessions, from the 14-month period between March 1937 and May 1938, the collection does include a few classics, like "Mean Old Twister" and "Red Beans and Rice." Still, many of the rest are period material with poor fidelity, of only marginal interest to most blues fans. Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s booklet notes. At the time that the first records appearing on this album were made, March 1937, Kokomo Arnold had been with Decca for two and a half years and his relationship with Mayo Williams was deteriorating. It was all to end in the following year when Kokomo decided that Williams was not dealing fairly with him and broke away from recording altogether. He had never been a committed bluesman anyway, having he felt, many other rows to hoe. Not that you would have guessed that from the quality of the recordings that he made during his last sessions; from the contemporary blues reportage of Mean Old Twister through to his final, aptly named, display piece Something’s Hot he maintained an enviable level of excellence enlivened here and there by the odd flash of brilliance. Maybe it was a reflection of his clash with Williams that many of his recordings from this period remained unissued – or maybe it was part of its cause. DOCD-5040
Tracklist :
1        Mean Old Twister    2:57
 Kokomo Arnold
2        Read Beans And Rice    3:02
 Kokomo Arnold
3        Set Down Gal 2:40
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano [Added Piano, Probaby] – Peetie Wheatstraw
4        Big Ship Blues 3:07
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano [Added Piano, Probaby] – Peetie Wheatstraw
5        Crying Blues    2:56
 Kokomo Arnold
6        Grandpa Got Drunk    3:02
 Kokomo Arnold
7        Black Mattie    3:09
 Kokomo Arnold
8        Neck Bone Blues    2:50
 Kokomo Arnold
9        Buddie Brown Blues (Rolling Time)    2:52
 Kokomo Arnold
10        Rocky Road Blues    2:42
 Kokomo Arnold
11        Head Cuttin' Blues 2:52
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
12        Broke Man Blues 2:51
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
13        Back On The Job 2:58
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
14        Shine On Moon (Shine On, Shine On) 2:50
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Peetie Wheatstraw
15        Your Ways And Actions 2:45
 Kokomo Arnold
Bass [Added String Bass Or Imitation Bass] – Unknown Artist
16        Tired Of Runnin' From Door To Door 2:35
 Kokomo Arnold
Bass [Added String Bass Or Imitation Bass] – Unknown Artist
17        My Well Is Dry 2:38
 Kokomo Arnold
Bass [Added String Bass Or Imitation Bass] – Unknown Artist
18        Midnight Blues 2:47
 Kokomo Arnold
Bass [Added String Bass Or Imitation Bass] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
19        Goin' Down In Galilee (Swing Along With Me) 2:26
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Unknown Artist
20        Bad Luck Blues 2:46
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Unknown Artist
21        Kid Man Blues 2:45
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Unknown Artist
22        Something's Hot 2:33
 Kokomo Arnold
Piano – Unknown Artist
Credits :
Vocals, Guitar – Kokomo Arnold