It was the year 1920. One of the more important events in the annals of popular music in the United States occurred 100 years ago this month. Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds’ recording of Perry Bradford‘s tune “Crazy Blues” became an instant hit and was the first significant recording in the blues genre. And Mamie herself was also the first African American female popular singer to lead a commercial recording. This week on Deeper Roots we celebrate with the first installment of a show featuring two hours of music including two very special guests: Gillian and Gary Atkinson, proprietors of Document Records in the UK. I had a chance to interview the two about the label and about the dawn of blues and jazz recording including the early century social impact of black artists. A very special opportunity offered for a very special time. We’ll also hear about a recent video release called Searching for Secret Heroes, a resurrection of a long lost documentary made by Sam Charters, released by Document this past April.
| No. | Artist | Title | Album | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mamie Smith | Crazy Blues | American Roots Music [Disc 2] |  |
| 2 | Deeper Roots | Pre 20th Century – Gillian Atkinson Interview | Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial | |
| 3 | James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band | The Darktown Strutters' Ball | James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band (Remastered) | |
| 4 | James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band | Memphis Blues | James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band (Remastered) | |
| 5 | Deeper Roots | Crazy Blues Recording – Gary/Gillian Atkinson | Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial | |
| 6 | Deeper Roots | Selling the Crazy Blues | Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial | |
| 7 | Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band | Royal Garden Blues | The History of Jazz :The Swing | |
| 8 | Mamie Smith | Mamma Whip! Mamma Spank! | Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 | |
| 9 | Edna Hicks | Hard Luck Blues (Pm 12023, 1629-2) | The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927) | |
| 10 | Ma Rainey and Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders | Honey Where You Been So Long? (Pm 12200, 1701-2) | The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927) | |
| 11 | Deeper Roots | The Circle of Musicians – Gillian Atkinson | Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial | |
| 12 | Hall Johnson Choir | St. Louis Blues | When The Sun Goes Down: Walk Right In – The Secret Story Of Rock & Roll | |
| 13 | Jelly Roll Morton | Buddy Bolden's Blues (I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say) [Album Version] | The Rose & The Briar | |
| 14 | Deeper Roots | Document Records with Gary Atkinson | Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial | |
| 15 | Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders | Traveling Blues (Pm 12255, 10005-2) | The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927) | |
| 16 | Deeper Roots | Gillian and Gary Discussing Blues in the Jazz Age | Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial | |
| 17 | The Hokum Boys | We Don't Sell It Here No More | Georgia Tom – Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1 (September 1928 – 5 February 1930) | |
| 18 | Deeper Roots | Early Influentials in the Circles | Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial | |
| 19 | Deeper Roots | Early Influentials in the Circles | Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial | |
| 20 | Bessie Smith | I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl | The Anthology | |
| 21 | Deeper Roots | Searching for Secret Heroes Serendipity | Crazy Blues Centennial Interviews | |
| 22 | Furry Lewis | John Henry | Searching For Secret Heroes | |
| 23 | JD Short – Memphis Willie B | Alone In The Evening Hours | Searching For Secret Heroes | |
| 24 | Hattie Heart | Coldest Stuff in Town | Searching For Secret Heroes | |
| 25 | Trixie Smith and her Down Home Syncopators | Freight Train Blues (Pm 12211, 1767-1) | The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927) | |
| 26 | Sippie Wallace With Clarence Williams' Blue Five | Baby I Can't Use You No More | The Complete Clarence Williams Sessions, Vol. 2 – 1923-1925 | |
| 27 | Sara Martin/Fats Waller | Tain't Nobody's Bus'ness If I Do | The Compete Recorded Works Vol. 1, [Disc 1] | |
| 28 | Lizzie Miles | Electrician Blues | Rude Dudes | |
| 29 | Victoria Spivey and Her Hallelujah Boys | Black Snake Swing | The Victoria Spivey Collection 1926-1937 | |
| 30 | Ida Cox | I've Got The Blues For Rampart Street | Black Swan Sampler | |
| 31 | Mamie Smith | You Can't Keep A Good Man Down | Mamie Smith Vol. 1 (1920-1921) | |