Jimmie Gordon

Jimmie Gordon (probably 1906 – possible October 27, 1993) was an American Chicago blues pianist, singer, and songwriter. In the course of his career he accompanied Memphis Minnie, Bumble Bee Slim, and Big Bill Broonzy, amongst others. He had a hit with "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water" (1936) and was active on the Chicago blues scene for a number of years leading up to World War II. He is known to have recorded 67 tracks between 1934 and 1946. Gordon was a mainstay of Decca Records during the 1930s and early 1940s, with his recorded work utilizing a piano accompaniment (often his own), as well as guitar, or with a small band that he assembled for the work.

As a songwriter, Gordon is often credited with writing "Mean Mistreater", later recorded by both Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter. AllMusic noted that "Gordon was a passable pianist who sang with all his heart in a warm and convincing voice."

Details of his life outside the recording studio are sketchy and have been the subject of rumor and speculation over the years.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1905, Died October 27, 1993

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1934 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, piano, guitar, composer, lyricist

Notes: Also listed on disc labels as James Gordon.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-80407 10-in. 3/23/1934 Neck bone blues Jimmie Gordon Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist  
Victor BS-80408 10-in. 3/23/1934 Bye bye baby blues Bumble Bee Slim Male vocal solo, with 2 guitars and piano lyricist, composer  
Decca 62649 10-in. 10/6/1937 Rattlesnake bite Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 62650 10-in. 10/6/1937 I believe I been hoodood Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 62651 10-in. 10/6/1937 She wants to rattle me all the time Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 62652 10-in. 10/6/1937 Plenty trouble on your hand Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 63756 10-in. 5/12/1938 Crying my blues away Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 63757 10-in. 5/12/1938 Fast life Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 63758 10-in. 5/12/1938 Sail with me Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 63759 10-in. 5/12/1938 Lonesome bedroom blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 63760 10-in. 5/12/1938 Alberta, Alberta Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 63761 10-in. 5/12/1938 She's doin' it now Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 63762 10-in. 5/12/1938 Keep your nose out of other people's business Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 65494 10-in. 4/28/1939 Get your mind out of the gutter Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 65495 10-in. 4/28/1939 Delhia Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 65496 10-in. 4/28/1939 Do that thing Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 65497 10-in. 4/28/1939 The Mojo blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 65498 10-in. 4/28/1939 St. Peter blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 65499 10-in. 4/28/1939 If the walls could talk Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 90085 10-in. 7/7/1935 Bed Springs blues no.2 Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 90086 10-in. 7/7/1935 Soon in the morning Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 90183 10-in. 7/19/1935 Blue, black and evil blues Alice Moore instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 90184 10-in. 7/19/1935 Tomorrow blues Alice Moore instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 90305 10-in. 9/6/1935 I'll take you back-1 Bumble Bee Slim and his Rhythm Riffers vocalist  
Decca 90320 10-in. 9/11/1935 How can I get it?-1 Bumble Bee Slim and his Rhythm Riffers vocalist  
Decca 90634 10-in. 3/24/1936 Little red dress Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 90679 10-in. 4/17/1936 Big four whistle blues-1 Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 90680 10-in. 4/17/1936 Drunken woman blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 90701 10-in. 4/30/1936 Sweet jelly rollin' Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 90702 10-in. 4/30/1936 Baker man Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 90917 10-in. 10/2/1936 Don't take away my P.W.A. Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 90918 10-in. 10/2/1936 She sells good meat Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 90959 10-in. 10/26/1936 I'd rather drink muddy water Jimmie Gordon ; Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, guitar  
Decca 90960 10-in. 10/26/1936 Mother blues Jimmie Gordon ; Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano, guitar  
Decca 90990 10-in. 11/19/1936 Jacksonville, part 1 Jimmie Gordon ; Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 90991 10-in. 11/19/1936 Jacksonville, part 2 Jimmie Gordon ; Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91077 10-in. 1/18/1937 Think you need a shot Jimmie Gordon ; Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91078 10-in. 1/18/1937 C.C. & St. Louis blues Jimmie Gordon ; Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 91252 10-in. 5/14/1937 Playing in the grass Jimmie Gordon and his Vip Vop Band vocalist  
Decca 91279 10-in. 5/14/1937 You're bound to look like a monkey Jimmie Gordon and his Vip Vop Band vocalist  
Decca 91280 10-in. 5/14/1937 Good as I been to you Jimmie Gordon and his Vip Vop Band vocalist  
Decca 91531 10-in. 10/18/1938 Bleed heart blues (Bleeding heart blues) Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 91532 10-in. 10/18/1938 Number runner' s blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 91557 10-in. 10/21/1938 Me and my gin Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 91558 10-in. 10/21/1938 Whip it to a jelly Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 91820 10-in. 9/29/1939 Nobody knows the trouble I see Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 91821 10-in. 9/29/1939 The boogie man Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 91822 10-in. 9/29/1939 Ease it to me Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 91823 10-in. 9/29/1939 Henpecked man Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93010 10-in. 6/4/1940 Trigger Slim blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93011 10-in. 6/4/1940 (Roll 'em Dorothy) Let 'em jump for joy Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93012 10-in. 6/4/1940 L & N blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93568 10-in. 3/10/1941 Boogie woogie blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93569 10-in. 3/10/1941 Action speaks louder than words Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93570 10-in. 3/10/1941 Daddy Bear blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93571 10-in. 3/10/1941 Lookin' for the blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93572 10-in. 3/10/1941 Beer drinking woman Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93573 10-in. 3/10/1941 I'm gonna cut out Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca 93650 3/10/1941 I'm gonna cut out Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca C 9293 10-in. 8/14/1934 Louise, Louisa blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca C 9294 10-in. 8/14/1934 Bye bye baby blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca C 9384 10-in. 8/24/1934 Mean mistreatin' blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9385 10-in. 8/24/1934 Yo yo Mama blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9430 10-in. 9/10/1934 Climbing on top of the hill Bumble Bee Slim instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9431 10-in. 9/10/1934 Ain't it a crying shame? Bumble Bee Slim instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9442 10-in. 9/11/1934 Bed Springs blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist, instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9619 10-in. 12/14/1934 Black gal blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca C 9620 10-in. 12/14/1934 Gone gal blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  
Decca C 9634 10-in. 1/9/1935 Please baby Joe McCoy instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9635 10-in. 1/9/1935 One in a hundred Joe McCoy instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9638 10-in. 1/9/1935 One more greasing Joe McCoy instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9639 10-in. 1/9/1935 What's the matter with you Joe McCoy instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9641 10-in. 1/10/1935 Dirty mother for you Memphis Minnie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9642 10-in. 1/10/1935 Sylvester and his mule blues Memphis Minnie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9643 10-in. 1/10/1935 When you're asleep Memphis Minnie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9644 10-in. 1/10/1935 You can't give it away Memphis Minnie instrumentalist, piano  
Decca C 9647 10-in. 1/11/1935 Drive me away blues Jimmie Gordon and his Vip Vop Band vocalist  
Decca C 9687 10-in. 1/22/1935 Graveyard blues Jimmie Gordon vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gordon, Jimmie," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106738.

Gordon, Jimmie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106738.

"Gordon, Jimmie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106738

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