B-side "That's a Plenty" Label Gennett | Genre Jazz | |
Recorded Richmond, Indiana, March 23, 1923 Writer(s) George Brunies
Paul Mares
Ben Pollack
Leon Roppolo
Mel Stitzel
Walter Melrose | ||
"Tin Roof Blues" is a jazz composition by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings first recorded in 1923. It was written by band members Paul Mares, Ben Pollack, Mel Stitzel, George Brunies and Leon Roppolo. The tune has become a jazz standard and is one of the most recorded and often played New Orleans jazz compositions.
Contents
Background
The New Orleans Rhythm Kings first recorded the number on 13 March 1923 for Gennett Records in Richmand, Indiana. The recording was released as a Gennett 78 single as 5105-A, Matrix #11359, as by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, "Formerly Friar's Society Orch." The B side was "That's a Plenty". There are three surviving alternative takes of the number from this session. The alternative takes were created as part of the phonograph recording and manufacture process; the musicians did not expect there to be different versions released which would be compared later. The Solos on the original records contained less improvisation than much of later jazz, and more than earlier jazz. Brunies's and Roppolo's solos were played similar but noticeably different on each of the three takes. Brunies continued to play the solo from the most famous take of the NORK recording for the rest of his career.
The sheet music was published by the Melrose Brothers Music Company in Chicago, established by Walter Melrose, who wrote lyrics for the song, and his brother, Lester Melrose, known as "The House That Blues Built". The sheet music cover featured an illustration of the "Famous New Orleans" Tin Roof Café dance hall on Washington Avenue in New Orleans listing the composers as band members Paul Mares, Ben Pollack, Mel Stitzel, George Brunies and Leon Roppolo.
Notable Recordings
"Tin Roof Blues" is one of the most recorded jazz standards. Louis Armstrong and the All Stars recorded the song on Columbia Records, which re-released it on the Columbia Hall of Fame series. Other notable recordings were made by Jelly Roll Morton in 1924, Ted Lewis, Joe "King" Oliver and His Dixie Syncopators in 1928, Wingy Manone, Sidney Bechet, Ray Anthony, Al Hirt, Johnny Mince, Ray Price, Roy Eldridge, Phil Napoleon, Herb Ellis, Ted Heath, Floyd Cramer, and Harry Connick, Jr.