Trouble in Mind (song)

"Trouble in Mind" is a slow eight-bar blues song written by jazz pianist Richard M. Jones. The first known recording of the song was in 1924 by singer Thelma La Vizzo with Jones providing the piano accompaniment. The song became an early blues standard, with numerous renditions by a variety of musicians. In many versions, new lyrics are added. However, most usually include the opening verse:

Early recordings of "Trouble in Mind" include those by Bertha "Chippie" Hill (1926, OKeh 8312 with Louis Armstrong on cornet and Jones on piano and 1928, Vocalion 1248), Georgia White (1936, Decca 7192), Victoria Spivey (as Jane Lucas) (1936, Vocalion 3346), and Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys (1936, Vocalion 3343). Later, "Trouble in Mind" was a Billboard R&B chart hit for Dinah Washington (number four in 1952) and Nina Simone (number eleven in 1961 and number 92 in the pop chart).