Farewell Blues

"Farewell Blues" is a 1922 jazz standard written by Paul Mares, Leon Roppolo and Elmer Schoebel.

1922 78 released on Gennett Records.

Background

The song was recorded on August 29, 1922 in Richmond, Indiana and released as Gennett 4966A, Matrix #11179, as by the Friars Society Orchestra under the direction of Husk O'Hara.[1] It was first released by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings under the name the Friars Society Orchestra and soon was covered by several jazz bands.[2] A band called The Georgians recorded it in 1923, copying Roppolo's acclaimed clarinet solo note for note.[3]

Cover versions

• Joe "King" Oliver – Sugar Foot Stomp (1928)
• The Georgians (1923)
• Gus Mulcay (1926)
• The Charleston Chasers (1928)
• Wingy Manone (1939)
• Ted Lewis (1929)
• Roy Smeck (1931)
• Sol Hoopii (1938)
• Abe Lyman (1932)
• Henderson's Dance Players (1923)
• Isham Jones Orchestra – Swinging Down the Lane (1930)
• Cab Calloway – Kicking the Gong Around (1931)
• Benny Carter – When the Lights Are Low (1936)
• Woody Herman – Blues on Parade (1937)
• Eddie Condon – Dixieland All Stars (1939)
• Glenn Miller – On the Alamo (1941); V-Disc 334A; RCA Bluebird 10495B
• Count Basie – Blues by Basie (1942); Columbia 36712
• Django Reinhardt – Djangology (1948)
• Danny Gatton – Redneck Jazz (1978)
• Alan Munde (1980)
• Accordéon Mélancolique – Gratitude (2012); Sterkenburg Records stam010

Notes

1. New Orleans Rhythm Kings. Red Hot Jazz.
2. Farewell Blues. Second Hand Songs.
3. Jelly Roll, Bix, and Hoagy: Gennett Studios and the Birth of Recorded Jazz. Rick Kennedy and Steve Allen. Indiana University Press, 1994. ISBN 0-253-21315-0. p.56

See also

• List of 1920s jazz standards