The Original Memphis Five was founded in 1917 by Phil Napoleon and Frank Signorelli after playing in dance bands together at Coney Island in New York. They were one of the most prolific of the early White Jazz bands. Their first record was actually released as an Original Dixieland Jazz Band record with the blessing of Nick La Rocca. The Original Dixieland Jazz Band had just broken up after La Rocca's nervous breakdown in 1922. Frank Signorelli was the only member of the Original Memphis Five who had been in the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.They recorded under a variety of other names including Ladd's Black Aces, Jazzbo's Carolina Serenaders, Bailey's Lucky Seven, The Southland Six and The Cotton Pickers. Red Nichols, Miff Mole, and Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey also played in the band from time to time. None of the band members were from Memphis or even the south. The band was named after W.C. Handy's song Memphis Blues.

Thanks to Carl Rose, Dominic Combe, Wayne Brandtner and James Gallup for their help with this page. Additional thanks to Scott and Mark of Vintage Music Company. If you are looking for great jazz on 78's, visit the Vintage Music Company's homepage. (www.vintagemusicco.com)

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
A Blues Serenade 12-28-1926 New York, New York Victor
(LP only)
A Bunch Of Blues
(H. Alf Kelly / J. Paul Wyer)		 9-22-1923 New York, New York Edison
512461-L
Africa
(Hanley)		 7-21-1924 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Perfect
14298
Aggravatin' Papa
(Roy Turk / J. Russel Robinson)		 2-1923 New York, New York Vocalion
A Man Never Knows When A Woman's Gonna Change Her 5-29-1924 New York, New York Banner
1375
Anything
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 11-24-1931 New York, New York Columbia
2588-D
Aunt Hager's Blues
(W.C. Handy)		 1-11-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Perfect
Bad News Blues
(Akst / Davis)		 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Perfect
Back O' Town Blues
(Bowen / Herbedeaux)		 11-20-1923 New York, New York Edison
Bass Ale Blues 9-17-1925 New York, New York Victor
19805
Beale Street Blues
(W.C. Handy)		 4-5-1929 New York, New York Vocalion
Beale Street Blues (G)
(W.C. Handy)		 4-5-1929 New York, New York Vocalion
Bees Knees
(Ray Lopez / Ted Lewis)		 11-1922 New York, New York Banner
1132
Big Boy
(Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)		 11-1922 New York, New York Banner
1360
Blue Grass Blues 3-11-1924 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Perfect
Buzz Mirandy
(Dave Franklin / Henry Creamer)		 6-10-1922 New York, New York Banner
1082
Chicago
(Fred Fisher)		 8-28-1922 New York, New York Arto
Chinese Blues (G) 1-21-1926 New York, New York Bruswick
3039
Choo Choo Blues
(I Gotta Hurry Home)
(Ringle / Duke Ellington / Schafer)		 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
036151
Cuddle Up Blues 5-11-1922 New York, New York Arto
Dancin' Dan 12-28-1923 New York, New York Banner
1292
Deedle Deedle Dum
(A. Sherman / Sam Coslow / Irving Mills)		 6-10-1922 New York, New York Banner
1082
Don't Pan Me When I'm Gone
(Gus Butler)		 6-20-1922 New York, New York Banner
1062
Doo Wacka Doo 2-10-1925 New York, New York Columbia
308-D
Evening
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
036151 B
Evil Minded Blues 12-4-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Farewell Blues
(Paul Mares / Leon Roppolo / Elmer Schoebel)		 2-7-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Fireworks 7-13-1929 New York, New York Vocalion
15761
Forgetful Blues
(Fred Hamm / Henry Winston)		 3-4-1924 New York, New York Banner
1346
Four O'Clock Blues
(Johnny Dunn / Gus Horsley)		 12-1922 New York, New York Paramount
Four O'Clock Blues
(Johnny Dunn / Gus Horsley)		 1-11-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Four O'Clock Blues
(Johnny Dunn / Gus Horsley)		 2-1923 New York, New York Vocalion
Got To Cool My Doggies Now
(Shafer / Thompson / Willaims)		 8-28-1922 New York, New York Arto
Got To Cool My Doggies Now
(Shafer / Thompson / Willaims)		 9-11-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
020825 B
Great White Way Blues
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 11-1922 New York, New York Arto
Great White Way Blues
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 12-4-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Great White Way Blues
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 2-1923 New York, New York Banner
1178
Gypsy Blues
(Noble Sissle / Eubie Blake)		 4-1922 New York, New York Arto
Harmony Blues 2-28-1923 New York, New York Bell
Haunting Blues
(W. Hirsch / Henry Busse)		 12-1922 New York, New York Paramount
He May Be Your Man, But He Comes To See Me Sometimes 10-19-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Hen Pecked Blues 5-2-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
020995
Hootin' de Hoot New York, New York Cameo 481
House Of David Blues
(Elmer Schoebel / Billy Meyers / Irving Mills )		 9-1923 New York, New York Banner
1282
Hot n' Cold 12-1922 New York, New York Arto
How Come You Do Me Like You Do
(Gene Austin / Roy Bergere)		 12-4-1924 New York, New York Columbia
260-D
How Come You Do Me Like You Do?
(Gene Austin / Roy Bergere)		8-16-1927 New York, New York Bruswick
3630
How Come You Do Me Like You Do?
(Gene Austin / Roy Bergere)		 New York, New York Victor
19480-A
I Ain't Never Had Nobody Crazy Over Me 5-1923 New York, New York Bell
If Your Man Is Like my Man (I Sympathize With You) 3-29-1923 New York, New York Bell
I'm Going Back To Those Who Won't Go Back On Me 7-21-1924 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
I'm Going To Wear You Off My Mind
(Charlie Johnson / Warren Smith / Lloyd Smith)		 6-20-1922 New York, New York Arto
I'm More Than Satisfied
(Fats Waller / Ted Klages)		 7-13-1929 New York, New York Vocalion
15712
Indigo Blues 9-27-1922 New York, New York Arto
Indiana Stomp 9-25-1925 New York, New York Columbia
480-D
I Never Miss The Sunshine 3-12-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo'
(Wendell Hall)		 6-4-1924 New York, New York Columbia
155-D
I've Got A Song For Sale (That My Sweetie Turned Down)
(Jack Nelson)		 10-4-1923 New York, New York Victor
19170-A
Ivy 1-11-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Perfect
I Wish I Could Shimmie Like My Sister Kate
(A.J. Piron)		 6-14-1922 New York, New York Arto
9153-A
I Wish I Could Shimmie Like My Sister Kate
(A.J. Piron)		 8-1922 New York, New York Banner
1104
I Wish I Could Shimmie Like My Sister Kate
(A.J. Piron)		 9-11-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
020825 A
Perfect
14051-A
Jacksonville Gal 10-26-1925 New York, New York Columbia
502-D
Jazz Me Blues
(Tom Delaney)		 11-24-1931 New York, New York Columbia
2588-D
Jelly Roll Blues
(Jelly Roll Morton)		 New York, New York Edison
Ji Ji Boo
(H. White / W. White / Meyer)		 10-2-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
020842
Kansas City Kitty
(Lesilie / Walter Donaldson)		 4-5-1929 New York, New York Vocalion
Keep It Under Your Hat 4-20-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Last Go Round Blues 12-4-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Last Night On The Back Porch
Chorus by Billy Jones
(Lew Brown / Carl Schraubstader)		 9-27-1923 New York, New York Columbia
7-D
Laughing Cryin' Blues 3-29-1923 New York, New York Bell
Lonesome Mama Blues
(Billie Brown)		 5-10-1922 New York, New York Banner
1068
Regal
9301-A
Lonesome Mama Blues
(Billie Brown)		 5-11-1922 New York, New York Paramount
20131-A
Lovely Lee 8-16-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3630
Loose Feet
(Spencer Williams)		 12-1922 New York, New York Vocalion
A 14527
Lovey Come Back
(Sam Lewis / Joseph Young)		 12-20-1923 New York, New York Banner
1292
Regal
9588-A
Loose Feet
(Spencer Williams)		1-1923 New York, New York Vocalion
A 14527
Maybe She'll Write Me, Maybe She'll Phone Me
(Turk / Snyder)		 2-21-1924 New York, New York Banner
1322
Meanest Blues
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 New York, New York Victor
19480-B
Memphis Blues
(W.C. Handy)		 4-5-1929 New York, New York Vocalion
Memphis Glide
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 4-1923 New York, New York Banner
1193
Memphis Glide
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 5-2-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
020981 B
Perfect
14132-B
Military Mike 9-17-1925 New York, New York Victor
19805
Mobile Blues
(Fred Rose / Albert Short)		 12-4-1924 New York, New York Columbia
260-D
More 12-4-1923 New York, New York Columbia
37-D
My Angeline 7-13-1929 New York, New York Vocalion
15712
My Honey's Lovin' Arms 4-1922 New York, New York Arto
My Honey's Lovin' Arms 11-21-1931 New York, New York Columbia
2577-D
Nobodys Knows What A Red-head Mama Can Do 2-10-1922 New York, New York Columbia
308-D
No One Knows What It'a All About
(Rose / Woods)		 New York, New York Triangle
Off To Buffalo 12-28-1926 New York, New York Victor
(LP only)
Oh, Sister! Ain't That Hot?
(Walter Donaldson)		 9-1923 New York, New York Banner
1282
Pacific Coast Blues 6-14-1922 New York, New York Arto
Papa, Better Watch Your Step
(Bud Cooper / Gilbert Wells)		 5-2-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
020995
Papa Blues
(Pete Wendling / Max Kortland)		 2-1923 New York, New York Banner
1178
Papa Blues 3-12-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Pickles
(Charles Rasoff)		 5-25-1923 New York, New York Columbia
A3924
Railroad Man 11-1922 New York, New York Arto
Railroad Man 12-4-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Red Hot Mama
(Bud Cooper / Gilbert Wells / Fred Rose)		 New York, New York Emerson
10782
Red Hot Mama
(Bud Cooper / Gilbert Wells / Fred Rose)		 6-4-1924 New York, New York Columbia
155-D
Runnin' Wild
(Joe Grey / A. Harrington Gibbs)		 12-1922 New York, New York Banner
1143
Sad News Blues
(Benny Davis / Harry Akst)		 6-20-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Sad News Blues
(Benny Davis / Harry Akst)		 8-1923 New York, New York Banner
1254
Shake Your Feet
(Gene Buck / Dave Stamper)		 New York, New York Banner
1309
Regal
9601
She Wouldn't Do
(What I Asked Her To)
(Gottlieb / Bouteje / Burt)		 12-4-1923 New York, New York Columbia
37-D
Shufflin' Mose
(Phil Napoleon / Lottman / Frank Signorelli / Smith)		 4-1923 New York, New York Banner
1193
Shufflin' Mose
(Phil Napoleon / Lottman / Frank Signorelli / Smith)		 6-20-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Perfect
Shufflin' Mose
(Phil Napoleon / Lottman / Frank Signorelli / Smith)		 7-16-1923 New York, New York Edison
Shufflin' Mose
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 1924 New York, New York Columbia
50-D
Since Ma Is Playing Mah Jong
(Billy Rose / Con Conrad)		 New York, New York Columbia
74-D
Snake Hips
(Spencer Williams)		3-22-1923 New York, New York Victor
19052-B
Snuggle Up A Bit
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 New York, New York Perfect
14224-A
Sob Sister Sadie
(Bob Bigelow / Charles Bates)		1-12-1925 New York, New York Victor
19594-A
Souix City Sue
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 3-11-1924 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Perfect
Souix City Sue
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 5-29-1924 New York, New York Banner
1373
Souix City Sue
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 7-25-1924 New York, New York Columbia
186-D
Static Strut
(Jack Yellen / Phil Wall) 		4-16-1926 New York, New York Victor
20039
Steppin' Out
(Con Conrad / Howard Bowen) 		12-7-1923 New York, New York Banner
1296
St. Louis Gal
(J. Russel Robinson)		 1924 New York, New York Columbia
50-D
St. Louis Gal
(J. Russel Robinson)		 11-21-1931 New York, New York Columbia
2577-D
Stop Your Kiddin'
(Irving Mills / Frede Grofe / Jimmy McHugh)		 10-19-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Stop Your Kiddin'
(Irving Mills / Frede Grofe / Jimmy McHugh)		 10-27-1922 New York, New York Arto
Stop Your Kiddin'
(Irving Mills / Frede Grofe / Jimmy McHugh)		 11-1922 New York, New York Banner
1132
Stop Your Kiddin'
(Irving Mills / Frede Grofe / Jimmy McHugh)		 11-6-1922 New York, New York Vocalion
Struttin' Jim 6-20-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Struttin' At The Strutters' Ball
(Spencer Williams)		 8-1922 New York, New York Banner
1110
Regal
9368-B
Superstitious Blues
(Turk / Rososs / Mason)		 7-21-1924 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Perfect
14298 B
Sweet Lovin' Mama
(Wagner)		 2-7-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Sweet Mama, Please Come Back To Me 2-12-1923 New York, New York Arto
Sweet Papa Joe
(Link / Britt / Russell)		 New York, New York Cameo
478
St. Louis Gal
(J. Russel Robinson)		 11-20-1923 New York, New York Edison (rejected)
Struttin' At The Strutters Ball 8-1922 New York, New York Paramount
'Taint Cold 8-16-1927 New York, New York Bruswick
3039
'Taint Cold 10-26-1925 New York, New York Columbia
502-D
'Taint Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do
(Porter Grainger / E. Robbins)		 10-19-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Tampeekoe 4-16-1926 New York, New York Victor
20039
Teasin' Squeezin' Man of Mine
(Dowell / Frank Signorelli / Phil Napoleon)		1923 New York, New York Oriole 127-A
That Barking Dog, Woof! Woof!
(Jack Austin)		 11-6-1922 New York, New York Vocalion
That Bran' New Gal O' Mine
(Gus Van / Joseph Schenck / Harry Akst / Benny Davis)		 New York, New York Banner
309
Regal
9601
That Da Da Strain
(Medina / Dowell)		 9-27-1922 New York, New York Arto
That Da Da Strain
(Medina / Dowell)		10-19-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
That Eccentric Rag
(J. Russel Robinson)		 2-7-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
That Red-Head Gal
(Van Schenck / Lodge)		 3-12-1923 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
Perfect
14121-A
That Teasin' Squeezin' Man Of Mine
(Edgar Dowell / Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 8-1923 New York, New York Banner
1254
The Grass Is Always Greener 7-25-1924 New York, New York Columbia
186-D
The Great White Way Blues
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 1-1923 New York, New York Vocalion
B 14527
The Great White Way Blues
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 7-16-1923 New York, New York Edison
The Jelly-Roll Blues
(Jelly Roll Morton)		 9-22-1923 New York, New York Edison
51246-R
The Wicked Dirty Fives 10-27-1922 New York, New York Arto
31st Street Blues
(Hall / Giese / Davis)		 8-1923 New York, New York Banner
1336
Tin Roof Blues
(Paul Mares / G. Mares / Ben Pollock / Leon Roppolo / Mel Stitzel)		10-4-1923 New York, New York Victor
19170-B
Those Longing For You Blues
(Frank Westphal)		 5-10-1922 New York, New York Banner
1068
Regal
9301-A

20131-B
Throw Down Blues
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 2-4-1925 New York, New York Victor
19594-B
Throw Down Blues
(Phil Napoleon / Frank Signorelli)		 9-25-1925 New York, New York Columbia
480-D
Wait'll Til You See My Gal New York, New York Emerson
10782
Walk, Jenny, Walk
Chorus by Billy Jones
(Sam Wooding / Bob Shafer)		 9-27-1923 New York, New York Columbia
7-D
Whoa, Tillie! Take Your Time 12-1922 New York, New York Arto
Who's Sorry Now?
(Ted Snyder)		 3-22-1923 New York, New York Victor
19052-A
Why Should I Weep About One Sweetie
(James F. Hanley)		 New York, New York Columbia
74-D
You Can Have Him, I Don't Want Him, Didn't Love Him Anyhow Blues
(Tracey / Dougherty)		 10-2-1922 New York, New York Pathé Actuelle
020842
Your Mama'a Gonna Slow You Down
(Bud Cooper / Gilbert Wells)		 11-1923 New York, New York Banner
1296
Regal
9588-B
You've Got To See Mama Ev'ry Night 5-1923 New York, New York Bell
Artist Instrument
Ray Kitchingman Banjo
Jimmy Lytell Clarinet
Loring McMurray Alto, Tenor Saxophone
Anna Meyers Vocals
Miff Mole Trombone
Phil Napoleon Trumpet
Charles Panelli Trombone
Jack Roth Drums
Frank Signorelli Piano
George White Vocals