Red Nichols and his Five Pennies were one of the most popular bands of the New York Jazz scene of the 1920s. They recorded under a variety of different names, including the Arkansas Travelers, The Red Heads, The Louisiana Rhythm Kings, The Charleston Chasers, The Six Hottentots, The Hottentots and Miff Mole and his Little Molers. The band's style was often called "Chamber Jazz" by critics and for what it lacked in hot intensity it made up for with a cool somewhat detached, yet urban and sophisticated sound. In 1959 Hollywood made a highly fictionalized movie about the band called "The Five Pennies", starring Danny Kaye as Red Nichols.

Here is a bonus recording of Red Nichols and His Five Pennies performing the songs "Ida (Sweet As Apple Cider)", "Whispering", "Nobody's Sweetheart", "Who Cares" and "China Boy"." from the 1929 Vitaphone short "Red Nichols and His Five Pennies". Eddie Condon is the vocalist.

Thanks to Dennis Pereyra, James Gallup and Verne Buland 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)

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Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
After You're Gone
(Henry Creamer / J. Turner Layton)		 2-3-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
4839
Alabama Stomp
(Creamer / Johnson)		 3-3-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3550
E-4382
Alabama Stomp
(Creamer / Johnson)		 3-3-1927 New York, New York Vocalion
15566
E-4383
Alabama Stomp
(Creamer / Johnson)		 3-3-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3550
E-4384
Alice Bluegown
(From "Irene")
(Joseph McCarthy / Harry Tierney)		 2-16-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4456
Allah's Holiday
(Rudolf Friml)		 2-16-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4286
E-29294-A
Allah's Holiday
(Rudolf Friml)		 2-16-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
6824
E-29295-B
A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
(Irving Berlin)		 10-2-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
4456
Avalon
(Jolson / Rose)		 2-25-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
3854-B
Back Beats
(Guarente)		 1-12-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3490-B
Ballin' The Jack
(Chris Smith / Jack Burris)		 8-3-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Boneyard Shuffle
(Hoagy Carmichael)		 12-20-1926 New York, New York Brunswick
Boneyard Shuffle
(Hoagy Carmichael / Irving Mills)		 12-20-1926 New York, New York Brunswick
3477-B
Black And Blue
(Andy Razaf / Fats Waller)		 8-3-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Buddy's Habits
(Nelson / Charley Straight)		 12-20-1926 New York, New York Brunswick
3477-A
Bug-A-Boo New York, New York Brunswick
Bugle Call Rag
(Elmer Schoebel / Jack Pettis / Meyers)		 1-12-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3490-A
By The Shalimar 8-27-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
California Medley Part 1 New York, New York Brunswick
California Medley Part 2 New York, New York Brunswick
Call Of The Freaks
(Luis Russell / Paul Barbarin)		 8-3-1930 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
Can't Yo' Heah Me Calling, Caroline? (1) Vocal by Scrappy Lambert
(Roma)		 3-2-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
20062-B
XE-26775
Can't Yo' Heah Me Calling, Caroline?
Vocal by Scrappy Lambert
(Roma)		 3-2-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
20062-B
XE-26777
Can't We Be Friends? 9-6-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Carolina In The Morning
(Walter Donaldson)		 8-27-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
China Boy
(Dick Winfree / Phil Bouteljie)		 7-2-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
4877
Chinatown, My Chinatown
(Schwartz / Jerome)		 2-5-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4363
Corn Fed 6-20-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3597-B
E-23665
Corn Fed 6-20-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3597-B
E-23666
Corrinne Corrina 10-12-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Dear Old Southland (vocal)
(Henry Creamer / J. Turner Layton)		 5-31-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
Davenport Blues
(Bix Beiderbecke)		 New York, New York Bluebird 10408-B
Dear Old Southland
(Henry Creamer / J. Turner Layton)		 5-31-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
A-5081
XE-27621-G
Dear Old Southland
(Henry Creamer / J. Turner Layton)		 5-31-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
20070
XE-27621-A
Dinah
(Sam M. Lewis / Joe Young / Harry Akst)		4-18-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4373
Eccentric
(J. Russel Robinson)		 8-15-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3627
Feelin' No Pain
(Fud Livingstone)		 8-15-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3626-A
Vocalion
A 15622
Five Pennies
(Red Nichols)		 6-20-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3855
Get Happy
(Ted Koehler / Harold Arlen)		 10-22-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Hallelujah! 1-24-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Haunting Blues
(Henry Busse)		 New York, New York Brunswick
How Come You Do Me Like You Do? 8-27-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Hurricane
(Paul Mertz / Red Nichols)		 3-3-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3550
E-4385
Hurricane
(Paul Mertz / Red Nichols)		 3-3-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3550
E-4386
Hurricane (3)
(Paul Mertz / Red Nichols)		 3-3-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh)		 5-31-1928 New York, New York Vocalion
15710
Ida! Sweet As Apple Cider
(Eddie Leonard)		 8-15-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3626-A
E-24230
Ida! Sweet As Apple Cider
(Eddie Leonard)		 8-15-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3626-A
Vocalion
B 15622
E-24232
I Got Rhythm
(George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)		 New York, New York Brunswick
I'll See You In My Dreams
(Gus Kahn / Isham Jones) 		6-7-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Imagination
(Fud Livingston)		 6-1-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
3989
I May Be Wrong (A) 8-20-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4500
I May Be Wrong (B) 8-20-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4500
I May Be Wrong (G) 8-20-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4500
I May Be Wrong, But I Think You're Wonderful 8-27-1929 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
I'm Just Wild About Harry
(Noble Sissle / Eubie Blake)		 2-3-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
I'm Walking Through Clover New York, New York Brunswick
Indiana
(James F. Hanley)		 4-18-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4373
E-29708-A
Indiana
(James F. Hanley)		 4-18-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
80006
E-29708-B
I Never Knew
(Gus Kahn / Ted Fiorito)		 2-1-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4243
It Had To Be You
(Gus Kahn / Isham Jones)		 6-7-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
I Want To Be Happy 2-14-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Japanese Sandman
(Raymond Egan / Richard Whiting)		 2-25-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
3855
E-26695
Japanese Sandman
(Raymond Egan / Richard Whiting)		 2-25-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
3855
E-26696
Limehouse Blues
(Douglas Furber / Philip Braham)		 5-31-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
20070
XE-27622-A
Limehouse Blues
(Douglas Furber / Philip Braham)		 5-31-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
A-5081
XE-27622-G
Margie
(Davis / Con Conrad / J. Russel Robinson)		 6-1-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
3961
Mean Dog Blues (1)
(Jackson)		 6-25-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3597-A
Mean Dog Blues (2)
(Jackson)		 6-25-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3597-A
Medley
Can Yo' Hear Me Calling Caroline?
Margie
Wait For The Happy Ending
Whispering 		9-3-1929 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
My Future Just Passed 8-2-1930 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
My Gal Sal
(Paul Dresser)		 2-27-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
4844
E-26751
My Gal Sal
(Paul Dresser)		 2-27-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
4844
E-26752
My Honey's Lovin' Arms
(Ruby Meyer)		 New York, New York Brunswick
New Orleans Medley Part 1 New York, New York Brunswick
New Orleans Medley Part 2 New York, New York Brunswick
Nobody Knows (vocal) 9-9-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Nobody Knows
(Irving Berlin)		 9-9-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Nobody's Sweetheart
(Gus Kahn / Billy Meyers / Elmer Schoebel)		 2-27-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
3854-A
On Revival Day Part 1 (a)
(Andy Razaf)		 New York, New York Brunswick
On Revival Day Part 1 (b)
(Andy Razaf)		 New York, New York Brunswick
On Revival Day Part 2
(Andy Razaf)		 New York, New York Brunswick
On The Alamo
Vocal refrain by Scrappy Lambert
(Gus Kahn / Isham Jones) 		4-18-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4363
On The Alamo
(Gus Kahn / Isham Jones) 		4-18-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
6825
On The Alamo
(Gus Kahn / Isham Jones) 		8-27-1929 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
Original Dixieland One-Step
(Nick LaRocca)		 6-1-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
3989
Panama
(William H. Tyers)		 3-29-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
Poor Butterfly
Vocal by Scrappy Lambert
(Hubbell)		 3-2-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
20062-A
XE-26772
Poor Butterfly
Vocal by Scrappy Lambert
(Hubbell)		 3-2-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
20062-A
XE-26773
Poor Butterfly
Vocal by Scrappy Lambert
(Hubbell)		 3-2-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
A-5044
XE-26774
Peg Of My Heart (A) 7-2-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Peg Of My Heart (B) 7-2-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Rockin' Chair
(Hoagy Carmichael)		 New York, New York Brunswick
Riverboat Shuffle
(Hoagy Carmichael / Dick Voynow / Irving Mills)		 8-15-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3627
E-24224
Riverboat Shuffle
(Hoagy Carmichael / Dick Voynow / Irving Mills)		 8-15-1927 New York, New York Brunswick
3627
E-24225
Roses Of Picardy
(Wood / Weatherly)		 2-16-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4268
St. Louis Blues
(W.C. Handy)		8-3-1930 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
Sally Won't You Come Back? 6-7-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Say It With Music (vocal)
(Irving Berlin)		 10-22-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Say It With Music
(Irving Berlin)		 8-27-1929 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
Say It With Music
(Irving Berlin)		 10-22-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble (A)
(Spencer Williams)		 7-3-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble (B)
(Spencer Williams)		 7-3-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Some Of These Days
(Shelton Brooks)		 6-7-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Sometimes I'm Happy New York, New York Brunswick
Smiles (vocal)
(Callahan / Roberts)		 9-9-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Smiles
(Callahan / Roberts)		 9-9-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Sometimes I'm Happy 1-24-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Soon (vocal) 1-17-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Soon 1-17-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Strike Up The Band (vocal)
(George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)		 1-17-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Strike Up The Band
(George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)		 1-17-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Strike Up The Band
(George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)		 8-3-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Sweet Georgia Brown (a)
(Maceo Pinkard / Kenneth Casey / Bernie)		 7-2-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Sweet Georgia Brown (b)
(Maceo Pinkard / Kenneth Casey / Bernie)		 7-2-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Sweet Georgia Brown
(Maceo Pinkard / Kenneth Casey / Bernie)		 8-3-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Tea For Two
(Vincent Youmans / Irving Caesar)		 2-14-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
That's A Plenty
(Lew Pollack / Ray Gilbert)		 8-27-1929 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
That's No Bargain
(Red Nichols)		 12-8-1926 New York, New York Brunswick
3407
E-4180
That's No Bargain
(Red Nichols)		 12-8-1926 New York, New York Brunswick
3407
E-4181
The Rose Of Washington Square
(James F. Hanley / Maceo Pinkard)		 6-12-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
The Sheik Of Araby
(Smith / Wheeler / Snyder)		 7-3-1930 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
There'll Come A Time
(Wingy Manone / Miff Mole)		 3-29-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
3995
The New Yorkers (a)
From Murray Anderson's "Almanac" A Revue of Comedy
(Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)		 8-20-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4500
The New Yorkers (b)
From Murray Anderson's "Almanac" A Revue of Comedy
(Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)		 8-20-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4500
The New Yorkers 8-27-1929 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
They Didn't Believe Me (A) 8-27-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
They Didn't Believe Me (G) 8-27-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
They Didn't Believe Me 8-27-1929 New York, New York Radio
Broadcast
Wait For The Happy Ending 9-6-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Washboard Blues
(Hoagy Carmichael / Fred B. Callahan / Irving Mills)		 12-8-1926 New York, New York Brunswick
3407
E-4179
Washboard Blues
(Hoagy Carmichael / Fred B. Callahan / Irving Mills)		 12-8-1926 New York, New York Brunswick
3407
E-4180
Whispering
(Melvin Schonberger / John Schonberger)		 5-31-1928 New York, New York Brunswick
3955
Who Cares? 6-12-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
Who 8-27-1930 New York, New York Brunswick
Who's Sorry Now? 2-1-1929 New York, New York Brunswick
4243
Artist Instrument
George Beebe Drums
Vic Berton Drums,Timpani
Irving Brodsky Piano, Celeste
Jimmy Dorsey Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
John Egan Trumpet
Tommy Felline Banjo
Maurice Goffin Violin
Benny Goodman Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone
Jack Hanson Tuba
Gene Krupa Drums
Eddie Lang Guitar
Scrappy Lambert Vocals
Fud Livingston Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
Wingy Manone Trumpet, Vocals
Art Miller Bass
Glenn Miller Trombone
Miff Mole Trombone
Red Nichols Cornet, Trumpet
Adrian Rollini Bass Saxophone
Pee Wee Russell Clarinet
Babe Russin Piano
Jack Russin Piano
Arthur Schutt Piano
Herb Taylor Trombone
Jack Teagarden Trombone
Tommy Thunen Trumpet
Joe Venuti Violin
Henry Whiteman Violin
The Red Nichols Story: After Intermission, 1942-1965 , by Philip R. Evans, Stanley Hester, Stephen Hester, Linda Evans (Editor), Scarecrow Press, 1997
Red Head: A Chronological Survey of "Red" Nichols and His Five Pennies , by Stephen M. Stroff, Scarecrow Press, 1996