Victor 23781 – Jimmie Rodgers – 1932

Please note: this article dates to Old Time Blues’ first year and does not meet the standard of quality to which more recent postings are held.  Thank you for your understanding.

Around this time of the year, the weather starts to heat up, and on trees all around the South (and California), the peaches begin to ripen, so I figure what better time to listen to this classic by the Father of Country Music, Mr. Jimmie Rodgers.

Victor number 23781, issued in their special 23500 series intended for rural audiences, was recorded late in Jimmie Rodgers’ career on August 15 and 29, 1932 in Camden, New Jersey.  It was issued in April of 1933, a mere two months before Rodgers’ untimely death.  I had the fortune of finding this great record in the backroom of one of my favorite record stores down in Austin.

First up, Jimmie sings “Peach Picking Time Down in Georgia”, recorded on the earlier date, accompanied by members of Clayton McMichen’s Georgia Wildcats, including the great McMichen on fiddle, who shares composer’s credit for the tune, on fiddle, Oddie McWinders picking the banjo, and Hoyt “Slim” Bryant filling in for the ailing Rodgers on guitar.

Peach Picking Time Down in Georgia, recorded August ,1932 by Jimmie Rodgers.

Peach Picking Time Down in Georgia, recorded August 15, 1932 by Jimmie Rodgers.

Next, Jimmie sings the waltzy, western themed “Prairie Lullaby”, recorded on the later date, again with Slim Bryant on guitar, and an unknown accompaniment on two violins, clarinet, and piano.  This could be classified as one of Jimmie’s efforts to tailor his music to the tastes of the popular music consumer of 1932, still makes for fine listening.

Prairie Lullaby, recorded August 29, 1932 by Jimmie Rodgers.

Prairie Lullaby, recorded August 29, 1932 by Jimmie Rodgers.

Updated on January 1, 2017, and with improved audio on July 6, 2017.