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Jelly Roll Morton. side 1: Ancestry and Boyhood; side 2: Boy At the Piano (Circle JM-5/6), from the album, Jelly Roll Morton, Volume 1: Jazz Started in New Orleans (Circle Limited Edition #306).
78 rpm.

This recording is part of a limited edition 45 twelve-inch record set, The Saga of Mr. Jelly Lord. The set is comprised of interviews and musical performances of musician Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton (1890-1941) recorded by American ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax (1915-2002) at the Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, from May 23, 1938 to December 14, 1938. In the interviews, Morton recounts his experiences, both in New Orleans and on the road, as a popular musician of the early twentieth century.

The Saga of Mr. Jelly Lord limited edition record set was issued by Circle Sound Inc., incrementally with two albums every three months, beginning in late 1947. The recordings were pressed on red vinylite. Album design and typography for this set was by Jimmy Ernst (born Hans-Ulrich Ernst, 1920-1984), a German-born American painter.

Kid Ory and his Creole Jazz Band. side 1: Bill Bailey Won't You Come Home; side 2: Creole Bo Bo (Columbia 37276), from the album, New Orleans Jazz (Columbia C-126).
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1946. The album was released in 1947.

Jim (James) Flora (1914-1998) created the cover art for this album. Flora was a successful commercial illustrator during the 1940s-1970s as well as an author and illustrator for children’s books. He was best known for his unique and quirky album cover art for RCA Victor and Columbia during the 1940s and 1950s. Flora created numerous paintings, drawings, etchings and sketches throughout his prolific career.

Lu Watters and his Yerba Buena Jazz Band. side 1: Emporer Norton's Hunch; side 2: Skid Da De Dat (Mercury 11050), from the album, Lu Watters Jazz (Mercury C-103).
78 rpm.

The cover art for this album was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992). Martin was an American artist best known for his illustrations on jazz album covers for labels including Mercury, Asch, Clef, Disc, and Dial. Many of his commissions were from Martin’s longtime friend, American jazz record producer and concert promoter Norman Granz (1918-2001).

Bechet-Spanier Big Four. side 1: Squeeze Me; side 2: Sweet Sue, Just You (H.R.S. [Hot Record Society] 2003).
78 rpm.

Hot Record Society was an American jazz record label, founded by Steve Smith in 1937, dedicated to reissuing out-of-print early Dixieland or traditional jazz, also referred to as “hot jazz.” The HRS original advisory board included John Hammond, Marshall Stearns, Charles Edward Smith, Wilder Hobson, Bill Russell, Charles Delaunay, Hugues Panassié, and Sinclair Traill. In addition to re-issuing records, HRS released new recordings of jazz on its own label until 1947. HRS also sold both new and used records in its mid-town Manhattan shop beginning in 1939.

Jelly Roll Morton. side 1: The Animule Ball [part 1]; side 2: The Animule Ball [part 2 (track 1)] Scat Song [track 2] (Circle JM-9/10), from the album, Jelly Roll Morton, Volume 2: Way Down Yonder... (Circle Limited Edition #306).
78 rpm.

This recording is part of a limited edition 45 twelve-inch record set, The Saga of Mr. Jelly Lord. The set is comprised of interviews and musical performances of musician Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton (1890-1941) recorded by American ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax (1915-2002) at the Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, from May 23, 1938 to December 14, 1938. In the interviews, Morton recounts his experiences, both in New Orleans and on the road, as a popular musician of the early twentieth century.

The Saga of Mr. Jelly Lord limited edition record set was issued by Circle Sound Inc., incrementally with two albums every three months, beginning in late 1947. The recordings were pressed on red vinylite. Album design and typography for this set was by Jimmy Ernst (born Hans-Ulrich Ernst, 1920-1984), a German-born American painter.

Josh White. side 1: Trouble; side 2: Jerry (Asch 358-3), from the album, Folk Songs Sung by Josh White (Asch A 358).
78 rpm.

The cover art for this album was by David Stone Martin (born David Livingstone Martin, 1913-1992). Martin was an American artist best known for his illustrations on jazz album covers for labels including Mercury, Asch, Clef, Disc, and Dial. Many of his commissions were from Martin’s longtime friend, American jazz record producer and concert promoter Norman Granz (1918-2001).

Count Basie and his All American Rhythm Section. side 1: Farewell Blues; side 2: Way Back Blues (Columbia 36712), from the album, Blues By Basie (Columbia C-101).
78 rpm. Both tracks were recorded in 1942. This album was released in 1944.

The cover art for this album was made by Alex Steinweiss. Alexander “Alex” Steinweiss (1917-2011) was an American artist and graphic designer. He was the first art director of Columbia Records, expanding the use of album covers and cover art. Steinweiss created album cover art from 1938 to 1973.