During the 1930s a remarkable series of jazz, blues and hokum records were made under the name, Washboard Rhythm Kings.
The Washboard Rhythm Kings never existed outside the studio and had no fixed personnel, but a roster of good though mostly obscure musicians . . . some unknown even to this day. The musicians were hired for quick pick-up sessions by a variety of record labels between about 1930-36.
The discs remain excellent examples of talented players sharing a general outlook and attitude, improvising music on the spot. The resulting loose swinging jazz and hokum is treasured by collectors today . . . and still great fun to hear.
I can highly recommend the 3 volume Washboard Rhythm Kings CD series from Collectors Classics; I drew from this rich collection to help document these wide-ranging sessions.
WASHBOARD RHYTHM KINGS 1A.mp3 HARD CORN -- Williams Washboard Band, 1933 78 RPM MINNIE THE MOOCHER -- The Five Rhythm Kings, 1931 ONE MORE TIME -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1931 WALKIN’ MY BABY BACK HOME -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1931 EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1931 PLEASE TELL ME -- The Rhythm Kings, 1931 YOU RASCAL YOU -- The Rhythm Kings, 1931 CROOKED WORLD BLUES -- The Rhythm Kings, 1931 CALL OF THE FREAKS -- The Rhythm Kings, 1931 I’M CRAZY ‘BOUT MY BABY -- The Rhythm Kings, 1931 BLUES IN MY HEART -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1931
WASHBOARD RHYTHM KINGS 2A.mp3 KELSEY’S HOT NUTS -- Williams Washboard Band, 1933 IF YOU WERE ONLY MINE -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1932 WHO STOLE THE LOCK -- Chicago Hot Five, 1931 THE BOY IN THE BOAT -- Washboard Rhythm Boys , vocal Ghost Howell, 1932 I’M GONNA PLAY DOWN MY THE OHIO -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1932 UNDERNEATH THE HARLEM MOON -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1932 IKEY & MIKEY -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1932 HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1932 TIGER RAG -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1932 DEPRESSION STOMP -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1932
WASHBOARD RHYTHM KINGS 2B.mp3 ALL THIS WORLD IS MADE OF GLASS -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1932 HUMMIN’ TO MYSELF -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1932 SLOPPY DRUNK BLUES (BEALE St. BLUES) -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1932 A NICKEL FOR A PICKEL -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1932 FIRE -- Washboard Rhythm Kings, 1932 BUG A BOO -- Georgia Washboard Stompers, 78 rpm IT DON’T MEAN A THING -- The Rhythm Kings, 1932
WASHBOARD RHYTHM KINGS 3A.mp3 SENTIMENTAL GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA -- The Rhythm Kings, 1932 YES SUH! -- The Rhythm Kings,1932 OLD YAZOO -- The Rhythm Kings, 1932 WAH DE DAH -- The Rhythm Kings, 1932 BLUE DRAG -- The Rhythm Kings, 1932 SYNCOPATE YOUR SINS AWAY -- The Rhythm Kings, 1932 I GOT RHYTHM -- Clarence Profit Trio, 1939 HUSTLIN’ AND BUSTLIN’ FOR BABY -- Washboard Rhythm Band, 1932 MIDNIGHT RHYTHM (MOTEN SWING) -- Washboard Rhythm Band, 1933
WASHBOARD RHYTHM KINGS 3B.mp3 ST LOUIS BLUES -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1933 LAZY BONES -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1933 SOME OF THESE DAYS -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1933 DOG AND CAT -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1933 OLD MAN BLUES -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1933 MISSISSIPPI BASIN -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1933 FAREWELL BLUES -- Georgia Washboard Stompers, 1934 TIGER RAG -- Georgia Washboard Stompers, 1934 THE SCAT SONG -- Washboard Rhythm Boys, 1932
Hokum is both a musical style and outdated slang for low humor or nonsense, flim-flam, bunkum.
As a musical form Hokum refers to something less than a jazz band, usually with a skiffle or washboard rhythm and a couple of strings or horns. Generally upbeat, Hokum borrows loosely from blues, jazz, medicine and tent show, or jug and string band genres. The lyrics often revel in crude humor and suggestive metaphor.
The best-known artists of Hokum were the Harlem Hamfats (with New Orleans roots), the bawdy Lil Johnson, Clarence Williams’ washboard bands, and some of the small-band music recorded by artists from the south side of Chicago in the late 1920s like Johnny Dodds, Jimmy Bertrand, Banjo Ikey Robinson or the female-impersonator, Frankie “Half Pint” Jaxon.
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