Kokomo Arnold
James "Kokomo" Arnold (February 15, 1896 or 1901 – November 8, 1968) was an American blues musician. A left-handed slide guitarist, his intense style of playing and rapid-fire vocal delivery set him apart from his contemporaries. He got his nickname in 1934 after releasing "Old Original Kokomo Blues" for Decca Records, a cover version of Scrapper Blackwell's blues song about the city of Kokomo, Indiana. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BVE-57257 | 10-in. | 12/13/1929 | You must be so | Cotton PIckers Quartet | Male vocal quartet | songwriter | |
| Victor | BVE-57259 | 10-in. | 12/13/1929 | When the water raised | Cotton PIckers Quartet | Male vocal quartet | songwriter | |
| Victor | BVE-59938 | 10-in. | 5/17/1930 | Rainy night blues | Jim Gitfiddle [i.e., Kokomo Arnold] | Male vocal solo, with guitar | songwriter, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Victor | BVE-59939 | 10-in. | 5/17/1930 | Paddlin' blues | Jim Gitfiddle [i.e., Kokomo Arnold] | Male vocal solo, with guitar | songwriter, vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | |
| Decca | 60502 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | D.B.A. Blues No.2 | Roosevelt Sykes | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60503 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Dirty mother for you | Roosevelt Sykes | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60504 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | The cannon ball | Roosevelt Sykes | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60505 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Jet black snake-1 | Roosevelt Sykes | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60506 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Working man (Doing the best I can) | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60507 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Low down rascal | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60511 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | When I get my bonus | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60512 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Coon can Shorty | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60513 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Second floor blues | Roosevelt Sykes | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60514 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Milk cow blues No.5 | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 60515 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | I'll be up someday | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 60516 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | I can't get enough of that stuff | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 60517 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Desert blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 60518 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Bulk headed woman blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 60519 | 10-in. | 2/18/1936 | Sundown blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 60522 | 10-in. | 2/19/1936 | Meat cutter blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60523 | 10-in. | 2/19/1936 | The first shall be last and the last shall be first | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60527 | 10-in. | 2/19/1936 | Kidnappers blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60532 | 10-in. | 2/20/1936 | Old good whiskey blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60538 | 10-in. | 2/20/1936 | Poor millionaire blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60539 | 10-in. | 2/20/1936 | Deep sea love | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60540 | 10-in. | 2/20/1936 | Drinking man blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60544 | 10-in. | 2/21/1936 | Country fool blues | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 60546 | 10-in. | 2/21/1936 | The honeydripper-1 | Roosevelt Sykes | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 63742 | 10-in. | 5/11/1938 | Goin' down to the bottom | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63743 | 10-in. | 5/11/1938 | Poor mother | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63744 | 10-in. | 5/11/1938 | Your ways and actions-1 | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63745 | 10-in. | 5/11/1938 | Sundown blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63746 | 10-in. | 5/11/1938 | Tired of runnin' from door to door-1 | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63747 | 10-in. | 5/11/1938 | Bill and Bo | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63748 | 10-in. | 5/11/1938 | My well is dry-1 | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63749 | 10-in. | 5/11/1938 | Little pony blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63750 | 10-in. | 5/12/1938 | Midnight blues-1 | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63751 | 10-in. | 5/12/1938 | Goin' down in Galilee | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63752 | 10-in. | 5/12/1938 | By myself | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63753 | 10-in. | 5/12/1938 | Bad luck blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63754 | 10-in. | 5/12/1938 | Kid man blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63755 | 10-in. | 5/12/1938 | Something's hot | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90029 | 10-in. | 6/14/1935 | 'Cause you're dirty | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90030 | 10-in. | 6/14/1935 | Tonic head blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90044 | 10-in. | 6/20/1935 | Policy wheel blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90045 | 10-in. | 6/20/1935 | Traveling rambler blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90158 | 10-in. | 7/15/1935 | Policy wheel blues | Kokomo Arnold | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90159 | 10-in. | 7/15/1935 | Traveling rambler blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90201 | 10-in. | 7/23/1935 | Stop, look and listen | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90202 | 10-in. | 7/23/1935 | Doin' the doopiddidy | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90313 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | The mule laid down and died | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90314 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | Big leg Mama | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90315 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | Milk cow blues No.3 | Kokomo Arnold | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90316 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | Milk cow blues No.4 | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90317 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | Down and out blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90318 | 10-in. | 9/11/1935 | Model T woman blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90744 | 10-in. | 5/22/1936 | Grass cutter blues | Alice Moore | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90745 | 10-in. | 5/22/1936 | Telephone blues | Alice Moore | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90746 | 10-in. | 5/22/1936 | Dark angel | Alice Moore | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90747 | 10-in. | 5/22/1936 | Money tree man | Alice Moore | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90748 | Yalla man | Mary Johnson | instrumentalist, guitar | ||||
| Decca | 90749 | 10-in. | 4/22/1936 | Delmar Avenue | Mary Johnson | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90750 | 10-in. | 5/22/1936 | Feather bed blues | Mary Johnson | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90751 | 10-in. | 5/22/1936 | Stop my barrel house ways | Mary Johnson | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90752 | 10-in. | 5/22/1936 | I'm going fishing too | Alice Moore | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90754 | 10-in. | 5/22/1936 | Three men | Alice Moore | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90794 | 10-in. | 7/9/1936 | Runnin' drunk again (Here I come) | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90795 | 10-in. | 7/9/1936 | Shake that thing | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90796 | 10-in. | 7/9/1936 | Try some of that | Oscar's Chicago Swingers | vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90797 | 10-in. | 7/9/1936 | My gal's been foolin' me | Kokomo Arnold | vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90954 | 10-in. | 10/24/1936 | Running drunk again | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90955 | 10-in. | 10/24/1936 | Coffin blues | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90956 | 10-in. | 10/24/1936 | Lonesome road blues | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90957 | 10-in. | 10/24/1936 | Sorry hearted blues | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90958 | 10-in. | 10/24/1936 | Mister Charlie | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 90963 | 10-in. | 10/26/1936 | False hearted woman | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90964 | 10-in. | 10/26/1936 | Little house | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90965 | 10-in. | 10/26/1936 | Fairasee woman | Peetie Wheatstraw ; Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 90966 | 10-in. | 10/26/1936 | Beggar man blues | Peetie Wheatstraw ; Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 91068 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | Back fence picket blues | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91069 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | Fool man blues | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91070 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | Long and tall | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 91071 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | Salty dog | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91072 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | Cold Winter blues | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91073 | 10-in. | 1/12/1937 | Sister Jane cross the hall | Kokomo Arnold ; Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91134 | 10-in. | 3/12/1937 | Wild water blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91135 | 10-in. | 3/12/1937 | Laugh and grin blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91161 | 10-in. | 3/30/1937 | Mean old twister | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91162 | 10-in. | 3/30/1937 | Red beans and rice | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91163 | 10-in. | 3/30/1937 | Give me black or brown | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 91164 | 10-in. | 3/30/1937 | Working on the project | Peetie Wheatstraw | instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 91166 | 10-in. | 3/30/1937 | Set down gal | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91167 | 10-in. | 3/30/1937 | Big ship blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91230 | 10-in. | 5/7/1937 | Crying blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91231 | 10-in. | 5/7/1937 | Badluck child | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91232 | 10-in. | 5/7/1937 | Grandpa got drunk | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91233 | 10-in. | 5/7/1937 | Black Mattie | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91298 | 10-in. | 10/23/1937 | Neck bone blues | Kokomo Arnold | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | 91299 | 10-in. | 10/23/1937 | Buddie Brown blues (Rolling time) | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91300 | 10-in. | 10/23/1937 | Rocky road blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91330 | 10-in. | 11/3/1937 | High mountain blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91331 | 10-in. | 11/3/1937 | Head cuttin' blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91332 | 10-in. | 11/3/1937 | Broke man blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91333 | 10-in. | 11/3/1937 | Back on the job | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 91334 | 10-in. | 11/3/1937 | Shine on, moon | Kokomo Arnold | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9428 | 10-in. | 9/10/1934 | Milk cow blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9429 | 10-in. | 9/10/1934 | Old original Kokomo blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9434 | 10-in. | 9/10/1934 | Back to the woods | Kokomo Arnold | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9435 | 10-in. | 9/10/1934 | Sagefield woman blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9653 | 10-in. | 1/15/1935 | Old black cat blues (Jinx blues) | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9654 | 10-in. | 1/15/1935 | Sissy man blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9655 | 10-in. | 1/15/1935 | Front door blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9656 | 10-in. | 1/15/1935 | Back door blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9671 | 10-in. | 1/18/1935 | The twelves (Dirty dozens) | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9672 | 10-in. | 1/18/1935 | Feels so good | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9774 | 10-in. | 2/5/1935 | Milk cow blues No.2 | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9775 | 10-in. | 2/5/1935 | Biscuit roller blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9776 | 10-in. | 2/5/1935 | Slop jar blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9777 | 10-in. | 2/5/1935 | Black Annie | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9792 | 10-in. | 2/12/1935 | Chain gang blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9793 | 10-in. | 2/12/1935 | Monday morning blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9794 | 10-in. | 2/12/1935 | How long, how long blues | Kokomo Arnold | vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar | ||
| Decca | C 9795 | 10-in. | 2/12/1935 | Thing' bout coming my way | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9863 | 10-in. | 3/23/1935 | You should not a'done it | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9864 | 10-in. | 3/23/1935 | Lonesome Southern blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9865 | 10-in. | 3/23/1935 | Black money blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9866 | 10-in. | 3/23/1935 | Hobo blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9921 | 10-in. | 4/18/1935 | Southern railroad blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9922 | 10-in. | 4/18/1935 | Bo weavil blues | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9923 | 10-in. | 4/18/1935 | Busy bootin' | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist | ||
| Decca | C 9924 | 10-in. | 4/18/1935 | Let your money talk | Kokomo Arnold | instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Arnold, Kokomo," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110643.
Arnold, Kokomo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110643.
"Arnold, Kokomo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Kokomo Arnold
Discogs: Kokomo Arnold
Allmusic: Kokomo Arnold
Grove: Kokomo Arnold
IMDb: Kokomo Arnold
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Arnold, Kokomo - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no98004825
Wikidata: Kokomo Arnold - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1349827
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/54334819
MusicBrainz: Kokomo Arnold - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/74a64e96-43d4-474d-8cac-e4670871bfa0
ISNI: 0000 0000 5514 5670 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000055145670
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