As a boy, James P. Johnson studied Classical music and Ragtime. He started playing professionally in a sporting house, and then progressed to rent parties, bars and vaudeville. He eventually became known as the best piano player on the East Coast and was widely utilized as an accompanist on over 400 recordings and from 1916 on, produced hundreds of piano rolls under his own name.

He backed up many of the Classic Blues singers of the 1920s, such as Ida Cox, Ethel Waters and Bessie Smith. Johnson’s 1921 recording of “Carolina Shout” is considered to be the first recorded Jazz piano solo by some critics, although it sounds a lot like Ragtime to this listener’s ears. He wrote several musical revues, including “Running W and “Plantation Days and his 1928 collaboration with his former piano student Fats Waller, Keep Shufflin‘. His song “Charleston” from Running Wild  was one of the best known and most widely recorded songs of 1920s. Other hits included “Old Fashioned Love” and “If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)“.

Johnson composed several symphonic works, which include “Yamecraw: A Negro Rhapsody” (1928), “Tone Poem” (1930), “Symphony Harlem ” (1932), a symphonic version of W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues” (1937), and the one-act opera “De Organizer” (1940), with lyrics by Langston Hughes. None of his symphonic works were very popular and have seldom been performed. Johnson is generally considered the “Father of the Stride” piano, and was a major influence on some of Jazz’s great pianists such as Duke Ellington, Fats Waller and Thelonious Monk.

Thanks to Owen Miller for his help with this page.

The discography of James P. Johnson and his bands should not be treated as exhaustive. He recorded extensively in the 1940s, reviving some of his band names from the 1920s and also recording solo for several labels. There are both Asch and Decca recordings missing from this discography that may be added over time.

Also see: James P. Johnson and the Birth of Modern Jazz Piano & James P. Johnson: Forgotten Musical Genius

James P. Johnson’s Harmony Eight	Jimmy Johnson and his Band
Jimmy Johnson and his Orchestra	Jimmy Johnson’s Jazz Boys
Johnson’s Jazzers	James P. Johnson’s Blue Note Jazz Men

Title	Recording Date	Recording Location	Company
A Flat Dream (James P. Johnson)	6-4-1939	New York, New York	Columbia 37333
Ain’t Cha Got Music? (Andy Razaf / James P. Johnson)	6-1947	New York, New York	Manhatten 504 Pumpkin 117
Ain’t Cha Got Music? (Andy Razaf / James P. Johnson)	6-5-1947	New York, New York	Circle 3005
Aunt Hager’s Blues (W.C. Handy)	5-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Aunt Hager’s Blues (W.C. Handy)	5-1945	New York, New York	Xtra 1024
A Porter’s Love Song To A Chamber Maid (James P. Johnson / Andy Razaf)	1944	New York, New York	Decca
All That I Had Is Gone (James P. Johnson)	2-25-1927	New York, New York	Columbia 14204-D
Arkansas Blues	12-15-1943	New York, New York	Blue Note 27-B
Back Water Blues (In Memory of Bessie Smith) (Bessie Smith)	11-17-1943	New York, New York	Blue Note 25-A
Back Water Blues (Bessie Smith)	5-24-1947	New York, New York	Pumpkin 117
Bleeding Hearted Blues (Lovie Austin)	7-25-1923	Camden, New Jersey	Victor 19123-A
Blue Moods (1)	1944	New York, New York	Folkways FG 3540
Blue Moods (2)	1944	New York, New York	Folkways FG 3540 Xtra 1024
Blue Moods, Sex	1944	New York, New York	Folkways FG 3540 Xtra 1024
Blues For Fats (James P. Johnson)	12-18-1943	New York, New York	Signature 28105
Blues For Jimmy	4-1945	New York, New York	Selmer 7218 Cupol 9001 Folkways FJ 2850
Blueberry Rhyme (James P. Johnson)	6-4-1939	New York, New York	CBS
Blueberry Rhyme (James P. Johnson)	12-18-1943	New York, New York	Signature 28105
Boogie Woogie Stride (James P. Johnson)	7-2-1942	New York, New York	Asch 1001 A
Caprice Rag (James P. Johnson)	12-15-1943	New York, New York	Blue Note 26
Caprice Rag (James P. Johnson)	3-1-1947	New York, New York	Rarities 33
Carolina Balmoral (James P. Johnson)	11-17-1943	New York, New York	Blue Note 25-B
Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson)	10-18-1921	New York, New York	Okeh 4495-B
Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson)	12-23-1938	New York, New York	Vanguard
Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson)	1944	New York, New York	Decca
Chocolate Bar	5-24-1947	New York, New York	Pumpkin 117
Crying for the Carolines	1-21-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick 4712
Daintiness Rag (James P. Johnson)	1943	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Daintiness Rag (James P. Johnson)	6-5-1947	New York, New York	Circle 3005
Fascination (James P. Johnson)	6-4-1939	New York, New York	CBS
Feeling Blue (James P. Johnson)	1-29-1929	New York, New York	Okeh 8770
Gut Stomp	11-17-1943	New York, New York	Blue Note 24-B
Keep Movin’	4-1945	New York, New York	Xtra 1024
Keep Movin’	4-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Keep Off The Grass (James P. Johnson)	10-18-1921	New York, New York	Okeh
If Dreams Come True	6-4-1939	New York, New York	CBS
If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) (Henry Creamer / James P. Johnson)	1944	New York, New York	Decca
I’m Crazy About My Baby	6-5-1947	New York, New York	Riverside RLP 1056
Impressions (James P. Johnson)	7-2-1942	New York, New York	Asch 1001 B
Improvisation On Pinetops Boogie	12-15-1943	New York, New York	Blue Note 26
Jersey Sweet (1)	4-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Jersey Sweet (2)	4-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
J.P. Boogie (James P. Johnson)	11-17-1943	New York, New York	Blue Note 24-A
Jingles	1-21-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick 4762
Jungle Drums	4-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Keep Off The Grass (James P. Johnson)	1944	New York, New York	Decca 4495-A
Liza (Perry Bradford / James P. Johnson)	5-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Liza (Perry Bradford / James P. Johnson)	5-1945	New York, New York	Xtra 1024
Liza (Perry Bradford / James P. Johnson)	4-1937	New York, New York	Ristic LP
Liza (Perry Bradford / James P. Johnson)	5-24-1947	New York, New York	Pumpkin 117
Lonesome Reverie (James P. Johnson)	6-4-1939	New York, New York	CBS
Mama And Papa Blues	6-5-1947	New York, New York	Riverside RLP 1056
Maple Leaf Rag (Scott Joplin)	2-15-1947	New York, New York	Wax LP 201
Mule Walk (James P. Johnson)	12-23-1938	New York, New York	Vanguard
Mule Walk (James P. Johnson)	6-4-1939	New York, New York	CBS
Mule Walk (James P. Johnson)	12-15-1943	New York, New York	Blue Note 27-A
Old Fashioned Love (James P. Johnson)	1944	New York, New York	Decca
Old Fashioned Love (James P. Johnson)	6-5-1947	New York, New York	Riverside RLP 1056
Over The Bars (James P. Johnson)	1944	New York, New York	Decca
Riffs (James P. Johnson)	1-29-1929	New York, New York	Okeh
Riffs (James P. Johnson)	1944	New York, New York	Decca
Scouting Around (James P. Johnson)	8-8-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 4937-A
Snowy Morning Blues (James P. Johnson / Perry Bradford)	2-25-1927	New York, New York	Columbia 14204-D
Snowy Morning Blues (James P. Johnson / Perry Bradford)	7-2-1942	New York, New York	Asch
Snowy Morning Blues (James P. Johnson / Perry Bradford)	1943	New York, New York	Folkways FP 71
Snowy Morning Blues (alt) (James P. Johnson / Perry Bradford)	1943	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Snowy Morning Blues (James P. Johnson / Perry Bradford)	1944	New York, New York	Decca
Snowy Morning Blues (James P. Johnson / Perry Bradford)	6-1947	New York, New York	Manhatten 503
Steeplechase Rag (James P. Johnson)	9-1949	Los Angeles, California	Pumpkin 117
Sugar (Maceo Pinkard / Edna Alexander)	9-1949	Los Angeles, California	Pumpkin 117
Sugar Hill Theme (You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart)	9-1949	Los Angeles, California	Pumpkin 117
St. Louis Blues (W.C. Handy)	5-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Sweet Lorraine (2) (Mitchell Parish / Cliff Burwell)	5-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Sweet Lorraine (Mitchell Parish / Cliff Burwell)	5-1945	New York, New York	Selmer 7218 Xtra 1024
The Dream (2)	5-1945	New York, New York	Xtra 1024
The Dream (4)	5-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
The Harlem Strut (James P. Johnson)	8-1921	New York, New York	Black Swan 2026-A
Toddlin’ (James P. Johnson)	8-8-1923	New York, New York	Okeh 4937-B
Twilight Rag	4-1945	New York, New York	Xtra 1024
Twilight Rag	4-1945	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2850
Weeping Blues (James P. Johnson)	6-28-1923	New York, New York	Columbia A3950
What is this Thing Called Love (James P. Johnson)	1-21-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick 4712
Worried And Lonesome Blues (James P. Johnson)	6-28-1923	New York, New York	Columbia A3950
Yamekraw – A Negro Rhapsody (In Four Movements) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 (James P. Johnson)	1944	New York, New York	Folkways FJ 2842
You Can’t Do What My Last Man Did (James P. Johnson)	7-25-1923	Camden, New Jersey	Victor 19123-B
You’ve Got To Be Modernistic (James P. Johnson)	1-21-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick 4762

 

Title	Recording Date	Recording Location	Company
After Tonight (William A. Farrell)	5-1917	New York, New York	Universal 2191
After Tonight (William A. Farrell)	6-1917	Orange, New Jersey	Perfection 87020
Arkansas Blues (Spencer Williams)	10-1921	New York, New York	QRS 1670
Baltimore Buzz (Noble Sissle / Eubie Blake)	12-1921	New York, New York	QRS 1738
Birmingham Blues (McCord / Matthews)	8-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1994
Black Bottom Dance (Buddy DeSylva / Lew Brown / Ray Henderson)	2-1927	New York, New York	QRS 3792
Black Man (Be On Yo’ Way) (Spencer Williams)	11-1923	New York, New York	QRS 2351
Buzz Mirandy (Dave Franklin / Henry Creamer)	8-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1952
Caprice Rag (James P. Johnson)	5-1917	New York, New York	Metro Art 203176
Caprice Rag (James P. Johnson)	7-1917	Orange, New Jersey	Universal 203177
Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson)	2-1918	New York, New York	Artempo 12975
Carolina Shout (James P. Johnson)	2-1921	Newark, New Jersey	QRS 100999, Q129
Charleston (South Carolina) (Cecil Mack / James P. Johnson)	6-1925	New York, New York	QRS 3143, Q-133
Crying For My Used To Be (played by James P. Johnson and Fats Waller)	2-1927	New York, New York	QRS 3800
Cry Baby Blues (Meyer / Lewis / Young)	10-1921	New York, New York	QRS 1673
Daintiness Rag (James P. Johnson)	7-1917	New York, New York	Universal 203107
Don’t Mess With Me	5-1923	New York, New York	QRS 2202, Q-136
Don’t Tell Your Monkey Man (L. Johnson / Ted Koehler)	5-1921	Newark, New Jersey	QRS 1338
Dr. Jazzes Raz-Ma-Taz (O’Flynn / Rose)	6-1921	New York, New York	QRS 1473
Eccentricity (James P. Johnson)	2-1918	New York, New York	Artempo 12997
Eccentricity (James P. Johnson)	5-1921	Newark, New Jersey	QRS 1011000
Fascination (James P. Johnson)	9-1917	New York, New York	Universal 203227
Fascination Rag (James P. Johnson)	?	New York, New York	Metro-Art 2032226
Farewell Blues (Paul Mares / Leon Roppolo / Elmer Schoebel)	5-1923	New York, New York	QRS 2244, Q-134
Gypsy Blues (Noble Sissle / Eubie Blake)	10-1921	New York, New York	QRS 1674
Harlem Choc’late Babies On Parade (James P. Johnson / Henry Creamer)	7-1926	New York, New York	QRS 3526
Harlem Strut (James P. Johnson)	6-1922	New York, New York	QRS 101014, Q-130
He’s My Man (Anton Lada)	10-1926	New York, New York	QRS 3676
I Ain’t Givin’ Nothin’ Away (Zoel / Tally)	12-1921	New York, New York	QRS 1724
If I Could Be With You Duet with Fats Waller (Henry Creamer / James P. Johnson)	3-1927	New York, New York	QRS 3818, Q-152
If You’ve Never Been Vamped By A Brownskin (Noble Sissle / Eubie Blake)	9-1921	New York, New York	QRS 1644
Innovation Rag (James P. Johnson)	10-1917	New York, New York	Universal 203255
It Takes Love To Cure The Hearts Disease	5-1921	Newark, New Jersey	QRS 1339
I’ve Got My Habits On (Jimmy Durante)	2-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1804
Joe Turner Blues (W. C. Handy)	3-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1830
Look What A Fool I’ve Been (Clarence Williams)	3-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1831
Loveless Love (A “Blues Ballad”) (W. C. Handy)	5/1921	Newark, New Jersey	QRS 1340
Make Me A Pallet (W. C. Handy)	9-1926	New York, New York	QRS 3626
Mama’s Blues (James P. Johnson)	7-1917	Newark, New Jersey	Artempo 12286
Mama’s Blues (James P. Johnson)	7-1917	Belleville, New Jersey	Rhythm E17933
Mama’s Blues (James P. Johnson)	9-1917	New York, New York	Universal 2335
Mama’s Blues (James P. Johnson)	9-1917	Orange, New Jersey	Arto 228X
Mama’s Blues (James P. Johnson)	1917	New York, New York	Singa 5228
Monkey Hunch (James P. Johnson)	1917	New York, New York	Universal 2235
Muscle Shoal Blues (George W. Thomas)	4-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1888
Nervous Blues (Perry Bradford)	3-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1833, Q-128
Ole Miss Blues (W.C. Handy)	3-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1834, Q-132
Railroad Man (Elmer Schoebel)	8-1923	New York, New York	QRS 2302
Roumania (Spencer Williams / Clarence Williams)	6-1921	New York, New York	QRS 1479
Runnin’ Wild Medley a. Charleston b. Old Fashioned Love c. Open Your Heart d. Love Bug (Cecil Mack / James P. Johnson)	3-1924	New York, New York	QRS 101027
Steeplechase Rag (James P. Johnson)	5-1917	New York, New York	Universal 203179
Stop It (James P. Johnson)	8-1917	Belleville, New Jersey	Rhytmn H100253
Stop It (James P. Johnson)	8-1917	New York, New York	Universal 203205
Sugar (That Sugar Baby O’ Mine) (Maceo Pinkard / Edna Alexander)	11-1926	New York, New York	QRS 3705
The Down Home Blues (Tom Delaney)	2-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1797
Twilight Rag with E.E. Wilson (James P. Johnson)	11-1917	New York, New York	Metro Art 203274
Vampin’ Liza Jane (Marion Dickerson)	3-1922	New York, New York	QRS 1836
Wasn’t It Nice	8-1927	New York, New York	QRS 3996
When It’s Cherry Time in Tokio (Reid / de Rose)	6-1917	Orange, New Jersey	Perfection 87019

James P. Johnson : a case of mistaken identity / Scott E. Brown ; A James P. Johnson discography, 1917-1950 by Robert Hilbert Scarecrow Press and the Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University, 1986