Red Nichols and his Five Pennies were one of the most popular bands of the New York Jazz scene of the 1920s. They recorded under a variety of different names, including the Arkansas Travelers, The Red Heads, The Louisiana Rhythm Kings, The Charleston Chasers, The Six Hottentots, The Hottentots and Miff Mole and his Little Molers.

The band’s style was often called “Chamber Jazz” by critics and for what it lacked in hot intensity it made up for with a cool somewhat detached, yet urban and sophisticated sound. In 1959 Hollywood made a highly fictionalized movie about the band called “The Five Pennies”, starring Danny Kaye as Red Nichols.

Here is a bonus recording of Red Nichols and His Five Pennies performing the songs “Ida (Sweet As Apple Cider)”, “Whispering”, “Nobody’s Sweetheart”, “Who Cares” and “China Boy”.” from the 1929 Vitaphone short “Red Nichols and His Five Pennies”. Eddie Condon is the vocalist.

Thanks to Dennis Pereyra, James Gallup and Verne Buland for their help with this page. Additional thanks to Scott and Mark of Vintage Music Company If you are looking for great jazz on 78’s, visit the Vintage Music Company’s homepage.

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Title	Recording Date	Recording Location	Company
After You’re Gone (Henry Creamer / J. Turner Layton)	2-3-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick 4839
Alabama Stomp (Creamer / Johnson)	3-3-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3550 E-4382
Alabama Stomp (Creamer / Johnson)	3-3-1927	New York, New York	Vocalion 15566 E-4383
Alabama Stomp (Creamer / Johnson)	3-3-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3550 E-4384
Alice Bluegown (From “Irene”) (Joseph McCarthy / Harry Tierney)	2-16-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4456
Allah’s Holiday (Rudolf Friml)	2-16-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4286 E-29294-A
Allah’s Holiday (Rudolf Friml)	2-16-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 6824 E-29295-B
A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody (Irving Berlin)	10-2-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 4456
Avalon (Jolson / Rose)	2-25-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 3854-B
Back Beats (Guarente)	1-12-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3490-B
Ballin’ The Jack (Chris Smith / Jack Burris)	8-3-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Boneyard Shuffle (Hoagy Carmichael)	12-20-1926	New York, New York	Brunswick
Boneyard Shuffle (Hoagy Carmichael / Irving Mills)	12-20-1926	New York, New York	Brunswick 3477-B
Black And Blue (Andy Razaf / Fats Waller)	8-3-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Buddy’s Habits (Charley Straight / Arnett Nelson)	12-20-1926	New York, New York	Brunswick 3477-A
Bug-A-Boo		New York, New York	Brunswick
Bugle Call Rag (Elmer Schoebel / Jack Pettis / Meyers)	1-12-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3490-A
By The Shalimar	8-27-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
California Medley Part 1		New York, New York	Brunswick
California Medley Part 2		New York, New York	Brunswick
Call Of The Freaks (Luis Russell / Paul Barbarin)	8-3-1930	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
Can’t Yo’ Heah Me Calling, Caroline? (1) Vocal by Scrappy Lambert (Roma)	3-2-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 20062-B XE-26775
Can’t Yo’ Heah Me Calling, Caroline? Vocal by Scrappy Lambert (Roma)	3-2-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 20062-B XE-26777
Can’t We Be Friends?	9-6-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Carolina In The Morning (Walter Donaldson)	8-27-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
China Boy (Dick Winfree / Phil Bouteljie)	7-2-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick 4877
Chinatown, My Chinatown (Schwartz / Jerome)	2-5-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4363
Corn Fed	6-20-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3597-B E-23665
Corn Fed	6-20-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3597-B E-23666
Corrinne Corrina	10-12-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Dear Old Southland (vocal) (Henry Creamer / J. Turner Layton)	5-31-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick
Davenport Blues (Bix Beiderbecke)		New York, New York	Bluebird 10408-B
Dear Old Southland (Henry Creamer / J. Turner Layton)	5-31-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick A-5081 XE-27621-G
Dear Old Southland (Henry Creamer / J. Turner Layton)	5-31-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 20070 XE-27621-A
Dinah (Sam M. Lewis / Joe Young / Harry Akst)	4-18-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4373
Eccentric (J. Russel Robinson)	8-15-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3627
Feelin’ No Pain (Fud Livingstone)	8-15-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3626-A Vocalion A 15622
Five Pennies (Red Nichols)	6-20-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3855
Get Happy (Ted Koehler / Harold Arlen)	10-22-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Hallelujah!	1-24-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Haunting Blues (Walter Hirsch / Henry Busse)		New York, New York	Brunswick
Honolulu Blues	9-16-1931	New York, New York	Brunswick 6198
How Come You Do Me Like You Do?	8-27-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Hurricane (Paul Mertz / Red Nichols)	3-3-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3550 E-4385
Hurricane (Paul Mertz / Red Nichols)	3-3-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3550 E-4386
Hurricane (3) (Paul Mertz / Red Nichols)	3-3-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh)	5-31-1928	New York, New York	Vocalion 15710
Ida! Sweet As Apple Cider (Eddie Leonard)	8-15-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3626-A E-24230
Ida! Sweet As Apple Cider (Eddie Leonard)	8-15-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3626-A Vocalion B 15622 E-24232
I Got Rhythm (George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)		New York, New York	Brunswick
I’ll See You In My Dreams (Gus Kahn / Isham Jones)	6-7-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Imagination (Fud Livingston)	6-1-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 3989
I May Be Wrong (A)	8-20-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4500
I May Be Wrong (B)	8-20-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4500
I May Be Wrong (G)	8-20-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4500
I May Be Wrong, But I Think You’re Wonderful	8-27-1929	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
I’m Just Wild About Harry (Noble Sissle / Eubie Blake)	2-3-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
I’m Walking Through Clover		New York, New York	Brunswick
Indiana (James F. Hanley)	4-18-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4373 E-29708-A
Indiana (James F. Hanley)	4-18-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 80006 E-29708-B
I Never Knew (Gus Kahn / Ted Fiorito)	2-1-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4243
It Had To Be You (Gus Kahn / Isham Jones)	6-7-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
I Want To Be Happy	2-14-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Japanese Sandman (Raymond Egan / Richard Whiting)	2-25-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 3855 E-26695
Japanese Sandman (Raymond Egan / Richard Whiting)	2-25-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 3855 E-26696
Limehouse Blues Vocal Chorus by Scrappy Lambert (Douglas Furber / Philip Braham)	5-31-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 20070 XE-27622-A
Limehouse Blues (Douglas Furber / Philip Braham)	5-31-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick A-5081 XE-27622-G
Margie (Davis / Con Conrad / J. Russel Robinson)	6-1-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 3961
Mean Dog Blues (1) (Jackson)	6-25-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3597-A
Mean Dog Blues (2) (Jackson)	6-25-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3597-A
Medley Can Yo’ Hear Me Calling Caroline? Margie Wait For The Happy Ending Whispering	9-3-1929	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
My Future Just Passed	8-2-1930	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
My Gal Sal (Paul Dresser)	2-27-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 4844 E-26751
My Gal Sal (Paul Dresser)	2-27-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 4844 E-26752
My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms (Ruby Meyer)		New York, New York	Brunswick
New Orleans Medley Part 1		New York, New York	Brunswick
New Orleans Medley Part 2		New York, New York	Brunswick
Nobody Knows (vocal)	9-9-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Nobody Knows (Irving Berlin)	9-9-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Nobody’s Sweetheart (Gus Kahn / Billy Meyers / Elmer Schoebel)	2-27-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 3854-A
Oh Peter (You’re So Nice) (Wiedoeft / Rose Stafford)	9-16-1931	New York, New York	Brunswick 6198
On Revival Day Part 1 (a) (Andy Razaf)		New York, New York	Brunswick
On Revival Day Part 1 (b) (Andy Razaf)		New York, New York	Brunswick
On Revival Day Part 2 (Andy Razaf)		New York, New York	Brunswick
On The Alamo Vocal refrain by Scrappy Lambert (Gus Kahn / Isham Jones)	4-18-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4363
On The Alamo (Gus Kahn / Isham Jones)	4-18-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 6825
On The Alamo (Gus Kahn / Isham Jones)	8-27-1929	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
Original Dixieland One-Step (Nick LaRocca)	6-1-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 3989
Panama (William H. Tyers)	3-29-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick
Poor Butterfly Vocal by Scrappy Lambert (Hubbell)	3-2-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 20062-A XE-26772
Poor Butterfly Vocal by Scrappy Lambert (Hubbell)	3-2-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 20062-A XE-26773
Poor Butterfly Vocal by Scrappy Lambert (Hubbell)	3-2-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick A-5044 XE-26774
Peg Of My Heart (A)	7-2-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Peg Of My Heart (B)	7-2-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Rockin’ Chair (Hoagy Carmichael)		New York, New York	Brunswick
Riverboat Shuffle (Hoagy Carmichael / Dick Voynow / Irving Mills)	8-15-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3627 E-24224
Riverboat Shuffle (Hoagy Carmichael / Dick Voynow / Irving Mills)	8-15-1927	New York, New York	Brunswick 3627 E-24225
Roses Of Picardy (Wood / Weatherly)	2-16-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4268
St. Louis Blues (W.C. Handy)	8-3-1930	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
Sally Won’t You Come Back?	6-7-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Say It With Music (vocal) (Irving Berlin)	10-22-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Say It With Music (Irving Berlin)	8-27-1929	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
Say It With Music (Irving Berlin)	10-22-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble (A) (Spencer Williams)	7-3-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble (B) (Spencer Williams)	7-3-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Some Of These Days (Shelton Brooks)	6-7-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Sometimes I’m Happy		New York, New York	Brunswick
Smiles (vocal) (Callahan / Roberts)	9-9-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Smiles (Callahan / Roberts)	9-9-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Sometimes I’m Happy	1-24-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Soon (vocal)	1-17-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Soon	1-17-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Strike Up The Band (vocal) (George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)	1-17-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Strike Up The Band (George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)	1-17-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Strike Up The Band (George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin)	8-3-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Sweet Georgia Brown (a) (Maceo Pinkard / Kenneth Casey / Bernie)	7-2-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Sweet Georgia Brown (b) (Maceo Pinkard / Kenneth Casey / Bernie)	7-2-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Sweet Georgia Brown (Maceo Pinkard / Kenneth Casey / Bernie)	8-3-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Tea For Two (Vincent Youmans / Irving Caesar)	2-14-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
That’s A Plenty (Lew Pollack / Ray Gilbert)	8-27-1929	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
That’s No Bargain (Red Nichols)	12-8-1926	New York, New York	Brunswick 3407-B E-4180
That’s No Bargain (Red Nichols)	12-8-1926	New York, New York	Brunswick 3407-B E-4181
The Rose Of Washington Square (James F. Hanley / Maceo Pinkard)	6-12-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
The Sheik Of Araby (Smith / Wheeler / Snyder)	7-3-1930	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
There’ll Come A Time (Wingy Manone / Miff Mole)	3-29-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 3995
The New Yorkers (a) From Murray Anderson’s “Almanac” A Revue of Comedy (Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)	8-20-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4500
The New Yorkers (b) From Murray Anderson’s “Almanac” A Revue of Comedy (Jack Yellen / Milton Ager)	8-20-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4500
The New Yorkers	8-27-1929	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
They Didn’t Believe Me (A)	8-27-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
They Didn’t Believe Me (G)	8-27-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
They Didn’t Believe Me	8-27-1929	New York, New York	Radio Broadcast
Wait For The Happy Ending	9-6-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Washboard Blues (Hoagy Carmichael / Fred B. Callahan / Irving Mills)	12-8-1926	New York, New York	Brunswick 3407-A E-4179
Washboard Blues (Hoagy Carmichael / Fred B. Callahan / Irving Mills)	12-8-1926	New York, New York	Brunswick 3407-A E-4180
Whispering (Melvin Schonberger / John Schonberger)	5-31-1928	New York, New York	Brunswick 3955
Who Cares?	6-12-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick
Who	8-27-1930	New York, New York	Brunswick
Who’s Sorry Now?	2-1-1929	New York, New York	Brunswick 4243

Artist	Instrument
George Beebe	Drums
Vic Berton	Drums,Timpani
Irving Brodsky	Piano, Celeste
Jimmy Dorsey	Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
John Egan	Trumpet
Tommy Felline	Banjo
Maurice Goffin	Violin
Benny Goodman	Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone
Jack Hanson	Tuba
Gene Krupa	Drums
Eddie Lang	Guitar
Scrappy Lambert	Vocals
Fud Livingston	Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
Wingy Manone	Trumpet, Vocals
Art Miller	Bass
Glenn Miller	Trombone
Miff Mole	Trombone
Red Nichols	Cornet, Trumpet
Adrian Rollini	Bass Saxophone
Pee Wee Russell	Clarinet
Babe Russin	Piano
Jack Russin	Piano
Arthur Schutt	Piano
Herb Taylor	Trombone
Jack Teagarden	Trombone
Tommy Thunen	Trumpet
Joe Venuti	Violin
Henry Whiteman	Violin

The Red Nichols Story: After Intermission, 1942-1965 , by Philip R. Evans, Stanley Hester, Stephen Hester, Linda Evans (Editor), Scarecrow Press, 1997

Red Head: A Chronological Survey of “Red” Nichols and His Five Pennies, by Stephen M. Stroff, Scarecrow Press, 1996