1920s Blues Recordings on the Internet Archive

The 1920s saw the first commercial recordings of the blues, a genre that had existed in oral tradition for decades before the recording industry took notice. Artists like Bessie Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and Ma Rainey committed their music to shellac for the first time, creating a sonic archive of extraordinary power.

The Internet Archive hosts digitized 78rpm recordings from this era, many sourced from private collectors who preserved discs that the original labels discarded. The sound quality is limited by the technology of the time, but the performances transcend their medium.

These recordings are the headwaters of modern popular music. Every genre from rock and roll to hip-hop can trace its lineage back to these early blues sessions, making them essential listening for anyone interested in the roots of American music.