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Louis Jordan was an American popular music innovator who recorded from the 1930s until the 1970s. During the 1940s, he was the most popular recording artist of the soon-to-be-called rhythm and blues music. Jordan had eighteen No. 1 hits, which places him as the third most successful singles artist in Billboard R&B charts history. His 1946 recording of "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" is tied for second place for spending the most weeks (eighteen) at No. 1. Jordan's success was not limited to the R&B market — he also had No. 1 hits on the Billboard Pop and Country charts.

The peak of Jordan's popularity occurred when the two-song record single was the typical format, before the emergence of the long-playing record album. As a result, although he recorded prolifically, he had relatively few albums until compilations began appearing after his death in 1975. Listed here are the singles and albums Jordan recorded during his career, as well as the more current and notable compilations.

Singles

1930s

1940s

V-Discs

1950s

1960s

Albums

Studio albums

• Somebody Up There Digs Me (Mercury MG-20242, 1957)
• Man, We're Wailin' (Mercury MG-20331, 1958)
• One Sided Love – Then Sakatumi (Pzazz LP-321, 1968)
• I Believe in Music (Disques Black And Blue 33.059, 1973; CD reissue: Black & Blue BB-876, 1996)

Live albums

• Live Jive (A Touch of Magic 4, 1994)

Compilation albums

• The Best of Louis Jordan (MCA 2-4079, 1975; CD reissue: 1989)
• Five Guys Named Moe (Original Decca Recordings, Vol. 2) (MCA 10503, 1992)
• Let the Good Times Roll (The Complete Decca Recordings 1938–1954) (Bear Family BCD-15557, 1992) 9-CD
• Louis Jordan on Film 1942–1948 (Krazy Kat KKCD-17, 1996)
• Let the Good Times Roll (The Anthology 1938–1954) (MCA/Decca 2-11907, 1999) 2-CD
• Jivin' with Jordan (Proper BOX 47, 2002) 4-CD
• The Aladdin, "X" & Vik Recordings 1953–1955 (Rev-Ola CRBAND-2, 2006)
• Roc Doc! Louis Jordan on Mercury 1956–1957 Rev-Ola CRREV-244, 2008)

Notes

1. Whitburn 1988, p. 584.
2. Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder are tied for first with twenty each.
3. Joe Liggins's "The Honeydripper" was also No. 1 for eighteen weeks.
4. 1930s chart information is not available.
5. Reissued in 1950 on 25473.
6. Whitburn 1988, pp. 229–230.
7. Vocals by Yack Taylor.
8. Reissued in 1949 on 24643.
9. Vocal by Daisy Winchester.
10. Vocal by Mabel Robinson.
11. Reissued in 1950 on 25394.
12. Reissued in 1946 on 23628.
13. Reissued in 1946 on 23631.
14. Reissued in 1946 on 23629.
15. Reissued in 1946 on 23630.
16. First crossover hit.
17. Retitled "Caldonia Boogie" for national chart.
18. Reissued in 1947 on 23932.
19. Duet with Bing Crosby.
20. Reissued in 1947 on 23931.
21. Duet with Ella Fitzgerald.
22. Duet with Martha Davis.
23. Reissue of 7705.
24. Reissue of 8501.
25. Not applicable.
26. Whitburn 1988, pp. 230
27. Reissue of 8525.
28. Reissue of 8560.
29. Reissue of 7675.
30. Duet with Louis Armstrong.
31. Duet with Louis Armstrong.
32. Reissued as 30223.
33. Reissue of 28883.
34. Reissue of 28820.
35. Reissue of 24448.
36. Whitburn 1988, p. 230
37. Ray Charles' "What'd I Say" with different lyrics.

References

• Dahl, Bill (1996). "Lois Jordan". In Erlewine, Michael (ed.). All Music Guide to the Blues. Miller Freeman Books. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-87930-424-3.
• Herzhaft, Gerard (1992). "Louis Jordan". Encyclopedia of the Blues. University of Arkansas Press. p. 180. ISBN 1-55728-252-8.
• Shadwick, Keith (2001). "Louis Jordan". The Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues. Oceana. p. 329. ISBN 978-0-681-08644-9.
• Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Record Research, Inc. pp. 299–230. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
• "Louis Jordan – Singles & EPs". Discogs. Zink Media, Inc. Retrieved May 29, 2013.

• Discographies of American artists
• Rhythm and blues discographies
• Blues discographies
• Jazz discographies
• Louis Jordan songs