Livery Stable Blues

song

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July 23, 2026

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"Livery Stable Blues" is a significant song in the history of jazz music. It was recorded in 1917 by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band (ODJB) and is widely regarded as the first jazz record ever made. This recording achieved remarkable success, becoming the first million-selling record in history.1

The ODJB, a white group, played a style of jazz that was technically proficient but less experimental than the styles developed by Black musicians in New Orleans. The term "Dixieland" itself is often associated with this style of jazz, characterized by ensemble and solo improvisation, typically played by a small band in duple time. While New Orleans was a crucial center for early jazz, the ODJB's recordings, including "Livery Stable Blues," helped popularize the Dixieland sound, particularly among white musicians.12

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Dixieland
…the first jazz record, “Livery Stable Blues,” which also became the first million-selling recording in history. This and subsequent ODJB recordings, such as “Tiger Rag,” “Dixie Jazz Band One Step,” and “At the Jazz Band Ball,” reflected the “white style” of playing: technically proficient but less experimental than Black…
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…the first jazz record, “Livery Stable Blues,” which also became the first million-selling recording in history. This and subsequent ODJB recordings, such as “Tiger Rag,” “Dixie Jazz Band One Step,” and “At the Jazz Band Ball,” reflected the “white style” of playing: technically proficient but less experimental than Black…
Read More