The Complete Recordings
In the 1970s, Bessie Smith's recordings were reissued on five double LPs. Her CD reissue series also has five volumes (the first four are double-CD sets) with the main difference being that the final volume includes all of her rare alternate takes (which were bypassed on LP). The first set (which, as with all of the CD volumes, is housed in an oversize box that includes an informative booklet) contains her first 38 recordings. During this early era, Bessie Smith had no competitors on record and she was one of the few vocalists who could overcome the primitive recording techniques; her power really comes through. Her very first recording (Alberta Hunter's "Down Hearted Blues") was a big hit and is one of the highlights of this set along with "'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do" (two decades before Billie Holiday), "Jail-House Blues," and "Ticket Agent, Ease Your Window Down." Smith's accompaniment is nothing that special (usually just a pianist and maybe a weak horn or two), but she dominates the music anyway, even on two vocal duets with her rival Clara Smith. All of these volumes reward close listenings and are full of timeless recordings. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
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The Complete Recordings
- UPC:
- 074644709124
- Label:
-
LEGACY/COLUMBIA
- Released:
-
4/9/1991
- Rating:
-
0
- Disc:
-
1
- Genre:
-
ETHNI
| | Title | Time |
Preview
|
| 1 | Down Hearted Blues (78rpm Version) | 5:25 |
|
| 2 | Gulf Coast Blues (Album Version) | 5:04 |
|
| 3 | Aggravatin' Papa (Album Version) | 5:16 |
|
| 4 | Beale Street Mama (Album Version) | 5:35 |
|
| 5 | Baby Won't You Please Come Home (Album Version) | 4:15 |
|
| 6 | Oh Daddy Blues (You Won't Have No Mama At All) (Album Version) | 5:05 |
|
| 7 | 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do (Album Version) | 5:28 |
|
| 8 | Keeps On A-Rainin' (Papa He Can't Make No Time) (Album Version) | 5:07 |
|
| 9 | Mama's Got The Blues | 4:16 |
|
| 10 | Outside Of That (Album Version) | 5:27 |
|
| 11 | Bleeding Hearted Blues (Album Version) | 5:06 |
|
| 12 | Lady Luck Blues (Album Version) | 5:07 |
|
| 13 | Yodling Blues (Album Version) | 5:11 |
|
| 14 | Midnight Blues (Album Version) | 5:17 |
|
| 15 | If You Don't Know Who Will (Album Version) | 5:35 |
|
| 16 | Nobody In Town Can Bake A Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine (Album Version) | 5:31 |
|
| 17 | Jail-House Blues (Album Version) | 5:17 |
|
| 18 | St. Louis Gal (Album Version) | 5:27 |
|
| 19 | Sam Jones' Blues (Album Version) | 4:07 |
|
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