St. Louis Blues

by Bessie Smith

Overview

What makes this little collection interesting is that it contains seven of the nine tracks Bessie Smith cut for Columbia Records with a young Louis Armstrong in two sessions early in 1925, including the seminal version of W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues." An exercise in simplicity, Smith's version of the song features only her voice, Armstrong's answering cornet, and Fred Longshaw on a wheezing reed organ. The end result is one of the greatest performances in pop history. Pianist Fletcher Henderson and tenor sax player Coleman Hawkins also appear on tracks here. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	09/23/2003
Label:	Naxos Nostalgia / Naxos
UPC:	0636943269121
Rank:	187435

Tracks

1. Haunted House Blues
2. Eavesdropper's Blues
3. Frankie Blues
4. Rainy Weather Blues
5. Salt Water Blues
6. Weeping Willow Blues
7. Sinful Blues
8. St. Louis Blues
9. Reckless Blues
10. Sobbin' Hearted Blues
11. Cold in Hand Blues
12. You've Been a Good Ole Wagon
13. Cake Walkin' Babies (From Home)
14. Yellow Dog Blues
15. Soft Pedal Blues
16. Careless Love
17. Dixie Flyer Blues
18. I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bessie Smith   Primary Artist,Vocals
Louis Armstrong   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Cornet
Fletcher Henderson   Guest Artist,Piano
Ralph Escudero   Tuba
Fred Longshaw   Piano,Reed Organ
Joe "Fox" Smith   Cornet
Charlie Green   Trombone
Buster Bailey   Clarinet
Coleman Hawkins   Sax (Tenor)
Don Redman   Clarinet
Robert Robbins   Violin
Irving Johns   Piano
Charlie Dixon   Banjo

Technical Credits

David Lennick   Compilation Producer,Producer,Transfers
J.C. Jones   Composer
Chris Smith   Composer
Jack Gee   Composer
Spencer Williams   Composer
Paul Carter   Composer
Bessie Smith   Composer
John Henry   Composer
W.C. Handy   Composer
Perry Bradford   Composer
George Brooks   Composer
Art Kassel   Composer
Clarence Williams   Composer
Henry Troy   Composer
J.C. Johnson   Composer
Scott Yanow   Liner Notes
Martha E. Koenig   Composer
Graham Newton   Digital Noise Reduction
Vic Berton   Composer
Stuart Balcom   Composer
Fred Longshaw   Composer