Standin' in the Rain Blues - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
It Won't Be You - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
Spider Man Blues - Bessie Smith, Gray, H.
Empty Bed Blues, Pt. 1 - Bessie Smith, Johnson, J.C. [Comp
Empty Bed Blues, Pt. 2 - Bessie Smith, Johnson, J.C. [Comp
Put It Right Here (Or Keep It Out There) - Bessie Smith, Grainger, Porter
Yes Indeed He Do! - Bessie Smith, Grainger, Porter
Devil's Gonna Get You - Bessie Smith, Grainger, Porter
You Ought to Be Ashamed - Bessie Smith, Grainger, Porter
Washwoman's Blues - Bessie Smith, Grainger, Porter
Slow and Easy Man - Bessie Smith, Red, Sonny
Poor Man's Blues - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
Please Help Me Get Him off My Mind - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
Me and My Gin - Bessie Smith, Burke, Harry
I'm Wild About That Thing - Bessie Smith, Williams, Spencer
You've Got to Give Me Some - Bessie Smith, Williams, Clarence
Kitchen Man - Bessie Smith, Belledna, A.
I've Got What It Takes (But It Breaks My Heart to Give It Away) - Bessie Smith, Jackson, Papa Charl
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out - Bessie Smith, Cox, James
Take It Right Back - Bessie Smith, Gray, H.
Track Listings (20) - Disc #2
He's Got Me Goin' - Bessie Smith, Davis, Joseph
It Makes My Love Come Down - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
Wasted Life Blues - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
Dirty No-Gooder's Blues - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
Blue Spirit Blues - Bessie Smith, Williams, Spencer
Worn Out Papa Blues - Bessie Smith, Williams, Spencer
You Don't Understand - Bessie Smith, Johnson, James [01]
Don't Cry Baby - Bessie Smith, Bernie, Saul
Keep It to Yourself - Bessie Smith, Williams, Clarence
New Orleans Hop Scop Blues - Bessie Smith, Thomas, George W. [
See If I'll Care - Bessie Smith, Bill, Alexander
Baby Have Pity on Me - Bessie Smith, Moll, Billy
On Revival Day (A Rhythmic Spiritual) - Bessie Smith, Razaf, Andy
Moan, You Moaners - Bessie Smith, Williams, Spencer
Hustlin' Dan - Bessie Smith, Crawford, James [So
Black Mountain Blues - Bessie Smith, Cole, Hazel
In the House Blues - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
Long Old Road - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
Blue Blues - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
Shipwreck Blues - Bessie Smith, Smith, Bessie
These recordings reaching from the height of Bessie Smith's fame into her decline in popularity are required listening, covering the years 1928 through 1931. Not only was her voice stronger than ever, but her control over ... more »the material was topnotch; she balanced on the fine line between seductive charm and overt sexuality with apparent ease. Some of her best material ever appears on volume 4 of this 5-volume set, including "Standin' in the Rain Blues," "Empty Bed Blues" (speaking of overtness...), "Devil's Gonna Git You," "I'm Wild About That Thing," "Blue Spirit Blues"... but it's useless to even try to list favorites. Smith's voice is so rich and expressive despite the primitive recording technology of the day, one can only imagine what it must have been like to hear her live. And trombonist Charlie Green and pianist James P. Johnson are featured prominently here as well. --Genevieve Williams« less
These recordings reaching from the height of Bessie Smith's fame into her decline in popularity are required listening, covering the years 1928 through 1931. Not only was her voice stronger than ever, but her control over the material was topnotch; she balanced on the fine line between seductive charm and overt sexuality with apparent ease. Some of her best material ever appears on volume 4 of this 5-volume set, including "Standin' in the Rain Blues," "Empty Bed Blues" (speaking of overtness...), "Devil's Gonna Git You," "I'm Wild About That Thing," "Blue Spirit Blues"... but it's useless to even try to list favorites. Smith's voice is so rich and expressive despite the primitive recording technology of the day, one can only imagine what it must have been like to hear her live. And trombonist Charlie Green and pianist James P. Johnson are featured prominently here as well. --Genevieve Williams
CD Reviews
Bessie on Columbia: 'Bout as Good as it Gets...
Sébastien Melmoth | Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS | 12/28/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is quite a nice set. Columbia was Bessie's own label, and Sony has done a nice job of issuing her tracks on CD: the sound is great. Nice booklet too.
I always like the Chronological Classics (Melodie label), and they have five discs of Bessie; still, the Complete Recordings on Columbia is a really nice set at a really good price. Can't go wrong here: includes the three great tracks Bessie recorded on 8 May 1929 with Clarence Williams (piano) & Eddie Lang (guitar): "I'm Wild About that Thing," "You've Got to Give Me Some," and "Kitchen Man."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1