Customer Reviews

Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1

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Listening to this CD set is like sitting in one of those smoke filled blues bars on in an old, old movie. I first heard Bessie Smith on a small town blues radio program - you know, one of those stations that gave an hour or two to different kinds of music, so the jockeys for the particular genre really know their stuff. Her voice really stood out from all the rest. It is smooth like Ella Fitzgerald but sorrowful and knowing. I am an Ella fan too, but Bessie has more IN her voice. I would love to have heard her sing some gospel because you can hear the pure power in her voice without her every really using it. It is like a deep river running slowly.

The sound quality of the recording is ... well, have you ever listened to vinyl? It is like that, sort of. You can tell it is old. For me, though, that just adds to its charm. The accompanyment(sp?) is piano - no blaring horns or anything like that. This is slow, classic blues.

Anyone who wants to know how the blues are sung should listen to Bessie Smith. Or anyone who already knows and wants the complete recordings should get out the wallet for this "Volume 1." Bessie's the mother of them all. With a voice like a pipe organ belting out sad songs of betrayal, abuse, violence, and rough love she defined blues singing back in the '20's and '30's Nobody's ever done it better. Engineering substantially reduces the old '78 hiss. These 2 CD's and the well-written informative booklet included are well worth the price. One hopes the succeeding volumes will be as well done.

The blues is not just a musical genre,some of the artists who have made this particular kind of music are without a doubt some of the most gifted performers of all time.Bessie Smith is such an individual and she was not without peer but certainly she was one of the best voices this genre(or any genre really)had to offer.These sides sound great and the transfers are of the highest quality allowing the listener to hear the emotion she sang with.
This first set is the cream of the recordings she made...just voice and piano.I still think that when you want to showcase the peformer that this is how you do it....no tricks.Her phrasing and delivery are what sets her apart from the rest.If you have this already,then buy it for somebody you know that loves the blues.If you don`t own it,take a chance and you to will be amazed by this singular talent - Bessie Smith is where all roads lead to.

This is the first recording of Bessie Smith that I've owned and I'm not at all disappointed. On the contrary I'm so moved by her deep rhythms and the commanding presence of her voice. This collection is more mellow than I originally thought but, I think that is the beauty of the blues that Bessie sings. She truly is one unique woman. I play these cd's almost every evening and they really help me unwind. I would recommend this music, this remarkable woman.

In my opinion Bessie Smith was not only one of the first, but the
best. Bessie Smith blazed the trail which was followed by all of
the great female blues singers.

This complete set illustrates that ALL of her recordings became
part of the foundation upon which the genre was built.

I only have one regret. I bought the set on cassettes before I
had a CD player! A problem that I plan to resolve in the very
near future.

BESSIE SMITH WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, THE QUEEN OF THE BLUES. THESE ARE HER EARLIEST RECORDINGS, THE FIRST TWO CD'S IN A SET OF FIVE TWO CD SETS. THESE RECORDINGS WERE MADE IN 1923-24, AND EVEN THO' THEY ARE RAW, AND DON'T HAVE GREAT BACKUP, THE POWER OF HER VOICE CAN'T BE DENIED.