Customer Reviews

Essential Bessie Smith

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Whoever decided to make this compilation, for some reason has left some of the most important Bessie Smith songs out!How can this be essential without her first hit "Downhearted blues" and such a gems as "Empty Bed Blues" or "My Sweetie Went Away"? Sound strange, but single CD titled "Colection" offers much better overview of her career than this double, 36 track collection! If you still want to purchase this, what remained in this CD are beautiful and moving songs recorded between 1923 and 1933, all of them glowing with Bessie Smith passion.The liner notes are written by her biographer Chris Albertson who find interesting comparation between her and todays rappers (mentality, not music wise!).To understand her art, its neccesary to listen great Ma Rainey who started singing the blues first and even teach young Bessie some tricks.While Ma Rainey style was more country blues (she had a raugh voice, highly emotional but not pretty as Bessie), Bessie was more concentrated on city audience and if death didnt stop her in a car crash, she would probably continued to work in swing era.Her passion is very similar to one of Mahalia Jackson and Im sure that Im not the only one who feels that blues and gospel are very close not only in music but in emotional involment as well - to feel both types of music listener has to feel something inside.There are two great albums recorded as tribute to Bessie Smith, by Dinah Washington and LaVern Baker, both highly reccomended - I heard them first and then wanted to hear the originals, but you may try the other way around!

The title says it all. If you have only one Bessie Smith cd in your collection ( and we all need AT LEAST one - she is THAT influential, THAT soulful, THAT powerful a performer ) then this is it. It covers all sorts of songs, from interpretations of standards , to racy ( for their time ) innuendo-filled blues numbers, to love songs. A warning - these songs were recorded in the twenties and thirties, and all have that far-away, tinny sound to them, as if Smith were singing down a cardboard tube directly onto record. Even though the sound is admittedly dated, the power of the performances is undeniable.

Bessie Smith had one of the most powerfull, expressive and recognizable voices of the 20th Century. Her talent as a vocalist in the studio, as well as her stage performance made her a star that changed the way of music forever. This collection of 36 Bessie's classic recordings is simply one of the best, and most comprehensive collections of her work. It is, as other reviewers said, surely missing a handful of records that could also be considered Essential, but this collection never-the-less, hits the spot for any casucal fan or even the most avid devourer of Bessie Smith's music. The 2 Disc set is Essential Bessie, and also, Essential - period.

The reviewer below is misinformed. Bessie never made "early attempts at video." She made exactly one appearance on film, in "St. Louis Blues," and it is amazing for the power and dignity that she brings to it, even though she is cast as woman treated like a doormat by "Jimmie." But it is a national treasure because were it not for that 17-minute clip (you can find it on youtube), there would be no record of her facial expressions, movements, majesty singing live.

This album is a good foundation for anyone who is falling under the "Bessie Smith" spell. All of the songs display a different aspect of her true style. From spiritual, to coy, to soulfull... Bessie is a true Diva!!!

I was watching tv one late night and stumbled across the short 1929 Movie St. Louis Blues starring Bessie Smith now im a 24 year old guy who is into all the lastest music but this lady sung a song called st. Louis Blues and i was watching the screen going who is this she her voice full of passion and pain and then i found how she died in a tragic car accident i was hurt bessie smith was she was really doing the da%mn back in the 1920's so if you wanna know where the r&b of today got its drama filled lyrics check out the empress of the blues she will not leave you disapointed

What this writer would not have given to be able to see Bessie Smith in her prime and in her glory. Bessie is an acquired taste. By that I mean that when listening to her recordings, especially if done in chronological order as here, it takes time until you are emerged in the music. Then you do not want to turn the damn thing off.

Bessie Smith was no Billie Holliday. That shows no disrespect for either talent. Although Billie covered a number of Bessie's songs her's is a more stylized rendition for a different, generally more urban and urbane audience, than the juke joints Bessie, unfortunately, had, to play at. That said, for sheer power and depth of raw feeling- go to Bessie. Many a tough situation in my life got, at least partially, smoothed over listening to Bessie by the hour. What else can one say. Stand out songs here are St. Louis Blues and After You've Gone.

These songs were instrumental in the rise of rock and roll. This lady really sang the blues the way they were meant to be sung. I was a young woman in the fifties and recall many good songs and many talented entertainers. I prefer the older songs, but there have been some good music from each decade that I have lived through. It seems that they all stem from the early blues songs such as the ones on this album.

I have heard of Mama Bessie for years. But I wasn't really familiar with her music. Sometimes you have to grow older and mature in order to appreciate such music. What I have read about her was she was a volatile and commanding personality. It saddens me that she probably died unnecessarily.

She had issue with her siblings too. I guess it is difficult when you come from poverty and all of a sudden you are making money, but your family is still there. She was their savior. She obviously experienced much stress from the financial demands of family.

My favorite songs are as follows:

Good Ole Wagon
Gimme A Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer
Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair
Taint Nobody's Business
Moan you Moaners
A Good Man is Hard to Find
Nobody Knows You

I especially love Gimme A Pigfoot because it speaks about pretentiousness with a comical twist. Folks have various faces and sometimes it hard to determine when the real person surfaces. Liquor or corn liquor(fermented corn) has a way of making one lose their inhibitions and the real person emerges.

What's not to like? I got what I ordered within just a few days after I placed the order. This, to me, is great service! No stress, no strain.