Customer Reviews

Heroes of the Blues: The Very Best of Ma Rainey

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Don't expect a flawless recording. The recordings included are from 1923 thru 1928, and according to the booklet they were recorded on Paramount's inferior materials. So there is static and feedback; the quality on this CD may be better than some, but it is far from perfect. This CD also includes an essay and minimal track information (release date only).
For they money, I don't think this 16-track collection is worth it. I would recommend "Madam Gertude `Ma' Rainey 1923-1928" (Giants of Jazz [Promo Sound], 1997).

Updated reveiw:
Newer Is Not Better [half a star]

Gertrude Pridgett was born in Georgia in 1886. When she was very young, she toured as a singer and performer. In 1904 she married Will "Pa" Rainey; as a result she would soon be known to the world as "Ma" Rainey, and, in her 30s, become one of the first recording stars.

HEROES OF THE BLUES: THE VERY BEST OF MA RAINEY consists of 16 songs recorded 1923-1928; tracks are not in chronological order. Disc packaged in clear jewel case; total running time 48:31. Booklet an essay by Allen Lowe and song release dates. Sound quality is poor (muffled and tinny) because Paramount produced inferior-sounding records due to the use of poor materials; listening to the CD is like listening to an old record. There is an abundance of scratchy feedback.

Includes the famous and sexually provocative song "Prove It on Me Blues" that, in addition to some mean jug-blowing by Carl Reid, includes the often quoted lines "Went out last nite / With a croud of friends / It must be women / `Cuz I don't like no mens". She also mentions wearing "collars" and "a tie".

A better quality collection is "Madam Gertrude `Ma' Rainey 1923-1928", a 1997 "Giants of Jazz" release from Promo Sound; it has eight more songs and the sound quality is better.

Ma Rainey is one of the great singers, songwriters (if you've ever heard "C.C. Rider," you are familiar with her songwriting), entertainers and personalities of American music. Unfortunately she recorded on Paramount, a company that was mainly in the furniture business and released records to promote the sales of record players (which were furniture). Paramount did not have very good equipment, so their recordings sound bad, even if you are used to listening to other recordings of the same era. However, they had fabulous taste in music! Charley Patton is another of the utter immortals who recorded on Paramount. You have to listen to him, and you have to listen to Ma Rainey. The music is so great that it is well worth the effort to dig in with your ears. This Rainey compilation includes gems such as "Here Me Talking to You," which alone is worth the price of admission. The instrumental accompaniments are varied and fascinating -- early jazz groups, killer slide guitar (by Tampa Red), five-string banjo (by Papa Charlie Jackson I believe), and a virtuoso soloist on either kazoo, tricked-out voice or perhaps muted trumpet. The sound on this comp has been cleaned up and improved quite a bit, and quite well compared with other available Rainey recordings, despite what other reviewers on this site say. But if you prefer other comps, sure, get those. This one will do in the meantime, though, while you are shopping. The point is, you have to hear Ma Rainey, and this is a fine place to start.

This CD has some of the worst sound quality I have ever heard. There are Ma Rainey CDs that sound much, much better than this one - and many of them cost less and have more songs. Don't waste your money!