Ma Rainey

Ma Rainey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Milestone
• ASIN: B000000XW5
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,268 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Mother of the Blues was 38 when she finally began recording, but she'd incorporated the blues into her traveling stage shows since 1902. When she did hit the studio, the results were a high point of 1920s classic female blues. Rainey combined a husky voice with the songbook of a minstrel and a booming delivery. Her lyrics ranged from topical songs about Southern life to personal songs of loneliness and depression. Her original classic "See See Rider Blues," complete with rarely heard introduction, features jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, and Buster Bailey, and the grim "Slave to the Blues" includes Joe Smith and Coleman Hawkins. Ragtime guitarist Blind Blake and hokum-blues duo Georgia Tom and Tampa Red also contribute. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From The Woman That Discovered Bessie...Ma Rainey!!, February 10, 2004

By 

K. J. Bryant "peachycream" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ma Rainey (Audio CD)

Ok, (whew) how do I review this one? First of all, let me just say that the sound quality is bad. It takes MULTIPLE listening to get used to this cd. You really have to be open-minded and be able to concentrate. If you are able to do that, then you should have no problem enjoying this cd. After all, before there was Billie or Bessie there was Ma Rainey. The growl in her voice just makes you jump and some of the things that she sings about will shock you (because she was so far ahead of her time). Ma Rainey's life and music should be taught in every America's music class. This cd is a gem, but requires a lot of patience.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OOOOOOH BayBeh!, November 29, 2003

By 

Vic "vagabond" (Himalayas, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ma Rainey (Audio CD)

Gosh! I just happened to buy this CD a week back from my local music store. Apparently there werent any takers for this one for months, thats what the store salesguy told me. And i was laughing half hysterical! Unbeleivable, no one wanted to buy Ma Rainey, probably the only the cd of hers this store ever had. Anyways, I reached home and shacked it up my CD player, and KaBoom! it goes off like some really old bootleg LP from prehistoric times. My first reaction wasnt a very excited one, it was a little disappointing because of the sound quality. But then after 3 listens i was like OOOH Baybeh, she the gurl! Its not just exhilerating to hear her groaning and crooning 24 tracks sprawled over 72 bluesy minutes. This is the best it can get. Rambunctious acoustic blues with an awesome orchestration. just grab it if you see this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible!, March 10, 2008

By 

Anthony Evans "muther" (PA,USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ma Rainey (Audio CD)

The cd was terrific and the quality was just as I expected..., real! My mother taught me a saying, I didn't understand it until I had to face the reality of it myself. It was, "I've forgotten more than you'll ever know." This means there are so many experiences,so much history that our parents, grandparents and ancestors, witnessed, that was crammed into their lifetimes than they were capable of recalling, to us. I stop to think of what went on during the making of this music, what wasn't listed in the history books; romanitisizing of what everyday life struggles and accomplishments of the '30's and '40's. And to still have the power to put out such incredible music! Never forget where you came from and learn from your past and history because you can't have a future without it!