Mean Mothers, Independent Women's Blues, Volume 1

Mean Mothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 16, 1995)
• Label: Rosetta Records & Tapes
• ASIN: B000002137
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,386 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing blues collection - highly recommended, March 28, 2008

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Mean Mothers, Independent Women's Blues, Volume 1 (Audio CD)

This is one of the finest collections of women blues singers ever made... And one of the first! The ever-fab Rosetta record label issued several pioneering reissues that examined the role of women artists in blues, jazz and R&B. This is one of their finest releases, with a dozen+ classic vintage blues tunes from the 1920s, '30s and '40s. Highly recommended! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue music reviews)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Digital Remix is awful!, January 5, 2011

By 

Joe.Cherry - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mean Mothers, Independent Women's Blues, Volume 1 (Audio CD)

To my great sadness, and after years of pursing this CD, when it came in the mail, it was so full of loud pops and static that it is unlistenable! I understand that these are old recordings--I did have a cassette tape of this same release which is what drove me to find CD. I'd been looking for either a CD or another cassette since about 2002. I was so excited to finally find one, and then so sad to actually hear it.

I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in a digital remaster.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars mean mothers are really sweet, July 29, 2006

By 

Calder Falk "CRF" (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mean Mothers, Independent Women's Blues, Volume 1 (Audio CD)

What an amazing album! If you like early blues music and artists like Bessie Smith, Lil Armstrong and Ida Cox, then you will love this compilation. Other than Billie Holiday and Lil Armstrong, this recording of women blues singers from the 20s, 30s and 40s may not have many well-known names, but the talent is clear. Full of beautiful, deep voices and heart-felt emotion, singers like Bessie Brown, Harlem Hannah, Blu Lu Barker and Bertha Idaho, evoke hope and strength amidst struggle and sorrow in the only way that the blues can, by lifting us up with ardent, expressive songs that echo our own pain. There is also wit and brashness in the songs in regards to women's roles and position in society during those eras. "One Hour Mama," for example, allows women to express their own sexuality as more than just a passive partner and does it with humour. It is funny, sad, moving, empowering and it's beautiful music, too. As I said, if you like the blues and achingly sweet, rich and powerful voices, then you'll like this CD. BTW, I first heard this on cassette tape and while there is a lot of noise and hiss, the sound has depth. I later purchased the CD, which cleaned up the noise, but flattened out the sound quality, unfortunately.