Description
Bessie Smith stands as one of the most commanding voices in the history of American music, and this CD brings together a stunning cross-section of her blues recordings. Widely known as the Empress of the Blues, Smith’s vocal power — by turns mournful, defiant, and searingly intimate — is on full display across these tracks. ‘Backwater Blues,’ one of her most celebrated recordings, captures her ability to transform personal and collective suffering into something transcendent, while ‘Kitchen Man’ showcases her wit and playful double-entendre style. ‘Haunted House Blues’ and ‘Blue Spirit Blues’ reveal the darker, more spectral side of her artistry. An essential CD for any serious blues collection…
- Dying Gambler’s Blues
- Nashville Women’s Blues
- The Yellow Dog Blues
- Backwater Blues
- Standin’ In The Rain Blues
- Blue Spirit Blues
- Kitchen Man
- Hot Springs Blues
- Frosty Mornin’ Blues
- Haunted House Blues
