Empty Bed Blues [Living Era] (1996)

About this title: This collection of some of the best Bessie Smith recordings of 1927-1928 starts out quite happy with joyous versions of "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "After You've Gone," and "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight," showing that Smith could turn anything into a blues. The mood darkens later in the program with such numbers as "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair," "I'd Rather Be Dead and Buried in My Grave," "It Won't Be You," and "Devil's Gonna Get You," but these songs are also leavened by some wit, as is the two-part "Empty Bed Blues." The Empress of the Blues was at the peak of her ... read more

Tracks:

1. Downhearted Blues [Austin/Hunter]
2. Keep On A Rainin' [Kortlander/Williams]
3. St. Louis Blues [Handy]
4. Cold in Hand Blues [Gee/Longshaw]
5. Cake Walkin' Babies (From Home) [Smith/Troy/Williams]
6. Yellow Dog Blues [Handy]
7. At the Christmas Ball [Longshaw]
8. Jazzbo Brown from Memphis Town [Brooks]
9. The Gin House Blues [Henderson/Troy]
10. Baby Doll [Smith]
11. Lost Your Head Blues [Smith]
12. Backwater Blues [Smith]
13. Trombone Cholly [Brooks]
14. Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair [Brooks]
15. Dyin' By the Hour [Brooks]
16. Empty Bed Blues [Johnson]
17. Put It Right Here (Or Keep It Out There) [Grainger]
18. I'm Wild About That Thing [Williams]
19. Kitchen Man [Belledna/Razaf]
20. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out [Cox]
21. New Orleans Hop Scop Blues [Thomas]
22. Do Your Duty [Wilson]
23. Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer) [Grant/Wilson]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.