Bessie Smith - The Bessie Smith Story

I first listened to Bessie Smith when I was a kid and my Dad would have her on in the car. Then I lost interest until just recently. Ive been reading this book (which you guys should read if you have a sec) about the history of the blues and Bessie Smith was of course featured. She was and is known as the "empress of the blues." which says something... Just like all old blues singers she has some myth surrounding her life and death which only adds to her legend and place in history. Bessie Smith was one of the most successful blues singers of her time and was even featured in a black and white film called St. Louis Blues which was popular amoung blacks and white. Here is a clip of her singing the title track to the movie.


Bessie Smith is a pre-war blues singer, but transitioned to jazz during the war and in the inter-war period like most of her contemporary female singers. During this time, the idea of the blues changed and glamorous female black singers backed by a full bands no longer were marketable as blues, hence her transition to big-band, swing jazz. Blue now was known as "race-music" which was lead by the idea of the guitar slinging lone-wanderer traveling from town to town, scrapping by with his guitar. This idea was pretty much embodied my the likes of Son House and Robert Johnson (two of my personal favorites). Because singers of Bessie's time mostly recorded for singles and compilation type albums, this is a best-of but it includes some of my favorite Bessie Smith cuts. The album transitions between early jazz and blues and at times you hear the twang of what was to become country/bluegrass. Singers of the sing were almost required to know all three to cater to all type of audiences but Bessie was one of the best. Here is the album, enjoy!