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On the third of five volumes (the first four are double-CD box sets) that reissue all of her recordings, the great Bessie Smith is greatly assisted on some of the 38 selections by a few of her favorite sidemen: cornetist Joe Smith, trombonist Charlie Green, and clarinetist Buster Bailey. But the most important of her occasional musicians was pianist James P. Johnson, who makes his first appearance in 1927 and can be heard on four duets with Bessie, including the monumental "Backwater Blues." Other highlights of this highly recommended set (all five volumes are essential) include "After You've Gone," "Muddy Water," "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight," "Trombone Cholly," "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair," and "Mean Old Bed Bug Blues." The power and intensity of Bessie Smith's recordings should be considered required listening; even 80 years later they still communicate.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - H. Troy, Composer - H. Troy, Lyricist - Don Redman, Clarinet - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1925. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Don Redman, Alto Saxophone - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1925. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Fred Longshaw, Piano - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Shelton Hemphill, Cornet - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1925. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - W.E. Skidmore, Composer - W.E. Skidmore, Lyricist - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - M. Walker, Composer - M. Walker, Lyricist - Clarence Williams, Piano - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - C. Williams, Lyricist - C. Williams, Composer - Clarence Williams, Piano - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - T. Waller, Composer - T. Waller, Lyricist - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - S. Williams, Composer - S. Williams, Lyricist - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - C. Williams, Lyricist - C. Williams, Composer - Clarence Williams, Piano - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - S. Williams, Composer - S. Williams, Lyricist - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - C. Williams, Lyricist - C. Williams, Composer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Clarence Williams, Piano - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Buster Bailey, Clarinet - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - David Miston, Mastering Engineer - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer - G. Brooks, Composer - G. Brooks, Lyricist
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Buster Bailey, Clarinet - H. Troy, Composer - H. Troy, Lyricist - F. Henderson, Composer - F. Henderson, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Joe Smith, Cornet - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - D. Leader, Composer - D. Leader, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - H. Eller, Composer - H. Eller, Lyricist - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Joe Smith, Cornet - H. Webman, Composer - H. Webman, Lyricist - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Joe Smith, Cornet - G. Brooks, Composer - G. Brooks, Lyricist - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Bessie Smith, Performer - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Joe Smith, Cornet - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - G. Brooks, Composer - G. Brooks, Lyricist - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Joe Smith, Cornet - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Buster Bailey, Clarinet - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer - G. Brooks, Composer - G. Brooks, Lyricist
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Joe Smith, Cornet - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer - Buster Bailey, Clarinet
Originally released 1926. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - James Johnson, Piano - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Bessie Smith, Performer - James P. Johnson, Piano - Unknown, Producer - James Johnson, Piano
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Joe Smith, Cornet - Charlie Dixon, Banjo - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Buster Bailey, Clarinet - Jimmy Harrison, Trombone - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - T. Layton, Composer - T. Layton, Lyricist - David Miston, Mastering Engineer - H. Creamer, Composer - H. Creamer, Lyricist - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Joe Smith, Cornet - Charlie Dixon, Banjo - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Jimmy Harrison, Trombone - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Coleman Hawkins, Clarinet - David Miston, Mastering Engineer - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - I. Berlin, Composer - I. Berlin, Lyricist - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
DISC 2
Joe Smith, Cornet - P. DeRose, Composer - P. DeRose, Lyricist - Buster Bailey, Clarinet - Jimmy Harrison, Trombone - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Coleman Hawkins, Clarinet - H. Richman, Composer - H. Richman, Lyricist - Unknown, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - J. Trent, Composer - J. Trent, Lyricist
Originally Released 1927 by Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
J. Hayden, Composer - J. Hayden, Lyricist - Joe Smith, Cornet - T. Metz, Composer - T. Metz, Lyricist - Charlie Dixon, Banjo - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Buster Bailey, Clarinet - Jimmy Harrison, Trombone - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - David Miston, Mastering Engineer - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Joe Smith, Cornet - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - G. Johnson, Composer - G. Johnson, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - David Miston, Mastering Engineer - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Charlie Green, Trombone - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer - G. Brooks, Composer - G. Brooks, Lyricist
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Unknown, Producer - Joe Smith, Cornet - G. Brooks, Composer - G. Brooks, Lyricist - Charlie Green, Trombone
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Joe Smith, Cornet - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - G. Johnson, Composer - G. Johnson, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Charlie Green, Trombone - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Joe Smith, Cornet - Charlie Green, Trombone - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - H. Creamer, Composer - H. Creamer, Lyricist - James P. Johnson, Piano - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - J. JOHNSON, Composer - J. JOHNSON, Lyricist - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - H. Creamer, Composer - H. Creamer, Lyricist - James P. Johnson, Piano - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - J. JOHNSON, Composer - J. JOHNSON, Lyricist - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Porter Grainger, Guitar - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Lincoln Conaway, Guitar - L. Wood, Composer - L. Wood, Lyricist - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Porter Grainger, Piano - Unknown, Producer - E. Green, Composer - E. Green, Lyricist - Lincoln Conaway, Guitar
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Porter Grainger, Piano - Ernest Elliott, Alto Saxophone - P. Grainger, Composer - P. Grainger, Lyricist - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Porter Grainger, Piano - Ernest Elliott, Alto Saxophone - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Unknown, Composer - Unknown, Lyricist - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Tom Ladnier, Cornet - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - David Miston, Mastering Engineer - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer - G. Brooks, Composer - G. Brooks, Lyricist
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Fletcher Henderson, Piano - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Tom Ladnier, Cornet - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1927. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Fred Longshaw, Piano - Demas Dean, Cornet - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Charlie Green, Trombone - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1928. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Chris Albertson, Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - Bessie Smith, Composer - Bessie Smith, Lyricist - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Fred Longshaw, Piano - Demas Dean, Cornet - Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Charlie Green, Trombone - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1928. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - Fred Longshaw, Piano - F. Longshaw, Composer - F. Longshaw, Lyricist - Chris Albertson, Producer - L. Miller, Composer - L. Miller, Lyricist - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Demas Dean, Cornet - Charlie Green, Trombone - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1928. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Gary Pacheco, Executive Producer - Gary Pacheco, Director - P. Fuller, Composer - P. Fuller, Lyricist - Porter Grainger, Piano - Bob Fuller, Clarinet - Ernest Elliott, Clarinet - Chris Albertson, Producer - Lawrence Cohn, Executive Producer - Bessie Smith, Vocal - Bessie Smith, Performer - David Mitson, Mastering Engineer
Originally released 1928. All rights reserved by Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
On the third of five volumes (the first four are double-CD box sets) that reissue all of her recordings, the great Bessie Smith is greatly assisted on some of the 38 selections by a few of her favorite sidemen: cornetist Joe Smith, trombonist Charlie Green, and clarinetist Buster Bailey. But the most important of her occasional musicians was pianist James P. Johnson, who makes his first appearance in 1927 and can be heard on four duets with Bessie, including the monumental "Backwater Blues." Other highlights of this highly recommended set (all five volumes are essential) include "After You've Gone," "Muddy Water," "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight," "Trombone Cholly," "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair," and "Mean Old Bed Bug Blues." The power and intensity of Bessie Smith's recordings should be considered required listening; even 80 years later they still communicate.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 39 track(s)
- Total length: 01:58:14
- Main artists: Bessie Smith
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Legacy - Columbia
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Blues
(P) 1992 Sony Music Entertainment
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