Jump to content

Dinah Sings Bessie Smith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dinah Sings Bessie Smith
Studio album by
Released1958
RecordedDecember 30, 1957 and January 20, 1958
GenreBlues, pop standards
Length35:23 (original recording)
LabelEmarcy, Verve (reissue)
ProducerBob Shad
Dinah Washington chronology
Music for a First Love
(1957)
Dinah Sings Bessie Smith
(1958)
Newport '58
(1958)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[2]

Dinah Sings Bessie Smith is the ninth studio album by blues, R&B and jazz singer Dinah Washington released on the Emarcy label, and reissued by Verve Records in 1999 as The Bessie Smith Songbook. The album arrangements are headed by Robare Edmondson and Ernie Wilkins, and the songs are associated with American blues singer Bessie Smith. AllMusic details the album in its review as saying: "It was only natural that the "Queen of the Blues" should record songs associated with the "Empress of the Blues." The performances by the septet/octet do not sound like the 1920s and the purposely ricky-tick drumming is insulting, but Dinah Washington sounds quite at home on this music".[3]

Track listing

[edit]
  1. "After You've Gone" (Turner Layton, Henry Creamer) – 3:39
  2. "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair" (George Brooks, Fletcher Henderson) – 3:17
  3. "Jailhouse Blues" (Bessie Smith, Clarence Williams) – 3:12
  4. "Trombone Butter" (Fletcher Henderson) – 3:31
  5. "You've Been a Good Old Wagon" (Perry Bradford) – 4:02
  6. "Careless Love" (W.C.Handy, Martha Koenig, Spencer Williams) – 3:37
  7. "Backwater Blues" (Bessie Smith) – 5:00
  8. "If I Could Be with You (One Hour Tonight)" (James P. Johnson, Henry Creamer) – 2:49
  9. "Me and My Gin" (Harry Burke) - 3:11
  10. "Fine Fat Daddy" (Dinah Washington) - 3:05

Additional tracks on 1999 CD reissue

  1. "Trombone Butter (Alternative Take)" (Fletcher Henderson) – 3:38
  2. "Careless Love" (Master Take In Mono) (W.C.Handy, Martha Koenig, Spencer Williams) – 4:01
  3. "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair" (Live Newport '58) (George Brooks, Fletcher Henderson) – 3:53
  4. "Me and My Gin" (Live Newport '58) (Harry Burke) - 3:20
  5. "Backwater Blues" (Live Newport '58) (Bessie Smith) – 4:37

"Trombone Butter" is a remake of "Trombone Cholly" with Quentin "Butter" Jackson playing Charlie Green's trombone part.

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dinah Washington - Dinah Washington Sings Bessie Smith Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1467. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  3. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Dinah Sings Bessie Smith". AllMusic.