Dinah Sings Bessie Smith

Dinah Sings Bessie Smith
Studio album by Dinah Washington
Released 1958
Recorded December 30, 1957 January 20, 1958
Genre Classic Female, blues, pop standards
Length 35:23 (original recording)
Label Emarcy, Verve (reissue)
Producer Bob Shad
Dinah Washington chronology

Dinah Washington Sings Fats Waller
(1957)		 Dinah Sings Bessie Smith
(1958)		 Newport '58
(1958)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Dinah Sings Bessie Smith is a 1958 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".[2]

Track listing

  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[3]
  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

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Yanow, Scott. "Dinah Sings Bessie Smith". Allmusic.
  3. ↑ http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist/music/detail.aspx?pid=9970&aid=2851