Laverne Baker - Sings Bessie Smith

180-gram vinyl

It was 1958 when a passably successful R&B singer entered the recording studio with an all-star band to tape a dozen songs from the global repertoire of a legendary blues vocalist. The old-fashioned style in LaVern Baker's tribute to Bessie Smith might seem somewhat strange in the midst of popular R&B numbers and the growing productivity of the Motown hit machines, but it certainly found favor with the public. And for a very good reason too! Right from the very first number, "Gimme A Pigfoot," the snappy bass line conjures up the ballroom atmosphere of the Twenties. A bluesy dialogue with the trumpet ("Baby Doll", "I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle"), alternating with robustly orchestrated swing rhythms ("On Revival Day"), and time and again cool, faltering blues ("Black Water Blues") guarantee great listening and entertainment.

The great names in the band read like a Who Is Who of outstanding musicians — Nat Pierce, Buck Clayton, Paul Quinichette, Urbie Green and Jimmy Cleveland, all who crown the fantastic sound of their performance with relaxed and easy-going solos and finely balanced background playing that would hardly be more authentic on a live stage. And by the way, fans of traditional big-band swing will love this album too.

This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. All royalties and mechanical rights have been paid.

Recording: 1958 by Tom Dowd
Production: Nesuhi Ertegun

 

1. Gimme A Pigfoot

2. Baby Doll

3. On A Revival Day

4. Money Blues

5. I Ain’t Gonna Play No Second Fiddle

6. Back Water Blues

7. Empty Bed Blues

8. There’ll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight

9. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out

10. After You’ve Gone

11. Young Woman’s Blues

12. Preaching The Blues

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