Muddy Water (Mississippi Moan)
by
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith says:
This song was recorded in 1927 with my boys. There were some amazing musicians in my band at the time. The pulse of the horns in this song is as mysterious as the River herself ~
Buster Bailey: Clarinet
Coleman Hawkins: Tenor Saxophone
Bob Fuller: Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Jimmy Harrison: Trombone
Joe Smith: Cornet
...
I'd Rather Be Dead and Buried
blues
I wrote this back in 1926, one of my best. "I'm like a fox without a hole, a ship without a sail"....I got that right. Dig Louie Armstrong's wild cornet playing at the beginning and throughout this song. Maybe it's time to be swearin' off men for good!
I Used To Be Your Sweet Mama
blues
Ain't it amazing what a bad man can do to a good woman? This is some of the best lyrics I ever wrote:
"you had your chance, and proved unfaithful. So now I'm gonna be, mean and hateful ~ I used to be your sweet mama, sweet papa, but now I'm just as sour as can be."
Pinpocket Blues
blues
I loved recording this one with Louie and Fletcher ~ check out the great call and response I have going with the horns! We could barely record it since we were laughing so hard through the whole thing! These boys just crack me up. If you look around this site you'll find them here too!
Thinking Blues
blues
Did you ever set thinkin' with a thousand things on your mind? Well I'd say just about everyday. I'm really proud of the vocal I put down on this one, of course I always sing best when I've got a broken heart...
