There'll Be A Hot Time IN The Old Town Tonight
by
Bessie Smith
classic jazz
Bessie Smith says:
Here's a classic jazz tune for you written in 1896 ~ I bet you'll know the melody already!
"Come along get you ready
Wear your bran, bran new gown,
For dere's gwine to be a meeting
In that good, good old town,
Where you knowed everybody,
And they all knowed you,
And you've got a rabbit's foot
To keep away the hoodoo ...
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...
