LaVern Baker - LaVern Sings Bessie Smith

Title: LaVern Sings Bessie Smith Artist: LaVern Baker Release Date: 1/27/1958 Re-Released On: 3/29/1997 Label: Atlantic, Sequel (UK) Duration: 41:33 UPCs: 075679098023, 075679098047, 5023224091420 Genre: Rhythm & Blues Styles: Early R&B, Jump Blues Moods: Earthy, Gritty, Passionate, Rollicking, Cheerful, Exuberant, Fun, Joyous, Rousing, Sensual, Visceral, Organic Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)
2. Baby Doll
3. On Revival Day
4. Money Blues
5. I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle
6. Backwater 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

Year Type Label Catalog # 1997 CD Sequel (UK) 914 ------ CD Atlantic 90980-2

No other editions were found for this album.

This is an album that should not have worked. LaVern Baker (a fine R&B singer) was joined by all-stars from mainstream jazz (including trumpeter Buck Clayton, trombonist Vic Dickenson, tenor-saxophonist Paul Quinichette and pianist Nat Pierce) for twelve songs associated with the great '20s blues singer Bessie Smith. Despite the potentially conflicting styles, this project is quite successful and often exciting. The arrangements by Phil Moore, Nat Pierce, and Ernie Wilkins do not attempt to re-create the original recordings; Baker sings in her own style (rather than trying to emulate Bessie Smith), and the hot solos work well with her vocals. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Name Credits Buck Clayton Trumpet Charles Edward Smith Liner Notes Danny Barker Guitar Jerome Richardson Sax (Baritone) Jimmy Cleveland Trombone Joseph Marshall Drums LaVern Baker Vocals Nat Pierce Piano Paul Quinichette Sax (Tenor) Sahib Shihab ? Tom Dowd Engineer Urbie Green Trombone Vic Dickenson Trombone Wendell Marshall Bass