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Artist

Bessie Smith

visual
Aliases
Bessie Smith & Her Band
Real name
Elizabeth Smith
Born
April 15, 1894
Died
September 26, 1937
Country
United States
IPI
00075282565 11 works
Affiliation
ASCAP, DP
Comments
Legendary classic blues singer known as "The Empress of the Blues"
Family
Jack Gee Husband
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Added by Denis
Managed by Oliver One

Originals

Title Performer Release date Covered by
December 1940 (11 artists)
July 30, 1926 (16 artists)
September 1947 (4 artists)
March 1927 (71 artists)
September 1930 (11 artists)
August 1923 (7 artists)
listen on Internet Archive April 10, 1925 Bob Helm & Miss Carol Leigh's Blues & Jazz Review
1928 (5 artists)
November 1929 (5 artists)
listen on Internet Archive December 1929 (28 artists)
listen on Internet Archive December 1933 (27 artists)
listen on Internet Archive January 10, 1928 Valli Scavelli
March 1924 Marianne Faithfull
May 20, 1928 (30 artists)
January 1924 (21 artists)
listen on Internet Archive 1934 (60 artists)
listen on Internet Archive  REL May 1923 (50 artists)
Originally by Monette Moore REC
April 1924 Chick Roberts
August 1925 Jacinta
October 1929 (2 artists)
September 1925 (17 artists)
September 1923 (7 artists)
listen on Internet Archive December 1933 (6 artists)
listen on Internet Archive June 21, 1929 (9 artists)
October 1929 (8 artists)
July 19, 1929 (24 artists)
November 1923 (12 artists)
listen on Internet Archive May 10, 1926 (13 artists)
September 30, 1925 (2 artists)
August 1927 (6 artists)
July 15, 1932 (5 artists)
1928 (25 artists)
listen on Internet Archive July 1930 (13 artists)
1924 (8 artists)
December 1931 (103 artists)
September 1924 (2 artists)
March 1929 Hoyt Axton
March 1927 (5 artists)
June 30, 1928 (8 artists)
listen on Internet Archive February 10, 1925 (16 artists)
listen on Internet Archive 1927 (26 artists)
1925 (2 artists)
June 1925 (2 artists)
listen on Internet Archive 1929 (6 artists)
listen on Internet Archive 1934 (10 artists)
listen on Internet Archive August 1927 (34 artists)
listen on Internet Archive November 1924 (14 artists)
listen on Internet Archive April 10, 1926 (11 artists)
May 1930 (2 artists)
listen on Internet Archive December 1929 (13 artists)
listen on Internet Archive January 10, 1927 (16 artists)
listen on Internet Archive 1925 (59 artists)
listen on Internet Archive June 21, 1929 (11 artists)

Covers by Bessie Smith

Title Performer Release date Originally by
April 20, 1927 Campbell and Burr
listen on Internet Archive   June 1923 Lucille Hegamin and Her Blue Flame Syncopators REC, Florence Mills PRF
listen on Internet Archive October 30, 1927 Ernest Hare
  July 10, 1927 Emma Carus PRF, Collins and Harlan REC
listen on Internet Archive June 1923 Eva Taylor - Piano Accomp. by Clarence Williams
listen on Internet Archive June 1923 Lucille Hegamin and Her Blue Flame Syncopators
October 1940 Red Onion Jazz Babies
August 1925 (unknown)
December 13, 1923 Ida Cox - Lovie Austin, Piano Acc.
listen on Internet Archive May 1923 Alberta Hunter
May 16, 2015 Bessie Smith - Orchestra accompanied by Buck and His Band
November 1923 Ida Cox - Accompanied by Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
September 30, 1925 Marion Harris
listen on Internet Archive June 1923 Sara Martin
July 19, 1929 Sara Martin Acc. by Clarence Williams & His Orchestra
listen on Internet Archive July 1923 Sara Martin
listen on Internet Archive October 30, 1927 Lonnie Johnson
August 1923 Ethel Waters and The Jazz Masters
December 13, 1923 Viola McCoy - Piano Accompaniment by Porter Grainger
June 1926 Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra
June 1924 Madame "Ma" Rainey – Acc. by Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders
April 20, 1927 Harold Leonard and His Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra
listen on Internet Archive November 1923 Howard Lanin's Arcadia Orchestra
listen on Internet Archive April 30, 1930 Sara Martin – Piano Accomp. by Clarence Williams
listen on Internet Archive   1929 Jimmie Cox PRF, Blind Bobby Baker and His Guitar REC,REL
October 20, 1925 Margaret Johnson - Piano Accomp by Clarence Williams
listen on Internet Archive June 1923 Ethel Waters - Cordy Williams' Jazz Masters
listen on Internet Archive July 1930 Rube Bloom and His Bayou Boys
listen on Internet Archive July 1923 Esther Bigeou
listen on Internet Archive 1923 Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies
listen on Internet Archive February 10, 1925 Sara Martin with Piano Accomp. by Clarence Williams
listen on Internet Archive   May 10, 1926 Clarence Williams' Blue Five - Vocal Chorus by Eva Taylor REL, William Bailey REC
listen on Internet Archive 1923 Lucille Hegamin and The Dixie Daisies
listen on Internet Archive June 1923 Tennessee Ten (Original Memphis Five), Anna Meyers and Original Memphis Five
July 10, 1927 (unknown)
listen on Internet Archive April 10, 1925 Prince's Band
June 1925 Prince's Band

Songs written by Bessie Smith

Original songs

Title Written by Originally by Original date Covered by
Baby Doll Bessie Smith, Harold Webman Bessie Smith May 4, 1926 Covered by (16 artists)
Back-Water Blues Bessie Smith Bessie Smith February 17, 1927 Covered by (71 artists)
Dirty No-Gooder's Blues Bessie Smith Bessie Smith October 1, 1929 Covered by (5 artists)
He's Gone Blues Bessie Smith Bessie Smith June 23, 1925 Covered by Jacinta
It Makes My Love Come Down Bessie Smith Bessie Smith - Piano Accomp. by James P. Johnson August 20, 1929 Covered by (8 artists)
Jail House Blues Bessie Smith, Clarence Williams [US1] Bessie Smith - Irving Johns at the Piano September 21, 1923 Covered by (12 artists)
Long Old Road Bessie Smith Bessie Smith June 10, 1931 Covered by (5 artists)
Pinch Back Blues Bessie Smith, Irving Johns Bessie Smith April 4, 1924 Covered by (2 artists)
Poor Man's Blues Bessie Smith Bessie Smith August 24, 1928 Covered by Hoyt Axton
Preachin' the Blues Bessie Smith Bessie Smith February 17, 1927 Covered by (5 artists)
Put It Right Here (Or Keep It Out There) Bessie Smith Bessie Smith June 30, 1928 Covered by (8 artists)
Soft Pedal Blues Bessie Smith Bessie Smith May 14, 1925 Covered by (2 artists)
Soon This Morning Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey Ma Rainey and Her Georgia Band November 1926 Covered by Bob Helm & Miss Carol Leigh's Blues & Jazz Review
Sweet Potato Blues Bessie Smith Lonnie Johnson December 13, 1927 Covered by Pokey LaFarge and The South City Three
Young Woman's Blues Bessie Smith Bessie Smith and Her Blue Boys October 26, 1926 Covered by (16 artists)
You've Been a Good Ole Wagon Bessie Smith, Stuart Balcom Bessie Smith January 14, 1925 Covered by (59 artists)

Releases

Singles

Title Performer Release date Label
After You've Gone Bessie Smith and Her Band April 20, 1927 Columbia [US]
Aggravatin' Papa Bessie Smith and Her Down Home Trio June 1923 Columbia [US]
Alexander's Ragtime Band Bessie Smith and Her Blue Boys July 10, 1927 Columbia [US]
At the Christmas Ball Bessie Smith December 1940 Columbia [US]
Baby Won't You Please Come Home Blues Bessie Smith - Clarence Williams at the Piano June 1923 Columbia [US]
Back Water Blues Bessie Smith March 1927 Columbia [US]
Bleeding Hearted Blues Bessie Smith - Fletcher Henderson at the Piano August 1923 Columbia [US]
Blue Spirit Blues Bessie Smith accomp. by Jimmy Johnson May 1930 Columbia [US]
Boweavil Blues Bessie Smith - Irving Johns at the Piano June 1924 Columbia [US]
Careless Love Blues Bessie Smith August 1925 Columbia [US]
Chicago Bound Blues Bessie Smith December 13, 1923 Columbia [US]
Devil's Gonna Git You Bessie Smith 1928 Columbia [US]
Don't Cry Baby Bessie Smith - James P. Johnson at the Piano December 1929 Columbia [US]
Down Hearted Blues Bessie Smith - Clarence Williams at the Piano May 1923 Columbia [US]
Do Your Duty Bessie Smith - Orchestra accompanied by Buck and His Band December 1933 OKeh
Dyin' by the Hour Bessie Smith January 10, 1928 Columbia [US]
Dying Gambler's Blues Bessie Smith 1925 Columbia [US]
Empty Bed Blues (Part 1 & 2) Bessie Smith May 20, 1928 Columbia [US]
Far Away Blues Bessie Smith and Clara Smith - Fletcher Henderson at the Piano January 1924 Columbia [US]
Frosty Mornin' Blues Bessie Smith March 1924 Columbia [US]
Gimme a Pigfoot Bessie Smith - Orchestra accompanied by Buck and His Band 1934 OKeh
Hard Time Blues Bessie Smith January 10, 1927 Columbia [US]
Haunted House Blues Bessie Smith April 1924 Columbia [US]
He's Got Me Goin' Bessie Smith - Piano Accomp. by James P. Johnson October 1929 Columbia [US]
Hustlin' Dan Bessie Smith September 1930 Columbia [US]
I Ain't Got Nobody Bessie Smith and Her Band September 30, 1925 Columbia [US]
I'm Wild About That Thing Bessie Smith June 21, 1929 Columbia [US]
Jail-House Blues Bessie Smith November 1923 Columbia [US]
Jazzbo Brown from Memphis Town Bessie Smith May 10, 1926 Columbia [US]
Keep It to Yourself Bessie Smith April 30, 1930 Columbia [US]
Kitchen Man Bessie Smith July 19, 1929 Columbia [US]
Long Old Road Bessie Smith July 15, 1932 Columbia [US]
Lou'siana Low-Down Blues Bessie Smith 1924 Columbia [US]
Mama's Got the Blues Bessie Smith - Fletcher Henderson at the Piano July 1923 Columbia [US]
Mean Old Bed Bug Blues Bessie Smith October 30, 1927 Columbia [US]
Money Blues Bessie Smith June 1926 Columbia [US]
Nashville Women's Blues Bessie Smith September 1925 Columbia [US]
Need a Little Sugar in My Bowl Bessie Smith December 1931 Columbia [US]
Nobody in Town Can Bake a Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine Bessie Smith - Fletcher Henderson at the Piano September 1923 Columbia [US]
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out Bessie Smith 1929 Columbia [US]
Nobody's Blues but Mine Bessie Smith October 20, 1925 Columbia [US]
On Revival Day Bessie Smith & The Bessemer Singers July 1930 Columbia [US]
Pinchbacks- Take 'Em Away Bessie Smith September 1924 Columbia [US]
Reckless Blues Bessie Smith February 10, 1925 Columbia [US]
Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair Bessie Smith and Her Blue Boys 1927 Columbia [US]
Slow and Easy Man Bessie Smith 1928 Columbia [US]
Spider Man Blues Bessie Smith June 30, 1928 Columbia [US]
St. Louis Gal Bessie Smith 1923 Columbia [US]
'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do Bessie Smith - Clarence Williams at the Piano June 1923 Columbia [US]
Them "Has Been Blues" Bessie Smith July 30, 1926 Columbia [US]
The St. Louis Blues Bessie Smith April 10, 1925 Columbia [US]
The Yellow Dog Blues Bessie Smith June 1925 Columbia [US]
Trombone Cholly Bessie Smith and Her Blue Boys August 1927 Columbia [US]
Wasted Life Blues Bessie Smith November 1929 Columbia [US]
Weeping Willow Blues Bessie Smith November 1924 Columbia [US]
What's the Matter Now? Bessie Smith April 10, 1926 Columbia [US]
Whoa, Tillie, Take Your Time Bessie Smith November 1923 Columbia [US]
You Ought to Be Ashamed Bessie Smith March 1929 Columbia [US]
You've Been a Good Ole Wagon Bessie Smith 1925 Columbia [US]

Performances also appear on

Tributes

Title Performer Release date Label
Act II—Ma 'n Bessie's Greater Tent Show Bob Helm & Miss Carol Leigh's Blues & Jazz Review 1998 Stomp Off Records
Act I—Ma 'n Bessie's Greater Tent Show Bob Helm & Miss Carol Leigh's Blues & Jazz Review 1998 Stomp Off Records
Amina Claudine Myers Salutes Bessie Smith Amina Claudine Myers 1980 Leo Records
A Tribute to Bessie Smith Jacinta 2003 Blue Note
A Womans's Soul - A Tribute to Bessie Smith Rory Block July 6, 2018 Stony Plain
Baby Doll - Plays the Music of Bessie Smith Noël Akchoté August 28, 2015 Noël Akchoté Downloads
Bessie - Music from the HBO Film various artists May 16, 2015 Legacy
Bessie Smith Revisited - Live in Concert Nymark Collective with Kristin Asbjørnsen 2008 (self-released)
Dinah Sings Bessie Smith Dinah Washington with Eddie Chamblee & His Orchestra April 1958 EmArcy
Ginny Reilly Sings Bessie Smith Ginny Reilly April 9, 2013 (self-released)
Goin' Down the Road to See Bessie - A Tribute to Bessie Smith Sheila Collier 1994 GHB
Hoyt Axton Sings Bessie Smith Hoyt Axton 1966 Exodus Records
I Don't Dress Fine Sarah Lenka October 7, 2016 Jazz&People
In Hi Fi the Legend of Bessie Smith Ronnie Gilbert April 1958 RCA Victor
I Remember Bessie Art Hodes 1977 Euphonic Sound Recordings
I've Got What It Takes Beryl Bryden & the Blue Boys 1996 Lake Records
Jimmy Rushing and the Smith Girls Jimmy Rushing 1961 Columbia [US]
LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith LaVern Baker April 1958 Atlantic
Me and Bessie Linda Hopkins 1976 Columbia [US]
Sheila Collier Sings a Tribute to Bessie Smith Sheila Collier 1985 Hayfield Records
The Bessie Smith Story: Bessie & the Blues The Jim Cullum Jazz Band 1994 Riverwalk Jazz
The Empress of the Blues - A Tribute to Bessie Smith various artists September 30, 2014 Reimagine Music
The Songs of Bessie Smith Count Basie / Teresa Brewer 1973 Flying Dutchman
Trombone Cholly - Vic Dickenson Plays Bessie Smith Vic Dickenson March 1976 Sonet
Ugh! Anitas livs 1993 Slask Records
Valli Scavelli Sings Bessie Smith Valli Scavelli April 30, 2002 (self-released)