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DOWN HEARTED BLUES < previous next >
| (Alberta Hunter) |
| (o): | Alberta Hunter (1922) | label: Paramount |
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| (c): | Bessie Smith (1923) [her debut recording with Storyville vet Clarence Williams on piano; a blues hit dwarfing Mamie Smith's Crazy Blues (see also: Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out)], Noble Sissle & Eubie Blake (1923) [top 20 US], Fletcher Henderson (1923) , New Orleans Jazz Band (1923) , Cab Calloway (1931) , Teddy Grace (1937) [early white cover], Ella Fitzgerald (1963) , Barbara Hendrickx (2008) , |
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| Clarence Williams who owned the publishing, tied Bessie to Columbia with him as her manager for 50% of her revenue. Once she realized the consequences, her boyfriend managed to fix a better deal at gunpoint. There are more stories like that in music business, alas. Other recordings by Mildred Bailey, Cab Calloway, Bob Wills and Benny Goodman. Not to be confused with Son House's Down Hearted Blues, covered by Rory Block. |
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