Artist: A visiting singer
Author: traditional
Year: 1911
On a black folk collection from Newton Co., GA. Other title: Kelly's Love. Probably one title is a corruption of the other. Kelly's Love might have been a tune associated with Chris Kelly, New Orleans trumpet player who like Buddy Bolden never recorded. 'Father of the blues' W.C. Handy claimed he first heard the tune in 1892. It's dubious he wrote all the blues songs he is credited for. Handy was just 'handy' enough to be the first to publish them. In this case in 1921 under the title Loveless Love, A Blues Ballad.
Covers:
Noble Sissle [as Loveless Love with extra lyrics written by W.C. Handy]
James P. Johnson [piano roll]
W.C. Handy's Memphis Blues Band [idem; see note]
Alberta Hunter [idem]
Bessie Smith [with new words by Martha Koenig and Spencer Williams; Louis Armstrong on cornet]
Original Tuxedo Jazz Band [with Papa Celestin as Careless Lover]
Fats Waller [as Loveless Love]
Ma Rainey [as Blues Oh Blues]
Milton Brown [as Loveless Love]
Josh White [first sang it as a gospel]
Nat King Cole & Eartha Kitt [in film St. Louis Blues, based on W.C. Handy's life story]
Sam Chatmon [Lomax recording]
Preservation Hall Jazz Band [vocal: Del McCoury]
See also: St. Louis Blues.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)