Dinah Washington - The Queen Sings (4CD Box Set) (2002)

Dinah Washington recorded a stunning amount of material in her too-short career (when she died in Detroit in 1963 she was only 39 years old – somehow she still managed to find time for seven marriages), most of it during her lengthy association with Mercury Records between 1948 and 1955. Washington seemingly tackled everything under the sun in the recording studio, cutting jazz, R&B, blues, and pop sides with an assortment of small groups, trios, sextets, and increasingly, toward the end of her life, with large orchestras, and if she seemed to be gradually fading into blander and sleeker arrangements as time went on, her voice always remained focused and coiled, and her bluesy phrasing has influenced far more singers than most folks realize. This four-disc, 109-track set includes every side commercially released under Washington's name between 1944 and 1951, opening with tracks recorded with Lionel Hampton and closing out with a couple of delightful selections recorded with the Ravens. Much of what is here falls to the R&B side, revealing a somewhat rougher style that will be revelatory to listeners only familiar with her later more smoothed-out pop material. This lady could sing anything in any style and make it her own (just listen to how she claims Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart" here). This box is an absolute treasure trove from one of the best singers of the 20th century.

Tracklist:

CD 1

01. Evil Gal Blues (2:52)
02. I Know How To Do It (3:08)
03. Salty Papa Blues (3:00)
04. Homeward Bound (2:48)
05. Blow-Top Blues (3:18)
06. Wise Woman Blues (2:47)
07. Walking Blues (2:41)
08. No Voot-No Boot (3:01)
09. Chewin' Mama Blues (2:53)
10. My Lovin' Papa (3:03)
11. Rich Man's Blues (2:53)
12. All Or Nothing (2:51)
13. Beggin' Mama Blues (2:52)
14. Mellow Mama Blues (3:06)
15. My Voot Is Really Vout (3:08)
16. Blues For A Day (2:51)
17. Pacific Coast Blues (2:39)
18. Embraceable You (2:53)
19. I Can't Get Started (2:45)
20. When A Woman Loves A Man (2:55)
21. Joy Juice (2:47)
22. Oo-Wee Walkie Talkie (2:40)
23. The Man I Love (2:57)
24. You Didn't Want Me Then (2:30)
25. A Slick Chick (On The Mellow Side) (2:41)
26. Postman Blues (2:53)
27. That's Why A Woman Loves A Heel (2:52)
28. Mean And Evil Blues (1:53)

CD 2

01. Stairway To The Stars (3:02)
02. You Satisfy (2:50)
03. Fool That I Am (2:34)
04. There's Got To Be A Change (2:36)
05. Mean Evil Blues (2:49)
06. Since I Fell For You (2:40)
07. West Side Baby (2:59)
08. You Can Depend On Me (2:44)
09. Early In The Morning (2:36)
10. I'm Afraid Of You (2:51)
11. I Love You, Yes I Do (2:39)
12. Don't Come Knocking At My Door (2:54)
13. I Wish I Knew The Name Of The Boy (2:31)
14. No More Lonely Gal Blues (2:49)
15. Walkin' And Talkin' (2:33)
16. Ain't Misbehavin' (2:50)
17. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry (2:39)
18. Tell Me So (2:39)
19. I Can't Face The Music (2:57)
20. Pete (2:23)
21. Am I Asking Too Much? (2:49)
22. I'm Getting Old Before My Time (2:58)
23. Record Ban Blues (3:16)
24. Resolution Blues (3:16)
25. I Want To Cry (3:11)
26. Long John Blues (3:10)
27. In The Rain (2:53)

CD 3

01. I Sold My Heart To The Junkman (3:10)
02. I'll Wait (3:04)
03. It's Too Soon To Know (2:42)
04. Why Can't You Behave? (2:48)
05. It's Funny (2:37)
06. Laughing Boy (2:32)
07. Am I Really Sorry? (2:54)
08. How Deep Is The Ocean? (3:02)
09. New York, Chicago And Los Angeles (1:58)
10. Give Me Back My Tears (2:39)
11. Good Daddy Blues (2:25)
12. Baby, Get Lost (2:51)
13. I Only Know (2:27)
14. Drummer Man (2:46)
15. I Challenge Your Kiss (3:12)
16. Fast Movin' Mama (2:14)
17. Juice Head Man Of Mine (2:44)
18. Shuckin' And Jivin' (2:21)
19. Richest Guy In The Graveyard (2:53)
20. Journey's End (3:11)
21. It Isn't Fair (3:02)
22. My Kind Of Man (3:24)
23. If I Loved You (2:28)
24. Why Don't You Think Things Over? (2:31)
25. Big Deal (2:43)
26. I'll Never Be Free (2:45)
27. I Wanna Be Loved (2:51)
28. Love (Me) With Misery (2:54)

CD 4

01. Harbor Lights (3:04)
02. I Cross My Fingers (3:00)
03. Time Out For Tears (3:20)
04. Only A Moment Ago (2:57)
05. Fine, Fine Daddy (2:33)
06. Please Send Me Someone To Love (3:02)
07. Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do (3:07)
08. I'm So Lonely I Could Cry (3:11)
09. My Heart Cries For You (2:43)
10. I Apologize (3:20)
11. I Won't Cry Anymore (3:22)
12. Don't Say You're Sorry Again (3:16)
13. Mixed Emotions (2:59)
14. Cold, Cold Heart (3:21)
15. Baby Did You Hear? (3:04)
16. New Blowtop Blues (2:38)
17. What's The Matter Baby (2:41)
18. Don't Hold It Against Me (2:50)
19. Be Fair To Me (2:57)
20. Just One More Chance (2:53)
21. Saturday Night (2:28)
22. If You Don't Think I'm Leavin' (2:41)
23. I'm A Fool To Want You (2:39)
24. I'm Crying (2:42)
25. Out In The Cold Again (3:11)
26. Hey, Good Looking (2:42)