Bessie Smith - Chattanooga Gal (2004) 4CD

Bessie Smith's big, beautiful voice and emotionally naked interpretation made her into one of the all-time stars of the gramophone record, influencing talents as wide ranging as Billie Holiday, Mahalia Jackson and Janis Joplin. This 4CD set includes all of her best known songs, whose raw energy and emotion shine out across the decades and show just why she became such a star. Transcending the worlds of blues, gospel and popular song, Bessie is a seminal figure in modern music and this box is the ultimate overview of her career.

Tracklist:

CD 1:
Down Hearted Blues (1923-1925)
01. Down Hearted Blues 3:25
02. Gulf Coast Blues 3:04
03. Beale Street Mama 3:34
04. Baby Won't You Please Come Home 2:55
05. 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do 3:26
06. Bleeding Hearted Blues 3:05
07. Lady Luck Blues 3:06
08. Midnight Blues 3:17
09. Whoa, Tillie, Take Your Time 3:10
10. Any Woman's Blues 3:24
11. Chicago Bound Blues 3:15
12. Moonshine Blues 3:16
13. Work House Blues 3:20
14. House Rent Blues 3:05
15. Rainy Weather Blues 3:35
16. Weeping Willow Blues 3:09
17. The Bye Bye Blues 3:17
18. Sinful Blues 3:08
19. Dying Gambler's Blues 2:57
20. The St. Louis Blues 3:09
21. Reckless Blues 3:02
22. Sobbin' Hearted Blues 3:00
23. Cold In Hand Blues 3:12

CD 2:
Careless Love Blues (1925-1926)
01. You've Been A Good Ole Wagon 3:29
02. Cake Walkin' Babies (From Home) 3:09
03. The Yellow Dog Blues 3:02
04. Soft Pedal Blues 3:18
05. Careless Love Blues 3:24
06. Nashville Woman's Blues 3:43
07. J.C. Holmes Blues 3:03
08. I Ain't Goin To Play Second Fiddle 3:21
09. He's Gone Blues 3:09
10. I Ain't Got Nobody 3:09
11. I've Been Mistreated And I Don't Like It 2:55
12. Red Mountain Blues 3:10
13. Golden Rule Blues 3:02
14. Lonesome Desert Blues 3:24
15. Them 'Has Been' Blues 3:31
16. Squeeze Me 2:51
17. What's The Matter Now ? 2:44
18. I Want Every Bit Of It 2:35
19. Jazzbo Brown From Memphis Town 3:18
20. The Gin House Blues 3:12
21. Money Blues 3:09
22. Baby Doll 2:59
23. Hard Driving Papa 2:56
24. Lost Your Head Blues 2:55

CD 3:
Young Woman Blues (1926-1928)
01. Hard Time Blues 3:12
02. Honey Man Blues 3:12
03. One And Two Blues 2:52
04. Young Woman's Blues 3:07
05. Preachin' The Blues 2:49
06. Backwater Blues 3:17
07. After You've Gone 2:55
08. Alexander's Ragtime Band 2:58
09. Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan) 3:05
10. There'll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight 3:18
11. Trombone Cholly 3:09
12. Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair 3:20
13. Sweet Mistreater 2:59
14. Lock And Key 2:57
15. A Good Man Is Hard To Find 2:58
16. Dyin' By The Hour 2:57
17. Foolish Man Blues 2:52
18. Thinking Blues 3:07
19. I Used To Be Your Sweet Mama 2:48
20. Spider Man Blues 3:21
21. Empty Bed Blues, Pt 1 3:00
22. Empty Bed Blues, Pt 2 3:19
23. Put It Right Here (Or Keep It Out There) 2:58
24. Yes Indeed He Do! 3:14

CD 4:
Me & My Gin (1928-1933)
01. Devil's Gonna Git You 3:09
02. Poor Man's Blues 3:23
03. Please Help Me Get Him Out Of My Mind 2:54
04. Me And My Gin 2:49
05. I'm Wild About That Thing 2:46
06. Kitchen Man 2:55
07. I've Got What It Takes (But It Breaks My Heart To Give It Away) 3:08
08. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out 2:56
09. He's Got Me Goin' 3:11
10. It Makes My Love Come Down 2:55
11. Dirty No-Gooders Blues 2:55
12. Blue Spirit Blues 2:54
13. You Don't Understand 3:03
14. Don't Cry Baby 3:09
15. Baby Have Pity On Me 3:18
16. On Revival Day 2:54
17. Hustlin' Dan 3:29
18. Black Mountain Blues 3:06
19. Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl 2:46
20. Safety Mama 3:23
21. Do Your Duty 3:23
22. Gimme A Pigfoot 3:28
23. Take Me For A Buggy Ride 2:35
24. I'm Down In The Dumps 3:09