This is an album that should not have worked. LaVern Baker (a fine R&B singer) was joined by all-stars from mainstream jazz (including trumpeter Buck Clayton, trombonist Vic Dickenson, tenor-saxophonist Paul Quinichette and pianist Nat Pierce) for twelve songs associated with the great '20s blues singer Bessie Smith. Despite the potentially conflicting styles, this project is quite successful and often exciting. The arrangements by Phil Moore, Nat Pierce, and Ernie Wilkins do not attempt to re-create the original recordings; Baker sings in her own style (rather than trying to emulate Bessie Smith), and the hot solos work well with her vocals.

For the first time on CD, Rev-Ola is proud to present the best of Ruth Brown's and LaVern Baker's original mid-1950s recordings which became so successful and influential to the first wave of white pop and rock singers such as Georgia Gibbs and Patti Page.
Including Top 5 R&B smashes "Oh, What A Dream", "Jim Dandy", "Mambo Baby", "Bop Ting-A-Ling", "Wild, Wild Young Men", "Play It Fair", "As Long As I'm Movin'", "Tweedlee Dee" and "It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)"… together with minor classics like Ruth's sexy duet with Clyde McPhatter on the old country tune "I Gotta Have You". Wild, wild women indeed!