To learn more about and love "the blues" you need to go back to the roots, this double album is a compilation of songs performed by Bessie Smith back in the early 1920's. Inside the gatefold cover is a lot of information about Bessie and a glowing foreword by John Hammond.
Often "glossed over" is a mention of the artist/illustrator who created the stunning art on the front and rear covers, Philip Hays - his work can also be found on the album cover artwork from Muddy Waters and Billie Holiday.
BESSIE SMITH - The World's Greatest Blues Singer
CBS Records
Cat# S2BP220058 (cover) 2BP220058 (record labels)
Monoaural
1970
Australian release
Heavy cardboard gatefold cover is in good condition, no personal writing, no external tears and very light edgewear from normal handling however the inside of the gatefold has at one time seen some liquid and minor page damage has occurred when the cover was "opened up" - this damaged is confined to the top of the inside pages and does not affect any of the considerable amount of informational text.
New inner plastic liner sleeves
Both vinyl records are in good condition, visually inspected under a bright White halogen light source and I can see NO scratches or marks at all on either record. Just looking at the vinyl is not a great way to judge the condition so I then played the double album ENTIRELY, both records and every single track on each side, there are no significant issues with surface noise nor clicks/pops - I did initially hear a bit of low level surface noise (dirt in the grooves not scratches) and put both records through the Monk a couple of times and this cleared up a lot of that noise but not completely. Certainly an admirable job was made of the audio restoration, quite amazing that these 100 year old recordings sound so good!
New outer protective sleeve
RECORD 1
TRACKS: Down Hearted Blues, Gulf Coast Blues, Aggravatin' Papa, Beale Street Mama, Baby Won't You Please Come Home, Oh Daddy (You Won't Have No Mama At All), Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do, Keeps On A Rainin' (Papa He Can't Make No Time), Mama's Got The Blues, Outside Of That, Bleeding Heart Blues, Lady Luck Blues, Yodling Blues, Midnight Blues, If You Don't I Know Who Will, Nobody In Town Can Make A Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine
RECORD 2
TRACKS: See If I Care, Baby Have Pity On Me, On Revival Day (A Rhythmic Spiritual), Moan You Mourners, Hustlin' Dan, Black Mountain Blues, Long Old Road, Blue Blue, Shipwreck Blues, Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl, Safety Mama, Do Your Duty, Gimme A Pigfoot, Take Me For A Buggy Ride, Down In The Dumps
