Label: Document Records
Release Date: September 7, 2000
Releases: 2000, 2005
Recording Time: 56 minutes
Recording Date: October 31, 1939 - December 29, 1940
Styles: Classic Female Blues, Early Jazz
Other than an album from 1961, this CD has blues singer Ida Cox's final recordings. The first seven selections (which include a previously unreleased "One Hour Mama") has four additional alternate takes. Cox is heard in 1939 backed by an accurately-titled "all-star band" that consists of trumpeter Hot Lips Page, trombonist J.C. Higginbotham, clarinetist Edmond Hall, either James P. Johnson or Fletcher Henderson on piano, guitarist Charlie Christian, bassist Artie Bernstein and Lionel Hampton on drums. Although her prime was considered the 1920s, Ida Cox on "Death Letter Blues" and "Four Day Creep" still sounds pretty strong. The remainder of this CD is taken from a 1940 session with trumpeter Red Allen, Higginbotham, Hall, pianist Cliff Jackson, bassist Billy Taylor, and drummer Jimmy Hoskins that resulted in four titles and four alternate takes; only two performances were released previously, but Cox's singing is excellent. It is a pity that because musical styles had changed, Ida Cox was largely forgotten during this period.
Release Date: September 7, 2000
Releases: 2000, 2005
Recording Time: 56 minutes
Recording Date: October 31, 1939 - December 29, 1940
Styles: Classic Female Blues, Early Jazz
Other than an album from 1961, this CD has blues singer Ida Cox's final recordings. The first seven selections (which include a previously unreleased "One Hour Mama") has four additional alternate takes. Cox is heard in 1939 backed by an accurately-titled "all-star band" that consists of trumpeter Hot Lips Page, trombonist J.C. Higginbotham, clarinetist Edmond Hall, either James P. Johnson or Fletcher Henderson on piano, guitarist Charlie Christian, bassist Artie Bernstein and Lionel Hampton on drums. Although her prime was considered the 1920s, Ida Cox on "Death Letter Blues" and "Four Day Creep" still sounds pretty strong. The remainder of this CD is taken from a 1940 session with trumpeter Red Allen, Higginbotham, Hall, pianist Cliff Jackson, bassist Billy Taylor, and drummer Jimmy Hoskins that resulted in four titles and four alternate takes; only two performances were released previously, but Cox's singing is excellent. It is a pity that because musical styles had changed, Ida Cox was largely forgotten during this period.
by Scott Yanow
Personnel: Ida Cox (vocals); Charlie Christian (guitar); Edmond Hall (clarinet); Billy Taylor, Artie Bernstein (bass saxophone); Henry "Red" Allen, Hot Lips Page (trumpet); J.C. Higginbotham (trombone); Cliff Jackson & His Crazy Cats, James P. Johnson & His Orchestra, Fletcher Henderson, James P. Johnson (piano); Jimmie Hoskins, Lionel Hampton (drums).
Liner Note Author: John Cowley.
Audio Remasterer: Gerhard Wessely.
Audio Remasterer: Gerhard Wessely.
Recording information: New York, NY (10/31/1939-12/29/1940).
Credits: Henry "Red" Allen - trumpet; Artie Bernstein - bass, sax (bass); Charlie Christian - guitar; John Cowley - liner notes; Ida Cox - composer, primary artist, vocals; Jesse Crump - composer; Porter Grainger - composer; Edmond Hall - clarinet; Lionel Hampton - drums; Fletcher Henderson - piano; J.C. Higginbotham - trombone; Jimmie Hoskins - drums; Cliff Jackson & His Crazy Cats - piano; James P. Johnson & His Orchestra - piano; James P. Johnson - piano; Hot Lips Page - trumpet; Johnny Parth - producer; Billy Taylor - sax (bass); Billy Taylor, Sr. - bass; Gerhard Wessely - remastering.
Tracks: 1) Deep Sea Blues (Take 1); 2) Deep Sea Blues (previously unreleased, Take 2); 3) Death Letter Blues (Take 1); 4) Death Letter Blues (previously unreleased, Take 4); 5) One Hour Mama (previously unreleased, Take 4); 6) One Hour Mama (Breakdown); 7) One Hour Mama (previously unreleased, Take 6); 8) Four Day Creep; 9) Pink Slip Blues; 10) Hard Times Blues; 11) Take Him Off My Mind; 12) Last Mile Blues (Take 1); 13) Last Mile Blues (previously unreleased, Take 2); 14) I Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Break My Heart (previously unreleased); 15) I Can't Quit That Man (previously unreleased, Take 1); 16) I Can't Quit That Man (Take 2); 17) I Can't Quit That Man (previously unreleased, Take 3); 18) You Got to Swing and Sway (previously unreleased, Take 1); 19) You Got to Swing and Sway (previously unreleased, Take 2).