Label: Document Records.
Release Date: March 18, 1997.
Releases: 1997, 2000, 2005.
Recording Time: 68 minutes.
Recording Date: December, 1920 - December, 1928.
Styles: Classic Female Blues, Big Band, Early Jazz.
Recording Date: December, 1920 - December, 1928.
Styles: Classic Female Blues, Big Band, Early Jazz.
This intriguing CD has the complete work of Baby Benbow (two sides), Glory Bernard (four songs), Flo Bert (six tunes and an alternate), Mary Bradford (five songs), Florence Bristol (just one selection), and Lil and Will Brown (four numbers by the team of Ivy Smith and Cow Cow Davenport). Flo Bert, whose lone session was in December 1920, was among the very first of the vaudevillian blues singers to record, and it seems strange that she did not have an encore. Florence Bristol is quite a mystery figure, and her only recording ("How Come You Do Me Like You Do") has her backed by altoist Otto Hardwick and pianist Duke Ellington in November 1924. In addition to two numbers from 1928, Mary Bradford is heard on three selections with the 1923 Bennie Moten Orchestra. Overall, these rarities are quite listenable and sometimes rather fascinating. - Review by Scott Yanow
Credits: Baby Benbow - performer, primary artist, vocals; Gloria Bernard - primary artist, vocals; Flo Bert - primary artist, vocals; Mary H. Bradford - primary artist, vocals; Florence Bristol - primary artist, vocals; Will Brown - piano, primary artist; Cow Cow Davenport - piano; Duke Ellington - piano; Dr. David Evans - liner notes; Willie Hall - drums; Otto Hardwick - sax (alto); Thamon Hayes - trombone; Lil Brown - primary artist; Bennie Moten - concert master, orchestra, piano; Johnny Parth - compilation producer; Don Redman - piano; Ivy Smith - vocals; Woodie Walder - clarinet; Gerhard Wessely - remastering; Lamar Wright - cornet; Lammar Wright, Sr. - cornet.
Tracks: 1) Down Home Gal - Baby Benbow; 2) Don't Blame Me - Baby Benbow; 3) Put It Here or Keep It Out There - Gloria Bernard; 4) That's Why the Undertaker's Busy - Gloria Bernard; 5) South Bound Blues - Gloria Bernard; 6) Cockroach Blues - Gloria Bernard; 7) Don't Take Away Those Blues (Take 1) - Flo Bert; 8) Don't Take Away Those Blues (Take 4) - Flo Bert; 9) Whistle and I'll Come to Meet You - Flo Bert; 10) What'cha Gon'na Do When There Ain't No Jazz - Flo Bert; 11) Sweet Mamma, Papa's Getting Mad - Flo Bert; 12) I've Got the Blues for My Kentucky Home - Flo Bert; 13) I'd Love to Fall Asleep and Wake up in Mommy's Arms - Flo Bert; 14) Chattanooga Blues - Mary H. Bradford; 15) Selma 'Bama Blues - Mary H. Bradford; 16) Waco Texas Blues - Mary H. Bradford; 17) Loafing Blues - Mary H. Bradford; 18) Awful Lawdy Lawdy Blues - Mary H. Bradford; 19) How Come You Do Me Like You? - Florence Bristol; 20) You Had It and You Didn't Want It - Lil Brown / Will Brown; 21) Moanful Mama - Lil Brown / Will Brown; 22) Save My Jelly - Lil Brown / Will Brown; 23) Three Card Monte Blues - Lil Brown / Will Brown.