Label: Document Records.
Release Date: March 18, 1997.
Recording Time: 72 minutes.
Releases: 1997, 2000, 2005.
Releases: 1997, 2000, 2005.
Recording Date: 1922 - December 13, 1929.
Styles: Classic Female Blues, Early Jazz, Pre-War Blues.
For this intriguing CD in the 14-disc Document series, the complete recordings of Fannie May Goosby (11 selections), Christina Gray, Ruth Green, Sadie Green, and Katherine Handy (all two numbers apiece) are reissued, along with obscurities left out of other sets by Marie Gristner and Helen Gross. Goosby, a singer from Atlanta, had a particularly bluesy style, and she fares well on her recordings from 1923 and 1928. The other vocalists vary in quality, though it is interesting to hear W.C. Handy's daughter singing his "Loveless Love." Fans of early female classic blues singers will want all of the rarities included in this series. - Review by Scott Yanow
Credits: Althea Dickerson - piano; Johnny Dunn - cornet; Dr. David Evans - liner notes; Bob Fuller - clarinet; Christina Gray - primary artist, vocals; Ruth Green - performer, primary artist, vocals; Marie Grinter - performer, primary artist, vocals, whistle (human); Helen Gross - performer, primary artist, vocals; Katherine Handy - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Pete Harris - vocals; Eddie Heywood - piano; Louis Hooper - piano; Joe Lawrence - vocals; Bobby Lee - piano; Thomas Morris - cornet; Jimmy Osborne - clarinet, sax (alto); Johnny Parth - producer; Joe Robichaux - piano; Morris Rouse - piano; Gerhard Wessely - remastering; Clarence Williams - piano; George "Bullet" Williams - trombone; George W. Williams - trombone.
Tracks: 1) Grievous Blues (8386) - Fannie May Goosby; 2) I've Got The Blues, That's All - Fannie May Goosby; 3) Grievous Blues (71925) - Fannie May Goosby; 4) All Alone Blues - Fannie May Goosby; 5) I've Got A Do Right Daddy Now - Fannie May Goosby; 6) I Believe My Man Is Got A Rabbit's Leg - Fannie May Goosby; 7) Goosby Blues - Fannie May Goosby; 8) Can't Use You Blues - Fannie May Goosby with Peter Harris; 9) Dirty Moaner Blues - Fannie May Goosby with Peter Harris; 10) Fortune Teller Blues - Fannie May Goosby; 11) Stormy Night Blues - Fannie May Goosby; 12) The Reverend Is My Man - Christina Gray; 13) Just Like You Walked In, You Can Walk Out - Christina Gray with Joe Lawrence; 14) Sad And Lonely Blues - Ruth Green; 15) Mama's Got Something I Know You Want It - Ruth Green; 16) Alley Man (Haul My Ashes) - Sadie Green; 17) Don't Wear Your Welcome Out - Sadie Green; 18) Morning Dove Blues - Marie Grinter; 19) East And West Blues - Marie Grinter; 20) M.C. Blues - Marie Grinter; 21) Better Give Your Sweetie What She Needs - Helen Gross; 22) I Wanna Jazz Some More - Helen Gross; 23) Loveless Love - Katherine Handy; 24) Early Every Morn - Katherine Handy.