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MG-36130: Dinah Sings Bessie Smith
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Label Type : | blue EmArcy type C | ||
Matrix Number : | SIDE-A | MG-36130A-1 MS1 M E | |
SIDE-B | MG-36130B-1 MS1 M F |
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Dinah sings Bessie Smith-related songs with a bit cornily-arranged big combo.
Dinah Washington's Mercury era (1940s thru early 1960s) was really awesome. Legendary blues recordings in the 1940s thru early 1950s, magnificient jazzy sessions with jazz greats in the early-middle 1950s, and refreshing popular sessions in the late 1950s-early 1960s. Very difficult to say which era is better, but many may agree all of her singings and recordings are far above the avarage.
One of the best sessions in her mid-late 1950s is (I believe) MG-36065 and MG-36104. Dinah sings so emotionally on every song. Even she had to sing corny popular tune, she tried to sing as if the tune was a great evergreen melody - actually it really sounded so.
On this album, Dinah sings one of her roots and affection - Bessie Smith. Her singing is impressive and great as always, but it is a pity the backing arrangements headed by Eddie Chamblee (Dinah's husband at the time) sounds rather corny, while Eddie Chamblee's leader album MG-36131 (recorded in similar sessions) is very swingy and honking.
7 out of 10
SIDE-A | |||
A-1 | 16732 (JB315) | After You've Gone (Creamer - Layton) | 3:36 |
A-2 | 16710 (JB301) | Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair (G. Brooks) | 3:15 |
A-3 | 16730 (JB313) | Jailhouse Blues (B. Smith - C. Williams) | 3:09 |
A-4 | 16709 (JB300) | Trombone Butter (G. Brooks) | 3:29 |
A-5 | 16731 (JB314) | You've Been A Good Ole Wagon (Smith - Balcom) | 4:03 |
SIDE-B | |||
B-1 | 17611 (JB302) | Careless Love (Koenig - Williams - Handy) | 3:35 |
B-2 | 16975 (JB316) | The Back Water Blues (B. Smith) | 4:59 |
B-3 | 16976 (JB317) | If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight (Creamer - Johnson) | 3:05 |
B-4 | 16729 (JB312) | Me And My Gin (Burke) | 3:10 |
B-5 | 16978 (JB319) | Fine Fat Daddy (Dinah Washington) | 3:06 |
Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)
Recent CD reissue (Verve 314 538 635-2) has alternate takes of A-4 as well as additional tracks.
A-2, A-4, B-1:
Dinah Washington (vo) with Eddie Chamblee and his Orchestra:
Clark Terry (tp),
Fortunatus “Fip” Richard (tp),
Quentin Jackson (tb),
Eddie Chamblee (ts),
McKinley Easton (bs),
James Craig (p),
Robare Edmonson (b),
James Slaughter (ds).
Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, IL
on December 30, 1957.
A-1, A-3, A-5, B-4:
Dinah Washington (vo) with Eddie Chamblee and his Orchestra:
Fortunatus “Fip” Richard (tp),
Julian Priester (tb),
Eddie Chamblee (ts),
Charlie Davis (bs),
Jack Wilson (p),
Robert Lee Wilson (b),
James Slaughter (ds).
Robare Edmonson (arr on A-1).
Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, IL
on January 7, 1958.
B-2, B-3, B-5:
same personnel as A-1.
Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, IL
on January 20, 1958.
Front | Back |
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Side A | Side B |
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