MG-36130: Dinah Sings Bessie Smith
/ Dinah Washington with Eddie Chamblee and his Orchestra
![[Front Cover]](img/MG36130_Fs.png)
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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 | ||
Comments
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Inside The Groove
Dinah sings Bessie Smith-related songs with a bit cornily-arranged big combo.
Personal Impression (and brief notes)
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.
Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)
7 out of 10
Track Listing
| 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
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.
The Artist Also Appears on...
- EmArcy MG-26032 10-inch : After Hours With Miss “D”
- EmArcy MG-36000 : Dinah Jams Featuring Dinah Washington
- EmArcy MG-36011 : For Those In Love
- EmArcy MG-36028 : After Hours With Miss “D”
- EmArcy MG-36065 : Dinah!
- EmArcy MG-36073 : In The Land Of Hi-Fi
- EmArcy MG-36104 : The Swingin' Miss D
- EmArcy MG-36119 / SR-80011 : Dinah Washington Sings Fats Waller
- EmArcy MG-36130 : Dinah Sings Bessie Smith
- Mercury MG-25060 10-inch : Dinah Washington
- Mercury MG-25138 10-inch : Dynamic Dinah! - The Great Voice Of Dinah Washington
- Mercury MG-25140 10-inch : Blazing Ballads
- Mercury MG-20119 : Music For A First Love
- Mercury MG-20120 : Music For Late Hours
- Mercury MG-20247 : The Best In Blues
- Mercury MG-20439 / SR-60111 : The Queen!
- Mercury MG-20479 / SR-60158 : What A Diff'rence A Day Makes
- Mercury MG-20525 / SR-60202 : Dinah Washington Sings Fats Waller (reissue of MG-36119 / SR-80011)
- Mercury MG-20572 / SR-60232 : Unforgettable
- Mercury MG-20588 / SR-60244 : The Two Of Us / Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
- Mercury MG-20604 / SR-60604 : I Concentrate On You
- Mercury MG-20614 / SR-60614 : For Lonely Lovers
- Mercury MG-20638 / SR-60638 : September In The Rain
- Mercury MG-20661 / SR-60661 : Tears And Laughter
- Mercury MG-20729 / SR-60729 : I Wanna Be Loved
- Mercury MG-20788 / SR-60788 : Golden Hits Volume 1
- Mercury MG-20789 / SR-60789 : Golden Hits Volume 2
- Mercury MG-20829 / SR-60829 : The Good Old Days
- Mercury MG-20928 / SR-60928 : Queen And Quincy / Dinah Washington & Quincy Jones
- Mercury MG-21119 / SR-61119 : Dinah Discovered
- EmArcy MG-36002 : Jam Session / Various Artists
- EmArcy MG-36087 : Bargain Day! / Various Artists
- EmArcy MG-36088: The Greatest Stars Of Jazz Under One Roof / Various Artists
- EmArcy MG-36141 / SR-80009 : Newport '58 / Various Artists
- Mercury MG-20133 : Swinging For The King / Various Artists
- Mercury MG-20523 / SR-60200 : Newport '58 / Various Artists (reissue of EmArcy MG-36141 / SR-80009)
- Mercury MGD-9 / SRD-9 : Galaxy - Music From 16 Great Artists / Various Artists
Jackets
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
![[MG-36130 FRONT]](img/MG36130_F.png) |
![[MG-36130 BACK]](img/MG36130_B.png) |
Labels
| Side A | Side B |
|---|---|
![[MG-36130 A]](img/MG36130A.png) |
![[MG-36130 B]](img/MG36130B.png) |