CD-Charts Position 131
Average Rating:

Shave 'Em Dry: The Best of Lucille Bogan

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Lucille Bogan

Release Date May 04, 2004
Ever since I heard a scratchy, tinny "pirate" edition of Lucille Bogan's legendary "Shave 'em Dry" I knew I had to get a digitally remastered version. This is not smut for smut's sake, but the sincerely expressed
celebration of sexuality. This is what elevates Lucille Bogan's spice above the smirking raunch of "dirty records". Her delivery is not only eloquently musical, but exuberantly refreshing. A few of the songs were completely new to me, which was a pleasant surprise. In my opinion she ranks right up there with Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, et. al. Bogan doesn't try to titillate her audience with "dirty verses". She celebrates lust as she knew it with all its rough edges including prostitution, lesbianism, and men that coulnd't satisfy. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 132
Average Rating:

X-Temporaneous Boogie, Vol. 2

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Camille Howard

Release Date March 19, 1996
Camille Howard is pretty much unknown, and that's a shame. It's rare to find a blues woman who can sing AND play (piano) AND write--and do them all well. Very smooth vocals mixed with great boogie riffs make this an album to warm up a cold night. I bought the first volume of this set at a local record chain and was immediately hooked. This album is more of the same--but this set seems to represent her entire solo career, unfortunately. What happened to her? The liner notes tell the story.

CD-Charts Position 133
Average Rating:

The Legendary Alberta Hunter: '34 London Sessions

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Alberta Hunter

Release Date September 08, 1989
Alberta Hunter went to London to be in shows, and adapted very well to the sophistocated cabaret style. She sounds sophistocated and CLASSY ON THSI EXELLENT CD. VERY LITTLE JAZZ CONTENT IS HERE, HOWEVER JACK JACKSON'S OFTEN PEPPY BRITISH SOCIETYY DANCE BAND IS EXELLENT IN TEH RAY NOBLE, LEW STONE STYLE.

CD-Charts Position 134
Average Rating:

A Fine Romance: Jerome Kern Songbook

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date November 22, 1994
This is one of my all-time favorite CDs. I originally bought this as a cassette but recently purchased the CD. I have listened to this for nearly 10 years and it's such a great mix of songs and singers that I have yet to grow bored of it. From what I've read, though, if you are a big Jerome Kern fan, you may not enjoy these renditions of his songs. I would suggest listening to the demos first before buying. My favorites are "All the Things You Are", "Yesterdays", "Bill", "They Didn't Believe Me", "I'm Old Fashioned", "Why Do I Love You?"... oh, who am I kidding.. all of them are my favorites!

CD-Charts Position 135
Average Rating:

What a Diff'rence a Day Makes

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Esther Phillips

Release Date June 18, 2002
I was first introduced to this Artist in the late 70's via a very kind
man donated many of his 'old' jazz records to me (lucky me,heh?)...it was
hot then, and it's still hot...it has timeless cool all over it...from
the musical arrangement, the great writing context, and most of all the
dynamic and strong vocal delivery of Ms.Esther Phillips!...I was totally
psyched to have found it again remastered and available on disc...I'll be
watching the mail in great anticipation...Peace-Out****

CD-Charts Position 136
Average Rating:

Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, Vol. 2

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 13, 1992
I have this entire 5 cd set with book and I can't praise it highly enough. Excellent compilation of the best jazz from the turn of the century through the 60's. I know that "The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz" sounds like some dry documentary put together by a bunch of white professors using slide rules and electron microscopes to determine what indeed is the best jazz, but don't let that fool you. This set is a joy to listen to.

You won't find that it contains only what was the most popular jazz, but you will find what was the best and most innovative. The set is a cheap and quick way to familiarize yourself with the greatest names and groups in jazz history. Even if you're already familiar with these names, this set is a great ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 137
Average Rating:

Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Bessie Smith

Release Date April 27, 1993
This is quite a nice set. Columbia was Bessie's own label, and Sony has done a nice job of issuing her tracks on CD: the sound is great. Nice booklet too.

I always like the Chronological Classics (Melodie label), and they have five discs of Bessie; still, the Complete Recordings on Columbia is a really nice set at a really good price. Can't go wrong here: includes the three great tracks Bessie recorded on 8 May 1929 with Clarence Williams (piano) & Eddie Lang (guitar): "I'm Wild About that Thing," "You've Got to Give Me Some," and "Kitchen Man."

Highly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 138
Average Rating:

Sugar in My Bowl: Vintage Sex Songs 1923-1952

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date February 23, 2004
Sugar In My Bowl gives us a great collection of eighteen songs from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s. These songs all explore the theme of romance sung by some of the greatest female artists of the day. It's great to see how these songbirds used simple everyday words to convey romantic ideas to their public without being caught by the censors. Wow!

The legendary Bessie Smith begins the track set with "I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl." Awesome! Bessie sings this bluesy number to a tee and she never misses a note! The piano accompaniment works well but it still lets Bessie's vocals remain squarely in the spotlight. "I Want A Tall Skinny Papa" by Sister Rosetta Tharpe sports a big band flavor with a great male backup chorus to make this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 139
Average Rating:

The Silver Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Billie Holiday

Release Date October 25, 1990
Of all of the Billie Holiday cds I have heard, this one is by far the best! The recording is very clear. It sounds as if this was the master recording. The songs are an absolute delight! My personal favorites are: "Gee Baby Aint I Good To You", "Our Love Is Hear To Stay", "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off", okay you got me; I Like the entire cd. Well worth buying. It truly is a treasure. This is a something you won't regret buying!

CD-Charts Position 140
Average Rating:

Stickin' to My Guns

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Etta James

Release Date June 01, 1990
If you like blues, and you don't know about Etta James, get this CD. Straight ahead blues with an edge. I have several of Etta's CD's, and this is my second favorite. "Get Funky" is a little out of genre for me, but it still makes you move. "Beware" is a scorcher. Overall, if this CD doesn't make you move, your dead.