CD-Charts Position 81
Average Rating:

Am I Blue?

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Ethel Waters

Release Date November 16, 1999
Ethel Waters was the first true jazz singer, and arguably the most influential vocalist in the history of popular American music. Her only real rival for this latter title is Louis Armstrong, and it can be argued that while Armstrong was the greater musician, Waters melding of black and white singing styles was actually the more influential contribution to American jazz and popular singing. The advent of CD's has brought a very welcome re-release of some hitherto very hard to find Waters material. There are now several compilation CD's of Waters classic jazz/blues/popular music cuts available. Of these, "Am I Blue?" may be the best single compilation of the Waters oeuvre. The only real rival is the "Ethel Waters: 1925-1940" ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 82
Average Rating:

Burnin'/Confessin' the Blues

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

Release Date May 25, 1999
My friend Eddie gave me this CD a little more than a year ago. It was the only CD I played in my HUMMER for the next 2 months.

Esther Phillips was a very talented songstress. For anyone not familiar with her sound, Esther's singing voice is most comparable to that of Nancy Wilson. However, Esther is quite sassy and sings about topics that Nancy wouldn't dare record.

"Burnin" has a jazz flavor, not bluesy. Every song on this CD is a hit and my personal favorite is "Long John", more of a Dr. Feel Good than a dentist.
The CD keeps me smiling, popping my fingers, singing, and rocking when I am on the road as if I were reliving Esther's performance at the Pied Piper over and over again.

I'm purchasing this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 83
Average Rating:

Cargo High-Tech, Vol. 4

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

Release Date March 05, 2007
My friend Eddie gave me this CD a little more than a year ago. It was the only CD I played in my HUMMER for the next 2 months.

Esther Phillips was a very talented songstress. For anyone not familiar with her sound, Esther's singing voice is most comparable to that of Nancy Wilson. However, Esther is quite sassy and sings about topics that Nancy wouldn't dare record.

"Burnin" has a jazz flavor, not bluesy. Every song on this CD is a hit and my personal favorite is "Long John", more of a Dr. Feel Good than a dentist.
The CD keeps me smiling, popping my fingers, singing, and rocking when I am on the road as if I were reliving Esther's performance at the Pied Piper over and over again.

I'm purchasing this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 84
Average Rating:

The Complete Recordings, Vol. 2 (1924-1925)

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

Release Date October 24, 2006
The whole Complete Recording series (Vol. 1 - 5) is a must get for any old-time jazz/blues collector, afficionado, lover. I knew I always liked Bessie, but in reality I'd only heard a few numbers that were often played (St. Louis Blues). Upon hearing her other stuff, she has become one of my all-time favorite musicians ever.
These sets come with booklets that put perspect on each track. Be aware that the booklets overlap with the same info from one vol to another at the beginning of each one. But each one does offer new/different info towards the end.

CD-Charts Position 85
Average Rating:

Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, Vol. 1

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

Release Date January 31, 1994
Magnificent. From the origins of Jazz with Scott Joplins 3/4 time music to Modern Jazz this collection has it all. Original remastered recordings of all the greats Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Davis, Coltrane they are all there. Great documentation traces the history and evolution of Jazz.A must for all jazz enthusiasts.

CD-Charts Position 86
Average Rating:

The Earthshaker

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Koko Taylor

Release Date October 25, 1990
Koko Taylor is a living legend! The blues has been so commercialized and copied that we often do not recognize it in its essential forms. Koko Taylor is an earth-shaking embodiment of the blues tradition. She is the real deal. Straight up without a chaser. Get this album wherever you can find it and listen to it over and over. Koko Taylor will heal your soul and give you a spiritual education in living in the world. When I listen to her version of "Let the Good Times Roll" I don't want to hear anybody else sing it again. You will travel to some pretty deep and scary places listening to her sing "Walking the Backstreet" but you will emerge emboldened to live and love life to the fullest!

CD-Charts Position 87
Average Rating:

Oh Happy Day: Gospel Greats

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

Release Date January 31, 2001
Although there are absolutely no liner notes, dates or any other info on the tracks, this is one of the best budget priced gospel box sets available anywhere if you are just in it for the music. If you like raw, potent old-school Black gospel this is for you - lots of powerhouse singers/shouters at their peak. Mostly 1930's-1950's recordings from the Golden Age of Gospel, which means no synthesizers, no glossy production - just heartfelt gospel soul. Pick it up if you see it; there's even some obscurities for collectors.

CD-Charts Position 88
Average Rating:

All or Nothing at All

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

Release Date October 24, 1995
At the age in life when other great singers were at their peak (for instance Ella, Sarah, Satchmo), Billie was deteriorating rapidly: her voice was losing strength and collour... But, since the strength and the loudness were never essential for her, and the immaculate sense of tempo, rhythm and emotion lingered on, she could still muster a convincing session or two in the fifties. Some even claim that this weaker Billie actually had additional emotional acuteness (I agree only partially - at times she WAS emotionally more convincing at this stage, but too often she was just unable to deliver a chorus convincingly)

This double CD (made of three LP albums - "All or nothing at all", "Body and Soul" and "Songs for distingue lovers") is a good example ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 89
Average Rating:

The Complete Billie Holiday On Verve, 1945-1959

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

Release Date March 09, 1993
A caixa me decepcionou um pouco, a parte gráfica e a embalagem estão aquem do que eu esperava e a parte musical propriamente dita tem coisas sublimes mas também tem material de qualidade duvidosa.

CD-Charts Position 90
Average Rating:

House of Blues: Essential Women in Blues

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

Release Date January 28, 1997
This is one CD I never tire of! Everyone I have turned on to this CD feels the same way! The music is timeless.