Bessie never made "early videos"
The reviewer below is misinformed. Bessie never made "early attempts at video." She made exactly one appearance on film, in "St. Louis Blues," and it is amazing for the power and dignity that she brings to it, even though she is cast as woman treated like a doormat by "Jimmie." But it is a national treasure because were it not for that 17-minute clip (you can find it on youtube), there would be no record of her facial expressions, movements, majesty singing live.
Bessie's the Bomb!
BESSIE SMITH is undoubtedly the Great Godmother of Blues and was a legend in her own time. Her influence was seen in many singers who followed, including Janis Joplin her often referred to Bessie as being her primary inspiration. Supposedly Bessie was the inspiration for the character "Shug Avery" in one of America's most important films, The Color Purple. Bessie Smith's original recordings were produced on so-called "Race Records," marketed for the segregated African-American community (they were considered too sexual for the likes of lily white listeners.) Bessie made a few early rather regrettable "videos" of her songs; her attempts at a breakthrough into movies were equally unfortunate. She had no dramatic training and the studios only saw her cast as the perennial docile or happy-go-lucky black maid--and Bessie wasn't having any of that.
The selected anthology is expertly remastered. It features `Taint Nobody's Bizness If I do; St. Louis Blues; and the politically incorrect Send Me to the `Lectric Chair. It looses 1 Star only because it should have included two or three selections found elsewhere.
[[ASIN:B000M5B3RW Queen of the Blues Volume 1]]
[[ASIN:B0000281VN Salutes Bessie Smith]]
[[ASIN:B00065U040 Best of the Empress of the Blues]]
[[ASIN:B00000JZUH The Ultimate Collection]]
WHEN THE EMPRESS STRUTTED HER STUFF
What this writer would not have given to be able to see Bessie Smith in her prime and in her glory. Bessie is an acquired taste. By that I mean that when listening to her recordings, especially if done in chronological order as here, it takes time until you are emerged in the music. Then you do not want to turn the damn thing off.
Bessie Smith was no Billie Holliday. That shows no disrespect for either talent. Although Billie covered a number of Bessie's songs her's is a more stylized rendition for a different, generally more urban and urbane audience, than the juke joints Bessie, unfortunately, had, to play at. That said, for sheer power and depth of raw feeling- go to Bessie. Many a tough situation in my life got, at least partially, smoothed over listening to Bessie by the hour. What else can one say. Stand out songs here are St. Louis Blues and After You've Gone.
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