Columbia · in the Kissa Kissa racks
The World's Greatest Blues Singer
| Recorded | c. 1970 |
|---|---|
| Label | Columbia |
| Released | 1970 |
| Personnel | 19 credited players |
| Discogs | master 216361 |
The record
A double-LP reissue drawing together Smith's Columbia sides from the '20s, when her voice defined blues singing itself, backed by the era's finest session players including a young Fletcher Henderson and Benny Goodman. Essential bedrock listening -- the source from which nearly everyone who followed learned how to phrase.
Session personnel
- The Bessemer Singers — backing vocals
- Buddy Christian — banjo
- Billy Taylor Sr. — bass
- Benny Goodman — clarinet
- Ernest Elliott — clarinet
- Ed Allen — cornet
- Louis Bacon — cornet
- Floyd Casey — drums
- Bobby Johnson — guitar
- Buck Washington — piano
- Clarence Williams — piano
- Fletcher Henderson — piano
- Fred Longshaw — piano
- James Price Johnson — piano
- Steve Stevens — piano
- Leon "Chu" Berry — tenor saxophone
- Charlie Green — trombone
- Jack Teagarden — trombone
- Frank Newton — trumpet
Contemporary reception
No period review located yet. The vintage-press pipeline searches DownBeat, Cash Box, and Billboard for this session.
Pressings
Showing the first pressing, audiophile reissues and copies carrying a collector marker, out of 25 pressings on file.
| 1970 | Columbia · GP 33 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono, Pitman Pressing earliest on file · gatefold |
|---|---|
| 1970 | Columbia — MONO |
| 1970 | Columbia · CG 33 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Pitman Pressing · gatefold |
| 1970 | CBS · 66258 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation · gatefold |
| 1970 | CBS · 2BP-220058 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | CBS · 66258 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono, Gatefold · gatefold |
| 1970 | CBS · 66258 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono, Gatefold · gatefold |
| 1970 | CBS · 66258 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Gatefold · gatefold |
| 1970 | CBS · 66258 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono |
| 1970 | Columbia · GP 33 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono, Santa Maria pressing · gatefold |
| 1970 | Columbia · GP 33 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono · gatefold |
| 1971 | CBS/Sony · SOPB 55024~25 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono · gatefold |
| — | CBS · 66258 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono, Gatefold · gatefold |
| — | CBS · 66258 — Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono, Gatefold · gatefold |
Follow the players
Billy Taylor Sr. also plays on
Benny Goodman also plays on