Ma Rainey - Best of Mother of the Blues
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Ma RaineyEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-08-10
Music Label: Blues Forever
Soundtracks:
- Blues Oh Blues
- Damper Down Blues
- Oh Papa Blues
- Big Boy Blues
- Daddy Goodbye Blues - Gertrude Rainey
- Black Eye Blues - Ma Rainey
- Prove It on Me Blues - Gertrude Rainey, Tub Jug Washbord Band
- Black Cat Hoot Owl Blues - Gertrude Rainey, Tub Jug Washbord Band
- Hellish Rag
- "Ma" Rainey's Black Bottom
- Ice Bag Papa
- Don't Fish in My Sea - Gertrude Rainey
- Mountain Jack Blues - Gertrude Rainey
- Stack O'Lee Blues
- Broken Soul Blues
- See See Rider Blues
- Honey Where You Been So Long? - Lovie Austin, Blues Serenaders, Georgia Band, Gertrude Rainey
- Walking Blues - Lovie Austin, Blues Serenaders, Gertrude Rainey
Free Music Notes for Best of Mother of the Blues
Free Music Review: Nice introduction to Ma Rainey
Hit: 5 Stars
In one of his early impressionist songs, Bob Dylan mentions "Ma Rainey and Beethoven." This CD provides a nice, brief introduction to her work. And what a work it is. She was an important figure in the development of the blues, demonstrating (with Bessie Smith and others) that blues were not just the province of males. This CD has decent recording quality from the time (recordings were made between 1923 and 1928). The backing group (more often than not, her Georgia Band) normally suggests a nice fusion of jazz and blues.
Let's look at some examples of her work from this CD:
"Blues Oh Blues": This is a 1927 recording. It begins (and features throughout) a repeat of the song's title. The group backs her well. The vocals are soulful and easy to understand. The repetition of the title is hypnotic and works very well, creating a nice atmosphere.
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom": Works at a couple different levels. She demonstrates a strong voice and a good blues sound. The backing group, again, does its job well. She speaks to wanting to learn the dance of the same name. But some interesting vocal play.
"Walking Blues": This is an earlier song, from 1923, featuring a rougher sound (probably due to technology and recording quality?). Still, the cut provides a sense of her well honed blues sensibility. A nice exemplar of her body of work.
In sum, a very nice introduction to Ma Rainey's work.
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