What makes this little collection interesting is that it contains seven of the nine tracks
Bessie Smith cut for Columbia Records with a young
Louis Armstrong in two sessions early in 1925, including the seminal version of
W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues." An exercise in simplicity,
Smith's version of the song features only her voice,
Armstrong's answering cornet, and
Fred Longshaw on a wheezing reed organ. The end result is one of the greatest performances in pop history. Pianist
Fletcher Henderson and tenor sax player
Coleman Hawkins also appear on tracks here. ~ Steve Leggett