Bessie Smith – The Empress

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith –The Empress

1971

From the collection of

rardies @rardies
Added August 20 2026
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Version Information

Label
Columbia
Catalog numbers
CG 30818
G 30818
Original year
1971
Version year
1971
Region
US
Format

2 x Vinyl
Pitman Pressing
LP
Album
Compilation
Mono

Version notes

Date per Billboard October 28, 1971, p. 53 "Album Reviews".
Side A & D and B & C likewise are coupled on one record.

This is the fourth of five two-record sets.

Previously released as:
A1: Columbia 14051-D (mx 140170-1). December 6, 1924.
A2: Columbia 14052 (mx 140161-5)
A3: Columbia 14052-D (mx 140162-5). December 11, 1924.
A4: Columbia 14060-D (mx 140166-6)
A5: Columbia 14060-D (mx 140167-5). December 12, 1924.
A6: Columbia 14051-D (mx 140176-2). December 13, 1924.
A7: Columbia 15064-D (mx 140241-1)
A8: Columbia 14056-D (mx 140242-1). January 14, 1925.
B1: Columbia 14056-D (mx 140249-2)
B2: Columbia 14064-D (mx 140250-2)
B3: Columbia 14079-D (mx 140251-1). January 14, 1925.
B4: Columbia 35673 (mx W-140585-2)
B5: Columbia 14075-D (mx W-140586-1). May 5, 1925.
B6: Columbia 14075-D (mx W-140601-2). May 14, 1925.
B7: Columbia 14079-D (mx W-140607-1). May 15, 1925.
B8: Columbia 14090-D (mx W-140625-2). May 26, 1925.
C1: Columbia 14197-D (mx W-143569-1)
C2: Columbia 14219-D (mx W-143570-2). March 2, 1927.
C3: Columbia 14232-D (mx W-143575-3)
C4: Columbia 14209-D (mx W-143576-2)
C5: Columbia 14209-D (mx W-143583-2)
C6: Columbia 14569-D (mx W-143584-2). March 3, 1927.
C7: Columbia 14260-D (mx W-143735-3)
C8: Columbia 14232-D (mx W-143736-3). April 1, 1927.
D1: Columbia 14250-D (mx W-144796-3)
D2: Columbia 14250-D (mx W-144797-3)
D3: Columbia 14260-D (mx W-144800-3). September 27, 1927.
D4: Columbia 14569-D (mx W-144801-3). September 28, 1927.
D5: Columbia 14273-D (mx W-144918-1)
D6: Columbia 14273-D (mx W-144919-3). October 27, 1927.
D7: Columbia 14292-D (mx W-145626-2)
D8: Columbia 14304-D (mx W-145627-1). February 9, 1928.

All selections were recorded in New York City.

Inside Cover Photo: Courtesy of the Estate of Carl Van Vechten

Tracklist
A1.Sing Sing Prison Blues 3:03
A2.Follow The Deal On Down 3:16
A3.Sinful Blues 3:09
A4.Woman's Trouble Blues 3:04
A5.Love Me Daddy Blues 3:13
A6.Dying Gambler's Blues 2:56
A7.St. Louis Blues 3:09
A8.Reckless Blues 3:01
B1.Sobbin' Hearted Blues 3:00
B2.Cold In Hand Blues 3:12
B3.You've Been A Good Ole Wagon 3:28
B4.Cake Walkin' Blues 3:07
B5.The Yellow Dog Blues 3:01
B6.Soft Pedal Blues 3:17
B7.Dixie Flyer Blues 3:07
B8.Nashville Woman's Blues 3:41
C1.Muddy Water 3:06
C2.There'll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight 3:28
C3.Trombone Cholly 3:10
C4.Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair 3:21
C5.Them's Graveyard Words 2:57
C6.Hot Springs Blues 3:02
C7.Sweet Mistreator 3:09
C8.Lock And Key 2:57
D1.Mean Old Bedbug Blues 3:48
D2.A Good Man Is Hard To Find 3:00
D3.Homeless Blues 3:34
D4.Looking For My Man Blues 2:48
D5.Dyin' By The Hour 2:58
D6.Foolish Man Blues 2:53
D7.Thinking Blues 3:07
D8.Pickpocket Blues 2:42

Data provided by Discogs.