Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an African-American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the "Empress of the Blues", she was the most popular female blues singer of the 1930s. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, she is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and was a major influence on fellow blues singers, as well as jazz vocalists. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Smith was young when her parents died, and she and her six siblings survived by performing on street corners. She began touring and performed in a group that included Ma Rainey, and then went out on her own. Her successful recording career with Columbia Records began in 1923, but her performing career was cut short by a car crash that killed her at the age of 43.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 15, 1894 (Chattanooga), Died September 26, 1937 (Clarksdale)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1933

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer, lyricist, leader, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	80862	10-in.	2/15/1923	'Tain't nobody's biz-ness if I do	Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	80863	10-in.	2/15/1923	Down hearted blues	Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	80864	10-in.	2/16/1923	Gulf Coast blues	Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	80865	10-in.	2/16/1923	Keeps on a-rainin'	Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	80949	10-in.	4/11/1923	Aggravatin' papa	Down Home Trio ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	leader, vocalist
Columbia	80950	10-in.	4/11/1923	Beale Street mamma	Down Home Trio ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	leader, vocalist
Columbia	80952	10-in.	4/11/1923	Baby won't you please come home blues	Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	80953	10-in.	4/11/1923	Oh daddy blues	Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano (takes 1-3); with clarinet, banjo, and piano (takes 4 and 5)	vocalist
Columbia	80995	10-in.	4/28/1923	Mama's got the blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	80996	10-in.	4/28/1923	Outside of that	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81074	10-in.	6/14/1923	Sittin' on the curbstone blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81075	10-in.	6/14/1923	Bleeding hearted blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81078	10-in.	6/14/1923	Lady-luck blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81079	10-in.	6/14/1923	Yodeling blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81080	10-in.	6/15/1923	Midnight blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81091	10-in.	6/21/1923	Play 'em for mama, sing 'em for me blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81092	10-in.	6/21/1923	If you don't I know who will	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81095	10-in.	6/22/1923	Nobody in town can bake a sweet jelly roll like mine	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81225	10-in.	9/21/1923	Dot 'em down blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81226	10-in.	9/21/1923	Jailhouse blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	81231	10-in.	9/24/1923	St. Louis gal	Irving Johns ; Jimmy Jones ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with 2 pianos	vocalist
Columbia	81232	10-in.	9/24/1923	Sam Jones' blues	Irving Johns ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81237	10-in.	9/26/1923	Graveyard dream blues	Jimmy Jones ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81238	10-in.	9/26/1923	Blue Bessie (the bluest gal in Tennessee)	Jimmy Jones ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81241	10-in.	9/26/1923	Cemetery blues	Jimmy Jones ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81244	10-in.	9/27/1923	Whoa, Tillie, take your time	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81245	10-in.	9/27/1923	My sweetie went away	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81261	10-in.	10/4/1923	Far away blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Clara Smith	Female vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81262	10-in.	10/4/1923	I'm going back to my used-to-be	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Clara Smith	Female vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81283	10-in.	10/16/1923	Any woman's blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81391	10-in.	12/4/1923	Chicago bound blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81392	10-in.	12/4/1923	Mistreatin' daddy	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81464	10-in.	1/8/1924	Frosty mornin' blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81465	10-in.	1/9/1924	Blue Bessie	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	composer, vocalist
Columbia	81466	10-in.	1/9/1924	Haunted house blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81469	10-in.	1/9/1924	Eavesdropper's blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81470	10-in.	1/10/1924	Easy come easy go blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81471	10-in.	1/10/1924	Rampart Street blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, leader
Columbia	81472	10-in.	1/10/1924	Lawdy, lawdy blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, leader
Columbia	81664	10-in.	4/4/1924	Sorrowful blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	81665	10-in.	4/4/1924	Sorrowful blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and guitar	composer, vocalist
Columbia	81668	10-in.	4/4/1924	Pinchbacks—take 'em away	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	81669	10-in.	4/4/1924	Rocking chair blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	81670	10-in.	4/5/1924	Ticket agent, ease your window down	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81671	10-in.	4/7/1924	Boweavil blues	Irving Johns ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81672	10-in.	4/8/1924	Hateful blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81675	10-in.	4/8/1924	Frankie blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with violin and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81676	10-in.	4/9/1924	Moonshine blues	Irving Johns ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	81720	10-in.	4/23/1924	Banjo blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo	vocalist
Columbia	81721	10-in.	4/23/1924	Four-flushing papa	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with banjo and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81881	10-in.	7/22/1924	Lou'siana low-down blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81882	10-in.	7/22/1924	Mountain top blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81883	10-in.	7/23/1924	Work house blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81884	10-in.	7/23/1924	House rent blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81893	10-in.	7/31/1924	Salt water blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	81907	10-in.	8/8/1924	Rainy weather blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140062	10-in.	9/26/1924	Weeping willow blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140063	10-in.	9/26/1924	The bye bye blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140161	10-in.	12/4/1924	Follow the deal on down	Fred Longshaw ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	140162	10-in.	12/4/1924	Sinful blues	Fred Longshaw ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	140165	10-in.	12/5/1924	Dying gambler's blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140166	10-in.	12/5/1924	Woman's trouble blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140167	10-in.	12/5/1924	Love me daddy blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140170	10-in.	12/12/1924	Sing Sing Prison blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140176	10-in.	12/13/1924	Dying gambler's blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140241	10-in.	1/14/1925	St. Louis blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and organ	vocalist
Columbia	140242	10-in.	1/14/1925	Reckless blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and organ	vocalist
Columbia	140249	10-in.	1/14/1925	Sobbin' hearted blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140250	10-in.	1/14/1925	Cold in hand blues	Louis Armstrong ; Fred Longshaw ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	140251	10-in.	1/14/1925	You've been a good ole wagon	Louis Armstrong ; Fred Longshaw ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	W140585	10-in.	5/5/1925	Cake walking babies	Fletcher Henderson’s Hot Six ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W140586	10-in.	5/6/1925	The Yellow Dog blues	Fletcher Henderson’s Hot Six ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance ensemble	vocalist
Columbia	W140600	10-in.	5/14/1925	Ragtime dance	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140601	10-in.	5/14/1925	Soft pedal blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	composer, vocalist
Columbia	W140604	10-in.	5/15/1925	Careless love blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140605	10-in.	5/15/1925	He's gone blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, trombone, and piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W140606	10-in.	5/15/1925	Nashville woman's blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140607	10-in.	5/15/1925	Dixie Flyer blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, trombone, and piano	composer, vocalist
Columbia	W140625	10-in.	5/26/1925	Nashville woman's blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140626	10-in.	5/26/1925	Careless love blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140629	10-in.	5/27/1925	J. C. Holmes blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140630	10-in.	5/27/1925	I ain't gonna play no second fiddle	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140717	10-in.	6/23/1925	He's gone blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W140857	10-in.	8/19/1925	Nobody's blues but mine	Bessie Smith and her Band	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140858	10-in.	8/19/1925	I ain't got nobody	Bessie Smith and her Band	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, banjo, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140889	10-in.	9/1/1925	Down old Georgia way	Bessie Smith ; Clara Smith	Female vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W140890	10-in.	9/1/1925	My man blues	Bessie Smith ; Clara Smith	Female vocal duet ("blues singers"), with piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W141275	10-in.	11/17/1925	I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141276	10-in.	11/17/1925	New Gulf Coast blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141277	10-in.	11/17/1925	Florida bound blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141283	10-in.	11/18/1925	At the Christmas ball	Charlie Green ; Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Joe Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W141284	10-in.	11/18/1925	Telephone blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W141285	10-in.	11/18/1925	I've been mistreated and I don't like it	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist
Columbia	W141293	10-in.	11/20/1925	Red Mountain blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141294	10-in.	11/20/1925	Golden Rule blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141369	10-in.	12/9/1925	At the Christmas ball	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141370	10-in.	12/9/1925	Lonesome desert blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	composer, vocalist
Columbia	W141373	10-in.	12/9/1925	Squeeze me	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141767	10-in.	3/5/1926	Them "has been blues"	Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141768	10-in.	3/5/1926	Squeeze me	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141769	10-in.	3/5/1926	What's the matter now?	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141770	10-in.	3/5/1926	I want ev'ry bit of it	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141819	10-in.	3/18/1926	Jazzbo Brown from Memphis Town	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W141820	10-in.	3/18/1926	The gin house blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W142146	10-in.	5/4/1926	Money blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Joe Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W142147	10-in.	5/4/1926	Baby doll	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Joe Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	composer, vocalist
Columbia	W142148	10-in.	5/4/1926	Hard driving papa	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith ; Joe Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W142149	10-in.	5/4/1926	Lost your head blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W142874	10-in.	10/25/1926	Hard time blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W142875	10-in.	10/25/1926	Honey man blues	Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W142876	10-in.	10/26/1926	One and two blues	Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, cornet, and piano	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W142877	10-in.	10/26/1926	It's just that feeling for home	Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, cornet, and piano	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W142878	10-in.	10/26/1926	Young woman's blues	Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, cornet, and piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist, leader
Columbia	W143490	10-in.	2/17/1927	Preachin' the blues	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W143491	10-in.	2/17/1927	Back water blues	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W143567	10-in.	3/2/1927	After you've gone	Bessie Smith and her Band	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet	vocalist
Columbia	W143568	10-in.	3/2/1927	Alexander's ragtime band	Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W143569	10-in.	3/2/1927	Muddy water	Bessie Smith and her Band	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental sextet	vocalist
Columbia	W143570	10-in.	3/2/1927	There'll be a hot time in the old town to-night	Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W143575	10-in.	3/3/1927	Trombone Cholly	Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W143576	10-in.	3/3/1927	Send me to the 'lectric chair	Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W143583	10-in.	3/3/1927	Them's graveyard words	Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist, leader
Columbia	W143584	10-in.	3/3/1927	Hot springs blues	Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	vocalist, composer, leader
Columbia	W143735	10-in.	4/1/1927	Sweet mistreater	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W143736	10-in.	4/1/1927	Lock and key	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144796	10-in.	9/27/1927	Mean old bed bug blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144797	10-in.	9/27/1927	A good man is hard to find	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144800	10-in.	9/28/1927	Homeless blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144801	10-in.	9/28/1927	Lookin' for my man blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone solo and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W144918	10-in.	10/27/1927	Dyin' by the hour	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, piano, and tuba	vocalist
Columbia	W144919	10-in.	10/27/1927	Foolish man blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, tuba, and piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W145626	10-in.	2/9/1928	Thinking blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W145627	10-in.	2/9/1928	Pickpocket blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W145628	10-in.	2/9/1928	I used to be your sweet mama	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W145650	10-in.	2/16/1928	I'd rather be dead and buried in my grave	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W145651	10-in.	2/16/1928	Hit me in the nose blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with 2 clarinets and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W145670	10-in.	2/21/1928	Standin' in the rain blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W145671	10-in.	2/21/1928	It won't be you	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W145672	10-in.	2/21/1928	I'm a cheater	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet, trombone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W145783	10-in.	3/19/1928	Spider man blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano	songwriter, vocalist
Columbia	W145784	10-in.	3/19/1928	Tombstone blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W145785	10-in.	3/20/1928	Empty bed blues, part 1	Porter Grainger ; Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W145786	10-in.	3/20/1928	Empty bed blues	Porter Grainger ; Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W145787	10-in.	3/20/1928	Put it right here (Or keep it out there)	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146887	10-in.	8/24/1928	Yes indeed he do	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet or alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146888	10-in.	8/24/1928	Devil's gonna git you	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet or alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146889	10-in.	8/24/1928	You ought to be ashamed	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with clarinet or alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146893	10-in.	8/24/1928	Washwoman's blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146894	10-in.	8/24/1928	Slow and easy man	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with alto saxophone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W146895	10-in.	8/24/1928	Poor man's blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W146896	10-in.	8/25/1928	Please help me get him off my mind	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W146897	10-in.	8/25/1928	Me and my gin	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148485	10-in.	5/8/1929	I'm wild about that thing	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148486	10-in.	5/8/1929	You've got to give me some	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148487	10-in.	5/8/1929	Kitchen man	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with guitar and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148533	10-in.	5/15/1929	I got what it takes (But it breaks my heart to give it away)	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet	vocalist
Columbia	W148534	10-in.	5/15/1929	Nobody knows you when you're down and out	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet	vocalist
Columbia	W148854	10-in.	7/25/1929	Take it right back ('Cause I don't want it here)	Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148855	10-in.	7/25/1929	What makes me love you so?	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148901	10-in.	8/20/1929	My sportin' man	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148902	10-in.	8/20/1929	He's got me goin'	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148903	10-in.	8/20/1929	When my baby comes	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W148904	10-in.	8/20/1929	It makes my love come down	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	lyricist, composer, vocalist
Columbia	W149074	10-in.	10/1/1929	Wasted life blues	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	lyricist, composer, vocalist
Columbia	W149075	10-in.	10/1/1929	Dirty no-gooder's blues	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W149134	10-in.	10/11/1929	Blue spirit blues	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W149135	10-in.	10/11/1929	Worn out papa blues	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W149136	10-in.	10/11/1929	You don't understand	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W149137	10-in.	10/11/1929	Don't cry, baby	James P. Johnson ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W150131	10-in.	3/27/1930	Keep it to yourself	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	vocalist
Columbia	W150132	10-in.	3/27/1930	New Orleans hop scop blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	vocalist
Columbia	W150458	10-in.	4/12/1930	See if I'll care	Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W150459	10-in.	4/12/1930	Baby, have pity on me	Charlie Green ; Bessie Smith ; Clarence Williams	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with trombone and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W150574	10-in.	6/9/1930	On revival day	Bessemer Singers ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with male vocal quartet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W150575	10-in.	6/9/1930	Moan, you mourners	Bessemer Singers ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with male vocal quartet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W150657	10-in.	7/22/1930	Hustlin' Dan	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W150658	10-in.	7/22/1930	Black Mountain blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with cornet and piano	vocalist
Columbia	W151594	10-in.	6/10/1931	In the house blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	lyricist, composer, vocalist
Columbia	W151595	10-in.	6/10/1931	Long old road	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W151596	10-in.	6/11/1931	Blue blue	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W151597	10-in.	6/11/1931	Shipwreck blues	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quartet	lyricist, composer, vocalist
Columbia	W151883	10-in.	11/20/1931	Need a little sugar in my bowl	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	vocalist
Columbia	W151884	10-in.	11/20/1931	Safety mama	Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano	composer, lyricist, vocalist
Columbia	W152577	10-in.	11/24/1933	Do your duty	Buck and his Band ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W152578	10-in.	11/24/1933	Gimme a pigfoot	Buck and his Band ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W152579	10-in.	11/24/1933	Take me for a buggy ride	Buck and his Band ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Columbia	W152580	10-in.	11/24/1933	I'm down in the dumps	Buck and his Band ; Bessie Smith	Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance band	vocalist
OKeh	S-72265	10-in.	Jan. 1924	Jail house blues	Virginia Liston	Female vocal solo, with guitar	songwriter
OKeh	74203	10-in.	June 1926	Lone desert blues	Harry Gompers	Clarinet solo, with banjo and piano	composer, lyricist
OKeh	W80831	10-in.	5/3/1927	Back water blues	Lonnie Johnson	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	composer, lyricist
OKeh	W82053	10-in.	12/13/1927	Sweet potato blues	Lonnie Johnson	Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano	composer, lyricist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Bessie," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104231.

Smith, Bessie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104231.

"Smith, Bessie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.