Bessie Smith - The Anthology

2010 reissue

48 tracks

Decades of blues and jazz vocalists sang in the shadow of the Empress, whose powerhouse voice still packs a wallop nearly 90 years later. Here are more than two hours of key cuts: her hits Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out; T'ain't Nobody's Biz-Ness if I Do, and Aggravatin' Papa plus Gin House Blues; Downhearted Blues; Dyin' by the Hour; Lock and Key; Sinful Blues, and more.