Bessie Smith - Empty Bed Blues

Tracklist Hide Credits

A1	Sorrowful Blues Written-By – B. Smith*, I. Johns*	3:16
A2	Pinchbacks - Take'em Away Written-By – B. Smith*, I. Johns*	3:13
A3	Rocking Chair Blues Written-By – B. Smith*, I. Johns*	3:12
A4	Ticket Agent, Ease Your Window Down Written-By – S. Williams*	3:19
A5	Boweavil Blues Written-By – L. Austin*, G. Rainey*	2:51
A6	Hateful Blues Written-By – E. Johnson*	3:06
A7	Frankie Blues Written-By – E. Johnson*	3:28
A8	Moonshine Blues Written-By – G. Rainey*	3:14
B1	Lou'siana Low Down Blues Alto Saxophone – Don RedmanWritten-By – S. Williams*	3:23
B2	Mountain Top Blues Alto Saxophone – Don RedmanWritten-By – S. Williams*	3:11
B3	Work House Blues Written-By – T. Wallace*	3:19
B4	House Rent Blues Written-By – T. Wallace*	3:05
B5	Salt Water Blues Written-By – G. Brooks*	3:26
B6	Rainy Weather Blues Written-By – G. Brooks*	3:34
B7	Weeping Willow Blues Cornet – Joe Smith Written-By – P. Carter*	3:07
B8	The Bye Bye Blues Cornet – Joe Smith Written-By – P. Carter*	3:15
C1	I Used To Be Your Sweet Mama Written-By – F. Longshaw*, L. Miller*	2:48
C2	I'd Rather Be Dead And Buried In My Grave Written-By – P. Fuller*	2:54
C3	Standin' In The Rain Blues Written-By – B. Smith*	2:52
C4	It Won't Be You Written-By – B. Smith*	2:46
C5	Spider Man Blues Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone – Abraham WheatWritten-By – B. Smith*, H. Gray	3:21
C6	Empty Bed Blues (Part 1 & 2) Written-By – J. C. Johnson*	6:19
C7	Put It Right Here (Or Keep It Out There) Written-By – P. Grainger*	2:57
D1	Yes Indeed He Do! Written-By – P. Grainger*	3:13
D2	Devil's Gonna Get You Written-By – P. Grainger*	3:09
D3	You Ought To Be Ashamed Written-By – P. Grainger*	3:05
D4	Washwomam's Blues Written-By – S. Williams*	3:07
D5	Slow And Easy Man Written-By – S. Red*	2:55
D6	Poor Man's Blues Written-By – B. Smith*	3:24
D7	Please Help Me Get Him Off My Mind Written-By – B. Smith*	2:55
D8	Me And My Gin Written-By – H. Burke*	2:50

Companies, etc.

• Manufactured By – Columbia Records
• Manufactured By – CBS Inc.
• Mastered At – Customatrix
• Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman

Credits

• Alto Saxophone – Bob Fuller (tracks: D1 to D6)
• Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Ernest Elliot (tracks: D1 to D6)
• Artwork [Cover] – Philip Hays
• Clarinet – Bob Fuller (tracks: C2, C5, D1 to D6), Ernest Elliot (tracks: C2, D1 to D6)
• Cornet – Demus Dean* (tracks: C1, C3, C4)
• Executive-Producer – John Hammond
• Liner Notes – Chris Albertson
• Piano – Fletcher Henderson (tracks: B1 to B8), Fred Longshaw (tracks: C1, C3, C4,), Irving Johns (tracks: A2 to A8), Porter Grainger (tracks: C2, C5 to C7, D1 to D8)
• Producer – Chris Albertson
• Technician [Technical Restoration], Edited By – Larry Hiller
• Trombone – Charlie Green (tracks: B3 to B8, C1, C3, C4, C6, C7), Joe Williams (tracks: D6 to D8)
• Violin – Robert Robbins (tracks: A1, A3, A4, A6, A7)
• Vocals – Bessie Smith

Notes

This is the third of five two-record sets.
First LP holds sides A and D, second LP sides B and C.
The tracklist follows the tracklist on sleeve (Side 1=A/ Side 2=B/ Side 3=C/ Side 4=D)

Side A recorded between April 4 and 9, 1924.
Side B recorded between July 22 and September 26, 1924.
Side C recorded between February 9 and March 20, 1928.
Side D recorded on August 23 and 24, 1928.

All selections ASCAP except A6, A7, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, C2, C7, D1 & D5

All selections recorded in New York City.

Inside-gatefold photo courtesy of Pete Welding

Manufactured by Columbia Records/CBS Inc.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

• Matrix / Runout (Side A label): AL 30451
• Matrix / Runout (Side B label): AL 30452
• Matrix / Runout (Side C label): BL 30452
• Matrix / Runout (Side D label): BL 30451
• Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, stamped): o P AL 30451-1B ᴘ 4 ᗄ
• Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, stamped): o P AL 30452-1A ᴘ 2 A
• Matrix / Runout (Side C runout, stamped): o P BL 30452-1A ᴘ A 3
• Matrix / Runout (Side D runout, stamped): o P BL 30451-1A ᴘ 1 3 ᗄ
• Rights Society: ASCAP
• Other (LP 1): C 40451
• Other (LP 2): C 40452

Other versions

Category	Artist	Title (Format)	Label	Category	Country	Year
B2VL 072	Bessie Smith	Empty Bed Blues ‎(2xLP, Comp, Mono)	Avan-Guard	B2VL 072	Australia	Unknown
225.136; 225.137	Bessie Smith	Empty Bed Blues ‎(2xLP, Comp, Mono)	CBS	225.136; 225.137	Brazil	Unknown
G 30450, C 30451	Bessie Smith	Empty Bed Blues ‎(2xCD, Comp)	Columbia, Columbia	G 30450, C 30451	US	1996
66273, M6 6273	Bessie Smith	Empty Bed Blues ‎(2xLP, Comp, RE, Mono)	CBS, CBS	66273, M6 6273	UK	Unknown
66273, M 66273	Bessie Smith	Empty Bed Blues ‎(2xLP, Comp)	CBS, CBS	66273, M 66273	Europe	1971

Recommendations