Am I Blue: 1921-1947

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
In the early 1920s, Ethel Waters was one of the leading classic blues singers, and by the end of the decade she had become virtually the only black female singer to cross over into pop music. One of the most popular entertainers of the 1930s, Waters was one of the first African Americans to be accompanied regularly by white orchestras and to get good roles in motion pictures without having to move to Europe. And, throughout her career, she was entrusted to introduce several major songs that were to become popular standards. This important compilation includes most of the recorded highpoints of this legendary singer, taken from the peak periods of her singing career.

Tracks:

Down Home Blues
There'll Be Some Changes Made
You Can't Do What My Last Man Did
Sweet Georgia Brown
Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night
Dinah
Maybe Not All All
Shake That Thing
Sugar
I'm Coming Virginia
Take Your Black Bottom Outside
Guess Who's In Town
Do What You Did Last Night
Am I Blue
Waiting At The End Of The Road
You're Lucky To Me
Stormy Weather
Jeepers Creepers
Taking A Chance On Love
Cabin In The Sky
Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe

Album Description

In the early 1920s, Ethel Waters was one of the leading classic blues singers, and by the end of the decade she had become virtually the only black female singer to cross over into pop music. One of the most popular entertainers of the 1930s, Waters was one of the first African Americans to be accompanied regularly by white orchestras and to get good roles in motion pictures without having to move to Europe. And, throughout her career, she was entrusted to introduce several major songs that were to become popular standards. This important compilation includes most of the recorded highpoints of this legendary singer, taken from the peak periods of her singing career.

Customer Reviews:

Almost a comprehensive collection.......2007-02-02

Before finding fame as an actor as a middle-aged woman, Ethel Waters was a Blues singer in the 1920s, a peer of Bessie Smith and Ida Cox, who transitioned into singing Jazz and Pop music. This collection focuses on her earlier recordings.

AM I BLUE: 1921-1947 ("Legendary jazz Vocalist #09" of "Jazz Legends" series) consists of 21 songs recorded 1921 thru 1947; tracks are in chronological order. Disc packaged in clear jewel case; total running time: 66:47. Booklet includes an essay by Scott Yanow, a few photographs from her films, and track information (including recording dates and musician personnel); songwriter credits not included. Sound quality is very poor on early `20s recordings, but is decent for later recordings.

Most of the songs included are from the 1920s:
Tracks 1 & 2 from 1921; track 3 from 1923. (These recordings are scratchy.)
Tracks 4-8 from 1925; tracks 9 & 10 from 1926; track 11 from 1927.
Tracks 12 & 13 from 1928; tracks 14 & 15 from 1929.
Track 16 from 1930.
Track 17 from 1933.
Track 18 from 1938.
Tracks 19 & 20 from 1940.
Track 21 from 1947.

Ethel Waters's voice is high and clear. It is more similar to Lena Horne or Ella Fitzgerald than Ma Rainey or Billie Holiday.
Ethel Waters did not record regularly after 1940, but she did record a secular album in the mid 1950s, before dedicating her life to religion (and Billy Graham's "crusades") and recording two non-secular albums in 1963.

Of note are her shout-outs to singers Clara Smith and Bessie Smith on "Maybe Not at All"; after singing the song in her style, she re-sings the song first in the style of Clara Smith and then slows down the tempo and sings in the style of Bessie Smith.

A good companion piece to this album is the 1999 import "Takin' a Chance on Love", which features songs recorded 1938-1946. Only three songs overlap between the two albums: 1938's "Jeepers Creepers" (featured in the 2001 horror film of the same name) and her 1940 recordings of "Taking a Chance on Love" & "Cabin in the Sky".

Music:

Music

Music