Goin crazy with the blues, jennys ball, im gonna get you, memries of you mammy, down home blues, get. Not only did she help pioneer a new trend that led to the creation of what was called the race record market for africanamerican buyers, but she also validated the blues, which was not regarded as a. Mamie smith s crazy blues, the first recording of an africanamerican singing the blues, revolutionized pop music. Available on cd and download only from the document records store. Listen to miss jennys ball aka therell be no freebies at miss jennys ball by mamie smith.
Sheet music arranged for pianovocalguitar in f major transposable. Mamie smith has gained legendary status as the first person to record a blues record, and her vaudeville style rendition of perry bradfords crazy blues in july 1920 achieved phenomenal sales, bringing about the birth of what was called. It was an instant hit, and she became one of the if not the first african american female recording artist. Nov 22, 2018 mamie smith 1891 1946 mamie smith died penniless, in new york in 1946 and was buried in an unmarked grave until 1963. On 10 august 1920, a group of musicians collectively known as the jazz hounds recorded a song with mamie smith called crazy blues, the first blues record. Mamie smith classic blues the online roots of rock. Mamie smith, the first true queen of the blues, created a sensation with the phenomenal success of her 1920 recording of crazy blues and her extravagant stage shows. Mamie smith 1891 1946 mamie smith died penniless, in new york in 1946 and was buried in an unmarked grave until 1963. Oct 10, 2017 mamie smiths 1920 recording of crazy blues was the first successful recording of a song by a blues singer. It was considered the first commercial vocal recording of the blues by a black artist.
By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our cookie policy. The song was written by perry bradford and it was recorded on. Not only did she help pioneer a new trend that led to the creation of what was called the race record market for africanamerican buyers, but she also validated the. Crazy blues, a song by mamie smith on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Mamie smith blues with her jazz hounds that da da strain with her jazz hounds i aint gonna give nobody none o this jelly roll with her jazz hounds. Jas obrecht music blog as a practicing journalist, i am always happy to hear from music magazine editors and record label reps.
Mamie smith s success with crazy blues came as a surprise to record labels, but they soon realized that making records of blues songs was profitable. The best of mamie smith by mamie smith and tens of millions of other songs on all your devices with amazon music unlimited. Find mamie smith discography, albums and singles on allmusic. It wasnt until 1920, however, that sides were issued by veteran black vaudevillian mamie smith and scored a million copy seller with crazy blues. As a vaudeville singer she performed in various styles, including jazz and blues. Mamie smith was the first africanamerican female performer to make a phonograph record, paving the way for all the classic blues women of the 1920s and beyond. An illustration of a computer application window wayback machine an illustration of an open book. May 26, 1891 september 16, 1946 was an american vaudeville singer, dancer, pianist and actress. Bradford was impressed and felt that mamie might be the.
Crazy blues okeh, 1920 crazy blues by mamie smith was the record that launched a new era for blues in the music business. Mamie smith has gained legendary status as the first person to record a blues record, and her vaudeville style rendition of perry bradfords crazy blues in july 1920 achieved phenomenal sales, bringing about the birth of what was called race music. Crazy blues is an important contribution to black music, but it presents some ethical problems. The recording opened the door for a brand new market known from the 1920s to the 1940s as race records. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from mamie smith at the discogs marketplace. Dec 16, 2017 many neleive mamie s huge hit crazy blues, was the 1st blues ever recorde, although taht is not true, because marion harris waxed some blues in the teens, this artist still deserves credit for putting blues on the map and starting a national blues craze. Mamie smith compilations play 100 greatest songs of the 1920s. Mamie smiths success with crazy blues came as a surprise to record labels, but they soon realized that making records of blues songs was profitable. Nov 11, 2006 mamie smith was the first black artist to record a blues song. Mamie smith crazy blues 19201921 1989, vinyl discogs. A musical journey, and dangerous blues what have i done. The recording opened the door for a brand new market known from the 1920s to.
Join napster and access fulllength songs on your phone, computer or home audio device. She will always be remembered as the first lady of. First lady of the blues, and her remains are now at frederick douglass memorial park in. Mamie smith s 1920 recording of crazy blues was the first successful recording of a song by a blues singer. When mamie smith recorded crazy blues in 1920, and sold over 75,000 copies its first month, she broke open the.
Theres a change in the ocean, change in the deep blue sea, my baby. Sometime i sit and sigh and then begin to cry cause my best friend said his last goodbye. That record was crazy blues recorded august 10, 1920, which sold a million copies in its first six months and made record labels aware of the huge potential market for race records. Smith was not the first person to sing the blues on record, but up until crazy blues, almost all. Witnesses claimed that after its release in 1920, the song could be heard coming from the open windows of virtually any black neighborhood in america. Mamie smith the best of mamie smith crazy blues 78rpm version with her jazz hounds its right here for you with her jazz hounds. Mamie smiths 1920 recording of crazy blues was the first successful recording of a song by a blues singer. Mamie smith 18831946 was the first africanamerican female performer to make a vocal blues recording in 1920 with crazy blues. Watch the music video and discover trivia about this classic pop song now. Mamie smith and her jazz hounds recorded it on august 10, 1920, which was released that year by okeh records.
The stride pianist willie the lion smith appeared in photographs associated with the recording session, although bradford claimed to have played piano on the recording albeit buried in the mix. Mamie smiths success with crazy blues came as a surprise to record labels, but they soon realized that making records. Watch the video for crazy blues from mamie smith s mamie smith vol. Mamie smith in 1920, cincinnati, ohios mamie smith cut perry bradfords crazy blues for okeh records in new york city, marking the first recording of americas previously undocumented blues. The best of mamie smith by mamie smith on amazon music. Willie the lion smith no relation described the background of. In 1918, at the age of 35, she sang the title song, harlem blues, in perry bradfords musical, made in harlem. Crazy blues was composed by perry bradford for mamie smith in 1920, and sold a million copies in its first year. I began my career as a staff editor for guitar player magazine, 19781998, and as a freelancer for rolling stone, living blues, and many other publications here and abroad.
Is mamie smiths crazy blues the first blues record. I cant sleep at night i cant eat a bite cause the man i love he dont treat me right he makes me feel so blue i dont know what to do sometime i sit and sigh and. As a vaudeville singer she performed a number of styles including jazz and blues. Crazy blues was written by mamie smith 18831946 in 1920. Perry bradford music library locations music division shelf locator. He arranged for her to record crazy blues on the okeh label in 1920, and the rest is history. In 1920, she entered blues history as the first africanamerican artist to make vocal blues recordings. Information from its description page there is shown below. Smith was not the first person to sing the blues on record, but up until crazy blues, almost all the others had been white, catering to a white clientele. Our playlist today ranges from crazy blues by mamie smith in 1920 up to the more recent clarks by jamaican artist vybz kartel in 2010. Her song crazy blues was an enormous success almost overnight, with 10,000 copies sold within the first week, and 75,000 by the first month.
Watch the video for crazy blues from mamie smiths mamie smith vol. Mamie smith was the first black artist to record a blues song. Aug, 2009 mamie smith 18831946 was the first africanamerican female performer to make a vocal blues recording in 1920 with crazy blues. That got the attention of other labels and there was a scramble to sign similar artists. This 1920 record is the first commercial recording of blues music by an africanamerican singer. Mamie smith harlem blues lyrics i cant sleep at night i cant eat a bite cause the man i love he dont treat me right. Albums include crazy blues its right here for you if you dont get ittaint no fault o mine, the road is rocky but i am gonna find my way fare thee honey blues, and lovin sam from alabam dont care blues. I cant sleep at night i cant eat a bite cause the man i love he dont treat me right he makes me feel so blue i dont know what to do so. This event was the first realisation that there was a big demand among the african.
Mamie smith, mamie smith s jazz hounds, mamie smith jazz hounds, jazz, okeh, odeon superb instrumental recordings of mamie smith s jazz hounds. Mamie smith complete recorded works in chronological order volume 2 c. Mamie smith nee robinson may 26, 1883 september 16, 1946 was an american vaudeville singer, dancer, pianist and actress, who appeared in several films late in her career. Find mamie smith discography, albums and singles on allmusic allmusic new releases. Smiths biggest hit was recorded later, on august 10, 1920 when she recorded a set of songs written by perry bradford, including crazy blues and its right. Mamie smith began performing at the age of ten, in 1893, and toured the country numerous times before settling in harlem, where she sang and danced in clubs and cabarets in the early 1900s. These were taken from a rare spanish edition made by odeon in the early 20s where they were simply called american jazz band. Mamie smith in 1920, cincinnati, ohios mamie smith cut perry bradfords crazy blues for okeh records in new york city, marking the first recording of. Ogg vorbis sound file, length 3 min 31 s, 91 kbps this is a file from the wikimedia commons. Dec 07, 2012 crazy blues was written by mamie smith 18831946 in 1920. Albums include crazy blues its right here for you if you dont get ittaint no fault o mine, martin scorsese presents the blues.
Frequency 4 posts day since sep 2010 also in american music blogs blog facebook fans 182. Though technically not a blues performer, mamie smith notched her place in american music as the first black female singer to record a vocal blues. Mamie smith harlem blues lyrics at the lyric archive. Blues brothers 2000, blues explosion, blues pills, blues traveler, slashs blues ball, attica blues.
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