Ivy Smith & Cow Cow Davenport – Complete Recorded Works (1927-1930)

Virtually nothing is known about blues singer Ivy Smith. She recorded with Cow Cow Davenport (not only on her own sessions but guesting on some of his selections) and was in an unsuccessful road show organized by the pianist-singer called “The Cow Cow Steppers”. Otherwise she is lost to history.

All 20 titles issued under her own name are on this interesting CD, not counting two that have not been found. Smith shows that she was a capable lowdown blues singer who could also sing vaudevillian blues and hokum. None of these songs became hits, the blues craze was long past by 1927, but Smith acquits herself well. Cow Cow Davenport is mostly in a background role, taking occasional short solos. However he is more prominent on three vocal duets with Smith (Mistreated Mamma Blues, Doin’ That Thing, and Somebody’s Got To Knock a Jug) and occasionally takes a forceful spot, most notably on Alabammy Mistreated. But this CD is very much Ivy Smith’s show; she is worth discovering by vintage blues collectors. – Scott Yanow

Note: See also Document Records DOCD-5141, DOCD-5142 and DOCD-5586.