St. Louis Bessie and Alice Moore – St. Louis Women Vol. 1, Document Records DOCD-5290 album cover featuring a Paramount record label and portraits of Henry Brown, Lonnie Johnson and Ike Rodgers.

St. Louis Women Vol. 1 – St. Louis Bessie (Mae Smith) & Alice Moore (1927–1929) | DOCD-5290

22 historic blues recordings featuring two distinctive female voices of the late 1920s, presented in chronological order.

Featuring St. Louis Bessie (also recorded as Blue Belle) with Lonnie Johnson, and Alice Moore accompanied by musicians including pianist Henry Brown and trombonist Ike Rodgers.

Originally recorded between 1927 and 1929 in St. Louis, Chicago, Richmond and Grafton.

Document Records DOCD-5290 | Audio CD | 22 tracks | Historical remastered recordings

St. Louis Women Vol. 1 – St. Louis Bessie & Alice Moore (1927–1929)

22 rare recordings of early female blues, presented in chronological order. This Document Records collection brings together two distinctive voices from the St. Louis blues tradition. St. Louis Bessie (Mae Smith), recording as Blue Belle, delivers twelve remarkable performances. Her songs explore love, death, superstition and hardship. Accompanied by the legendary Lonnie Johnson, her recordings include Ghost Creepin’ Blues, Boa Constrictor Blues and My Daddy’s Coffin Blues. Alice Moore contributes ten recordings from 1929. Accompanied by pianist Henry Brown and trombonist Ike Rodgers, her songs include Prison Blues, Cold Iron Walls and Lonesome Dream Blues.

Track Listing

St. Louis Bessie (Blue Belle), 1927–1928
  1. Cryin’ for Daddy Blues
  2. High Water Blues
  3. Creepin’ Eel Blues
  4. Ghost Creepin’ Blues
  5. Boa Constrictor Blues
  6. Dead Sea Blues
  7. Sneakin’ Lizard Blues
  8. My Daddy’s Coffin Blues
  9. Mean Bloodhound Blues
  10. Death Valley Moan
  11. Sweet Black Woman
  12. Good Feelin’ Blues
Alice Moore, 1929
  1. Black and Evil Blues
  2. Prison Blues
  3. My Man Blues
  4. Broadway St. Woman Blues
  5. Have Mercy Blues
  6. Cold Iron Walls
  7. Loving Heart Blues
  8. Serving Time Blues
  9. Lonesome Dream Blues
  10. Kid Man Blues

Album Details

  • Label: Document Records
  • Catalogue No.: DOCD-5290
  • Format: CD compilation
  • Original release: 1994
  • Recordings: 1927–1929
  • Liner notes: Chris Smith
  • Compilation producer: Johnny Parth
  • Remastering: Soundborn Studios