Bessie Smith – Empty Bed Blues 1928

 

Bessie Smith – Empty Bed Blues: A Deep Dive into the Blues Classic

Columbia records 1928 – 14312-D 78rpm

notes:

If you want to understand the roots of modern soul, R&B, 

or even rock and roll, you eventually have to sit down with 

the Empress herself: Bessie Smith.

In 1928, Smith recorded "Empty Bed Blues," a track that 

would become one of the most iconic (and controversial) 

recordings of the decade. Recorded in two parts to accommodate 

its length, the song is a masterclass in storytelling, 

vocal control, and the art of the double entendre.

While the title suggests a somber meditation on loneliness, 

"Empty Bed Blues" is actually quite witty. Bessie doesn't just

 sing about being sad; she sings about being unsatisfied.

Accompanied by Charlie Green’s trombone—which practically

 talks back to her throughout the track—Bessie uses a series of 

metaphors to describe her partner’s "talents" and her subsequent

 abandonment. When she sings about her "deep sea diver with his 

breeches on," the audience in 1928 knew exactly what she meant. 

It was bold, it was "blue," and it was revolutionary.

credits:

    Piano [Uncredited] – Porter Grainger

    Trombone [Uncredited] – Charlie Green

    Vocals – Bessie Smith

    Written-By – Johnson

Recorded March 20, 1928, New York.

tracklist:

A Empty Bed Blues - Part 1

B Empty Bed Blues - Part 2

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