1933
DO YOUR DUTY * BESSIE SMITH * PHILLIPS 12231 * UK
Bessie Smith recorded Do Your Duty in a 'comeback' period on what was to be the last recording date in the final six years of her life; the session was on 24th November 1933 and the musicians fortunate enough to be part of this slice of musical history were: Frankie Newton, trumpet; Jack Teagarden, trombone; Chu Berry, tenor sax; Buck Washington, piano; Bobby Johnson guitar and Billy Taylor, bass.. The song a lively up-tempo Blues is an uncompromising challenge (and a warning) to men to get stuck in, so to speak, quite literally to 'do there duty'! or somebody else will be doing it for them. The lyrics are often funny and serious at the same time "If you don't know what it's all about, don't stand around my house and pout, till you catch your mama tipping out" so well crafted and delivered are they that I never tire of smiling while feeling the bite of Bessie's challenge when listening to this record
See also:
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| Empty Be Blues |
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