Tia Carroll does nail the Ma Rainey "look," although Tia is prettier than Ma. Rather than to do Ma, Tia is more poised to do a jazz collage of various female blues artists like Ma, Bessie Smith, Ida Cox, Lucille Hegamin, etc. but in Tia's own voice. Hit this kind of production up for a Public Television Broadcasting special to be shown during one of PBS-TV's fundraisers and you have a new jazz star, Miss Tia Carroll.
Once again, as in the Rosemary Rainey piece, Tia Carroll's vocal rendition is too modern day, lightweight and weak to be considered classic Ma Rainey blues, which were more heavy and raw, The Washboard Tub Jug Band musicians here are too "city slick," failing to capture that pre-war, rural feeling of the original band captured on Ma's Paramount Records 78 rpm recordings. Ma Rainey-"Dead Drunk Blues"---Gertrude Melissa Pridgett, you is da mother of all the blues dead or alive!!!
I was surprised to hear the radical change in Ma's voice, starting with the first version of Boweavil Blues, where she is a sweet mezzo-soprano, to her much later re-recording New Boweavil Blues, where Ma is now a heavy contralto and sounds like a man. Both Paramount 78 versions are significant, not only for the blues but in showing Ma's vocal and musical progression during her career as Mother of the Blues.
I saw Ma Rainey a few years back in Nashville Tn. She was so old she had to sit down to sing no one knew who she was but me and I shouted over to her to please sing Prove it on me blues...She thru her head back and let out a laugh ...then she cutt her eyes over at me and winked "Girl you know I can't sing that one Here!" Thanks for this one!
anyone remember celie's blues?
82emilia 2 years ago
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Awesome! I love Ma Rainey. I have more of her rarest songs on my channel, if you're interested.
mursallus1 2 years ago
From PROVE IT ON ME BLUES
"Went out last night with a crowd of my friends,
They must have been women, 'cause I don't like no men.
It's true I wear a collar and a tie, Make the wind blow all the time
They say I do it, ain't nobody caught me, Sure got to prove it on me. "
porghog 3 years ago
Tia Carroll does nail the Ma Rainey "look," although Tia is prettier than Ma. Rather than to do Ma, Tia is more poised to do a jazz collage of various female blues artists like Ma, Bessie Smith, Ida Cox, Lucille Hegamin, etc. but in Tia's own voice. Hit this kind of production up for a Public Television Broadcasting special to be shown during one of PBS-TV's fundraisers and you have a new jazz star, Miss Tia Carroll.
KojiRecords 4 years ago
Once again, as in the Rosemary Rainey piece, Tia Carroll's vocal rendition is too modern day, lightweight and weak to be considered classic Ma Rainey blues, which were more heavy and raw, The Washboard Tub Jug Band musicians here are too "city slick," failing to capture that pre-war, rural feeling of the original band captured on Ma's Paramount Records 78 rpm recordings. Ma Rainey-"Dead Drunk Blues"---Gertrude Melissa Pridgett, you is da mother of all the blues dead or alive!!!
KojiRecords 4 years ago 3
hmm... I'm listening to it now and I see what you're saying.
scootigger 4 years ago
I was surprised to hear the radical change in Ma's voice, starting with the first version of Boweavil Blues, where she is a sweet mezzo-soprano, to her much later re-recording New Boweavil Blues, where Ma is now a heavy contralto and sounds like a man. Both Paramount 78 versions are significant, not only for the blues but in showing Ma's vocal and musical progression during her career as Mother of the Blues.
KojiRecords 4 years ago
Wish I could actually hear all of the song!
a567and8 4 years ago
a few years she died in the 30's...
hollythicket 4 years ago
I saw Ma Rainey a few years back in Nashville Tn. She was so old she had to sit down to sing no one knew who she was but me and I shouted over to her to please sing Prove it on me blues...She thru her head back and let out a laugh ...then she cutt her eyes over at me and winked "Girl you know I can't sing that one Here!" Thanks for this one!
majesty665 4 years ago
???? I dont get it. You know Ma has been dead since like the 1930's right? Maybe i missed the joke!
muzikal21 4 years ago
I'm guessing 1. it was dream
2. it wasn't REALLY Ma Rainey but someone who had that spirit
3. majesty's a hot mess and acting up
or 4. It really happened
But I love this... and I do want to hear the entire song.. shit
scootigger 4 years ago
Love this.
tel58 4 years ago
Thanks, it was fun. The complete video will be shown at the Oakland International Film Festival on October 24th.
tiacarroll 4 years ago
Cool, but what's with the four-piece modern blues band backing the woman who's playing Ma Rainey?
haleyfan 4 years ago