July was a banner month for blues releases with the release of a massive box set from blues grand dame and legend Ma Rainey, featuring her entire recordings at Paramount Records between 1923-1928. Additionally, Chris O'Leary provides some hard-core roadhouse blues, and Albert Castiglia goes to London to revisit his influences.
Ma Rainey— Ma Rainey: Mother Of The Blues, The Complete Paramount Recordings 1923-1928, July 24
Ma Rainey might not have given birth to the blues, but she nurtured them like a devoted mother lavishing her tough love on her rough and tumble babies. Rainey was a huge figure in her heyday, her record sales larger than contemporaries including Son House and Robert Johnson. Rainey also retained control of her career, managing herself for almost three decades, and holding copyrights and publishing rights to many of her songs.
Rainey had a big appetite for men, food, clothing, jewelry, and means of transportation, including ownership of her own tour bus. In addition to breaking racial and gender barriers, Rainey built a career as a blues performer comfortable with bringing other styles into the music, including ragtime, hokum, and jazz. First breaking onto the musical scene with husband William, whom she married in 1904, after his death in 1919 Rainey built a solo career recording with soon-to-be greats including Louis Armstrong and Tampa Red, with Sunnyland Slim and T-Bone Walker in her touring band. Rainey was not a blues shouter, delivering her message with plenty of oomph and swagger without being overbearing.
