ETHEL WATERS – 1921-1923 | The Classics Chronological Series – 796 (1994) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Ethel Waters was one of the few singers from the early '20s whose early recordings are still quite listenable. This CD from the Classics label has her first 22 sides (many previously rare including five interesting instrumentals by Waters's band) and, although not on the same level as her performances from a few years later, the music is quite good for the time period. The sidemen are mostly obscure but include pianist Fletcher Henderson and cornetists Gus Aiken and Joe Smith with the highlights being "The New York Glide," "Down Home Blues," "There'll Be Some Changes Made" and "Midnight Blues."  Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1     The New York Glide    3:04   
Unknown
2     At the New Jump Steady Ball    3:26   
Tom Delaney / Sidney Easton
3     Oh, Daddy    3:18    
Victor Herbert / Willy Russell
4     Down Home Blues    3:26  
Tom Delaney
5     One Man Nan    2:56   
Victor Herbert / Willy Russell
6     There'll Be Some Changes Made    3:22  
Billy Higgins / W. Benton Overstreet
7     Dying With the Blues    2:57    
Fletcher Henderson
8     Kiss Your Pretty Baby Nice    3:07   
Edgar Dowell
9     'Frisco Jazz Band Blues    3:27    
Unknown
10     Royal Garden Blues    3:12
Clarence Williams / Spencer Williams
11     Bugle Blues    2:38    
W.C. Handy
12     Jazzin' Babies Blues    3:07    
Ralph "Shrimp" Jones
13     Kind Lovin' Blues    3:04    
Fletcher Henderson / Sidney Mitchell / Ethel Waters
14     Georgia Blues    3:13    
Billy Higgins / W. Benton Overstreet
15     That Da Da Strain    2:55    
Edgar Dowell / Mamie Medina
16     Tiger Rag    3:09   
Harry Da Costa / Eddie Edwards / Nick LaRocca / Henry W. Ragas / Tony Sbarbaro / Larry Shields
17     Pacific Coast Blues    3:36    
Hegamin / Hammed
18     At the New Jump Steady Ball    2:53    
Tom Delaney / Sidney Easton
19     Oh Joe, Play That Trombone    2:37    
Edgar Dowell
20     Memphis Man    2:44    
Henry / Grant
21     Midnight Blues    3:02
 Clarence Williams
22     Brown Baby    2:59
Grant
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Clarence Harris (tracks: 1, 2), Unknown Artist (tracks: 1, 2)
Banjo – John Mitchell (tracks: 20 to 22)
Bass Saxophone – Unknown Artist (tracks: 9 to 11)
Brass Bass – Ralph Escudero (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 8), Unknown Artist (tracks: 18, 19)
Clarinet – Edgar Campbell (tracks: 3, 4, 20 to 22), Garvin Bushell (tracks: 5 to 11), Unknown Artist (tracks: 7, 8, 18, 19)
Clarinet [?] – Clarence Robinson (tracks: 12 to 17), Elmer Chambers (tracks: 20 to 22)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone [?] – Joe Elder (tracks: 9 to 11)
Cornet – Gus Aiken (tracks: 9 to 11), Joe Smith (tracks: 12 to 17)
Drums – Kaiser Marshall (tracks: 1, 2), Raymond Green (tracks: 16, 17)
Piano – Fletcher Henderson (tracks: 3 to 22), Wilson Kyer (tracks: 1, 2)
Trombone – Bud Aiken (tracks: 9 to 11), George Brashear (tracks: 12 to 17, 20 to 22), James Reevy (tracks: 1, 2), Unknown Artist (tracks: 5, 6, 18, 19)
Trombone [?] – Chink Johnson (tracks: 3, 4, 7, 8)
Trumpet – Unknown Artist (tracks: 3 to 8, 18, 19), Wesley Johnson (tracks: 1, 2)
Violin – Cordy Williams (tracks: 3, 4)
Violin [?] – Charlie Jackson (tracks: 5 to 8)
Vocals – Ethel Waters (tracks: 1 to 8, 12 to 15, 18 to 22)