Scott Joplin, W C Handy, Bessie Smith, Various - The Roots Of Jazz Scott Joplin WC Handy Bessie Smith ODJB

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Review by Sarah Thomas

Album Review: The Roots of Jazz – Scott Joplin, W.C. Handy, Bessie Smith & ODJB If you’re into jazz or just curious about where it all began, The Roots of Jazz is one heck of a starting point. Released in 1984 by The Greatest Jazz Recordings Of All Time label, this compilation feels like flipping through an old photo album filled with snapshots of American music history. It’s got legends like Scott Joplin, W.C. Handy, and Bessie Smith doing what they do best—laying down tracks that feel timeless even today. Let’s talk standouts. First up, there’s “Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin. Man, this tune hits different every time I hear it. You know those moments when you’re walking somewhere, headphones on, and suddenly your feet start tapping without you even realizing? That’s “Maple Leaf Rag.” Joplin wasn’t just playing piano; he was painting pictures with sound. This track reminds me why ragtime was such a big deal back in the day—it’s bouncy, clever, and kinda makes you wanna grab a partner for an impromptu dance right in your living room. Then there’s Bessie Smith’s “Backwater Blues,” which punches you straight in the gut but in the best way possible. Her voice doesn’t just sing—it tells stories. Listening to her belt out lyrics about floods and hard times gives me chills. She doesn’t need fancy production tricks or autotune; she’s raw, real, and unforgettable. Every note drips with emotion, making you feel like you’re sitting right next to her as she sings. Honestly, if blues had a face, it’d look a lot like hers. This album isn’t perfect—it jumps around a bit genre-wise, mixing early jazz, blues, and ragtime—but maybe that’s part of its charm. It’s less of a cohesive project and more of a sampler platter showcasing how these pioneers shaped modern music. Tracks like “Tiger Rag” from ODJB bring the energy, while cuts like “Solace” remind you how intricate and beautiful slow-tempo pieces can be. What gets me thinking, though, is how much we owe these artists. Without them experimenting and pushing boundaries back then, who knows where music would’ve gone? Like, imagine no jazz clubs, no rock ‘n’ roll rebellion, no hip-hop beats. Crazy, right? Oh, and here’s something funny—I listened to “Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie” while trying to write this review, and now my fingers are typing twice as fast. Coincidence? Maybe not. So yeah, give The Roots of Jazz a spin. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned listener, this collection will take you back to where it all started—and trust me, the journey’s worth it.

Download Scott Joplin, W C Handy, Bessie Smith, Various - The Roots Of Jazz Scott Joplin WC Handy Bessie Smith ODJB
Artist: Scott Joplin, W C Handy, Bessie Smith, Various
Album: The Roots Of Jazz Scott Joplin WC Handy Bessie Smith ODJB

Table of Contents

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Filename: scott-joplin-w-c-handy-bessie-smith-various-the-roots-of-jazz.zip
  • MP3 size: 302.4 mb
  • FLAC size: 1766.4 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Castle House Rag
Move On Up a Little Higher
Heliotrope Bouquet
Nobody Knows
I'm Praying Humble
Blue Yodel No. 9 (Standing On The Corner)
Nickle's Worth of Liver Blues
Rock Island Line
Banjoreno
Blue Light
Backwater Blues
New Bo-Weavil Blues
Little Boy
Solace
Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground
Sixth Avenue Express
Matchbox Blues
Bottom Blues
Ole Miss Rag
Down By The Riverside
When I Get Inside
Tiger Rag
Dixie Jazz Band One-Step
Early In The Mornin'
Maple Leaf Rag
Pianoflage
Saint Louis Tickle
Hellhound On My Trail
Dead Drunk Blues
Country Boy
Careless Love
Good Morning Blues
T-Bone Shuffle
Decoration Day
Whoopin' Blues
Peace Be Still
Worry, Worry, Worry
Pinetop's Boogie Woogie
What'd I Say
St. Louis Blues
Everyday I Have the Blues
Charleston Rag
Kinklets
Lips' Blues
Long Distance Call
Roll 'Em Pete
Blue Spirit Blues
Stone Pony Blues

Catalog Numbers

JAZZ14

Labels

The Greatest Jazz Recordings Of All Time

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Formats

  • 4 × Vinyl
  • LP
  • Compilation

Notes

On Red Vinyl

About Scott Joplin, W C Handy, Bessie Smith, Various

American composer and pianist, born 24 November 1868 in Texarkana, Texas, USA and died 1 April 1917 in New York City, New York, USA. He was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1976.

Name Vars

  • F. Joplin
  • J. Joplin
  • J.Joplin
  • Jophin
  • Jopin
  • Joplin
  • Joplin Scott
  • S Joplin
  • S, Joplin
  • S. Joblin
  • S. Joplin
  • S. Joplin-Scott
  • S. Jopplin
  • S. Scott
  • S.Joplin
  • Sc.Joplin
  • Schott Joplin
  • Scot Joplin
  • Scot. Joplin
  • Scott - Joplin
  • Scott Joblin
  • Scott Jopin
  • Scott Joplen
  • Scott Joplin Music
  • Scott Jopling
  • Scott Jopplin
  • Scott Loplin
  • Scott, Joplin
  • Scott-Joplin
  • Scott/Joplin
  • Toplin
  • Yoplin
  • joplin
  • С. Джеплин
  • С. Джоплин
  • Скотт Джоплин
  • ¹³ÃÈû¸çÃ×êó

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *The Roots Of Jazz* is like a time machine. It brings together legends like Scott Joplin, W.C. Handy, and Bessie Smith, blending their iconic sounds into one epic collection. Released in 1984, it’s not just jazz—it’s a journey through the roots of American music. Tracks like "Maple Leaf Rag" and "St. Louis Blues" show how these artists shaped jazz history. It’s wild to think this album ties together so many styles and voices that still echo today.