•  1  •  Wild Women (Don't Have the Blues) 
•  2  •  Blues for Rampart Street 
•  3  •  St. Louis Blues 
•  4  •  Fogyism 
•  5  •  Hard Times Blues 
•  6  •  Cherry Pickin' Blues 
•  7  •  Hard, Oh Lord 
•  8  •  Lawdy Lawdy Blues 
•  9  •  Death Letter Blues 
•  10  •  Mama Goes Where Papa Goes

Artists:
Ida Cox – vocals
Coleman Hawkins – tenor sax
Roy Eldridge – trumpet
Sam Price – piano
Milt Hinton – bass
Jo Jones – drums

Classic blues singer Ida Cox had not recorded since 1940 nor performed regularly since the mid-'40s when she was coaxed out of retirement to record a date for Riverside in 1961. At 65 years old (some books list her as being 72), Cox's voice was a bit rusty and past its prime, but she still had the feeling, phrasing, and enough tricks to perform a strong program. With assistance from trumpeter Roy Eldridge, tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, pianist Sammy Price, bassist Milt Hinton, and drummer Jo Jones (swing-era veterans who came up after Cox was already a major name), the singer does her best on such numbers as "Wild Women Don't Have the Blues," "Blues for Rampart Street," "St. Louis Blues," and "Death Letter Blues." Since she passed away in 1967, this final effort (reissued on CD) was made just in time and is well worth acquiring by 1920s jazz and blues collectors. ---Scott Yanow, Rovi

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Vol.1 (1923)

1. Any Woman's Blues
2. Bama Bound Blues
3. Lovin' Is The Thing I'm Wild About
4. Graveyard Dream Blues
5. Graveyard Dream Blues
6. Weary Way Blues
7. Blue Monday Blues
8. I Love My Man Better Than I Love Myself
9. Ida Cox's Lawdy, Lawdy Blues (Take 3)
10. Ida Cox's Lawdy, Lawdy Blues (Take 4)	play
11. Moanin' Groanin' Blues
12. Chattanooga Blues
13. Chicago Bound Blues (Take 2)
14. Chicago Bound Blues (Take 3)
15. Come Right In
16. I've Got The Blues For Rampart Street (Take 3)	play
17. I've Got The Blues For Rampart Street (Take 4)
18. Graveyard Dream Blues
19. Mama Doo Shee Blues
20. Worried Mama Blues
21. So Soon This Morning Blues
22. Mail Man Blues
23. Confidential Blues
24. Bear-Mash Blues

Personnel: 
Ida Cox (vocals, piano); 
Jimmy O'Bryant (clarinet, piano); 
Tommy Ladnier (cornet); 
Jesse Crump, Lovie Austin (piano).

Ida Cox was one of the most powerful blues singers of the 1920s, ranking just below Bessie Smith. The Document label has reissued all of Cox's 1920s recordings on four CDs, leaving out many of the alternate takes (since there are a great deal from 1923-24) to be put out on a later series. The first CD has the master takes of all of Cox's recordings from 1923, plus four alternates. Except for the closing "Bear-Mash Blues," which finds the singer joined by her future husband Jesse Crump on piano, the music either features accompaniment by pianist Lovie Austin (an underrated blues player) or assistance from Austin, the great cornetist Tommy Ladnier and clarinetist Jimmy O'Bryant. Cox was one of the few singers from this early period who could overcome the technical limitations of the primitive recording equipment and really communicate with the listener. Among the highlights from her first year on records are "Any Woman's Blues," "Graveyard Dream Blues" (which is heard in three versions), "Ida Cox's Lawdy, Lawdy Blues," "Moanin' Groanin' Blues," "Come Right In" (which has some lines that would become quite familiar in later songs) and "I've Got the Blues for Rampart Street." Highly recommended. ~Scott Yanow

Ida Cox was one of the most talented of the classic blues singers of the 1920s. This Document CD has 24 of her first 32 recordings and, although one regrets that it is not a "complete" series (hopefully the dozen other alternate takes will be reissued by Document eventually), the music is consistently enjoyable and timeless. In fact, quite a few of the lyrics (many of which were written by Cox) were later permanently "borrowed" by Jimmy Rushing and Joe Williams; the first stanza of "Goin' to Chicago" was taken from "Chicago Monkey Man Blues" and "Bear-Mash Blues" has a couple of Williams' best lines. When one considers that the music on this CD is taken from 1923-24, it can certainly be considered ahead of its time! Most of the musicians backing Ida Cox are excellent, particularly pianist Lovie Austin and (on five numbers) cornetist Tommy Ladnier and clarinetist Jimmy O'Bryant. The recording quality (even with some surface noise) has been greatly cleaned up for this reissue and Cox's singing is very easy to understand. Although uncrowned, Ida Cox (who after retiring in 1945 came back for a final recording in 1961) can still communicate to today's listeners, something than can be said about very few other singers from 1923. ---aaron amazon.com

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Vol.2 (1924-1925)

1. Mean Lovin' Man Blues (Take 3)
2. Down The Road Bound Blues (Take 2)
3. Last Time Blues (Take 2)
4. Worried Any How Blues
5. Chicago Monkey Man Blues (Take 1)
6. Chicago Monkey Man Blues (Take 2)
7. Mean Papa Turn Your Key
8. Blues Ain't Nothin' Else But! (Take 2)
9. Worried In Mind Blues (Take 1)			play
10. My Mean Man Blues (Take 1)
11. Kentucky Man Blues
12. Cherry Picking Blues
13. Wild Women Don't Have The Blues
14. Worried In Mind Blues (Take 3)
15. Death Letter Blues
16. My Mean Man Blues (Take 4)
17. Those Married Man Blues
18. Misery Blues
19. Graveyard Bound Blues
20. Mississippi River Blues
21. Georgia Hound Blues
22. Blue Kentucky Blues				play
23. Black Crepe Blues
24. Fare Thee Well Poor Gal

Personnel: 
Ida Cox (vocals); 
Miles Pruitt (guitar, banjo); 
Charlie Dixon (banjo); 
Don Redman (clarinet, soprano saxophone); 
Stump Evans, Jimmy O'Bryant, Johnny Dodds (clarinet); Charles Harris (alto saxophone);
 Elmer Chambers, Tommy Ladiner, Howard H. Scott (cornet);
Charlie Green (trombone); 
Lovie Austin & Her Blue Serenaders, Fletcher Henderson (piano); 
Kaiser Marshall (drums).

Unlike most of her contemporaries, who spent at least part of their time singing vaudeville-type material and pop songs, Ida Cox stuck throughout her career to the blues. On the second of four Document CDs that reissue all of her 1920s material (although some of the many alternate takes are bypassed), Cox is mostly accompanied by either Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders (which usually includes cornetist Tommy Ladnier and clarinetist Jimmy O'Bryant, although the great Johnny Dodds is on six selections) or, on one date, members of Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra. The recording quality of these Paramount 78s (which cover a 13-month period) is erratic, but there are a few classics here, including "Chicago Monkey Man Blues" (which has some lyrics that would later be used for "Going to Chicago"), "Blues Ain't Nothin' Else But," "Wild Women Don't Have the Blues" and "Death Letter Blues." Throughout, Ida Cox (who was second to Bessie Smith at the time) is quite consistent, making the most of her limitations. Recommended. ~Scott Yanow

This is the 2nd of four CD's by the Document label which feature all of Ida Cox's early classic blues performances in chronological order. One of the many highlights of this CD are a classic rendition of "Chicago Mankey Man Blues." All of the CD's in this series are easily recommended to jazz and blues collectors as well as the novice listener. Cox's voice isn't dated like most singers from the 20's, she still communicates to today's listeners(like Bessie Smith). And the musicians are wonderful the best jazz musicians of the 20's like Henry "Red" Allen, Coleman Hawkins, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Beechet, all back her up on various CD's in the series. Highly recommended, though you may want to start with Volume one and work you're way through Volume Four. At least get Volume one, or two this is essential music for any serious jazz collector, and even for the novice. ---aaron amazon.com

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Vol.3 (1925-1927)

1. Cold Black Ground Blues
2. Someday Blues
3. Mister Man - Part 1
4. Mister Man - Part 2
5. Mistreatin' Daddy Blues (Take 1)
6. Long Distance Blues
7. Southern Woman's Blues (Take 2)
8. Lonesome Blues
9. How Long Daddy, How Long
10. How Can I Miss You When I've Got Dead Aim (Take 2)
11. I Ain't Got Nobody (Take 2)
12. Coffin Blues
13. Rambling Blues (Take 2)			play
14. One Time Woman Blues
15. Trouble Trouble Blues			play
16. Do Lawd Do (Take 1)
17. I'm Leaving Here Blues (Take 1)
18. Night And Day Blues (Take 2)
19. Don't Blame Me
20. Scottle De Doo
21. Fore Day Creep
22. Gypsy Glass Blues
23. Mojo Hand Blues
24. Alphonsia Blues

Personnel: 
Ida Cox (vocals); 
Papa Charlie Jackson (vocals, banjo); 
Houston Woodfork (banjo);
Jimmy O'Bryant, Johnny Dodds (clarinet); 
Bob Shoffner, Bernie Young, Dave Nelson , Tommy Ladnier, Shirley Clay (cornet); 
Kid Ory, Albert Wynn (trombone); 
Jesse Crump (piano, reed organ); 
Lovie Austin (piano); 
W.E. Burton (drums).

The third of four "complete" Ida Cox CDs from Document has 14 selections from 1925, six from 1926 and four from 1927. Most of the sessions feature the masterful blues singer assisted by Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders, whose personnel was changing during this era -- they featured either Tommy Ladnier, the underrated Bob Shoffner, Bernie Young or Shirley Clay on cornet, Jimmy O'Bryant or (on two songs) Johnny Dodds on clarinet, and other unidentified musicians, including a trombonist. In addition, there are three duets with banjoist Papa Charlie Jackson, a couple of numbers in which Cox is joined by cornetist Dave Nelson and Jesse Crump on reed organ, and the first four tunes from a lengthy 1927 set that has Cox accompanied only by Crump's piano. Most interesting is "How Long Daddy, How Long," which was the basis of Leroy Carr's famous "How Long Blues." Other highlights include "Long Distance Blues," "Southern Woman's Blues," "Coffin Blues" and Cox's famous "'Fore Day Creep." All four of the discs in this valuable series are easily recommended to serious blues collectors. ~Scott Yanow

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Vol 4 (1927-38) 

01. Pleading Blues - 3:00
02. Lost Man Blues - 2:47
03. Hard Oh Lawd - 2:34
04. Mercy Blues - 3:00
05. Seven Day Blues - 3:05
06. Cold And Blue - 2:48
07. Midnight Hour Blues - 2:52
08. Give Me A Break Blues - 2:53
09. Bone Orchard Blues - 2:58
10. Sobbing Tears Blues - 3:29
11. Booze Crazy Man Blues - 3:05
12. Broadcasting Blues - 2:45
13. Western Union Blues - 2:33
14. Fogyism - 2:44
15. Seperated Blues - 2:41
16. Tree Top Tall Papa - 2:25
17. Marble Stone Blues - 2:41
18. Crow Jane Woman - 2:44
19. Worn Down Daddy Blues - 2:38
20. You Stole My Man - 2:42
21. I'm So Glad - 3:11
22. Jail House Blues - 3:22
23. Four Day Creep - 3:28
24. Low Down Dirty Shame - 2:36

Personnel: 
Ida Cox (vocals); 
Buddy Tate (tenor saxophone); 
Shad Collins (trumpet); 
B.T. Wingfield, Dave Nelson (cornet); 
Dicky Wells, Roy Palmer (trombone); 
Jesse Crump, James P. Johnson, Tiny Parham (piano); 
Jo Jones (drums).

The fourth and final CD in Document's extensive Ida Cox series features the classic blues singer in a variety of settings: backed by her future husband Jesse Crump on eight selections from 1927; accompanied by a variety of mostly unknown players on a dozen numbers from 1928; joined by a trio (including trombonist Roy Palmer) on two 1929 sides; and, finally, assisted by five Count Basie sidemen (trumpeter Shad Collins, trombonist Dickie Wells, tenorman Buddy Tate, bassist Walter Page and drummer Jo Jones) and pianist James P. Johnson during her two songs at the 1938 Spirituals to Swing Concert. Unfortunately, Document did not put out a Vol. 5 to cover Cox's 1939-40 recordings (which were reissued by Affinity). Although none of these individual selections became that famous, she is heard in prime form throughout, and she is at her best during the duets with Crump. In fact, Cox is in such fine form during her 1938 concert appearance that it makes one wonder why she was not more active on records during the 1930s and '40s. The first two CDs in this series get the edge, but all four will be wanted by vintage blues fans. ---Scott Yanow, Rovi

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Vol 5 (1939 - 1940) 

01. Deep Sea Blues (Take 1) - 3:21
02. Deep Sea Blues (Take 2) - 3:24
03. Death Letter Blues (Take 1) - 3:17
04. Death Letter Blues (Take 4) - 2:47
05. One Hour Mama (Take 4) - 2:56
06. One Hour Mama (Breakdown) Take 5 - 0:17
07. One Hour Mama (Take 6) - 3:07
08. Four Day Creep - 3:29
09. Pink Slip Blues - 3:01
10. Hard Times Blues - 3:00
11. Take Him Off My Mind - 3:06
12. Last Mile Blues (Take 1) - 3:12
13. Last Mile Blues (Take 2) - 3:19
14. I Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Break My Heart - 3:22
15. I Can't Quit That Man (Take 1) - 2:55
16. I Can't Quit That Man (Take 2) - 3:00
17. I Can't Quit That Man (Take 3) - 3:17
18. You Got To Swing And Sway (Take 1) - 2:58
19. You Got To Swing And Sway (Take 2) - 2:34

Personnel: 
Ida Cox (vocals); 
Charlie Christian (guitar); 
Edmond Hall (clarinet); 
Billy Taylor , Artie Bernstein (bass saxophone); 
Henry "Red" Allen, Hot Lips Page (trumpet); 
J.C. Higginbotham (trombone); 
Fletcher Henderson, James P. Johnson (piano); 
Jimmie Hoskins, Lionel Hampton (drums);
Cliff Jackson & His Crazy Cats, 
James P. Johnson & His Orchestra.

Other than an album from 1961, this CD has blues singer Ida Cox's final recordings. The first seven selections (which include a previously unreleased "One Hour Mama") has four additional alternate takes. Cox is heard in 1939 backed by an accurately-titled "all-star band" that consists of trumpeter Hot Lips Page, trombonist J.C. Higginbotham, clarinetist Edmond Hall, either James P. Johnson or Fletcher Henderson on piano, guitarist Charlie Christian, bassist Artie Bernstein and Lionel Hampton on drums. Although her prime was considered the 1920s, Ida Cox on "Death Letter Blues" and "Four Day Creep" still sounds pretty strong. The remainder of this CD is taken from a 1940 session with trumpeter Red Allen, Higginbotham, Hall, pianist Cliff Jackson, bassist Billy Taylor, and drummer Jimmy Hoskins that resulted in four titles and four alternate takes; only two performances were released previously, but Cox's singing is excellent. It is a pity that because musical styles had changed, Ida Cox was largely forgotten during this period. --- Scott Yanow, Rovi

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