Trixie Smith's recording of "My Daddy Rocks Me" should probably carry a parental warning. You won't find any dirty words, but she rolls one sexual innuendo after another into the three-minute song.Even if she hadn't, you could still tell it was a song about late-night rompin'. Every note she sings is filled with the kind of sexy anticipation you normally find only in honeymoon suites. Sidney Bechet's soprano saxophone and Charlie Shavers' trumpet sound sweet and nasty, too.
Judging from the songs on her collection called "Complete Recorded Works – Volume 2 (1925-1929)," Smith was an all-round party girl. In addition to the many songs filled with amorous intent, the album includes "Jack I'm Mellow," one of my favorite tunes about being high.
You can tell a lot about a musician by looking at the company she keeps. So you know Smith must have been a superstar when you see the credits for this collection include Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson, Sammy Price, Johnny Dodds, Charlie Green and a lot of other fabulous jazz and blues musicians.
I certainly think she's one of the all-time great blues singers. If I rated albums, this one would get five stars. If you're reading my blog, I'm betting you'd probably agree. Just don't play "My Daddy Rocks Me" for your better half unless you're in the mood.
(Blues Blog Special is a regular feature that examines older blues albums worth checking out.)
