St. Louis Blues Video & Audio

The 1929 film is the only known film recording of Bessie Smith—which is rather unfortunate, since the short film hardly does her singing justice and was mainly a way to make some fast cash.

The original track as recorded by Smith and Armstrong in the studio with Frank Walker.

This is an exciting and brilliant rendition from Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy, featuring Velma Middleton.