I Ain't A Gamblin' Woman

Raunchy African American women's blues. And apart from raunchiness - itself capable of inspiring violent reactions - much of the material here would have been fraught with danger. Any expression of independence carried with it the threat of a racist response.

This is a celebration of lesser known singers, from the early blues era featuring an approximate CD's-worth by Clara Smith, Lucille Bogan, and Lil Johnson. A fourth, Moanin' Bernice Edwards has only 14 vocal sides to her name, so she's supplemented by four Texas Blueswomen: Hociel Thomas, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Tucker and Victoria Spivey. We cover rural, urban and vaudeville blues styles.

What must be emphasised is that these women were transgressive in at least two ways. First, they dared to dominate at a time when women were expected to be submissive. Second, in their celebration - albeit euphemistic - of sex they risked outraging the prudish majority.