Jo Stafford - Ballad of the Blues (1959) Vinyl LP • Kansas City Memphis Blues

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Condition Details:

Special Re-issue sticker on front. Vinyl plays with some crackles and a few light-clicks (play-graded). Cover has a few creases near edges; scuffing (front/back); discoloration spots on back. Inner-sleeve is generic white. Spine is easy-to-read with mild-wear. Some shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge and corners. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. (Not a cut-out.)

Tracks:

1. Blues Is An Old, Old Story
2. The Blues Is A Tale Of Trouble
3. The Blues Is A Traveling Thing
4. Times Change And Things Change

About The Record:

Ballad of the Blues, by Jo Stafford, is a sophisticated concept album that traces the origins and evolution of the blues through four themed medleys, blending traditional spirituals, folk songs, and classic blues standards into a cohesive narrative journey. Uniquely structured with original connecting material composed by her husband Paul Weston and featuring lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, the album is neither a strict historical account nor a pure collection of authentic blues but a creative pop-jazz interpretation, backed by Paul Weston's orchestra and the vocal harmonies of The Starlighters. Historically significant as an early and influential example of the blues-themed concept album by a major pop vocalist, it is often regarded by critics and fans as one of Stafford's career pinnacles and helped inspire similar projects by contemporaries like Peggy Lee and Kay Starr. Standout tracks and fan favorites include the haunting renditions of Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen, Kansas City Blues, Memphis Blues, He's Gone Away, Lover Man, and Blues in the Night, praised for Stafford's emotive delivery and the seamless transitions. The album showcases Stafford's versatility in tackling the blues genre with conviction, despite her primary background in traditional pop.