Down Hearted Blues

1922

Down Hearted Blues ( often also Downhearted Blues ) is the title of a popular blues songs, the Alberta Hunter and Lovie Austin wrote together.

Hunter, who was also active as a singer, the song often played as part of a commitment to the Chicago Dreamland Café live, including Joe King Oliver, 1922 before a first recording of the song at Paramount Records was doing.

Really famous, however, the song was only a year later, when Bessie Smith recorded it for their debut single. With Smith Clarence Williams can be heard on the piano. The single became a national success and sold more than two million times. This success laid the foundation for Bessie Smith's fame as one of the most successful blues and jazz singers.

So it's Smiths cover version and not the original version of Hunter, which was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, has been honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame and was named by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of those songs that were decisive for the rock'n'roll.

Many other musicians have tried on the piece, including Fletcher Henderson, Son House, Eva Taylor, Lucille Hegamin or Ella Fitzgerald.

Lyrically, the Blues set apart with the difficulties and the pain of unrequited love.