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Big Maybelle Smith was one of the very best blues and R&B songstresses of the post-war era, whose formidable voice was matched only by her mountainous stature and striking presence. She was hugely versatile and the repertoire she recorded for the King, Okeh and Savoy labels in the 1950s encompassed pure blues, jumping R&B, proto rock ‘n’ roll and middle of the road ballads with an orchestral backing. From her sassy breakthrough hit “Gabbin’ Blues” in 1953 through to 1961’s jazzy shouter “Going Home Baby”, this collection pulls together 16 of her greatest A and B sides to offer a stellar showcase for her remarkable talents. She enjoyed relatively little commercial success but the fact that she was at her most active and achieving her highest profile during the era when R&B was providing one of the musical launching pads for rock ‘n’ roll ensured that she remains as one of those artists who was a key part of that process. The quality of her work was undeniable, and she certainly warranted much more attention from the industry than she received. “Candy” was honoured with a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 1999, and in 2011 she was inducted into the Blues Hall... It was the least she deserved, as the recordings in this collection testify.
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