Shave ‘Em Dry: The Best of Lucille Bogan
Biographical information about Lucille Bogan is historically thin. Bogan was a classic blues vocalist from the ’20s and ’30s (she was also known as Bessie Jackson, name changes like this were not unusual in an era of conflicting recording contracts).
Returning to New York in the early ’30s Bogan commenced a long partnership with pianist Walter Roland, who knew what to play to bring out the best in her voice, they made over 100 records together.
Bogan was an exceedingly talented songwriter, and she copyrighted dozens of titles. Her lyrics about sex and sexuality are infamously raunchy and they are covered by contemporary artists such as: Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women, Ann Rabson on her solo albums, along with the Asylum Street Spankers.
These 20 tracks include coarse blues songs like Barbecue Bess, Skin Game Blues, the infamous B.D. Woman’s Blues and the notorious Shave ‘Em Dry. There are also Depression-era tracks like Tired as I Can Be, Hungry Man’s Scuffle, and Watcha Gonna Do. The album also has the previously unreleased Till the Cows Come Home.
There was no harder-hitting woman on record and this is a very representative introduction to Lucille Bogan; it is timeless, brutal, influential, and suggestive music.
Recorded: 1933 - 1935
Released: 2004
Columbia/Legacy
