| Blues Ballads | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 1959 [1] | |||
| Recorded |
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| Studio | New York City, New York, United States | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 28:04 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer |
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| LaVern Baker chronology | ||||
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Blues Ballads is the fifth studio album from American rhythm and blues singer LaVern Baker, released by Atlantic Records in 1959.
Editors at AllMusic rated this album 3.5 out of 5 stars, with critic Ron Wynn writing that "these tunes didn't have any crossover appeal, but they're gritty, unpolished, and sung with the intensity and energy that made Baker's later material so memorable". [2] A 1998 repackaging of this with 1963's See See Rider received 4.5 out of 5 stars, with critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine writing that in spite of minor flaws, "each are dominated by great songs and performances, illustrating what a terrific, powerful vocalist Baker was". [3] Billboard gave the album 4 out of 4 stars, indicating "very strong sales potential" to retailers, speculating that it would have pop and rhythm and blues appeal. [1] In the 2004 edition of The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, the two-album compilation was rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and the editors write that this music is the stronger half, calling it a "gut-wrencher" made up of "first-rate songs". [4] George Starostin considered the album "a fun journey even if it contains more relative lows than highs" for its mix of genres. [5]
Compact disc bonus tracks
Delores LaVern Baker was an American R&B singer who had several hit records on the pop chart in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her most successful records were "Tweedle Dee" (1955), "Jim Dandy" (1956), and "I Cried a Tear" (1958).
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Smokin' is a Smokey Robinson live album released in 1978.
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Bigger, Better Power Ballads II – The Greatest Driving Anthems in the World... Ever! is the 2nd edition in The Greatest Driving Anthems in the World... Ever! series, which is a part of The Best... Album in the World...Ever! brand.
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Nancy – Naturally is a studio album by Nancy Wilson released in 1966. Billy May served as the arranger and conductor, and David Cavanaugh produced the album. It entered the Billboard 200 on January 28, 1967, and remained on the chart for 21 weeks, peaking at No. 35. It reached #4 on the Hot R&B LPs chart. The song "In The Dark" was released as a single, with "Ten Years Of Tears" as the B-side.
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LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith is the third studio album from American rhythm and blues singer LaVern Baker, released by Atlantic Records in 1958 and featuring cover versions of Bessie Smith songs. After her sophomre release LaVern Baker collected mostly previously-released singles, this album included only new tracks. The album was initially released in monaural sound and sold well enough that Atlantic re-released it in stereo sound in November for the holiday season.
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