1976 German import with gatefold die cut cover. LaVern Baker’s 1958 album 'LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith' stands as a significant homage to one of the foundational voices of blues. Released by Atlantic Records, Baker, already a celebrated R&B singer, paid tribute to Bessie Smith, the “Empress of the Blues,” by reinterpreting a selection of Smith’s classic songs with an updated sensibility. The album features arrangements that blend Baker’s powerful, gospel-infused vocals with jazz and rhythm and blues instrumentation, bridging the gap between early 20th-century blues and the evolving sound of late 1950s popular music. Backed by a band of seasoned jazz musicians including Buck Clayton and Paul Quinichette, Baker brought new vitality to iconic songs like "Gimme a Pigfoot," "Baby Doll," and "Empty Bed Blues."