Women in the 1920s and 1930s may have got the rough end of most deals, but here - with their taunting of men and declarations of their own supremacy - is where the fightback began. Better still, this is fabulous music, delivered by a generation of women who refused to observe any limits. This is a celebration of lesser known singers, from the early blues era featuring an approximate CDs-worth by Clara Smith, Lucille Bogan, and Lil Johnson. A fourth, Moanin Bernice Edwards has only 14 vocal sides to her name, so shes supplemented by four Texas Blueswomen: Hociel Thomas, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Tucker and Victoria Spivey. We cover rural, urban and vaudeville blues styles. What must be emphasised is that these women were transgressive in at least two ways. First, they dared to dominate at a time when women were expected to to be submissive. Second, in their celebration - albeit euphemistic - of sex they risked outraging the prudish majority. CAUTION THIS COLLECTION DEALS WITH SEXUAL THEMES. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE YOUNG OR SENSITIVE. Tracklist: CD A: CLARA SMITH: 1.Every Womans Blues 2.Awful Moanin Blues 3.Waitin For The Evenin Mail 4.Im Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down 5.Cold Weather Blues 6.Mean Papa Turn In You Key 7.Dont Advertise Your Man 8.Back Woods Blues 9.Done Sold My Soul To The Devil 10.Nobody Knows The Way I Feel Dis Morning 11.My Good-for-nuthin Man 12.Shipwrecked Blues 13.Kitchen Mechanic Blues 14.Im Tired Of Being Good 15.Alley Rat Blues 16.Jelly Bean Blues 17.Whip It To A Jelly 18.Howm I Doin 19.Ease It 20.Black Womans Blues 21.Black Cat Moan 22.Jelly Look What You Done Done 23.Steamboat Man Blues 24.Daddy Dont Put That Thing On Me 25.Its Tight Like That CD B: LUCILLE BOGAN: 1.Kind Stella Blues 2.Jim Tampa Blues 3.Women Wont Need No Men 4.New Way Blues 5.Pay Roll Blues 6.My Georgia Grind 7.Whisky Selling Blues 8.They Aint Walking No More 9.Sloppy Drunk Blues 10.Alley Boogie 11.Crawlin Lizard Blues 12.Struttin My Stuff 13.Black Angel Blues 14.Walking Blues 15.Baking Powder Blues 16.Groceries On The Shelf 17.Hungry Mans Scuffle 18.Mean Twister 19.Pig Iron Sally 20.I Hate That Train Called The M & O 21.Sweet Man Sweet Man 22.Changed Way Blues 23.Barbecue Bess 24.BD Woman Blues 25.Stew Meat Blues 26.Shave Em Dry (Sexually Explicit Version) CD C: LIL JOHNSON: 1.Minor Blues 2.Never Let Your Left Hand Know What Your Right Hand Do 3.House Rent Scuffle 4.Anybody Want To Buy My Cabbage 5.New Shave Em Dry 6.Shake Man Blues 7.Buckts Got A Hole In It 8.Keep On Knocking 9.I Lost My Baby 10.That Bonus Done Gone Thru - Take 1 11.Press My Button (Ring My Bell) 12.If You Can Dish It (I Can Take It) 13.Youre Just A Cream Puff (You Cant Take It) 14.Ill Take You To The Cleaners - Take 1 15.Goofer Dust Swing 16.My Stoves In Good Condition 17.Meat Balls 18.Get Em From The Peanut Man 19.Sam - The Hot Dog Man 20.Hottest Gal In Town 21.You Stole My Cherry 22.Take Your Hand Off It 23.My Baby Squeeze Me Again - Take 1 24.Come And Get It 25.You Lied Your Last Time 26.Down At The Old Village Store CD D: MOANING BERNICE EDWARDS: 1.Sunshine Blues 2.Lonesome Longing Blues 3.Mean Man Blues 4.Long Tall Mama 5.Moaning Blues 6.Southbound Blues 7.Hard Hustling Blues 8.High Powered Mama 9.Low Down Dirty Shame Blues 10.Born To Die Blues 11.Two-way Mind Blues 12.Jack Of All Trades 13.Bantam Rooster Blues 14.Butcher Shop Blues HOCIEL THOMAS: 15.Worried Down With The Blues 16.Fish Tail Dance SIPPIE WALLACE: 17.Murders Gonna Be My Crime 18.A Man For Every Day Of The Week 19.You Gonna Need My Help 20.Im A Mighty Tight Woman BESSIE TUCKER: 21.Fort Worth And Denver Blues 22.Penitentiary 23.Bessies Moan 24.The Dummy 25.Key To The Bushes VICTORIA SPIVEY: 26.Blood Hound Blues