# Bessie Smith — Downhearted Blues

Bessie Smith’s Downhearted Blues (1923) is No. 6 in our Blues ranking. The full verdict, and where to hear it.

- **Released:** 1923
- **Label:** Columbia
- **On one list:** Blues
- **Updated:** 2026-08-30
- **Artist:** [Bessie Smith](https://waxonia.com/artist/bessie-smith/)
- **Canonical page:** https://waxonia.com/track/bessie-smith--downhearted-blues/

## What we say

### No. 6 in [Blues](https://waxonia.com/genre/blues/)

The Empress of the Blues on her debut, outselling everything around her. Smith phrases like a horn player, which is the technique every singer on the soul list inherited.

## Listen

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Bessie%20Smith%20Downhearted%20Blues) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=k39GO8TVoX4)

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Hand-curated by Waxonia. We host no audio; all links point to streaming platforms.