简介：byEugeneChadbourne MarthaCopelandhadaprolificrecordingcareerduringthe20sasaclassicbluessinger.Althoughshehadlotsofcompetition,hermanager,JoeDavis,helpedhermakemoremoneythanmanyofhercompetitors,andhisthickinvolvementwiththepublishingandsongwritingbusinessalsoensuredthatasteadystreamofmaterialwouldcomeherway.Daviscameintoherlifein1926,basicallyamidwaypointinactivitiesasarecordingartist. ShehadbegunrecordingforOkehin1923,fromthereexpandingherreputationbytouringwithavaudevillerevueentitledShuffleAlong.WhenDavissignedCopelandhewasworkingwiththeTrianglemusicpublishers;havingsecuredacontractforherwithColumbia,hebeganhandingoffaselectionofthepublishingfirmstopbluestitlestoCopelandforinterpretation,includingthepowerfulOnDecorationDay,thewittyFortuneTellerBlues,andtwodittiesthatmightleadanaïvelistenerintothinkingthesingerhadanobsessionwithreptiles,ThatBlackSnakeMoanandBlackSnakeBlues. WhileDavismanipulatedbettercontracts,royaltyrates,andperformancefeesforhisclient,Copelandsactualpopularitywithaudiencesseemstoputherinacategoryofsocalledsecondstringbluesmamas.Shereleasednearlythreedozensidesby1928,butnothingachievedthepopularityofBessieSmith,forexample.Sometimesshewasforcedtorecordabsolutelyshamelessmatchercopiesofcurrenthits.Thebest,orworst,exampleofthiswouldbeSoulandBody,releasedatthepointwhentenorsaxophonistColemanHawkinswasridinghighwithBodyandSoul.Ahitnot,SoulandBody.Thisisnotmeanttosuggestthatherdiscographyisaslagheap.Incontrast,shemadesomesuperbrecordings,mostnotablycirca1927whenshewasbackedbyherSmokeyCityTriofeaturingfinepianistPorterGrainger.HerrecordingshavebeencollectedontwovolumesbytheDocumentlabel,whileindividualtracksarealsoavailableonavarietyofcompilations.