Tracklist
- CD 1
- 1Nobody Knows You When You're Down and OutBessie Smith3:01
- 2Stack O'Lee BluesMa Rainey2:55
- 3Trouble in MindBertha “Chippie” Hill3:17
- 4Crazy BluesMamie Smith3:22
- 5Frankie and JohnnyEthel Waters3:09
- 6I've Got Ford Movements in My HipsCleo Gibson3:29
- 7I'm a Mighty Tight WomanSippie Wallace2:55
- 8See See RiderMa Rainey3:12
- 9Long Gone BluesBillie Holiday3:06
- 10Struttin' My StuffLucille Bogan2:50
- 11Last Kind WordsGeeshie Wiley3:03
- 12Gimme a PigfootBessie Smith3:31
- 13That's What My Baby LikesBessie Jackson3:01
- 14Hot NutsLil Johnson3:12
- 15Hoodoo LadyMemphis Minnie3:06
- 16Bluer Than BlueLil Hardin Armstrong3:13
- 17Hard Times BluesIda Cox2:59
- 18Need a Little Sugar in My BowlBessie Smith2:49
- 19Knockin' Myself OutLil Green3:01
- 20Just Give Me a ManMabel Scott2:44
- CD 2
- 1Strange FruitBillie Holiday3:10
- 2This TrainSister Rosetta Tharpe2:51
- 3Me and My Chauffeur BluesMemphis Minnie2:48
- 4Beale Street BluesLena Horne3:01
- 5W-O-M-A-NEtta James2:45
- 6Hound DogBig Mama Thornton2:53
- 7That's What I LikeJulia Lee2:48
- 8Evil Gal BluesAlbinia Jones3:06
- 9Airplane BluesHelen Humes2:32
- 10Sittin' Here Drinkin'Christine Kittrell3:23
- 11SummertimeBillie Holiday2:56
- 12Soul on FireLaVern Baker3:04
- 13Strange Things Happen Every DaySister Rosetta Tharpe2:54
- 143 X 7 = 21Jewel King1:54
- 15I Want a Man (Who's Gonna Do Right)Annisteen Allen & Her Home Town Boys2:55
- 16Do You Want ItJulia Lee2:34
- 17NightmareBig Mama Thornton2:51
- 18Aged and Mellow BluesEsther Little2:46
- 19Helen's AdviceHelen Humes2:46
- 20Lotus Blossom (Sweet Marijuana)Julia Lee3:21
- CD 3
- 1Gin House BluesNina Simone3:073.0 ★
- 2I Just Want to Make Love to YouEtta James3:073.0 ★
- 3Today I Sing the BluesAretha Franklin2:47
- 4Oh What a DreamRuth Brown2:57
- 5Got My Mojo WorkingAnn Cole2:43
- 6I'll Bring It on Home to YouCarla Thomas3:06
- 7Killer DillerBetty Everett2:25
- 8I Waited Too LongLaVern Baker2:34
- 9Rock MeSister Rosetta Tharpe2:49
- 10Operation HeartbreakAretha Franklin3:00
- 11The Life I LiveBarbara Stephens2:26
- 12Cry OnIrma Thomas2:26
- 13Work SongNina Simone2:374.6 ★
- 14That Lucky Old SunAretha Franklin3:21
- 15Shake a HandLaVern Baker2:51
- 16I'll Dry My TearsEtta James2:37
- 17Sweet Baby of MineRuth Brown2:32
- 18My LoveBetty Everett2:18
- 19Easy, Easy BabyAnn Cole2:38
- 20The House of the Rising Sun (live)Nina Simone4:335.0 ★
Release credits
- guitar [1, 13, 20]
- drums (drum set) [1, 13, 20]
- producer [1, 13]
- bass [1, 13, 20]
- lead vocals [2]
- producer [2]
- producer [2]
- lead vocals [1, 13, 20], piano [1, 13], vocal [13]
- producer [2]
- arranger [2], conductor [2]
- performing orchestra [2]