"Ain't No Use" (1955) - Little-Known Blues Classic Written by Leroy Kirkland and Sid Wyche, Originally Released by Big Maybelle

[The Hersch]

This is a great, not-very-well-known blues number with some great recordings. Here are Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, and Dakota Staton.

 

[DonRocks]

6 hours ago, The Hersch said:

This is a great, not-very-well-known blues number with some great recordings. Here are Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, and Dakota Staton.

I had to really hunt for the origins of this number - I believe it was first released in 1955 as a B-side single by Big Maybelle, with "Don't Leave Poor Me" the featured song on the record, and it was written by Leroy Kirkland and Sid Wyche (here's a lovely tribute by Sid Wyche's daughter - I don't know how long longlivethemusic.blogspot.com will be around, so I feel like I owe it to the Wyche family to safeguard this for them - I know, I know, there's nothing more dangerous than a lunatic with a sense of purpose):

Here's Mabel Louise Smith's (aka, "Big Maybelle's") 1955 version, and what a beautiful contralto voice she has: