Ballad of the Blues is an album by vocalist Jo Stafford that was released in 1959. She is supported by the Starlighters, a male vocal quartet, and an orchestra led by Paul Weston, her husband.
Stafford sings pop, jazz, and blues songs which form a concept album. These include cover versions of traditional songs such as "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen", "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child", and "Lover Man" in addition to original songs written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.
Track listing
The Blues Is an Old Old Story (1:49) (Alan Bergman/Marilyn Bergman) Street Cries (1:03) (Paul Weston) John Henry (2:46) (Traditional/Weston) Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child (:47) (Traditional/Weston) Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen (2:29) (Traditional) The Blues Is a Tale of Trouble (1:45) (Bergman/Bergman/Weston) Kansas City Blues (3:15) (Bergman/Bergman/Weston) Memphis Blues (2:49) (W. C. Handy/George Norton) The Blues Is a Traveling Thing (1:19) (Bergman/Bergman/Weston) He's Gone Away (2:18) (Traditional) Seems Like When It Comes in the Morning (0:27) Every Night When the Sun Goes In (2:38) (Traditional) Times Change and Things Change (1:51) (Bergman/Bergman/Weston) Lover Man (4:00) (Jimmy Davis/Ram Ramirez/Jimmy Sherman) Blues in the Night (3:14) (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) The Blues Is an Old Old Story (Reprise) (0:50) (Bergman/Bergman)