It’s Stuart’s words that introduce an extraordinary new box set devoted to Smith. Out now on Bear Family Records, Latest Shade of Blue collects nearly 100 of her recordings for Columbia Records, a mix of country and gospel-oriented material that represent an artist in her prime. The set is augmented by a 96-page hardcover book featuring career-spanning photographs, detailed biographical notes by journalist Barry Mazor, and the introduction from Stuart — whom Smith inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in November.
Advertisement
Still, 2021 wasn’t all about looking back for the 80-year-old. In August, Fat Possum Records issued The Cry of the Heart, Smith’s 58th album and one of the year’s best. Coming a full ten years after the excellent Long Line of Heartaches, it’s the latest jewel in the crown of one of country music’s queens.