Artist page · 04/07/2026

Dinah Washington

TuscaloosaBorn in 1924Jazz/Blues10 vinyl albums
Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones in 1924 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was an influential American singer and pianist blending blues, jazz, and gospel throughout the mid-20th century. Known as the Queen of the Blues, she left a powerful legacy with a distinctive, emotive voice.
10Albums on Vinyles.com
2017Discogs releases
1.2MLast.fm listeners

About

Dinah Washington, Empress of blues and jazz with a voice that defined an era.

10 vinyl releases, classic Mercury and EmArcy LPs, key originals from 1955-1959 with sought-after pressings.

Dinah Washington rose from gospel roots in Chicago to immense influence in jazz and blues vocals. Her recordings span collaborations with top jazz musicians like Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderley, and Quincy Jones. Active primarily in the 1940s-1960s, she issued numerous singles and albums with Mercury and Roulette labels, showcasing a diverse style crossing blues, jazz standards, pop, and R&B.

Her rich discography on vinyl includes notable original LPs such as 'For Those In Love' (1955), 'The Swingin' Miss "D"' (1957), and the pop crossover hit album 'What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!' (1959). Original pressings from the US and Canada remain collectible, with price variability reflecting rarity and condition.

Discography

Dinah Washington — Discography

Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.

The Swingin' Miss Masterworks Series · 2013
2013
The Swingin' Miss "D"
CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Studio
ImmortalRoulette · 1972
1972
Immortal
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
The Original Soul Sister - Queen Of The BluesMercury Wing · 1969
1969
The Original Soul Sister - Queen Of The Blues
Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Studio
Dinah WashingtonRoulette · 1964
1964
Dinah Washington
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Back To The BluesRoulette · 1963
1963
Back To The Blues
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Dinah '63Roulette · 1963
1963
Dinah '63
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Drinking AgainRoulette · 1962
1962
Drinking Again
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
I Wanna Be LovedMercury · 1962
1962
I Wanna Be Loved
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Tears And LaughterMercury · 1962
1962
Tears And Laughter
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
In LoveRoulette · 1962
1962
In Love
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Dinah '62Roulette · 1962
1962
Dinah '62
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
For Lonely LoversMercury · 1961
1961
For Lonely Lovers
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
September In The RainMercury · 1961
1961
September In The Rain
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
I Concentrate On YouMercury · 1960
1960
I Concentrate On You
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
The Two Of UsMercury · 1960
1960
The Two Of Us
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
UnforgettableMercury · 1960
1960
Unforgettable
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!Mercury · 1959
1959
What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
The QueenMercury · 1959
1959
The Queen
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Newport '58EmArcy · 1958
1958
Newport '58
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Dinah Sings Bessie SmithEmArcy · 1958
1958
Dinah Sings Bessie Smith
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Dinah Washington Sings Fats WallerEmArcy · 1958
1958
Dinah Washington Sings Fats Waller
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
The Swingin' Miss EmArcy · 1957
1957
The Swingin' Miss "D"
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Dinah!Emarcy · 1956
1956
Dinah!
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Music For A First LoveMercury · 1956
1956
Music For A First Love
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
In The Land Of Hi-FiEmArcy · 1956
1956
In The Land Of Hi-Fi
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Music For Late HoursMercury · 1956
1956
Music For Late Hours
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
For Those In LoveEmarcy · 1955
1955
For Those In Love
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Dinah JamsEmarcy · 1955
1955
Dinah Jams
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Dinah Washington Sings The BluesGrand Award · 1955
1955
Dinah Washington Sings The Blues
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
After Hours With Miss DEmarcy · 1954
1954
After Hours With Miss D
Vinyl, LP, 10", Album, Mono
Studio
Dinah WashingtonMercury · 1950
1950
Dinah Washington
Vinyl, 10", Album
Studio
Studio album Live / EP

Playlist

Signature tracks

The tracks that sum up Dinah Washington's career.

01
Mad About the Boy
·
02
What A Diff'rence A Day Made
·
03
September in the Rain
·
04
Teach Me Tonight
Teach Me Tonight
The Swingin' Miss "D" · 2013
05
Cry Me a River
Cry Me a River
What A Diff'rence A Day Makes! · 1959
06
What a Difference a Day Makes
·
07
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby
·
08
Unforgettable
·

The essentials

The 3 Dinah Washington albums you absolutely need

Our pick, validated by the editorial team.

#1 · 1955
LP, Album, Mono
For Those In Love

A landmark vocal jazz album blending deep blues feeling with sophisticated arrangements, featuring 8 tracks including 'I Get A Kick Out Of You' and 'Easy Living'.

8 tracksEmArcy labelMonoReleased in 1955
#2 · 1957
LP, Album, Mono
The Swingin' Miss 'D'

Classic EmArcy LP with a swinging jazz vibe; 11 tracks showcasing Washington’s vocal clarity and phrasing, including 'Makin' Whoopee' and 'Caravan'.

11 tracksEmArcy labelMonoReleased in 1957
#3 · 1959
LP, Album, Stereo
What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!

A pivotal album crossing jazz, pop, and blues, highlighted by the title track that became a signature hit, originally released on Mercury in stereo.

12 tracksMercury labelStereoReleased in 1959

Go further

Artists similar to Dinah Washington

Artists who share part of Dinah Washington's musical DNA.

Collectors

For vinyl die-hards

The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.

Market values (source: Discogs)

For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.

What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!
Master release · LP · 1959
Market position i
6,08 €
Min price 3 €Max price 13 €
Average price 6,08 €
Only 24 copies for sale on Discogs
98 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
The Swingin' Miss "D"
Master release · LP · 1957
Market position i
1,74 €
Min price 1 €Max price 4 €
Average price 1,74 €
Only 32 copies for sale on Discogs
132 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
For Those In Love
Master release · LP · 1955
Market position i
43,50 €
Min price 9 €Max price 138 €
Average price 43,50 €
Only 6 copies for sale on Discogs
291 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Immortal
Master release · LP · 1972
Market position i
4,00 €
Min price 2 €Max price 5 €
Average price 4,00 €
Only 38 copies for sale on Discogs
16 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
The Original Soul Sister - Queen Of The Blues
Master release · LP · 1969
Market position i
2,29 €
Min price 2 €Max price 12 €
Average price 2,29 €
Only 57 copies for sale on Discogs
20 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)

Notable pressings & editions

AlbumEdition Country · Year Matrix Market tension Value
ImmortalLP, Album
Roulette Canada · 1972 9045-125 🔥 Standard edition
16 want · 226 have · ratio 0,1
5,07 €
ImmortalLP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo
Roulette US · 1972 RE-125 Original pressing
16 want · 226 have · ratio 0,1
What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!LP, Album, Mono
Mercury US · 1959 MG 20479, MG-20479 🔥 Standard edition
98 want · 284 have · ratio 0,3
13,05 €
What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!LP, Album, Stereo
Mercury US · 1959 SR-60158 Original pressing
98 want · 284 have · ratio 0,3
6,08 €
The Swingin' Miss "D"LP, Album, Mono
EmArcy Canada · 1957 MG 36104 🔥 Standard edition
132 want · 252 have · ratio 0,5
The Swingin' Miss "D"LP, Album, Mono
EmArcy US · 1957 MG 36104 Original pressing
132 want · 252 have · ratio 0,5
1,74 €
For Those In LoveLP, Mono
Emarcy Canada · 1955 MG 36011 🔥 Standard edition
291 want · 337 have · ratio 0,9
For Those In LoveLP, Album, Mono
Emarcy US · 1955 MG 36011 Original pressing
291 want · 337 have · ratio 0,9
43,50 €

Face B

Side B: the hidden stories of Dinah Washington

Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.

"Queen of the Blues" was a title she earned for her passionate and distinctive musical style.
— Nickname often used by aficionados
01Recording

Dinah Washington's First Recording in 1943

Her first recording was in late 1943 for Keynote records, with a sextet from Lionel Hampton's orchestra, producing the R&B hit 'Evil Gal Blues'.

1943Chicago
02Collaboration

Working with Clifford Brown on 'Dinah Jams'

In 1955, Dinah recorded the album 'Dinah Jams' featuring trumpeter Clifford Brown and other jazz legends, blending blues vocals with hard bop instrumental excellence.

1955Los Angeles
03Chart Success

'What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!' Tops Pop Charts

The 1959 album marked Dinah's crossover success into pop, with the title track reaching wide acclaim and expanding her audience beyond jazz and R&B.

1959United States
04Live Recording

At Newport Jazz Festival 1958

'Newport '58' captured her live performance at the famed jazz festival, offering a vivid document of her stage presence and vocal power.

1958Newport

FAQ

FAQ: Dinah Washington on physical formats

The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.

When did Dinah Washington start recording her music?

Dinah Washington made her first recordings in 1943 while performing with Lionel Hampton's orchestra.

What genres of music did Dinah Washington perform?

She performed jazz, blues, gospel, rhythm & blues, and traditional pop across her career.

Which Dinah Washington albums are available as vinyl today?

Albums like 'For Those In Love', 'The Swingin' Miss D', and 'What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!' are available as vinyl reissues and originals.

Are Dinah Washington's original LP pressings collectible?

Yes, original US pressings on Mercury and EmArcy labels from the 1950s, especially 'For Those In Love' (1955) and 'What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!' (1959), are collectible.

Where can I find original Dinah Washington vinyl in France?

Original Dinah Washington vinyl records are sometimes available through specialized vinyl shops and online platforms in France.

What is the best format for audiophiles seeking Dinah Washington's music?

Vinyl LPs pressed on quality labels like Mercury and EmArcy, especially mono versions from the 1950s, offer excellent sound quality.

Did Dinah Washington influence other artists?

She influenced many jazz and R&B vocalists including Nancy Wilson, Esther Phillips, and Diana Ross.

What is notable about Dinah Washington's vocal style?

Her voice was high-pitched with clear diction and a bluesy phrasing marked by emotional intensity and precision.

Transparency

Sources & method

This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.

Our method

  1. Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
  2. Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
  3. Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
  4. Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
  5. Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 04/07/2026