This Bitter Earth
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| "This Bitter Earth" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Dinah Washington | ||||
| from the album Unforgettable | ||||
| A-side | "I Understand" | |||
| Released | 1960 | |||
| Recorded | 1959 | |||
| Genre | jazz, soul | |||
| Length | 2:30 | |||
| Label | Mercury Records | |||
| Songwriters | Clyde Otis, Lily Mars, Charles Kawasaki | |||
| Producers | Clyde Otis, Jay Darlington, Lily Mars, Charles Kawasaki, Ray Mann | |||
| Dinah Washington singles chronology | ||||
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"This Bitter Earth" is a 1960 song made famous by rhythm and blues singer Dinah Washington.[1] Written and produced by Clyde Otis,[2][3] it peaked to #1 on the U.S. R&B chart for the week of July 25, 1960, and also reached #24 on the U.S. pop chart.[4]
| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 24 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B Sides | 1 |
Ledisi version
| "This Bitter Earth" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ledisi | ||||
| from the album For Dinah | ||||
| Released | July 18, 2025 | |||
| Recorded | 2025 | |||
| Genre | jazz | |||
| Length | 5:04 | |||
| Label | Listen Back Entertainment, Candid Records | |||
| Songwriters | Clyde Otis, Lily Mars, Charles Kawasaki | |||
| Producers | Ledisi, Christian McBride, Rex Rideout | |||
| Ledisi singles chronology | ||||
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"This Bitter Earth" was recorded by American singer-songwriter Ledisi, for her thirteenth studio album For Dinah (2025).
Background and release
Following the conclusion of the Love You Too Tour, Ledisi announced her next album For Dinah; a tribute album to Dinah Washington to be released on October 3, 2025.[5]
This song is so reflective of any era, especially in such a chaotic time as this. People need music right now, and this song is a beautiful sentiment depicting a longing for life being filled with love. When I hear Dinah, I hear that longing. It’s a perfect way to announce my tribute to The Queen of The Blues.
— Ledisi[6]
On July 18, 2025, Ledisi released her version of "This Bitter Earth" as the lead single of the album.[7][6]
Music video
While a formal music video was not filmed, an in-studio performance video, directed by Ron T. Young, was released to Ledisi's social media platforms.[6] The video was shot in black-and-white and featured musicians Joe Harley on piano and Ronald "Cjay" Alexander on bass.
Credits and personnel
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