THE HOKUM BOYS & BOB ROBINSON — The Complete Recorded Works 1935-1937 In Chronological Order | DOCD-5237 | RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Although hokum had its heyday from 1928-31, the name of the Hokum Boys was revived for some recording dates during the years 1935-37. This CD features selections from a couple very different editions of the Hokum Boys, plus numbers from the related Chicago Five and Bob Robinson. The first seven numbers find the double entendres less subtle than earlier, the music more country-blues-oriented, and the selections featuring Big Bill Broonzy and Casey Bill Weldon on guitars and vocals, and sometimes pianist Black Bob, bassist Bill Settles, and Washboard Sam on washboard. The other performances have singer Bob Robinson (who was with the 1929 version of the band) as a dominant vocalist, Arnett Nelson taking erratic clarinet solos and the supporting cast including on various numbers Broonzy, Black Bob, and trumpeter "Mr. Sheiks." Although not quite up to the level of the 1929 Hokum Boys, there are many fun performances on this CD, including "Keep Your Mind On It," "Nancy Jane," "Do You Catch On," "You Can't Have None of That," "Down in the Alley," and "Just Diddling Around." Two previously unreleased alternate takes are included on the recommended 25-song program. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    The Hokum Boys–    Caught Us Doing It 2:36
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Speech – Teddy Edwards
Vocals, Guitar – Casey Bill Weldon
2.    The Hokum Boys–    I Ain't Going That Way 3:02
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Vocals, Guitar – Casey Bill Weldon
3.    The Hokum Boys–    Keep Your Mind On It 3:02
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Casey Bill Weldon
Guitar, Vocals – Big Bill Broonzy
Washboard, Vocals [Uncredited] – Washboard Sam
4.    The Hokum Boys–    I'm Gonna Get It 3:02
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Guitar, Vocals – Casey Bill Weldon
Washboard, Vocals [Uncredited] – Washboard Sam
5.    The Hokum Boys–    I'm Gonna Get It 3:06
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Guitar, Vocals – Casey Bill Weldon
Washboard, Vocals – Washboard Sam
6.    The Hokum Boys–    I'm Gonna Tell My Mama On You 2:57
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Guitar, Vocals [Vocal Chorus] – Casey Bill Weldon
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals – Teddy Edwards
7.    The Hokum Boys–    Nancy Jane 3:00
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar, Vocals – Big Bill Broonzy
Guitar, Vocals [Vocal Chorus] – Casey Bill Weldon
Piano – Black Bob
8.    Chicago Five–    I Ain't Gonna Do It 3:19
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Guitar [possibly] – Tampa Red
Guitar [probably] – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [possibly] – Black Bob
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
Washboard [probably], Wood Block [probably], Percussion [effects, probably] – Washboard Sam
9    Chicago Five–    I'm A Gamblin' Man 2:56
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Guitar [possibly] – Tampa Red
Guitar [probably] – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano [possibly] – Black Bob
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
Washboard [probably], Wood Block [probably], Percussion [effects, probably] – Washboard Sam
10.    The Hokum Boys–    Do You Catch On 3:07
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
11.    The Hokum Boys–    Something Good 2:59
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb] – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals [2nd v.] – Unknown Artist
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
12.    The Hokum Boys–    Every Man For Himself 3:03
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
13.    The Hokum Boys (2)–    You Can't Have None Of That 3:03
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
14.    Bob Robinson And His Bob-Cats–    Down In The Alley 3:28
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano [possibly] – Myrtle Jenkins
Piano [probably] – Frank "Springback" James
Trumpet – "Mr. Sheiks"
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
15.    Bob Robinson And His Bob-Cats–    Makin' A Fool Out Of Me 3:18
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano [possibly] – Myrtle Jenkins
Piano [probably] – Frank "Springback" James
Trumpet – "Mr. Sheiks"
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
16.    Bob Robinson And His Bob-Cats–    Can Use It Myself 3:07
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano [possibly] – Myrtle Jenkins
Piano [probably] – Frank "Springback" James
Trumpet – "Mr. Sheiks"
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
17.    Bob Robinson And His Bob-Cats–    She's A Mellow Thing 3:07
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano [possibly] – Myrtle Jenkins
Piano [probably] – Frank "Springback" James
Trumpet – "Mr. Sheiks"
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
18.    The Hokum Boys–    Swing That Thing 2:55
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
19.    The Hokum Boys–    Georgia Mule 2:51
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
20.    Bob Robinson Trio–    Crying For Love 2:57
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
21.    Bob Robinson Trio–    Heart-Breaking Blues 2:53
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Bob Robinson 
22.    The Hokum Boys–    It Started In The Garden Of Eden 2:53
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
23.    The Hokum Boys–    It Started In The Garden Of Eden 2:51
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
24.    The Hokum Boys–    Just Diddling Around 2:55
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 
25.    The Hokum Boys (7)–    You Got Your Ribs Out Of Pawn 2:59
Clarinet [probably] – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass [Sb; prob.] – Bill Settles
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals [probably] – Bob Robinson 

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 7 • 1935-1936 | DOCD-5207 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red–    My Baby Said Yes (A) 2:56
2    Tampa Red–    I'm Betting On You  (A) 2:57
3    Tampa Red–    Rowdy Woman Blues  (A) 3:18
4    Tampa Red–    Keep On Dealin' (Play Your Hand)  (A) 3:26
5    Tampa Red–    (I Could Learn To Love You) So Good  (A) 3:19
6    Tampa Red–    When I Take My Vacation In Harlem  (B) 3:07
7    Tampa Red–    Drinkin' My Blues Away  (B) 2:47
8    Tampa Red–    Dark And Stormy Night  (B) 3:23
9    Tampa Red–    Good Woman Blues  (B) 3:00

10    Tampa Red–    You Missed A Good Man  (B) 3:35
11    Tampa Red–    Waiting Blues  (B) 3:14
12    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    When You Were A Gal Of Seven  (C) 3:10
13    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    Let's Get Drunk And Truck  (C) 3:05
14    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    Maybe It's Someone Else You Love  (C) 3:25
15    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    I Wonder What's The Matter  (C) 2:46
16    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    She Don't Know My Mind  (C) 2:58
17    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    She Don't Know My Mind - Part 2  (C) 3:36
18    Tampa Red–    Stormy Sea Blues  (D) 2:44
19    Tampa Red–    Nutty And Buggy Blues  (D) 2:39
20    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    You Stole My Heart  (E) 3:05
21    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    You Got Me Worryin'  (E) 3:14
22    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    All Night Long  (E) 2:34
23    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    That's The Way I Do  (E) 2:55
24    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    I Hate Myself  (E) 2:41

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 8 • 1936-1937 | DOCD-5208 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For completists, specialists and academics, Document's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 8 (1936-1937) is invaluable, offering an exhaustive overview of Tampa Red's early recordings. For less dedicated listeners, the disc is a mixed blessing. There are some absolutely wonderful, classic performances on the collection, but the long running time, exacting chronological sequencing, poor fidelity (all cuts are transferred from original acetates and 78s), and number of performances are hard to digest. The serious blues listener will find all these factors to be positive, but enthusiasts and casual listeners will find that the collection is of marginal interest for those very reasons. Thom Owens 

Tracklist :
1        I Need Yoz By My Side (A) 3:24
2        Blue And Evil Blues (A) 3:05
3        If It Wasn't For You (B) 3:04
4        Right Or Wrong (B) 3:21
5        Stop Truckin' And Suzy-Q (B) 2:46
6        Cheatin' On Me (B) 2:47
7        Your One And Only (B) 3:10
8        My Za Zu Girl (B) 3:02
9        Someday I'm Bound To Win (C) 3:11
10        Taking It And Make My Get Away  (C) 3:04
11        She Said It  (D) 2:53
12        It's Hard To Believe It's True  (D) 2:50
13        When Love Comes In  (D) 2:53
14        You Got To Learn To Do It  (D)  2:50
15        I Give My Love To You  (D) 3:14
16        I See You Can't Take It  (D) 2:44
17        My Gal Is Gone  (E) 3:11
18        When The One You Love Is Gone  (E)  3:05
19        You're More Than A Palace To Me  (F) 3:10
20        Harlem Swing  (F) 3:08
21        Oh Babe, Oh Baby  (F) 3:18
22        I'm Gonna Get High  (F) 3:03

EDDIE SOUTH – 1923-1937 | The Classics Chronological Series – 707 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Twenty songs covering Eddie South's chronological history up to World War II -- this disc starts with his recording debut as a member of Jimmy Wade's Syncopators, jumps to his solo stuff, and then South's work in Europe in association with the Swing label in Paris, through which his name became widely known. South's New York-based Columbia and Okeh sides never sold as well as what he did for Swing, but they're equally worthwhile. Bruce Eder             Tracklist + Credits :