TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 2 • 1929 | DOCD-5074 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second volume in Document's series of Complete Recorded Works covers barely six months in the career of Tampa Red, though the range of material is quite wide. The slide guitar legend recorded a few guitar solos, led the Hokum Boys through several songs, did two sides of gospel, and invited high-profile guests including Georgia Tom, Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon, and Lil Johnson. Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. The first session included here is a remake of a session that took place in December 1928. Why the original titles were not released, is not quite clear. Anyway, the January 1929 session showed a mixture of straight, low down blues and so-called “hokum blues”. This was to become Tampa Red’s trademark for the next three or four years. Following the success of “It’s Tight Like That”, Tampa Red and Georgia Tom recorded a couple of titles in mid-tempo with a refrain and double-entendre lyrics, often combined with a tongue-in-cheek-way of looking at things. (What about this as a definition for “hokum”?) On five titles we also hear Frankie “Half-Pint” Jaxon, an enigmatic singer, who fits perfectly in Tampa’s hokum concept. A good example for Tampa’s guitar style is the aptly titled Voice Of The Blues. Georgia Tom handles the vocals here, and Tampa Red can concentrate on his guitar playing. His delicate slide playing, full of subtleties, conveys the right atmosphere for a real low down blues. It becomes evident that Tampa could get across much more of his feelings to the listener by his slide than by his singing (he never was much of a singer). The last session on this album displays another specialty of Tampa Red. Under the name of “The Guitar Wizard” that was to reappear time and again in his long career, he demonstrated all his abilities as a solo guitarist. And a true “guitar wizard” he was indeed!. DOCD-5074
Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard" With Georgia Tom–    It's Tight Like That No. 3 2:48
Piano – Thomas A. Dorsey (Georgia Tom)
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
2    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard" With Georgia Tom–    Uncle Bud (Dog-Gone Him) 2:37
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Thomas A. Dorsey (Georgia Tom)
3    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard" With Georgia Tom–    Train Time Blues (Matrix TC-2792-A) 3:28
Piano – Thomas A. Dorsey (Georgia Tom)
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
4    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    How Long, How Long Blues 3:03
Guitar – Tampa Red
5    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    It's Tight Like That 2:48
Guitar – Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"
6    The Hokum Boys–    Selling That Stuff (Matrix 21156-1) 2:50
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom Dorsey
7    Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band–    Mess, Katie, Mess 2:56
Bass – Bill Johnson
Guitar – Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn], Jug – Carl Reid
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
Washboard – Herman Brown
8    Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band–    Sho' Is Hot 3:10
Bass – Bill Johnson
Guitar – Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn], Jug – Carl Reid
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
Washboard – Herman Brown
9    Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band–    Boot It Boy 2:56
Bass – Bill Johnson
Guitar – Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn], Jug – Carl Reid
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
Washboard – Herman Brown
10    Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band–    My Daddy Rocks Me (With One Steady Roll) 3:28
Bass – Bill Johnson
Guitar – Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn], Jug – Carl Reid
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
Washboard – Herman Brown
11    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    Givin' It Away 3:04
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
12    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    What You Gonna Do? 2:52
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
13    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    It's So Nice 3:17
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
14    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    Voice Of The Blues 3:00
Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
15    Gospel Camp Meeting Singers–    Come And Go To That Land 2:50
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano [Poss.] – Georgia Tom Dorsey
Vocals [Vocal Group] – Unknown Artist
16    Gospel Camp Meeting Singers–    Hold To His Hand 2:57
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano [Poss.] – Georgia Tom Dorsey
Vocals [Vocal Group] – Unknown Artist
17    Tampa Red, Georgia Tom–    The Duck Yas-Yas-Yas 2:52
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
18    Tampa Red, Georgia Tom–    Pat That Bread 2:37
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
19    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon–    It's Heated 3:27
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano [Prob.] – Georgia Tom Dorsey
Vocals, Scraper – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
20    Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon–    Jive Man Blues 2:48
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano [Prob.] – Georgia Tom Dorsey
Vocals, Scraper – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
21    Tampa Red–    What Is It That Tastes Like Gravy? 2:48
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
22    Tampa Red–    You Better Tighten Up On It 2:44
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
23    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Prison Bound Blues 3:26
Guitar – Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"
24    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    You Got To Reap What You Sow 3:17
Guitar – Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"
25    Lil Johnson–    House Rent Scuffle 2:47
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Charles Avery
Vocals – Lil Johnson