TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 1 • 1928-1929 | DOCD-5073 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. Through Train Blues was a strange one to kick off a recording career with and one cannot help but wonder if the gentle huffing and puffing of a tuba to fill out a bass rhythm was Tampa’s idea or that of someone else trying to be creative at the recording session for Paramount records. Either way, it kind of works, depending on one’s mood and at least it gets Tampa off the mark with some characteristic slide guitar playing and a song. For the moment, that was it’, one side and no more! The recording was issued as a flip side to Blind Lemon Jefferson ‘How Long How Long’ (Document DOCD-5019) maybe as a ploy to encourage the market to listen to Tampa. After four months Tampa Red was in the recording studio again but this time only as a session man for Foster And Harris (Ma Rainey’s Boys) as they played out The Alley Crap Game a performance which would be taken up by the two blues brothers from Georgia Robert ‘Barbecue Bob’ Hicks and Charlie “Laughing Charlie” Hicks in 1930 with their ‘Dark Town Gamblin’  Part 1 (The Crap Game) ” (Document DOCD-5048). Dodging the ricocheting dices, Tampa provides a gentle slide guitar accompaniment and keeps out of the arguing between the two gamblers. A month later, in September 1928, Tampa arrived at the Vocalian studios with a piano player called “Georgia Tom” (Thomas A. Dorsey). In the same month, like Tampa, Tom had been on the fringe of trying to make recording part of his musical career having had two sessions for the Vocalion label. Of six sides cut only one was released coupled with a single recording made for the label later that year. Their first recording of Tampa Red and Georgia Tom which took place in 1928 was a bawdy ragtime number, It’s Tight Like That. It was an instant and massive hit with record sales catapulting into the hundreds of thousands. It has been reported that the sales breached the million mark and went much higher. The sessions on this album see two revisits to the Tight Like That theme but there are other recordings which added greatly to their success including the lively Selling That Stuff and Beedle Um Bum both of which were subsequently covered by many other blues, jazz and hokum artists. The duo are found in accompanying role providing backing for recordings with vocalists Madylyn (Red Hot Shakin’) Davis, Frankie “Half-Pint” Jaxon as lead vocalist for Tampa Red’s Hokum Jug Band, Papa Too Sweet, and Junie Cobb as vocalist for the State Street Stompers. Many of the recordings are “good time”, raucous performances and it doesn’t take much of the imagination to think of them being the dance music of parties and in particular the rent parties of the time as described by Big Bill Bronnzy in his autobiography. The last five of the twenty five tracks presented here are solid blues performed by Tampa Red with his partner, Georgia Tom. Having had something of an uncertain start to their recording careers, they are assured and confident in their performances, having already been established by their first recording together as one of the most successful piano / guitar duos from the “pre-war blues” era. DOCD-5073
Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red–    Through Train Blues 2:44
Tuba – Unknown Artist
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
2    Foster & Harris (Ma Rainey's Boys)–    The Alley Crap Game 3:00
Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals [Male Vcl Duet] – Foster & Harris (Ma Rainey's Boys)
3    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    It's Tight Like That 3:01
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
4    Madlyn (Red Hot Shakin') Davis–    Gold Tooth Papa Blues 2:38
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Madlyn (Red Hot Shakin') Davis
5    Madlyn (Red Hot Shakin') Davis–    Death Bell Blues 2:50
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Madlyn (Red Hot Shakin') Davis
6    Madlyn (Red Hot Shakin') Davis–    It's Red Hot 3:07
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Madlyn (Red Hot Shakin') Davis
7    Madlyn (Red Hot Shakin') Davis–    Too Black Bad 3:08
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Madlyn (Red Hot Shakin') Davis
8    Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band–    Good Gordon Gin 2:47
Guitar – Martell Pettiford, Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn] – Carl Reid
Kazoo, Washboard – Herman Brown
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
9    Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band–    Down The Alley 3:09
Guitar – Martell Pettiford, Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn], Jug – Carl Reid
Kazoo, Washboard – Herman Brown
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
10    Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band–    It's Tight Like That 2:45
Guitar – Martell Pettiford, Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn], Jug – Carl Reid
Kazoo, Washboard – Herman Brown
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
11    Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band–    How Long How Long Blues 3:10
Guitar – Martell Pettiford, Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn], Jug – Carl Reid
Kazoo, Washboard – Herman Brown
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
12    Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band–    You Can't Come In 3:04
Guitar – Martell Pettiford, Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn], Jug – Carl Reid
Kazoo, Washboard – Herman Brown
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
13    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard" With Georgia Tom–    It's Tight Like That No. 2 2:40
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
14    Papa Too Sweet–    (Honey) It's Tight Like That 2:36
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Harry Jones, Papa Too Sweet
15    Papa Too Sweet–    Big Fat Mama 3:36
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Papa Too Sweet
16    The Hokum Boys–    Selling That Stuff (Matrix 21035-3) 2:49
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
17    The Hokum Boys–    Beedle Um Bum (Take 3) 2:46
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
18    State Street Stompers–    Rolling Mill Stomp (Take 1) 3:12
Drums – Jimmy Bertrand
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Alex Hill
Vocals, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Junie Cobb
19    State Street Stompers–    Rolling Mill Stomp (Take 2) 3:10
Drums – Jimmy Bertrand
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Alex Hill
Vocals, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Junie Cobb
20    State Street Stompers–    Panama Blues 3:08
Drums – Jimmy Bertrand
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano, Speech – Alex Hill
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Junie Cobb
21    Tampa Red–    Juicy Lemon Blues 3:02
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
22    Tampa Red–    Chicago Moan Blues 3:07
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
23    Tampa Red–    Strange Woman Blues 2:32
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
24    Tampa Red–    Jelly Whippin' Blues 3:08
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
25    Tampa Red–    Train Time Blues (Matrix C-2782) 3:16
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red

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