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

LIL JOHNSON - "Hottest Gal in Town" (1936-1937) (1991) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Although this fine singer represents a link in the classic chain of recordings by the "Classic Blues Singers," she is actually a few steps closer to the down-home blues essence than many of her peers. Here Johnson applies an earthy, conversational style employing frequent and effective use of vibrato to material ranging from risqué ensemble ragtime to vaudeville hokum. Big Bill Broonzy and Black Bob add their legendary talents to this entertaining set. by Larry Hoffman
Tracklist :
1    That Bonus Done Gone Thru 3:02
Double Bass – Bill Settles
Piano, Voice – Black Bob
Vocals – Lil Johnson
2    Get 'Em From The Peanut Man (Hot Nuts) 3:09
Double Bass – Bill Settles
Piano, Voice – Black Bob
Vocals – Lil Johnson
3    Sam - The Hot Dog Man 3:01
Double Bass – Bill Settles
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals – Lil Johnson
4    Rug Cutter's Function 3:02
Double Bass – Bill Settles
Piano – Black Bob
Vocals – Lil Johnson
5    My Stove's In Good Conditions 2:58
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Myrtle Jenkins
Vocals – Lil Johnson
6    Hottest Gal In Town 2:58
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass – John Lindsay
Piano – Black Bob Hudson
Trumpet – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Lil Johnson
7    Let's Get Drunk And Truck 3:09
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Double Bass – John Lindsay
Piano – Black Bob Hudson
Trumpet – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Lil Johnson
8    Black And Evil Blues 3:09
Double Bass – Unknown Artist
Piano – J. H. Shayne
Trumpet – Lee Collins
Vocals – Lil Johnson
9    You're Just A Cream Puff 3:03
Double Bass – Unknown Artist
Piano – J. H. Shayne
Trumpet – Lee Collins
Vocals – Lil Johnson
10    I'll Take You To The Cleaners (Tk. 1) 2:59
Double Bass – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Black Bob
Trumpet – Mr. Sheiks
Vocals – Lil Johnson
11    River Hip Papa 2:56
Double Bass – Bill Settles
Guitar – Big Bill Broonzy
Piano – Black Bob
Trumpet – Mr. Sheiks
Vocals – Lil Johnson
12    Goofer Dust Swing 3:16
Bass [Thump] – Unknown Artist
Piano – Black Bob
Trumpet – Mr. Sheiks
Vocals – Lil Johnson
13    Take It Easy Greasy No. 2 3:00
Drums – Fred Williams
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Trumpet – Mr. Sheiks
Vocals – Lil Johnson
14    Stavin' Chain (Tk. 1) 3:06
Drums – Fred Williams
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Trumpet – Mr. Sheiks
Vocals – Lil Johnson
15    Take Your Hand Off It (Tk. 1) 2:44
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Drums – Fred Williams
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals – Lil Johnson
16    When I Can Get It 2:55
Clarinet – Arnett Nelson
Drums – Fred Williams
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals – Lil Johnson
17    Broken-Hearted Blues 2:40
Drums – Fred Williams
Piano – Aletha Robinson
Vocals – Lil Johnson
18    So Long, Babe, I'm Gone 3:00
Guitar, Double Bass – Unknown Artist
Piano – Blind John Davis
Vocals – Lil Johnson
Credits :
Vocals – Lil Johnson