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

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 3 • 1929-1930 | DOCD-5075 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Document's Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1929-1930) wraps up a year in the life of Tampa Red, finding the Chicago bluesman recording a parade of blues, including "Chicago Moan Blues" and "Whiskey Drinkin' Blues." He also takes on several tracks of lighthearted hokum ("I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone?," "Mama Don't Allow No Easy Riders Here"), along with the traditional standard "Corrine, Corrina."  Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. You might call it a period of transition, for after a fulminate start with their success of “It’s Tight Like That” and a period of follow-ups, the duo of Tampa Red and Georgia Tom gradually left the “hokum” genre and concentrated more and more on two easy things: the swinging, jazz-influenced up-tempo pieces like Easy Rider, and they got deeper and deeper into the real slow blues numbers, exploring several aspects of blues playing, and it is plain to hear that especially Tampa Red was getting more and more self confident in his playing refining his guitar style to a degree that he really became a champion, or in other words, a “guitar wizard”. The very first title included here, I Wonder Where My Easy Rider’s Gone (also known as “Easy Rider Blues), shows him as a leader of a small band that foreshadows his later “Chicago Five“. The flip side of this song was Come On Mama, Do That Dance it becomes evident that the swinging impetus of the two records comes not from the bass and washboard accompaniment, but from Tampa’s guitar. The same can be said for another track called Mama Don’t Allow to a degree that the listener doesn’t miss any rhythm instruments. Another side to Tampa Red‘s playing is revealed in the slow blues numbers such as Moanin’ Heart Blues, Chicago Moan Blues or I.C. Moan Blues. The moaning is not accomplished by his vocals, as is done by so many other blues singers, but by his guitar. Tampa is able to hold long notes with his slide, and then bend them in long melody bows. The two tracks Dying Mercy Blues and Black Hearted Blues have fine piano accompaniment, the later by Bill O’Bryant, a boogie specialist, plays the accompaniment. DOCD-5075
Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red And His Hokum Jug Band–    I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone? 2:45
Bass – Bill Johnson
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom Dorsey
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
Washboard [Prob.] – Jasper Taylor
2    Tampa Red And His Hokum Jug Band–    Come On, Mama, Do That Dance 2:48
Bass – Bill Johnson
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom Dorsey
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
Washboard [Prob.] – Jasper Taylor
3    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    Friendless Blues 3:05
Bass [Poss.] – Bill Johnson
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
4    Tampa Red And His Hokum Jug Band–    Mama Don't Allow No Easy Riders Here 3:11
Kazoo, Jug – Unknown Artist
Piano [Prob.] – Cow Cow Davenport
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Washboard [Prob.] – Jasper Taylor
5    Tampa Red And His Hokum Jug Band–    Saturday Night Scrontch 3:12
Guitar – Tampa Red
Kazoo, Jug – Unknown Artist
Piano [Prob.] – Cow Cow Davenport
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
Washboard [Prob.] – Jasper Taylor
6    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    Mama Don't Allow No Easy Riders Here 2:53              
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
7    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    Strewin' Your Mess 2:48
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
8    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Dying Mercy Blues 3:07
Piano [Prob.] – Romeo Nelson
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
9    Jenny Pope–    Whiskey Drinkin' Blues 3:12
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom Dorsey
Vocals – Jenny Pope
10    Jenny Pope–    Doggin' Me Around Blues 3:04
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Georgia Tom
11    Tampa Red–    Worried Man Blues 3:17
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
12    Tampa Red–    Mrs. Baker's Blues 3:10
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
13    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    Corrine Corrina 2:57
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
14    Georgia Tom, Tampa Red And Frankie Jaxon (The Black Hill Billies)–    Kunjine Baby 3:05
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
15    Tampa Red–    That Stuff You Sell 2:17
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
16    Tampa Red–    Station Time Blues 3:02
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
17    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Moanin' Heart Blues 2:48
Guitar – Tampa Red
18    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Chicago Moan Blues 3:15
Guitar – Tampa Red
19    Tampa Red–    Black Hearted Blues 2:57
Piano – Bill O'Bryant
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
20    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    But They Got It Fixed Right On 2:54
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
21    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    Corinne Corinna No. 2 2:43
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
22    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    The Dirty Dozen No. 2 3:14
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
23    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    I. C. Moan Blues 2:58
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
24    Tampa Red And Georgia Tom–    Cryin' Shame Blues 3:04
Vocals – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 4 • 1930-1931 | DOCD-5076 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Volume four in the Document series of Tampa Red's Complete Recorded Works reissues two dozen sides originally recorded during late 1930 and most of 1931. During this period, he introduced two career classics ("Boogie Woogie Dance," "Things 'Bout Coming My Way"), did several versions of "You Rascal You," and took on boogie-woogie with a pair of novelties. Still, only collectors and serious blues fans should feel the need to pursue this compilation, instead of the excellent It Hurts Me Too collection available on Indigo. Thom Owens

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. Tampa Red had been a permanent resident of Chicago since 1925. The same is true for some of his colleagues, like Bumble Bee Slim or Big Bill Broonzy. Those were the people who created what I would like to call the First Chicago Blues. Common to them was an urban approach to the blues, a more sophisticated siyle. Their singing was less expressive, but full of subtleties. There was no “shouting” or “grumbling” in between the vocals. Their lyrics were less concerned with cows, mules, crops or other important things of country life, but rather dealt with attributes of the city. The use of the piano as an accompaniment to guitar playing is another characteristic trait. Thus Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell, though residents of Indianapolis, were able to appeal to the musical taste of urban blacks. And this also explains the success of the duo of Tampa Red and Georgia Tom in Chicago. Tampa Red also enlarged his repertoire with songs not strictly taken from the blues field. Songs like Mama Don’t Allow or Corrine Corrina were taken from folk sources. Another typical feature of the early City Blues is the adaption of material originally taken from the pop or jazz sphere (in the 1920s this was just about the same thing). So we can hear on this album three versions of You Rascal You (also recorded by people like Louis Armstrong or Cab Calloway). The third version, where the duo is augmented by jug player Carl Reid (of Philipp’s Louisville Jug Band) and, again, by Frankie Jaxon, is the best one, in a really exuberant mood, with new lyrics and a fine jug solo. This is jazz-influenced “hokum” at its best! They Call It Boogie Woogie has nothing to do with the musical form of that name, but it is another song in the “Tight Like That” vein, using the name, because it was fashionable at the time. Boogie Woogie Dance, on the other hand, must have been the first guitar boogie on record, performed with artistic fervor, a true masterpiece indeed. Finally, there is evidence that Tampa Red also wrote topical songs of the day. Sad News Blues and especially Depression Blues reflect political events that were going to affect the black community (and not only them). DOCD-5076
Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red–    You Rascal You No. 2 2:35
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
2    Tampa Red–    You Rascal You No. 1 3:10
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
3    Sweet Papa Tadpole–    Have You Ever Been Worried In Mind? - Part 1 3:08
Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals – Sweet Papa Tadpole
4    Sweet Papa Tadpole–    Have You Ever Been Worried In Mind? - Part 2 3:04
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Sweet Papa Tadpole
5    Sweet Papa Tadpole–    You Baby Can't Get Enough 3:09
Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals – Sweet Papa Tadpole, Unknown Artist
6    Sweet Papa Tadpole–    Keep Your Yes Ma'am Clean 2:38
Guitar – Tampa Red
Piano – Unknown Artist
Vocals – Sweet Papa Tadpole
7    Tampa Red And His Hokum Jug Band–    You Rascal You 2:53
Guitar – Tampa Red
Jug – Carl Reid
Piano – Georgia Tom (Thomas A. Dorsey)
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
8    Tampa Red And His Hokum Jug Band–    She Can Love So Good 3:15
Guitar – Tampa Red
Horn [Jazzhorn], Jug – Carl Reid
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals – Frankie Jaxon
9    Tampa Red–    Bear Cat's Kittens 2:45
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
10    Tampa Red–    Unhappy Blues 2:54
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
11    Tampa Red–    Jealous Hearted Mama Blues 2:55
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
12    Tampa Red–    They Call It Boogie Woogie 2:26
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
13    Tampa Red–    Toogaloo Blues 2:54
Speech, Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
14    Tampa Red–    Jinx Doctor Blues 3:04
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
15    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Boogie Woogie Dance 3:10
Guitar – Tampa Red
16    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Bumble Bee Blues 3:25
Guitar – Tampa Red
17    Tampa Red–    New Strangers Blues 3:03
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Georgia Tom
18    Tampa Red–    Georgia Hound Blues 3:09
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
19    Tampa Red–    Things 'Bout Coming My Way 3:26
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
20    Tampa Red–    Cotton Seed Blues 2:53
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
21    Tampa Red–    Stop And Listen Blues 2:54
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
22    Tampa Red–    Down In Spirit Blues 2:56
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
23    Tampa Red–    Sad News Blues 3:18
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red
24    Tampa Red–    Depression Blues 2:56
Piano – Georgia Tom
Vocals, Guitar – Tampa Red

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 5 • 1931-1934 | DOCD-5077 (1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. This fifth volume of Tampa Red‘s early recordings marks two important events in his career: the splitting up of his duo with Georgia Tom, and the end of his Vocalion recordings. The album starts as a continuation of his earlier recordings, featuring hokum songs and down home blues. Don’t Leave Me Here can be heard in two versions, the first being recorded in Chicago in October 1931 and the second recorded in February 1932 in New York! On the May 7,1932 session, Tampa Red is solo again, and he plays two wonderfully relaxed blues. Then there is a gap of almost two years, probably caused by the Depression, as it happened to so many other blues and jazz artists. When the gap was over, things had changed. In March 1934, Tampa Red had a new partner, pianist Black Bob. This first session for Bluebird, this new “race” label of the RCA Victor company, also featured one of his greatest guitar solos, Kingfish Blues. Then the next day, there was one last session for Vocalion, again with Black Bob. There wasn’t a duo any more, just a singer/guitarist with piano accompaniment. The last Vocalion session is remarkable for two reasons: First, there is Tampa’s Black Angel Blues, the first of so many versions of the song. In the course of the following years, it has become somewhat of a classic of modern Chicago Blues, and artists like Robert Nighthawk, Earl Hooker and B. B. King had or have it in their repertoire. This also shows another aspect of Tampa’s creativity: that of a prolific songwriter. Many more of these classic tunes were to follow. And then there is Denver Blues, another wonderful guitar solo, Tampa’s good-bye present to Vocalion. DOCD-5077 

Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Mama Don't Leave Me Here (A)    3:08
2    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Please Mister Blues (A)        2:53
3    Tampa Red–    No Matter How She Done It (B)    3:14
4    Tampa Red–    Reckless Man Blues  (B) 2:48
5    Tampa Red–    Don't Leave Me Here (B) 2:42
6    Tampa Red–    Dead Cats On The Line (C) 2:45
7    Tampa Red–    You Can't Get That Stuff No More (C) 2:48
8    Tampa Red–    Things 'Bout Coming My Way No. 2 (C) 3:10
9    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Turpentine Blues (D) 3:20
10    Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"–    Western Bound Blues (D) 3:16
11    Tampa Red–    I'll Kill Your Soul (E) 2:55
12    Tampa Red–    If I Let You Get Away With It (E) 3:20
13    Tampa Red–    I'll Find My Way (E) 3:10
14    Tampa Red–    You've Got To Do Better (E) 3:07
15    Tampa Red–    Kingfish Blues (E)     3:05
16    Tampa Red–    You Don't Want Me Blues (E) 3:20
17    Tampa Red–    Nobody's Sweetheart Now     (E) 2:47
18    Tampa Red–    That Stuff Is Here (F) 3:20
19    Tampa Red–    Sugar Mama Blues No. 1 (F) 3:25
20    Tampa Red–    Sugar Mama Blues No. 2 (F) 3:17
21    Tampa Red–    Black Angel Blues (F) 3:24
22    Tampa Red–    Things 'Bout Coming My Way (G) 3:12
23    Tampa Red–    Denver Blues    (G) 2:53

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 6 • 1934-1935 | DOCD-5206 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

At the sessions of June and October 1934, Tampa Red’s repertoire was very much a mixture of what he had recorded for Vocalion (DOCD-5073 – 5076). There were, however, some notable exceptions. For the first three months of 1934 Tampa had been absent from recording and during that time Leroy Carr had found success with his “Mean Mistreater Mama” (DOCD-5137). Perhaps at Bluebird’s behest Tampa Red recorded a word for word, vocal inflection for vocal inflection, copy of the song as Mean Mistreater Blues. To his own bottleneck accompaniment and augmented by a jug player and strumming guitarist, the song was driven along by the compelling rhythm that the simple use of such instruments produced. At his next session for Bluebird in October one number, Worried Devil Blues, featured Tampa’s Jimmie Rodgers inspired “yodelling” phrases. This affectation may possibly have been occasioned by the popularity of the Mississippi Sheiks who used the technique to great commercial success for Okeh (DOCD-5083-5086) and who early in 1934 had joined the Bluebird roster.Along with Big Bill Broonzy, one of the stand-out figures in the transactional period of pre-war “Country Blues” to post war “City Blues” and on through to the energised, electric “Chicago Blues” of the 1950s is Hudson Whittaker better known as ‘Tampa Red’. His recordings influenced many, including Robert Nighthawk, Elmore James and BB King. Volume Six of fifteen volumes dedicated to Tampa’s recording career stretching from 1929 to 1953 features 22 tracks recorded at three sessions between June 1934 and February 1935.
Experimenting with rhythm lines being underlined by jugs and washboards and kazoo, many of the tracks hail the emergence of a hip, swing influenced Tampa of the mid 30s. Carrying on the successful guitar piano formula that he had with his early recording partner Georgia Tom Dorsey, most of the tracks find him accompanied by piano players Black Bob or Henry “45” Scott plus occasional second guitar. Although Tampa’s dreaded kazoo makes an occasional appearance it is mostly his powerful vocals and his distinctive single string slide guitar work that carries the CD along. The material is varied and includes a couple of topical items Christmas And New Years Blues and Stockyard Fire. It is fairly likely that such a fire occurred and Tampa’s reference to eating only one meal in three may have been something he and his wife experienced as a result. It is suggested that I’ll Get A Break Someday (I’ll Be Up Someday”) is not by Tampa but Carl Martin who has a session listed right after Tampa’s – a fine cut whoever it is though.
Tampa returns to the studio in February in chirpy mood the following year, recording a further seven sides. Armed with his guitar and his small but potent kazoo, and accompanied by “probably” Black Bob on piano and “probably” the mysterious Mississippi Sarah on jug he romps his way through Worthy Of You and If It Ain’t That Gal Of Mine, a little ditty about Sally, who, on the street, can make more money than Henry Ford.
Thankfully, after this number Tampa seems to have mislaid his Kazoo. Or has Sarah slipped it into her jug, if you pardon the phrase?
Two takes of Mean Old Tom Cat is a pounding blues with Tampa peppering the accompaniment with the use of some bottleneck licks on his National steel guitar. Both takes are excellent and were worthy of release though the pace is picked up a little more on the second.
We’re then given a breather with two, very nice, blues including the excellent, rolling, Singing And Crying Blues.
But Tampa really is in party mood and falling back onto his Hokum style he leaves volume 6 with the spicy Shake It Up A Little.  DOCD-5206

 Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red–    I'm Just Crazy 'Bout You (A) 2:49
2    Tampa Red–    I Still Got California On My Mind (A) 2:54
3    Tampa Red–    Grievin' And Worryin' Blues  (A) 3:01
4    Tampa Red–    Give It Up Buddy And Get Goin'    (A) 2:32
5    Tampa Red–    Somebody's Been Using That Thing (take 1) (A) 2:56
6    Tampa Red–    Somebody's Been Using That Thing (take 2)  (A) 3:09
7    Tampa Red–    Mean Mistreater Blues     (A) 2:47
8    Tampa Red–    Happy Jack  (B) 3:16
9    Tampa Red–    I'm So Disappointed In You   (B) 2:50
10    Tampa Red–    Worried Devil Blues   (B) 3:24
11    Tampa Red–    Christmas And New Year's Blues  (B) 3:22
12    Tampa Red–    Sweet Woman  (B) 3:20
13    Tony Hollins–    Big Time Woman   (B) 2:36
Bass [Imb./Uncredited] – Unknown Artist
Vocals [Uncredited], Guitar [Uncredited/Prob.] – Tony Hollins
Washboard [Uncredited] – Unknown Artist
14    Tampa Red–    Witchin' Hour Blues (B) 3:13
15    Tampa Red–    Stockyard Fire   (B) 3:12
16    Tampa Red–    Worthy Of You  (C) 2:50
17    Tampa Red–    If it Ain't That Gal Of Mine (C)    3:00
18    Tampa Red–    Mean Old Tom Cat Blues (take 1) (C)    2:52
19    Tampa Red–    Mean Old Tom Cat Blues (take 3) (C)    2:40
20    Tampa Red–    Don't Dog Your Woman (C)    3:30
21    Tampa Red–    Singing And Crying Blues (C) 3:13
22    Tampa Red–    Shake It Up A Little (C) 2:42

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

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 9 • 1938-1939 | DOCD-5209 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of the greatest slide guitarists of the early blues era, and a man with an odd fascination with the kazoo, Tampa Red also fancied himself a piano player and bandleader, tendencies that come to the fore on this ninth installment of Document's attempt to release all of his known recorded work in chronological order. Covering the years 1937 and 1938, this collection is hardly typical of Red's work, since it has relatively few tracks featuring his trademark National Steel slide sound. Half of the disc is given over to small combo jazz pieces featuring Tampa Red's pleasant but ordinary vocal skills, and while these tracks are certainly professional and competent, it is a bit like discovering a Jimi Hendrix record with no guitar on it.  Steve Leggett

Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red–    Delta Woman Blues (A) 3:04
2    Tampa Red–    Deceitful Friend Blues     (A) 2:58
3    Tampa Red–    Wrong Idea (A) 2:49
4    Tampa Red–    Whoopee Mama (A) 2:54
5    Tampa Red–    Travel On (A) 2:21
6    Tampa Red–    Seminole Blues  (A) 3:01
7    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–  (B) The Most Of Us Do    2:47
8    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–  (B) We Gonna Get High Together    3:09
9    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–  (B) Happily Married    3:06
10    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–  (B) A Lie In My Heart    3:10
11    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–  (B) Heck Of A How-Do-You-Do    2:47
12    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–  (B) That May Get It Now    2:59
13    Tampa Red–    That Don't Matter Now (C) 2:40
14    Tampa Red–    Grouchy Hearted Woman (C) 2:53
15    Tampa Red–    Why Should I Care? (C) 3:22
16    Tampa Red–    Got To Leave My Woman (C) 3:15
17    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five– (D) Now That You've Gone    2:54
18    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five– (D) Rock It In Rhythm    2:51
19    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five– (D) I Do    2:59
20    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five– (D) Sweetest Gal In Town    2:34
21    Tampa Red–    Crazy With The Blues (E) 3:17
22    Tampa Red–    Love With A Feeling  (E) 2:57

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 10 • 1938-1939 | DOCD-5210 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Over ten years into Tampa Red's career and ten discs into their voluminous, multi-decade-spanning series of Complete Recorded Works, Document continued as strong as ever. These 22 tracks, recorded from mid-1938 to late 1939, embrace blues, rhythm tunes, and an occasional novelty like "Booze Head Woman" or "I Got a Big Surprise for You." As on previous volumes, collectors and serious blues fans will have the most interest in this completist format; everything from poor fidelity to chronological sequencing and a lengthy running time will prevent casual listeners from enjoying the entire proceedings. Thom Owens

Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red–    When Bad Luck Is On You (A) 3:09
2    Tampa Red–    When I Had A Good Woman (You Keep On Doggin' Me)     (A) 3:05
3    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    Mr. Rhythm Man (B) 2:51
4    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    Just You And I Alone (B) 3:01
5    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    Checkin' Up On You (B) 2:45
6    Tampa Red And The Chicago Five–    Oh, Yes, My Darling (B) 3:01
7    Tampa Red–    Forgive Me Please (C) 2:46
8    Tampa Red–    Blues For My Baby      (C) 3:16
9    Tampa Red–    Hellish Old Feeling (C)     3:11
10    Tampa Red–    She Got The Best In Town (C) 2:45
11    Tampa Red–    You Say It's Love  (D)     2:52
12    Tampa Red–    Bessemer Blues  (D) 2:45
13    Tampa Red–    Please Don't Throw Me Down  (D) 2:51
14    Tampa Red–    Sad Letter Blues  (D) 3:01
15    Tampa Red–    Booze Head Woman  (D) 3:00
16    Tampa Red–    If I Had Known  (D) 2:46
17    Tampa Red–    You Got To Give Me Some  (D) 3:11
18    Tampa Red–    Poor Old Gal Blues  (D) 2:48
19    Tampa Red–    No Good Woman Blues    (D) 3:15
20    Tampa Red–    Nobody Knows How Bad I Feel (D) 2:43
21    Tampa Red–    Ready For Rhythm      (E) 2:41
22    Tampa Red–    I Got A Big Surprise For You (E) 2:43

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 11 • 1939-1940 | DOCD-5211 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1        I'll Try To Forget    (A) 2:58
2        Don't Forget It (A) 2:57
3        My Two Women (A) 3:03
4        Sweet Mellow Woman Blues     (A) 2:58
5        Dangerous Woman Blues (A) 2:58
6        I Don't Care No More    (A) 2:49
7        Anna Lou Blues (B) 2:50
8        Don't You Lie To Me (B) 2:55
9        Tired Of Your Reckless Ways (B) 2:49
 

10        It Hurts Me Too (B) 2:29
11        Baby, Take A Chance With Me  (B) 3:11
12        What Am I Going To Do? (B) 2:56
13        The Way To Get The Low Down (B) 2:32
14        You Say We're Through (B) 2:35
15        The Jitter Jump (C) 2:50
16        I Want To Swing (C) 2:47
17        Forget About Me (C) 2:43
18        She Loves Just Right (C) 3:02
19        Poor Little Fellow Blues (C)     3:16
20        Hard Road Blues (C) 2:55
21        Noonday Hour Blues (C) 3:09
22        Poor Little Fellow Blues (C)     3:11

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 12 • 1941-1945 | DOCD-5212 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

One of the more interesting installments in Document's attempt to release all of Tampa Red's recorded works in chronological order, this 12th volume covers the years 1941 to 1945. Red was playing electric guitar by this point, and most of the tracks here are proto-templates for the electric Chicago blues sound, although a bit more reined-in and refined. The lead track, "Georgia Georgia Blues," is perfect Tampa Red, with solid guitar, an easy-rolling vocal, and -- of course -- a kazoo break. "Detroit Blues" is another highlight, and this disc also features two of Red's best hokum pieces, the risqué "Let Me Play With Your Poodle" and the equally as daring "She Wants to Sell My Monkey." You can tell the musicians are having fun here, and even the gloomier blues cuts are sung with a wink and a grin. This is what country blues sounded like after moving to the city and settling in, and Tampa Red's urbane tone balances perfectly between the old and the new. Steve Leggett

Tracklist :
1        Georgia, Georgia Blues    (A) 2:50
2        I Got A Right To Be Blue (A) 2:54
3        Don't Deal With The Devil    (A) 2:49
4        She's Love Crazy    (A) 2:58
5        It's A Low Down Shame (A) 2:51
6        You'd Better Be Ready To Go (A) 3:00
7        No Baby No (A) 2:41
8        So Far, So Good (B) 2:41
9        My First Love Blues (B) 2:57
10        Gin Head Woman (B) 2:44
11        Don't Jive It Mama (B) 2:44
12        Gypsy Lady Blues (B) 3:01
13        Mean And Evil Woman (B) 2:50
14        Let Me Play With Your Poodle (B) 2:35
15        She Want To Sell My Monkey (C) 3:18
16        You Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone (C) 2:53
17        I Ain't Fur It     (C) 3:04
18        The Woman I Love      (D) 2:41
19        Detroit Blues     (D) 3:03
20        Sure Enough I Do (D) 2:47
21        Lula Mae     (D) 3:06
22        Mercy Mama (E) 2:50
23        I Can't Get Along With You     (E) 2:51

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 13 • 1945-1947 | DOCD-5213 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1        Give Me Mine Now (A) 2:49
2        Better Leave My Gal Alone (A) 2:42
3        I'll Be Up Again Some Day (B) 2:59
4        I Oughta Bite You (B) 3:01
5        Corrine Blues (B) 2:41
6        Play Proof Mama (B) 2:31
7        Let's Try It Again (C)  2:57
8        Maybe, Someday (C) 2:39
9        Crying Won't Help You  (C) 3:09  

10        Please Be Careful  (C) 3:11
11        You May Be Down Someday (D) 3:00
12        She's A Solid Killer Diller  (D) 3:21
13        Poor Stranger Blues  (D) 2:57
14        New Bad Luck Blues (D) 3:14
15        I Know My Baby Loves Me (E) 2:33
16        Blue And All Alone (E) 3:01
17        You Better Woo Your Baby (E) 2:44
18        Grieving Blues (E) 2:51
19        Sugar Baby (F) 2:39
20        Keep Jumping  (F) 2:40
21        I'll Dig You Sooner Or Later  (F) 2:54
22        Roaming And Rambling  (F) 3:00

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 14 • 1949-1951 | DOCD-5214 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Volume fourteen, of fifteen volumes charting Tampa Red’s recording career from 1929 to 1953, further galvanises the link between the blues styles of the rural south to the city sound of the north and in particular, Chicago. Here, his blues are solid, sometimes they are low down, sometimes they jump, often they are driven and occasionally they are even Boogied!!

The first three tracks feature Tampa on piano accompanying the vocal and guitar of Pete Frankiln. Frankiln’s guitar style is closely based on that of Scrapper Blackwell, his vocal, along with Tampa’s piano playing encompasses the sound of another major figure of the Chicago blues scene, Big Maeo Merriweather. For the rest of the album Tampa back to the guitar, including his trademark slide playing and is accompanied by Johnnie Jones, Ransom Knowling and Odie Payne; three men who were about to become part of one of the most dynamic and exciting blues bands  in Chicago during the 1950s; “The Broomduster’s”, led by the legendary Elmore James. Almost as a forerunner for things to come, we have, here, the first recording of When Things Go Wrong which James would record as “It Hurts Me Too”.

Pete Franklin an Indianapolis born guitarist/pianist who modelled himself on Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell. On arrival in Chicago Franklin made the acquaintance of Jazz Gillum and Tampa Red and through them was employed by Victor A&R / Producer, Lester Melrose, as supporting guitarist to Gillum on 25th January 1949. The following day Melrose recorded Franklin in his own right. The pianist for the four number session was Pete Franklin – Tampa Red who, not unnaturally, chose the Leroy Carr style as his accompaniment to Franklin.

That session was held at Melrose’s address at 8922 S. Hoyne Avenue, as were those by Tampa Red in March 1949 and March 1950. Johnny Jones, then aged twenty-four, shows his indebtedness to Maceo on the bouncing “It’s A Brand New Boogey” and “When Things Go Wrong With You”, a remake of Tampa’s 1940 “It Hurts Me Too”. Jones’s other talent was as a harmonica player and his eerily accurate evocation of John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson’s style can he heard on the infectious shuffle, “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is”.

The start of a new decade was acknowledged by Tampa with the aptly titled “1950 Blues” which features Jones duetting on the chorus, there were also a further number of remakes including his 1928 hit, “It’s Tight Like That” (as “It’s Good Like That” with sonic spirited playing from Jones) and his 1938 offering, “Love Her With A Feelin’”. Perhaps getting Tampa to re-record some of his earlier successes fifties style was just another way of trying to reach the new audience. Later that year, in November, Tampa recorded a remake of his 1934 recording “Black Angel”, (as “Sweet Little Angel”) a number that Robert Nighthawk had enjoyed great success with for Chess the previous year and one that Tampa had long claimed authorship on even though it was first recorded as “Black Angel Blues” by Lucille Bogan in 1930. The song eventually became an R&B hit for B. B. King and unfortunately for Tampa, forever linked with that artist. DOCD-5214
Tracklist :
1    Pete Franklin–    Casey Brown Blues 3:08
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Piano – Tampa Red
Vocals, Guitar – Pete Franklin
2    Pete Franklin–    Mr. Charley 3:05
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Piano – Tampa Red
Vocals, Guitar – Pete Franklin
3    Pete Franklin–    Down Behind The Rise 3:07
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Piano – Tampa Red
Vocals, Guitar – Pete Franklin
4    Tampa Red–    It's A Brand New Boogey 2:56
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
5    Tampa Red–    Come On, If You're Coming 2:50
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
6    Tampa Red–    Please Try To See It My Way 3:03
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
7    Tampa Red–    When Things Go Wrong With You 2:55
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
8    Tampa Red–    Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 2:49
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Harmonica [Uncredited] – Unknown Artist
Tenor Saxophone – Sugarman Penigar
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
9    Tampa Red–    That's Her Own Business 2:52
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Tenor Saxophone – Sugarman Penigar
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
10    Tampa Red–    It's Too Late Now 2:55
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Tenor Saxophone – Sugarman Penigar
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
11    Tampa Red–    I'll Find My Way 2:35
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Tenor Saxophone – Sugarman Penigar
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
12    Tampa Red–    1950 Blues 3:14
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
13    Tampa Red–    It's Good Like That 2:31
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
14    Tampa Red–    Love Her With A Feelin' 3:14
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
15    Tampa Red–    New Deal Blues 3:12
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
16    Tampa Red–    Midnight Boogie 2:44
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
17    Tampa Red–    Don't Blame Shorty For That 2:46
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
18    Tampa Red–    I Miss My Lovin' Blues 2:54
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
19    Tampa Red–    Sweet Little Angel 2:56
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
20    Tampa Red–    Since My Baby's Been Gone 2:46
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
21    Tampa Red–    She's Dynamite 2:17
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
22    Tampa Red–    Pretty Baby Blues 2:59
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones
23    Tampa Red–    Early In The Morning 3:13
Bass – Ransom Knowling
Drums – Odie Payne
Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo – Tampa Red
Vocals, Piano – Johnnie Jones

TAMPA RED — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 15 • 1951-1953 | DOCD-5215 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Tampa Red–    Boogie Woogie Woman    (A) 2:23
2    Tampa Red–    She's A Cool Operator    (A) 3:01
3    Tampa Red–    I Won't Let Her Do It    (A) 2:44
4    Tampa Red–    Green And Lucky Blues     (A) 2:46
5    Tampa Red–    I'm Gonna Put You Down (B) 2:49
6    Tampa Red–    Look a There, Look A There     (B) 2:41
7    Tampa Red–    True Love (B) 2:42
8    Tampa Red–    But I Forgive You     (B) 2:51
9    Tampa Red–    Too Late Too Long     (C) 3:00
 

10    Tampa Red–    I'll Never Let You Go (C) 2:20
11    Tampa Red–    Al Mixed Up Over You (C) 2:47
12    Tampa Red–    Got A Mind To Leave This Town    (C) 2:37
13    Jimmy Eager & His Trio–    Please Mr. Doctor     (D) 2:49
14    Jimmy Eager & His Trio–    I Should Have Loved Her More    (D) 2:58
15    Jimmy Eager & His Trio–    Baby Please Don't     (D) 2:57
16    Jimmy Eager & His Trio–    Beat That Bop (D) 3:07
17    Tampa Red–    So Crazy About You Baby (E) 3:00
18    Tampa Red–    So Much Trouble (E) 2:59
19    Tampa Red–    If She Don't Come Back  (E) 2:34
20    Tampa Red–    Big Stars Falling Blues (F) 3:08
21    Tampa Red–    Rambler's Blues (F) 2:42
22    Tampa Red–    Evalena (F) 2:27

BIG BILL BROONZY — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order ★ Volume 5 • 1936-1937 | DOCD-5127 (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Big Bill Broonzy recorded a great deal in Chicago during the 1930s, and fortunately, every one of the selections (except for a few that cannot be located) have been reissued on CD by the Austrian Document label in this "complete" series. In addition to selections with a trio (which includes pianist Black Bob and bassist Bill Settles), Broonzy is heard on this fifth volume with the Hokum Boys (on "Nancy Jane"), the Midnight Ramblers (which include Washboard Sam) and the Chicago Black Swans, a band similar to the Harlem Hamfats that adds guitarist Tampa Red). The final four numbers return to the trio format but add trumpeter Punch Miller to two of the songs. Throughout, Broonzy is heard in prime form. Among the selections are "Big Bill's Milk Cow No. 2," "Nancy Jane," "Detroit Special," "Out With the Wrong Woman," "Southern Flood Blues" and "Let's Reel and Rock." Scott Yanow

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. In 1934 Big Bill Broonzy had recorded Milk Cow Blues for Bluebird (see volume two of this series) and it had been a sufficient hit for him to assay a Milk Cow Blues No. 2 for ARC, this time filling out the sound by utilising Black Bob‘s piano for support. This basic line-up of guitar, piano, string bass and woodblocks was given an extra dimension when Charlie McCoy was added playing the mandolin. Charlie, like Big Bill, was a jobbing musician about Chicago. He had found his niche when, along with his brother ‘Hallelujah’ Joe McCoy he became part of the basic line-up of the Harlem Hamfats. This group used a ‘New Orleans’ front line of trumpet and clarinet backed-up by a piano and a guitar/mandolin/drums rhythm section. The session with Charlie produced Bill’s complaint about his addiction to playing craps in Seven-Eleven (“My point was a nine, I stopped at six – and that trey came flyin”‘) and about his girl-friend’s bad actin’ in You Know I Got A Reason. (Is there an accusation of lesbianism in the line “You say that woman you run with is your lady friend, it don’t look much like it for the shape I caught y’all in”?) During the same period, May / June 1936, Bill was still performing as part of The Hokum Boys, singing and playing the guitar on Nancy Jane a number they had recorded before, without it being released, as far back as 1930. A further Big Bill / Black Bob session took place in the September of 1936. It included Black Widow Spider in which Bill may have mixed his genders by representing himself as a spider with “red stripes under my belly” after making it sore by “crawlin’ down your wall”. The same combination also recorded in November of that year, one track, Out With The Wrong Woman being issued as by The Midnight Ramblers. Several songs and alternative takes of material recorded around this time, i. e. Cherry Hill Take 2, were not issued until they appeared on LP in the late 60s / early 70s. On the 26th January 1937 Big Bill Broonzy took the vocal and guitar part for a group called the Chicago Black Swans. This was a loose collection of musicians including Herb Morand and Arnett Nelson, the front line of the Hamfats. The same group recorded the same two titles on the same day with vocals by Mary Mack for release as by The State Street Swingers. Further confusion is added by the fact that Bill had already recorded Don’t Tear My Clothes (presumably implicitly “No. 1”, see volume three of this series) with a group known as The State Street Boys whose more rural sound had been built around the violin of Zeb Wright. Never slow to adapt to trends Bill featured a trumpet and drums on his next session (although he refers to a cornet on Come Up To My House). After cutting his commentary on the recent flooding of the Ohio River in his magnificent Southern Flood he brought forward “Mr Sheiks” and Fred Williams to up-date his sound to that of Big Bill’s Orchestra (?). “Mr Sheiks“, whose identity has been the subject of much speculation, was no Herb Morand and two days later Big Bill Broonzy was back in the studio to try again – this time in the company of Ernest ‘Kid Punch’ Miller, who came, like Morand, from a New Orleans background and was one of the foremost jazzmen of his generation. Hedging, Bill also cut for his older audience on this session producing the delicately picked Horny FIog which included references to the south, north migration along with the wonderful line dismissing his troublesome girlfriend: “I’m tired of poppin’ my belly for you”. DOCD-5127
Tracklist :
1        Big Bill's Milk Cow No. 2 (A) 3:07
2        W.P.A. Blues (B) 3:01
3        I'm A Southern Man (B) 2:47
4        Nancy Jane (C) 3:00
5        Lowland Blues (D)    3:02
6        Seven-Eleven     (D)    2:57
7        You Know I Got A Reason (D) 2:49
8        Oh, Babe (D)    3:08
9        Detroit Special  (E) 2:50
10        Falling Rain  (E) 3:17
11        Black Widow Spider (F) 2:52
12        Cherry Hill  (G) 3:12
13        Out With The Wrong Woman (H) 2:57
14        Don't Tear My Clothes No. 2 (I)    2:42
15        You Drink Too Much (I) 3:08
16        Southern Flood Blues (J) 3:13
17        My Big Money     (J) 3:12
18        My Woman Mistreats Me (J) 3:00
19        Let's Reel And Rock (J) 3:15
20        Come Up To My House (J) 3:11
21        Get Away (K) 2:57
22        Terrible Flood Blues (K) 3:04
23        Little Bug (K) 3:05
24        Horny Frog [Take 1] (K) 3:08
Credits :
(A) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Black Bob, piano; “Heebie Jeebies”, wood blocks  01/05/1936
(B) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Black Bob, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass “Heebie Jeebies” woodblocks on 3. 27/05/1936
(C) The Hokum Boys: Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Casey Bill Weldon, guitar, vocal / chorus; Black Bob, piano: Bill Settles, stand-up bass.   11/06/1936
(D)  Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; accompanied by Punch Miller, trumpet on 15, 16, 17; Leeford or Aletha Robinson, piano; own guitar on 15, 16, 17; Fred Williams, drums. 03/09/1936
(E) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Probably Horace Malcolm, piano; Charlie McCoy, mandolin. Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Black Bob, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass.  16/09/1936
(F)  Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; probably Myrtle Jenkins, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass.  28/10/1936
(G) Chicago Black Swans: Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; accompanied probably by Herb Morand or possibly Alfred Bell, trumpet; Arnett Nelson, clarinet; Black Bob, piano; possibly Tampa Red, guitar; unknown, percussion. 19/11/1936
(H) Midnight Ramblers: Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; Black Bob, piano; unknown, stand-up bass; possibly Washboard Sam, scat vocal. 19/11/1936
(I) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; probably Myrtle Jenkins, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass. 26/01/1937
(J) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; accompanied by “Mr. Sheiks (Alfred Bell), trumpet, on 16, 17, 19, 20; possibly . Fred Williams. drums on 19 and 20. Bill Settles, stand-up bass; possibly Fred Williams, drums on 19, 20. 29/01/1937
(K) Big Bill Broonzy, vocal, guitar; accompanied by Punch Miller, trumpet on 21, 23; Black Bob, piano; Bill Settles, stand-up bass; Fred Williams, drums on 23 / woodblocks on 22, 24. 31/01/1937