Release Date: 1991.
Recording Time: 75 minutes.
Recording Date: January 12, 1929 - June 27, 1929.
Release Info: Compilation (DOCD-5074) Studio Recording.
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! ~ Teddy Doering, 1991 Document Records.
Credits:
Compilation Producer – Johnny Parth
Liner Notes – Teddy Doering
Remastered By (Uncredited) – Hans Klement
Personnel: Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard", With Georgia Tom : Tampa Red, vocals / guitar; Thomas A. Dorsey (Georgia Tom), piano / vocal on 2. Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard", guitar solo. The Hokum Boys: Tampa Red, guitar; Georgia Tom Dorsey, piano. Tampa Red’s Hokum Jug Band: Tampa Red, guitar; unknown, piano; Bill Johnson, stand-up bass; Herman Brown, washboard; Carl Reid, jazzhorn / jug; Frankie Jaxon, vocals. Tampa Red And Georgia Tom: Tampa Red, vocals / guitar; Georgia Tom, piano. Tampa Red And Georgia Tom: Tampa Red, vocals (except 14) / guitar; Georgia Tom, vocals / piano. Gospel Camp Meeting Singers: Vocal group; acc. poss. Georgia Tom Dorsey, piano; Tampa Red, guitar. Tampa Red, vocals / guitar; Georgia Tom, vocals / piano. Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon, vocal / scraper; acc. prob. Georgia Tom Dorsey, piano; Tampa Red, guitar. Tampa Red, vocals / guitar; Georgia Tom, piano. Lil Johnson, vocals; accompanied by Charles Avery, piano; Tampa Red, guitar.
Tracklist:
01. It's Tight Like That No. 3 - Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard" With Georgia Tom
02. Uncle Bud (Dog-Gone Him) - Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard" With Georgia Tom
03. Train Time Blues (Matrix TC-2792-A) - Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard" With Georgia Tom
04. How Long, How Long Blues - Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"
05. It's Tight Like That - Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"
06. Selling That Stuff (Matrix 21156-1) - The Hokum Boys
07. Mess, Katie, Mess - Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band
08. Sho' Is Hot - Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band
09. Boot It Boy - Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band
10. My Daddy Rocks Me (With One Steady Roll) - Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band
11. Givin' It Away - Tampa Red And Georgia Tom
12. What You Gonna Do? - Tampa Red And Georgia Tom
13. It's So Nice - Tampa Red And Georgia Tom
14. Voice Of The Blues - Tampa Red And Georgia Tom
15. Come And Go To That Land - Gospel Camp Meeting Singers
16. Hold To His Hand - Gospel Camp Meeting Singers
17. The Duck Yas-Yas-Yas - Tampa Red, Georgia Tom
18. Pat That Bread - Tampa Red, Georgia Tom
19. It's Heated - Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
20. Jive Man Blues - Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon
21. What Is It That Tastes Like Gravy? - Tampa Red
22. You Better Tighten Up On It - Tampa Red
23. Prison Bound Blues - Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"
24. You Got To Reap What You Sow - Tampa Red "The Guitar Wizard"
25. House Rent Scuffle - Lil Johnson
Recorded in Chicago, 12 January 1929 (tracks 1, 2), 14 January 1929 (track 3), 16 January 1929 (tracks 4, 5), c. February 1929 (track 6), 12 April 1929 (tracks 7, 8), 13 April 1929 (tracks 9, 10), 2 May 1929 (tracks 11, 12), 9 May 1929 (tracks 13, 14), 11 May 1929 (tracks 15, 16), 13 May 1929 (track 17), 25 May 1929 (track 18), 11 June 1929 (tracks 19, 20), 13 June 1929 (tracks 21, 22), 22 June 1929 (tracks 23, 24), and 27 June 1929 (track 25).