Release Date: 1993.
Recording Time: 67 minutes.
Recording Date: June 24, 1941 - July 5, 1945.
Release Info: Compilation (DOCD-5212) Studio Recording.
Styles: Chicago Blues, Electric Country Blues, Regional Blues.
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
Credits: Alan Balfour - Liner Notes; Tyrell Dixon - Drums ((tracks 22, 23); Clifford "Snags" Jones - Drums (tracks 9 to 15); Ransom Knowling - Bass (tracks: 1 to 8, 18 to 21); Big Maceo Merriweather - Piano (tracks 1 to 15, 22, 23), Vocals, Speech (track 15); Johnny Parth - Compilation Producer; Tampa Red - Kazoo (tracks 16 to 21, occasionally: tracks 1 to 15, 22, 23), Vocals, Guitar; Gerhard Wessely - Remastering.
Tracklist:
01. Georgia, Georgia Blues - Tampa Red
02. I Got A Right To Be Blue - Tampa Red
03. Don't Deal With The Devil - Tampa Red
04. She's Love Crazy - Tampa Red
05. It's A Low Down Shame - Tampa Red
06. You'd Better Be Ready To Go - Tampa Red
07. No Baby No - Tampa Red
08. So Far, So Good - Tampa Red
09. My First Love Blues - Tampa Red
10. Gin Head Woman - Tampa Red
11. Don't Jive It Mama - Tampa Red
12. Gypsy Lady Blues - Tampa Red
13. Mean And Evil Woman - Tampa Red
14. Let Me Play With Your Poodle - Tampa Red
15. She Want To Sell My Monkey - Tampa Red
16. You Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone - Tampa Red
17. I Ain't Fur It - Tampa Red
18. The Woman I Love - Tampa Red
19. Detroit Blues - Tampa Red
20. Sure Enough I Do - Tampa Red
21. Lula Mae - Tampa Red
22. Mercy Mama - Tampa Red
23. I Can't Get Along With You - Tampa Red
Recorded in Chicago, June 24, 1941 (tracks 1 to 8), February 6, 1942 (tracks 9 to 15), July 28, 1942 (tracks 16, 17), December 15, 1944 (tracks 18 to 21), and July 5, 1945 (tracks 22, 23).