Release Date: June 2, 1994.
Recording Time: 67 minutes.
Recording Date: January 26, 1949 - March 20, 1951.
Release Info: Compilation (DOCD-5214) Studio Recording.
Styles: Acoustic Blues, Acoustic Chicago Blues, Chicago Blues, Regional Blues.
Abridged from this album's original booklet notes.
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. ~ Alan Balfour, 1993 Document Records.
Credits: Alan Balfour - Liner Notes; Pete Franklin - Featured Artist, Guitar, Performer, Vocals; Johnnie Jones - Piano, Vocals; Ransom Knowling - Bass; Odie Payne, Jr. - Drums; Johnny Parth - Producer; Sugarman Penigar - Sax (Tenor); Tampa Red - Composer, Guitar, Kazoo, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals; Gerhard Wessely - Remastering.
Tracklist:
01. Casey Brown Blues - Pete Franklin
02. Mr. Charley - Pete Franklin
03. Down Behind The Rise - Pete Franklin
04. It's A Brand New Boogey - Tampa Red
05. Come On, If You're Coming - Tampa Red
06. Please Try To See It My Way - Tampa Red
07. When Things Go Wrong With You - Tampa Red
08. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is - Tampa Red
09. That's Her Own Business - Tampa Red
10. It's Too Late Now - Tampa Red
11. I'll Find My Way - Tampa Red
12. 1950 Blues - Tampa Red
13. It's Good Like That - Tampa Red
14. Love Her With A Feelin' - Tampa Red
15. New Deal Blues - Tampa Red
16. Midnight Boogie - Tampa Red
17. Don't Blame Shorty For That - Tampa Red
18. I Miss My Lovin' Blues - Tampa Red
19. Sweet Little Angel - Tampa Red
20. Since My Baby's Been Gone - Tampa Red
21. She's Dynamite - Tampa Red
22. Pretty Baby Blues - Tampa Red
23. Early In The Morning - Tampa Red
Personnel: Tampa Red - vocals, guitar, slide guitar, piano, kazoo; Peter Franklin - vocals, guitar; Johnnie Jones - vocals, piano; Ransom Knowling - bass; Odie Payne - drums; Sugarman Penigar - tenor sax.
This is the fourteenth of 15 volumes. Remastering: Soundborn Studios Vienna.
Original recordings from the collections of Joe Bussard, Daniel Gugolz, Hans Maitner, Johnny Parth, Victor Pearlin, Russ Shor.
01. D9-VB-0353 Victor 22-0012
02. D9-VB-0354 Victor unissued
03. D9-VB-0356 Victor 22-0012
04. D9-VB-460 Victor 22-0043
05. D9-VB-461 Victor 22-0035
06. D9-VB-462 Victor 22-0071
07. D9-VB-463 Victor 22-0035
08. D9-VB-1147 Victor 22-0043
09. D9-VB-1148 Victor 22-0057
10. D9-VB-1149 Victor 22-0071
11. D9-VB-1150 Victor 22-0057
12. E0-VB-3394 Victor 22/50-0084
13. E0-VB-3395 Victor 22-0094
14. E0-VB-3396 Victor 22/50-0084
15. E0-VB-3397 Victor 22-0094
16. E0-VB-4564 Victor 22-0112
17. E0-VB-4565 Victor 22-0107
18. E0-VB-4566 Victor 22-0112
19. E0-VB-4567 Victor 22-0107
20. E1-VB-490 Victor 22-0136
21. E1-VB-491 Victor 22-0123
22. E1-VB-492 Victor 22-0136
23. E1-VB-493 Victor 22-0123
Tracks 1 to 3: Chicago, IL - January 26, 1949;
Tracks 4 to 11: Chicago, IL - March 24, 1949;
Tracks 12 to 15: Chicago, IL - March 7, 1950;
Tracks 16 to 19: Chicago, IL - November 7, 1950;
Tracks 20 to 23: Chicago, IL - March 20, 1951.