Tampa Red & Georgia Tom 1929

After the great success of "It's Tight Like That" (1928) Tampa Red quickly became one of the most successful and popular Blues recording artists. In the year 1929 he found himself regularly in the studio and recorded a lot of songs, many of them with his partner "Georgia Tom" Dorsey who occasionally took over the lead vocals. Here is a small selection of some of my favorites that show his versatility both as a singer and guitar player.

mp3: "Juicy Lemon Blues" (9.1.1929)

This is one of Tampa's few solo recordings, a beautiful Blues:

Folk, you hear me screamin', moanin' this lonesome song.

Folk, you hear me screamin', moanin' this lonesome song.

The woman I love done packed her trunk and gone

She left me this mornin', she wouldn't even tell me why.

She left me this mornin', didn't even tell me why.

I've got the Blues so bad, I could lay right down and die.

[...]

mp3: "The Duck Yas-Yas-Yas" (13.5.1929)
This is a cover of a song first recorded by James "Stump" Johnson in December 1928. Tampa plays a short but wonderful guitar solo at the end of the song.

mp3: "Pat That Bread" (25.5.1929)

This is not a Blues but up-tempo Hokum with Tom Dorsey as the lead singer while Tampa Red tries out some scat-singing:

[...]

Now, Sam come home late last night.

All keyed up and he wanted to fight.

Filled with booze up to his head.

Felt kinda like he wanted to eat some bread.

Called his wife 'bout half-past four.

Get up girl, and make some dough.

Put on the skillet, put on the lead.

I feel kinda like I wanna pat that bread.

[..]

mp3: "Pig Meat Papa" (18.7.1929)

Here Georgia Tom (as "Memphis Mose") is singing while Tampa plays some great slide guitar.

[...]
Now, I wish the good Lord would send me an angel down.

Now, I wish the good Lord would send me an angel down.

Now, if He can't send me an angel, for goodness sake don't send no clown

[...]

mp3: "Mama Don't Allow No Easy Riders Here" (4.9.1929)

[...]

Mama told me when I was ten years old.

My mama told me when I was ten years old.

Mama told me when I was ten years old.

The women would all have me under their control.

Mama don't allow no easy riders here.

[...]

• Lyrics quoted from Robert MacLeod, Blues Document, PAT Publications, Edinburgh, 1997, p. 237 ("Pig Meat Papa") & Document Blues 2, PAT Publications, Edinburgh, 1995, p. 332, 346, 350.
• Discographical data from from Dixon/Godrich/Rye, Blues & Gospel Records 1890 - 1943, 4th ed., Oxford University Press 1997