Tampa Red, "When I Take My Vacation In Harlem" (1935)

Tampa Red was one of those black recording artists who was able to record more than the standard Blues fare. One example is "When I Take My Vacation In Harlem" (1935), a song celebrating the "Jazz of old Duke and old Calloway". It's a parody of the Gospel song "When I Take My Vacation in Heaven" (Herbert Buffum, 1925).

mp3: Tampa Red, "When I Take My Vacation In Harlem"

When I Take My Vacation In Harlem,

What a hell of a time it will be.

With the rhythm of that Harlem hi-de-hi-de

And the girl that I know care for me.

To the Jazz of old Duke and old Caloway,

We can love, kiss and dance till the break of day.

I don't care if it's sleetin', snowin' or rainin'.

We will ready when that Harlem fun begin.

When old Duke sits down to the old piano,

And old Cab shakes his wicked hi-de-ho,

I'll be there with an armful of heaven,

When I take my vacation in Harlem

Lyrics quoted from Robert MacLeod, Document Blues 6, PAT Publications, Edinburgh, 1999, p. 17/18