Recensie
Oogverblindend en oorstrelend eerherstel op dubbel-cd door Ace Records voor Hudson Woodbridge/ Whittaker a.k.a. Tampa Red (1904-1981), een heuse reus in zijn tijd met wie pianist Little Johnnie Jones, drummer Odie Payne, saxofonist Big Maceo en de mondharmonicaspelers Big Walter ‘Shakey’ Horton en Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) onder meer voor dit artistiek vuurwerk zorgden in de periode 1945-53 bij RCA Victor. Om maar even het niveau aan te geven van deze zeer ten onrechte uit de geschiedenisboekjes gevallen naoorlogse pionier, zonder wie de Chicago-blues niet hetzelfde was geweest. Zelfs B.B. en Muddy zongen zijn liedjes! Onomstotelijk heruitgave van het jaar alvast. Qua blues dan. Elementaire aanschaf derhalve!
Tampa Red’s later recordings for RCA Victor (1945-53) have never been officially reissued on CD and rarely on LP, yet are a crucial element in the post-war blues canon. Many of his songs were covered by B.B. King, Muddy Waters and other top bluesmen. Features the majestic piano of latter-day Elmore James sideman, Little Johnnie Jones, and includes the harmonica of Big Walter “Shakey” Horton and Sonny Boy Williamson II.
“The Unsung King Of The Blues” is an appropriate subtitle for this double CD release as Tampa Red was one of the most prolific and influential artists of his era. He recorded successfully for about 20 years for Bluebird and then RCA Victor, with many of his songs having entered the repertoires of B.B. King, Elmore James, Muddy Waters and others, yet his significance in the post-World War II years has often failed to be acknowledged by the blues cognoscenti. My own introduction came in 1965 when I purchased a wonderful Tampa Red UK RCA EP compiled by Blue Horizon’s Mike Vernon which, along with one featuring Champion Jack Dupree, was the most exciting volume in a cherished brief Rhythm & Blues series. It comprised four tracks from 1953 and it is recordings from these sessions that open this compilation. Collectors will be delighted at the inclusion of the unissued ‘If I Don’t Find Another True Love’ from the second session, and the vaults provided a real bonus in the shape of a different and superior stomping take of ‘Evalena’ from that used on the RCA EP. Here, accompanists Walter “Shakey” Horton on harmonica, Willie Lacey (a personal favourite) on guitar and the gloriously gifted Little Johnnie Jones on piano each take exciting solos. Horton had replaced Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) whose playing embellished the tracks at the first 1953 session. These names, along with that of Tampa himself, should be more than enough to whet the blues appetite, but there’s much more to relish.
The music broadly divides into three segments. There are 12 tracks fromTampa’s vaunted partnership with the vibrant pianist Big Maceo, 1941-46, which include two charming Leroy Carr-type unissued recordings from 1942. In addition there is Maceo’s own ‘Texas Stomp’ with Tampa driving mightily on guitar. Then come five tracks from two jump-blues sessions held in 1947 which saw Tampa accompanied by bigger bands including saxes – these really swing, with ‘Keep Jumping’ being a potential jitterbug dancefloor filler. The remainder and majority of the compilation comprises recordings from Tampa Red’s great musical association with Little Johnnie Jones, which kicked off in 1949 and ran through to 1953. Words cannot describe the magnificence of this body of work – Jones is superb throughout, marrying perfectly with Tampa’s subtle vocals and delicate guitar work. It is worth noting that Jones and another Tampa accompanist, drummer Odie Payne, became the core of Elmore James’ Broomdusters.
The tracks here have never sounded better, having been taken from master tapes and original metalwork, whilst the profusely illustrated booklet is furnished with notes by Jim O’Neal, co-founder of Living Blues magazine who interviewed Tampa Red in his twilight years, and an introduction by project supervisor John Broven describes the background to this important release.
Tampa Red left a fine legacy of recordings in the post-war part of his long musical career which has been largely overlooked in previous legitimate reissue programmes. This captivating compilation, which is in reverse chronological order to highlight the later mainly-un-reissued tracks, should redress this shortcoming and place Tampa Red’s name alongside the blues greats from the golden era.
Side 1
01 Evalena
02 Big Stars Falling Blues
03 Ramblers Blues
04 If I Don't Find Another True Love
05 So Crazy About You Baby
06 If She Don't Come Back
07 So Much Trouble
08 I'll Never Let You Go
09 Too Late Too Long
10 Got A Mind To Leave This Town
11 I'm Gonna Put You Down
12 But I Forgive You
13 Look A There Look A There
14 She's A Cool Operator
15 I Won't Let Her Do It
16 Green And Lucky Blues
17 Early In The Morning
18 She's Dynamite
19 Pretty Baby Blues
20 Sweet Little Angel
21Midnight Boogie
22 I Miss My Lovin' Blues
23 1950 Blues
24 Love Her With A Feeling
25 It's Good Like That
Side 2
01 New Deal Blues
02 That's Her Own Business
03 It's Too Late Now
04 It's A Brand New Boogey
05 When Things Go Wrong With You (It Hurts Me Too)
06 Please Try To See It My Way
07 Keep Jumping
08 I'll Dig You Sooner Or Later
09 Roaming And Rambling
10 I Know My Baby Loves Me
11 You Better Woo Your Baby
12 Let's Try It Again
13 Crying Won't Help You
14 Play Proof Woman
15 Corrine Blues
16 Detroit Blues
17 I Got My Habits On
18 Mary Lou Blues
19 Let Me Play With Your Poodle
20 My First Love Blues
21 She Want To Sell My Monkey
22 Mean And Evil Woman
23 Don't Deal With The Devil
24You'd Better Be Ready To Go
25 Texas Stomp
Tampa Red’s later recordings for RCA Victor (1945-53) have never been officially reissued on CD and rarely on LP, yet are a crucial element in the post-war blues canon. Many of his songs were covered by B.B. King, Muddy Waters and other top bluesmen. Features the majestic piano of latter-day Elmore James sideman, Little Johnnie Jones, and includes the harmonica of Big Walter “Shakey” Horton and Sonny Boy Williamson II.
“The Unsung King Of The Blues” is an appropriate subtitle for this double CD release as Tampa Red was one of the most prolific and influential artists of his era. He recorded successfully for about 20 years for Bluebird and then RCA Victor, with many of his songs having entered the repertoires of B.B. King, Elmore James, Muddy Waters and others, yet his significance in the post-World War II years has often failed to be acknowledged by the blues cognoscenti. My own introduction came in 1965 when I purchased a wonderful Tampa Red UK RCA EP compiled by Blue Horizon’s Mike Vernon which, along with one featuring Champion Jack Dupree, was the most exciting volume in a cherished brief Rhythm & Blues series. It comprised four tracks from 1953 and it is recordings from these sessions that open this compilation. Collectors will be delighted at the inclusion of the unissued ‘If I Don’t Find Another True Love’ from the second session, and the vaults provided a real bonus in the shape of a different and superior stomping take of ‘Evalena’ from that used on the RCA EP. Here, accompanists Walter “Shakey” Horton on harmonica, Willie Lacey (a personal favourite) on guitar and the gloriously gifted Little Johnnie Jones on piano each take exciting solos. Horton had replaced Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) whose playing embellished the tracks at the first 1953 session. These names, along with that of Tampa himself, should be more than enough to whet the blues appetite, but there’s much more to relish.
The music broadly divides into three segments. There are 12 tracks fromTampa’s vaunted partnership with the vibrant pianist Big Maceo, 1941-46, which include two charming Leroy Carr-type unissued recordings from 1942. In addition there is Maceo’s own ‘Texas Stomp’ with Tampa driving mightily on guitar. Then come five tracks from two jump-blues sessions held in 1947 which saw Tampa accompanied by bigger bands including saxes – these really swing, with ‘Keep Jumping’ being a potential jitterbug dancefloor filler. The remainder and majority of the compilation comprises recordings from Tampa Red’s great musical association with Little Johnnie Jones, which kicked off in 1949 and ran through to 1953. Words cannot describe the magnificence of this body of work – Jones is superb throughout, marrying perfectly with Tampa’s subtle vocals and delicate guitar work. It is worth noting that Jones and another Tampa accompanist, drummer Odie Payne, became the core of Elmore James’ Broomdusters.
The tracks here have never sounded better, having been taken from master tapes and original metalwork, whilst the profusely illustrated booklet is furnished with notes by Jim O’Neal, co-founder of Living Blues magazine who interviewed Tampa Red in his twilight years, and an introduction by project supervisor John Broven describes the background to this important release.
Tampa Red left a fine legacy of recordings in the post-war part of his long musical career which has been largely overlooked in previous legitimate reissue programmes. This captivating compilation, which is in reverse chronological order to highlight the later mainly-un-reissued tracks, should redress this shortcoming and place Tampa Red’s name alongside the blues greats from the golden era.
Side 1
01 Evalena
02 Big Stars Falling Blues
03 Ramblers Blues
04 If I Don't Find Another True Love
05 So Crazy About You Baby
06 If She Don't Come Back
07 So Much Trouble
08 I'll Never Let You Go
09 Too Late Too Long
10 Got A Mind To Leave This Town
11 I'm Gonna Put You Down
12 But I Forgive You
13 Look A There Look A There
14 She's A Cool Operator
15 I Won't Let Her Do It
16 Green And Lucky Blues
17 Early In The Morning
18 She's Dynamite
19 Pretty Baby Blues
20 Sweet Little Angel
21Midnight Boogie
22 I Miss My Lovin' Blues
23 1950 Blues
24 Love Her With A Feeling
25 It's Good Like That
Side 2
01 New Deal Blues
02 That's Her Own Business
03 It's Too Late Now
04 It's A Brand New Boogey
05 When Things Go Wrong With You (It Hurts Me Too)
06 Please Try To See It My Way
07 Keep Jumping
08 I'll Dig You Sooner Or Later
09 Roaming And Rambling
10 I Know My Baby Loves Me
11 You Better Woo Your Baby
12 Let's Try It Again
13 Crying Won't Help You
14 Play Proof Woman
15 Corrine Blues
16 Detroit Blues
17 I Got My Habits On
18 Mary Lou Blues
19 Let Me Play With Your Poodle
20 My First Love Blues
21 She Want To Sell My Monkey
22 Mean And Evil Woman
23 Don't Deal With The Devil
24You'd Better Be Ready To Go
25 Texas Stomp
Tracks
Disc 1
1. Evalena
2. Big Stars Falling Blues
3. Ramblers Blues
4. If I Don't Find Another True Love
5. So Crazy About You Baby
6. If She Don't Come Back
7. So Much Trouble
8. I'll Never Let You Go
9. Too Late Too Long
10. Got A Mind To Leave This Town
11. I'm Gonna Put You Down
12. But I Forgive You
13. Look-A-There, Look-A-There
14. She's A Cool Operator
15. I Won't Let Her Do It
16. Green And Lucky Blues
17. Early In The Morning
18. She's Dynamite
19. Pretty Baby Blues
20. Sweet Little Angel
21. Midnight Boogie
22. I Miss My Lovin' Blues
23. 1950 Blues
24. Love Her With A Feeling
25. It's Good Like That
Disc 2
1. New Deal Blues
2. That's Her Own Business
3. It's Too Late Now
4. It's A Brand New Boogey
5. When Things Go Wrong With You
6. Please Try To See It My Way
7. Keep Jumping
8. I'll Dig You Sooner Or Later
9. Roaming And Rambling
10. I Know My Baby Loves Me
11. You Better Woo Your Baby
12. Let's Try It Again
13. Crying Won't Help You
14. Play Proof Woman
15. Corrine Blues
16. Detroit Blues
17. I Got My Habits On
18. Mary Lou Blues
19. Let Me Play With Your Poodle
20. My First Love Blues
21. She Want To Sell My Monkey
22. Mean And Evil Woman
23. Don't Deal With The Devil
24. You'd Better Be Ready To Go
25. Texas Stomp
