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CD Review
The Guitar Wizard: Tampa Red, Tampa Red, Columbia Legacy series, Sony Music, 1994
If the sincerest form of flattery is imitation then there is no question that the legendary bottleneck blues guitarist Tampa Red has been flattered by whole generations of latter day bottleneck guitarists, including some rather traditional country and western musicians, western swing artists like the well-respected Bob Wills bands and many modern rock instrumentalists. And with good reason. Although the case for greater showmanship can be argued of behalf of the legendary Mississippi Delta guitar artist Bukka White the Tampa Red picking style on that old National steel guitar has been subject of more imitation. Bukka brings his breakneck speed on the guitar with his breakneck lyrics to create a better and bouncier presentation but I will concede the point that for pure guitar virtuosity the nod goes to Brother Red.
And for those who do not believe me then merely check out the following tracks on this Columbia legacy equivalent of Tampa Red’s greatest hits. How about “Big Fat Mama”, “Don’t Leave Me Here” and “You Can’t Get That Stuff No More” done with Georgia Tom Dorsey in the days before Tom got religion. Or if you want to hear a solo then how about the classic “Turpentine Blues” and the two “Sugar Mama” tracks here. Some of the entries here are blues classics, some are then topical novelty songs that every genre produces but all have the Tampa Red trademark. Now you get it. Right?
Got To Leave My Woman Trk 22 Dsc 2 3:13 song 45
Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker)
Aurora, Illinois, Monday, March 14, 1938 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal, piano, Willie Bee James - guitar
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
Meet me down in the bottom
Mama, bring my shoes and clothes
Meet me down in the bottom
Mama, bring my shoes and clothes
I ain't got very many
But I got so fer to go
And the only one thing
That keep me so worried in mind
Now, the only one thing
That keep me so worried in mind
I've got to go leave
The woman I love, behind
Now, I don't mind leaving
But I got to be gone so long
I don't mind leaving
But I got to be gone so long
They got me 'cussed of murder, mama
An I ain't done nothin' wrong
Big sky's folding
And it can't be long 'fore day
Big sky's a-folding
And it can't be long 'fore day
Oh, goodbye baby
I must be on my way
When I write you a letter, mama
Mama, answer me in a telegram
When I write you a letter
Mama, answer with a telegram
'Cause I will not be contented, mama
Until I get you where I am.
Delta Woman Blues Trk 7 Dsc 2 3:03 song 30
Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker)
Aurora, Illinois, Oct. 11, 1937 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal, guitar & piano, Willie Bee James - guitar
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
I'm goin' back to the delta
That's where I belong
I'm goin' back to the delta
That's where I belong
If old bad luck an trouble
Don't keep me far to long
I'd rather be down in the delta
Than any place I know
I'd rather be down in the delta
Than any place I know
Because I don't feel happy
No other place I go
My little woman in the delta
Sho' was good to me
My little woman in the delta
Sho' was good to me
Well, she was a good kind-hearted
As one poor gal could be
I'm goin' back to the delta
Fall down on my knees
Gonna ask my delta woman
To forgive me if she please
I'm goin' back to the delta, woo-ooo
Goin' to fall down on my knees
I'm gonna ask my delta woman
To forgive me if she please.
I've tested with all-a my women
From here to Mexico
But my woman in the delta
She's the sweetest gal I know
I've tested with all-a my women, woo-ooo
From here to Mexico
But my little woman in the delta
She's the sweetest gal I know.
When The One You Love Is Gone Trk 2 Dsc 2 3:04 Song 25
Tampa Red (Hudon Whittaker)
Aurora, Illinois, Tues. May 4, 1937 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal & piano, Willie Bee James - guitar
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
Ain't it lonesome when the one you love is gone?
Ain't it lonesome when the one you love is gone?
Well, you cannot help but to worry
I know you're bound to weep and moan
My night so lonely
And my days are plenty blue
My nights are lonely
And my days are plenty blue
Well, I can't find no contentment
No matter what I do
Umm, if I could just explain
Umm, if I could just explain
Well, but I'm upset and I'm bothered
And my heart is full of pain
(instrumental)
Come back, baby
And I won't be bad no mo'
Come back, baby
And I won't be bad no mo'
Well, I will string along wit' you, baby
No matter where you will go.
Seminole Blues Trk 12 Dsc 2 3:03 Song 35
Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker)
Aurora, Illinois, Oct. 11, 1937 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal, piano & guitar, Willie Bee James - guitar
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
My baby's gone, won't be back no mo'
She won't be back no mo', whoa-ooh
My baby's gone, she won't be back no mo'
She left this mo'nin', she caught that Seminole
I got the blues so bad
It hurt my tongue to talk
It hurt my tongue to talk, ooh-ooh
The blues so bad
It hurt my tongue to talk
I would follow my baby
But it hurt my feet to walk
(instrumental) slide guitar
She gimme her love
Even let me draw her pay
She let me draw her pay, yeah
She give me her love
Even let me draw her pay
She was a real good woman
But unkindness drove her 'way
(instrumental) slide guitar
I've got the Seminole blues
Leaving on my mind
Leaving on my mind, whoa-ooh
Seminole blues, leaving on my mind
I'm goin' to find my baby
If I have to ride the blind.
We Gonna Get High Together Trk 14 Dsc 2 3:07 song 37
Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker) And The Chicago Five
Aurora, Illinois, March 14, 1938 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal,& guitar, unk - trumpet
poss. Bill Owsley - tenor sax, prob. Blind John Davis - piano
unk string bass (poss. imitation sb)
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
There are you and here am I
We would be silly to sit an sigh
Okie-dokey, darlin' you and I
Are gonna get high together
Ev'rytime I look at you
I picture things that we could do
Drink up dear and don't be blue
We gonna get high together
When the band begin to play it
And the gang begin to sway it
Then we will begin the latest
Just messin' around
Darlin' truckin' on down
Then after drinkin' some-a this and that
I may decide to take ya to my flat
Turn out the light an make it tight like that
We're gonna get high together
(instrumental)
'Yas, yas' I hear ya, Mr. Sax Man
'Everybody, rock' 1:14
'Ah-ha, oh yeah, oh yeah'
'I hear ya talkin' to me'
(piano)
'I'm lookin' at that piano man'
'Ah-ha, yeah'
'Oh yeah'
(trumpet)
Ah-ha
That's it
There are you and here am I
We would be silly
Just to sit an sigh
Okie-dokey, darlin' you and I
Are gonna get high together
Evrytime I look at you
I picture things that we could do
Drink up dear and don't be blue
We gonna get high together
When the band begins to play it
And the gang begins to sway
Then we will begin the latest
Just messin' around, darling
Truckin' on down
Then after drinkin' some a-this and that
I may decide to take ya to my flat
Turn out the light and make it tight like that
We gonna get high together, yas.
CD Review
The Guitar Wizard: Tampa Red, Tampa Red, Columbia Legacy series, Sony Music, 1994
If the sincerest form of flattery is imitation then there is no question that the legendary bottleneck blues guitarist Tampa Red has been flattered by whole generations of latter day bottleneck guitarists, including some rather traditional country and western musicians, western swing artists like the well-respected Bob Wills bands and many modern rock instrumentalists. And with good reason. Although the case for greater showmanship can be argued of behalf of the legendary Mississippi Delta guitar artist Bukka White the Tampa Red picking style on that old National steel guitar has been subject of more imitation. Bukka brings his breakneck speed on the guitar with his breakneck lyrics to create a better and bouncier presentation but I will concede the point that for pure guitar virtuosity the nod goes to Brother Red.
And for those who do not believe me then merely check out the following tracks on this Columbia legacy equivalent of Tampa Red’s greatest hits. How about “Big Fat Mama”, “Don’t Leave Me Here” and “You Can’t Get That Stuff No More” done with Georgia Tom Dorsey in the days before Tom got religion. Or if you want to hear a solo then how about the classic “Turpentine Blues” and the two “Sugar Mama” tracks here. Some of the entries here are blues classics, some are then topical novelty songs that every genre produces but all have the Tampa Red trademark. Now you get it. Right?
Got To Leave My Woman Trk 22 Dsc 2 3:13 song 45
Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker)
Aurora, Illinois, Monday, March 14, 1938 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal, piano, Willie Bee James - guitar
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
Meet me down in the bottom
Mama, bring my shoes and clothes
Meet me down in the bottom
Mama, bring my shoes and clothes
I ain't got very many
But I got so fer to go
And the only one thing
That keep me so worried in mind
Now, the only one thing
That keep me so worried in mind
I've got to go leave
The woman I love, behind
Now, I don't mind leaving
But I got to be gone so long
I don't mind leaving
But I got to be gone so long
They got me 'cussed of murder, mama
An I ain't done nothin' wrong
Big sky's folding
And it can't be long 'fore day
Big sky's a-folding
And it can't be long 'fore day
Oh, goodbye baby
I must be on my way
When I write you a letter, mama
Mama, answer me in a telegram
When I write you a letter
Mama, answer with a telegram
'Cause I will not be contented, mama
Until I get you where I am.
Delta Woman Blues Trk 7 Dsc 2 3:03 song 30
Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker)
Aurora, Illinois, Oct. 11, 1937 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal, guitar & piano, Willie Bee James - guitar
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
I'm goin' back to the delta
That's where I belong
I'm goin' back to the delta
That's where I belong
If old bad luck an trouble
Don't keep me far to long
I'd rather be down in the delta
Than any place I know
I'd rather be down in the delta
Than any place I know
Because I don't feel happy
No other place I go
My little woman in the delta
Sho' was good to me
My little woman in the delta
Sho' was good to me
Well, she was a good kind-hearted
As one poor gal could be
I'm goin' back to the delta
Fall down on my knees
Gonna ask my delta woman
To forgive me if she please
I'm goin' back to the delta, woo-ooo
Goin' to fall down on my knees
I'm gonna ask my delta woman
To forgive me if she please.
I've tested with all-a my women
From here to Mexico
But my woman in the delta
She's the sweetest gal I know
I've tested with all-a my women, woo-ooo
From here to Mexico
But my little woman in the delta
She's the sweetest gal I know.
When The One You Love Is Gone Trk 2 Dsc 2 3:04 Song 25
Tampa Red (Hudon Whittaker)
Aurora, Illinois, Tues. May 4, 1937 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal & piano, Willie Bee James - guitar
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
Ain't it lonesome when the one you love is gone?
Ain't it lonesome when the one you love is gone?
Well, you cannot help but to worry
I know you're bound to weep and moan
My night so lonely
And my days are plenty blue
My nights are lonely
And my days are plenty blue
Well, I can't find no contentment
No matter what I do
Umm, if I could just explain
Umm, if I could just explain
Well, but I'm upset and I'm bothered
And my heart is full of pain
(instrumental)
Come back, baby
And I won't be bad no mo'
Come back, baby
And I won't be bad no mo'
Well, I will string along wit' you, baby
No matter where you will go.
Seminole Blues Trk 12 Dsc 2 3:03 Song 35
Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker)
Aurora, Illinois, Oct. 11, 1937 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal, piano & guitar, Willie Bee James - guitar
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
My baby's gone, won't be back no mo'
She won't be back no mo', whoa-ooh
My baby's gone, she won't be back no mo'
She left this mo'nin', she caught that Seminole
I got the blues so bad
It hurt my tongue to talk
It hurt my tongue to talk, ooh-ooh
The blues so bad
It hurt my tongue to talk
I would follow my baby
But it hurt my feet to walk
(instrumental) slide guitar
She gimme her love
Even let me draw her pay
She let me draw her pay, yeah
She give me her love
Even let me draw her pay
She was a real good woman
But unkindness drove her 'way
(instrumental) slide guitar
I've got the Seminole blues
Leaving on my mind
Leaving on my mind, whoa-ooh
Seminole blues, leaving on my mind
I'm goin' to find my baby
If I have to ride the blind.
We Gonna Get High Together Trk 14 Dsc 2 3:07 song 37
Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker) And The Chicago Five
Aurora, Illinois, March 14, 1938 Leland Hotel Top Floor
Tampa Red- vocal,& guitar, unk - trumpet
poss. Bill Owsley - tenor sax, prob. Blind John Davis - piano
unk string bass (poss. imitation sb)
Album: The Bluebird Recordings - Tampa Red 1936 - 1938
2 Disc set RCA 07863 66722-2 1997 BMG
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
There are you and here am I
We would be silly to sit an sigh
Okie-dokey, darlin' you and I
Are gonna get high together
Ev'rytime I look at you
I picture things that we could do
Drink up dear and don't be blue
We gonna get high together
When the band begin to play it
And the gang begin to sway it
Then we will begin the latest
Just messin' around
Darlin' truckin' on down
Then after drinkin' some-a this and that
I may decide to take ya to my flat
Turn out the light an make it tight like that
We're gonna get high together
(instrumental)
'Yas, yas' I hear ya, Mr. Sax Man
'Everybody, rock' 1:14
'Ah-ha, oh yeah, oh yeah'
'I hear ya talkin' to me'
(piano)
'I'm lookin' at that piano man'
'Ah-ha, yeah'
'Oh yeah'
(trumpet)
Ah-ha
That's it
There are you and here am I
We would be silly
Just to sit an sigh
Okie-dokey, darlin' you and I
Are gonna get high together
Evrytime I look at you
I picture things that we could do
Drink up dear and don't be blue
We gonna get high together
When the band begins to play it
And the gang begins to sway
Then we will begin the latest
Just messin' around, darling
Truckin' on down
Then after drinkin' some a-this and that
I may decide to take ya to my flat
Turn out the light and make it tight like that
We gonna get high together, yas.
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