The Essential Tampa Red

Tampa Red might well have been the most sophisticated of the early bluesmen; he was certainly the most urbane, and a number of his sides also offered some of the best sound around at the time. Playing on a National guitar, he offered impeccable picking and wonderful slide guitar work. Early on he worked with pianist Georgia Tom, although their big hit from the late '20s, "(Honey) It's Tight Like That," isn't included here — a serious omission, really, in any collection claiming to be essential. But this compilation tends to keep away from the double-entendre side of Red's repertoire and concentrates instead on his more serious blues work, which is perhaps best, because songs like "Sweet Little Angel" and "Don't Deal With the Devil" perfectly represent Red's art. "You Got to Reap What You Sow" shows him solo and illustrates the real range of his ability — this was a man who could move though almost any kind of music convincingly — although he generally seemed more comfortable working with an accompanist, as with "Dead Cats on the Line," where Georgia Tom again backs him up. Whether this is the best collection to begin with is debatable — as is the question of whether all these really are essential. But as a treasure trove of blues history, it's worth delving into.