Last Week's Recording Reviews

Georgia Tom (Thomas A. Dorsey) – 1928-1934 – Volume 2 – Including Big Bill Broonzy and Tampa Red – 5 February 1930 to 22 March 1934 – Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order – Document Records BDCD-6022

His full given name was Thomas Andrew Dorsey, and his legacy as being extraordinarily impactful as a blues and gospel musician cannot be overstated.  Of the roughly 3,000 songs Dorsey in credited with recording, roughly one-third of them were gospel, and his sides are said to have sold in the millions of copies. 

Born in Villa Rica, Georgia, when Dorsey made his way to Chicago in the later part of the second decade in the 1900s, he found a welcoming audience for his songwriting, piano skill set, and solid vocals.  After a life-changing period in the late 1920s, Dorsey turned toward gospel music, but he made his way back to the blues, especially the hokum style, with blues giant Tampa Red in a duo named The Famous Hokum Boys.

The generous 25 tracks on this sterling CD primarily present the blues side of Dorsey, though four of his gospel efforts with a vocal assemblage present a man still walking the religious trail.  With appearances by renowned blues guitarists Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red, and Scrapper Blackwell, along with others, his piano energies and singing are ideally framed.

This grand collection captures Dorsey and his elevated status in both the blues and gospel arenas in their best lights.  Sound on a very few of the selections are somewhat rough, but do not let that detract from the extreme quality found here.

What a magnificent collection!  Essential!