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This is an excellent compilation of some of Slim Harpo's best recordings. Slim played the blues in a way that was accesible to a mainstream audience. He actually had two crossover pop hits, with "Rainin' in My Heart" and "Baby Scratch My Back". His songs "I Got Love If You Want It" and "I'm a King Bee" are also recognized classics, although they are perhaps better known for their cover versions by British Invasion groups. Slim's songs are enjoyable, although he did tend to repeat himself. For example, both "Little Queen Bee" and "Buzz Me Babe" are rewrites of "I'm a King Bee". And he did rewrites of his other popular songs, too. But such a thing is common in the blues field, so he can't really be faulted for that. Blues fans should enjoy this CD.

It's no wonder that the Stones aped Slim Harpo on so many of their early records: they were slaves to the groove and had a truly thumpin' bass player; Harpo's records were all about the groove, usually led by a great bass line. The Stones version of
"Hip Shake" on the classic EXILE ON MAIN STREET is a near perfect copy of the Harpo version found on this record.

The sound on these recordings is excellent. How a little label like Excello, recording low-budget acts in the (relatively speaking) middle of nowhere could capture such a great sound is beyond me.

One of the things about the blues is how well it ages. Some of the standards stay surprisingly fresh and new after many years, waiting for new fans to discover them as if for the first time. I believe that this CD and Slim Harpo exemplifies this.

This is a very easy to listen to CD, with great standard songs written by James Moore aka Slim Harpo. Among them are TeNi Nee Ni Nu, Shake your hips, Baby, Scratch My Back ,Rainin' in My Heart, I'm a King Bee, and I've Got Love If You Want It. Harp was a talented guitarist and harpist. Harpo had a unique nasal vocal style which was developed because a producer didn't like his singing so told him to sing through his nose.

Harpo was a truly gifted song writer. His songs have been covered by Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Hank Williams, Jr., Elvis Presley and Muddy Waters among others.

This is a good CD for those wanting to learn more about the blues and begin developing their own collection. If you are already a blues fan and are not familiar with him take a listen.

I was not at all familiar with Slim Harpo when I stumbled upon him in the middle of the night on an oldies rock station of all places. I bought this CD the next week and there isn't a bad song on it. A must have for any true blues collector.

Slim Harpo's two biggest hits of the 60's were Baby, Scratch My Back and Raining In My Heart. They're here but many of the songs on this album cook even more - raw, primitive and great! There's nothing like the swamp blues sound that epitomized the Excello label. Actually, it's more rock 'n' roll than blues with elements of both. If you like the early Stones' sound c. 1964, you'll love this. While they were influenced by a number of American blues and soul artists, none more than Slim Harpo. He died young and didn't leave a particularly large body of work. The best of it is here!

If you can say you knew Slim Harpo's work without an English group (The Rolling Stones) or individual musician (Eric Clapton) having had to bring it to your attention some years later, as has often been the case, then good for you. I remember going into this hardcore hillbilly bar (too young to be there) and hearing "Rainin' in My Heart" play often on the jukebox. It was 1961. Everybody seemed to know who it was. That was the first time I could put a name to a familiar singer on a "black only" radio station in Memphis, Tennessee. By the time "Baby, Scratch My Back" came along maybe 5 years later in the midst of British rock, protest songs and Nancy Sinatra, it sounded like a throwback to the 1950s. Slim Harpo was one of the few bluesmen who had a national audience (Motown was in full swing but that's a different thing). This package does in fact have the best of Slim Harpo as I remember his music from both before and after his breaking into the national mainstream. Unfortunately, just as it seems many of his fellow bluesmen did, Slim harpo died at an early age, he in 1970. He was 46 years old. Buy this thing.

A heavily rhythmic jump blues/R&B singer, who has a rough and rowdy style. This music will have you stompin' on your living room dance floor, you'll be uncontrolably jitterbugging across your dining room into the kitchen.

A great cd, that will appeal to fans of blues, roots of rock'n'roll, swing, and rockabilly. Though Slim Harpo is a "blues" artist, his music would have been considered r&b back in the 50's, and now would be categorized as jump blues. A perfect beat for swing dancing, this music was big in jukeboxes at Juke Joints & roadhouses, across the USA in the 50's. There are a few chart hits that he had, and his popularity was immense.

A great cd, is the bottom line here.

Here in England real raw rock'n'roll & blues has a very large following,when any club DJ plays a blues set you can guarantee Slim Harpo's King Bee or Shake Your Hips will be blasted out, instantly filling the dance floor with guys & gals boppin to the hypnotizing sound from the Excello King. Have yourself a couple of drinks, loosen up & crank that volume up on Shake Your Hips & see if you can stand still !!! Not many blues artist's have created such a unique sound & influenced so many, another who is on his own is John Lee Hooker who's different style also influenced many of the same Bands as Slim Harpo, both creating a real solid backbone for the 60's British R&B Bands who were to make big names at the time thanks to guys like this.

Slim Harpo was a terrific harmonica player and a fine blues singer. His works were covered by many rock and rollers. He died, too young, of a heart attack at age 46.

Let's consider some of the exemplar tracks on this CD.

"I'm a King Bee": The Rolling Stones covered this and came up with their own credible version. But Slim Harpo's take on this is great fun to listen to. The vocal riff that recurs throughout this song:

"Well, I'm a King Bee
Buzzin' around your hive."

Another nice line:

"I'm a king bee,
I want you to be my queen."

Harpo displays an interesting blues voice in this sensual song. The backing music is almost hypnotic with its rhythm. Harpo plays the harmonica well.

"I've Got Love if You Want It": One of the Rolling Stones' earliest live albums played off this song title. The piece begins with Harpo's harmonica playing. This is rollicking music with the backing group playing well.

"Shake Your Hips": What a neat song, a nice up tempo dance piece! Once more, the harmonica work is strong.

"I'm tellin' you a dance that's going around
. . . .
Just shake your hips,
Do the hip shake, Babe."

The Rolling Stones, on their "Exiles on Main Street" recorded a close variation on this classic piece.

Finally, "Baby Scratch My Back": This is a nice dance piece. As the liner notes put it, "a slinky dance groove." Harpo's harmonica sings.

This is a nice sampling of the work of Slim Harpo. Well worth listening to. A good piece to add to one's blues library.

The first song I ever hear from Slim Harpo was "Rainin' In My Heart." I hadn't heard that song before and I had to find out who this guy was. I called up the a.m. radio station and actually asked the disc jokey who that was. That was back in the late 50s and times were simpler then. From that moment on, I was a Slim Harpo fan. Slim is great all the time but I especially was knocked out to hear again "I'm A King Bee," "Rainin In My Heart," and "Baby Scratch My Back." Slim Harpo doesn't blow you out of the room. He sneaks up on you and just gets you. I dig him and his music and I think you will to.