Customer Reviews

Harmonica Blues

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This is a very good collection of prewar (WW2, that is) harmonica blues. "The Train" was once essential for anyone who was serious about learning the harmonica, and Freeman Stowers gives a classic example of this in "Railroad Blues." Chuck Darling's "Blowing the Blues" is a rather sweet and whimsicla little tune that is no less enjoyable than it would have been back in 1930 when it was first released. Excellent Harp-guitar interplay. Jaybird Coleman, known today only to harcore blues fans, gets a few licks in. But the real treat for harmonicists is the legendary DeFord Bailey, who was probably the first harmonicist who was a bonafide recording star (via his appearances on the Grand Ole Opry). His "Davidson County Blues" (from 1928) shows the standard that was set for the likes of the Sonny Boy Williamsons, Stevie Wonder, Little Walter Jacobs, and all that were to follow. In either case, if you think you're hot stuff with the harmonica, listen to these masters and go back to your room and practice.

This is a "must-have" CD for those interested in early harmonica technique. It begins with a mind-blowing harmonica "train" by Freeman Stowers. This is unlike anything commonly found on post-war recordings. What follows is a wide-ranging sampling of virtuostic harmonica playing by artists both obscure, Chuck Darling, and famous, De Ford Bailey. This CD highlights harmonica techniques might otherwise have been lost. This would make a fine addition to the collection of any serious blues harmonica player.

This cd is essential for all acoustic harp players, and even for electric harp players. These are the dudes that influenced Sonny Boy Willaimson II, Junior Wells, Little Walter, Big Walter, Kid Thomas, and other great electric blues harp players from the 50's on. This cd concentrates on the 20's and 30's, which is essentially the pre war blues period. Not all the songs are strictly blues there's some hillbilly, and jug style tunes too. However the main stars here are the harp players, and thier amazing solos. Jaybird Coleman might very well be the most well known of the harp players here, but they are all great and so is the sound quality. I am a harp player myself, and I recomend this to all harp players as well as anything by the logn forgotten Harmonica Fats.