Bloodshot Eyes: The Best of Wynonie Harris

Wynonie Harris

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 8, 1994)
• Original Release Date: March 8, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00000335S
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,244 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Shouter Wynonie Harris did more than provide a link between small-combo R&B and the rock & roll of the '50s: the best of the jump-blues sides contained here rival Little Richard's greatest singles for sheer honking-sax raucousness. Harris's image--that of a suave wise guy with one eye on the skirts and the other on the bottle--helped define the music in an age when it was still largely targeted at adult audiences. The combination of spirited lyrics with driving performances by high-caliber jazzers--Ellington trumpet staple Cat Anderson, pianist Milt Buckner, and the great guitarist Mickey Baker are among the personnel--also served as a major influence on the '90s swing-revival bands. But the true proof of Harris's timelessness is the indefatigable energy that still blares (literally) from these sides. If anything, the unbeatable Harris made his hottest music--"Quiet Whiskey," "Down Boy Down"--after his string of hits ran out. What did he care, as long as the party started on time? --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HEY!!! Where's Wynonie Harris?, June 28, 1999

By A Customer

My main squeeze and I were in the Rock n'Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland last year. When you leave the exhibits you can fill out a little questionaire,about the place,etc. My comment was, HEY!!! Where's Wynonie Harris?

His voice was better than Little Richard's. His delivery and phrasing were smoother than Big Joe Turner's. His backing musicians beat Louis Jordan's,especially on Wynonie's early L.A. recordings.And he sang more risque lyrics than Jordan,without being a clown. As an early,pre rock n' roll, jump blues front man,he lived up to his stage name,"Mr. Blues". Any student of the roots of rock should not ignore this man's body of work. The boogie beat was so infectuous,he voice so powerful it just makes you want to dance. Even in the ballads he had a delivery that was as smooth as whiskey and Lucky Strikes could make it.

In his own words:"I'm Mr. Blues! The man's threat,and the woman's pet,and I got enough money to air-condition Hell!"

Do yourself a favor and experience Wynonie Harris. Do us all a favor and write to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland,and ask: HEY!! Where's Wynonie Harris?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the best: hard swingin' R&B and the start of rock!, February 25, 2004

By	Ryan Harvey "Wolf Shadow" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I'm so glad to see that Wynonie Harris is finally getting his due as a lynchpin between the jazz and jump blues R&B of the 40s and the birth of rock n' roll in the fifties. This CD is an absolutely perfect single disc introduction to the blues shouter, who, in my humble opinion, outshone even Roy Brown and Big Joe Turner. Wynonie Harris sings music that is pulse pounding, super swingin', funny, infectiously danceable, and it all rocks hard! Here's where rock n' roll really got its first electric injection, and you can see from where Elvis and the Rolling Stones took their early inspiration. On top of it all, the remastering and sound quality on this disc is superb. The early tracks are a bit muffled, but that's because of the equipment used to record them in the first place. Everything here sounds as good as it possible can, and many tracks sound as if they were recorded yesterday!

I discovered the divine Mr. Harris through the retro-swing movement that started in the late 90s (and, nay-sayers aside, is still going!). Many bands covered his songs and helped get people interested in his music again. Swing Session covered "I Feel that Old Age Coming On," Indigo Swing adapted "Grandma Plays the Numbers" (into "Baron Plays the Horses"), the Senders did "Keep on Churnin'," Blues Jumpers tackled "Good Morning Judge," and it seems as if everyone has taken a crack at "Quiet Whiskey," "Down Boy Down," and of course, "Good Rockin' Tonight." Anyone who has ever heard any of these songs from a modern band, or heard them played by a DJ on a radio station and wondered where it all came from, this is the single best disc to buy.

Really, everything on here is great. Every track is wonder of hard swingin' blues and Harris's shining, fun-loving personality. Although Roy Brown did "Good Rockin' Tonight" first and Elvis would make it one of his earlier songs, Harris's version is the best, the most definitive version. I dare you not to start clapping along when you first hear it. You may never have heard "Grandma Plays the Numbers," but this is a hysterical song with a hypnotic rhythm to it; it's one of the gems of the CD.

Other awesome tracks among this great collection: the risqué and naughty "Keep on Churnin'," the oft-covered "Good Morning Judge" (another example of Harris's sense of humor), "Down Boy Down," and the title track, "Bloodshot Eyes," which is probably the piece I hear swing DJs play the most - there's a reason this whole album takes the name of this one song.

If you love rock, swing, or the blues, but haven't heard Wynonie Harris, grab this CD. It's a great price for CD packed with nothing but the best of the best.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wynonie Gets His Due at the EMP in Seattle, October 12, 2003

By	"allformusic" (Redmond, WA United States) - See all my reviews

I just wanted to let jazzluverme below (and everyone else) know that Wynonie Harris has at least gotten his due and been acknowledged properly for his tremendous influence at the Experience Music Project museum here in Seattle. I was just there today, for the first time, and that is where I learned about Wynonie (I'm ashamed to admit). They have one permanent exhibit which basically traces the history of rock 'n roll. It ends with Hendrix, but begins with ... Wynonie Harris. So they have at least acknowledged that, as far as you can point to any one person anyway, it all starts with him. Thought you would be pleased to know that!