I played in Shakey Jake Harris' band at his Club Safara at 54th & Vermont in LA circa 1978. I can assure you that is him singing on this record. When I worked with him, he did very little harp playing, mainly vocals (which I truly enjoyed, as he did not try to sound like any one but himself). Jake did like to do a lot of Magic Sam stuff, but I can understand that! When I worked with him, he left the harp stuff mainly to William Clarke, who was also in the band at the time.
"On his first record 'Call Me If You Need Me', (Artistic 1502), he (Shakey Jake) only sang, assisted by Sam's stinging guitar". From Chicago Breakdown by Mike Rowe, copyright 1975.
I highly recommend this book if you can find it. It's a wonderful source of Chicago blues information.
@brushcreek42 I have a reissue of the Cobra sessions('57 &'58) on the Blues Masters label which credits Shakey for writing the song but only singing on "Love Me With A Feeling" and "Love Me This Way".
@YEFJJ According to "Blues Who's Who" by Sheldon Harris (1979), Shakey Jake was a harmonica player. My 1993 two CD box "Cobra Records Story" has the song credits as: "Shakey Jake and Willie Dixon Band". Session musicians were: Odie Payne/drums, Willie Dixon/bass, Syl Johnson/guitar, Magic Sam/guitar. No mention of who was the vocalist. Since there's no harmonica on the song, what else does that leave for Jake to be doing other than singing? A real mystery we've touched on here!
Thumbs up if Raymond Carver brought you here.
Franovan 2 days ago
@Franovan I'm curious about the connection.
YEFJJ 1 day ago
@YEFJJ There's a short story of his that's named 'Call me if you need me'. I really don't know if its just coincidence, but still.
Franovan 1 day ago
@Franovan I see,ty. I'm going to check him out.
YEFJJ 1 day ago
I played in Shakey Jake Harris' band at his Club Safara at 54th & Vermont in LA circa 1978. I can assure you that is him singing on this record. When I worked with him, he did very little harp playing, mainly vocals (which I truly enjoyed, as he did not try to sound like any one but himself). Jake did like to do a lot of Magic Sam stuff, but I can understand that! When I worked with him, he left the harp stuff mainly to William Clarke, who was also in the band at the time.
7echo 1 month ago
@7echo thanks for the info.
YEFJJ 1 month ago
This is Magic Sam's guitar playing at his absolute best! You might have mentioned that the vocalist is Shakey Jake, not Magic Sam.
brushcreek42 5 months ago
@brushcreek42 Do you have a source for the info. on Shakey Jake?
YEFJJ 5 months ago
@YEFJJ Shakey Jake Harris was Magic Sam's uncle.
"On his first record 'Call Me If You Need Me', (Artistic 1502), he (Shakey Jake) only sang, assisted by Sam's stinging guitar". From Chicago Breakdown by Mike Rowe, copyright 1975.
I highly recommend this book if you can find it. It's a wonderful source of Chicago blues information.
brushcreek42 5 months ago
@brushcreek42 I have a reissue of the Cobra sessions('57 &'58) on the Blues Masters label which credits Shakey for writing the song but only singing on "Love Me With A Feeling" and "Love Me This Way".
YEFJJ 5 months ago
@YEFJJ According to "Blues Who's Who" by Sheldon Harris (1979), Shakey Jake was a harmonica player. My 1993 two CD box "Cobra Records Story" has the song credits as: "Shakey Jake and Willie Dixon Band". Session musicians were: Odie Payne/drums, Willie Dixon/bass, Syl Johnson/guitar, Magic Sam/guitar. No mention of who was the vocalist. Since there's no harmonica on the song, what else does that leave for Jake to be doing other than singing? A real mystery we've touched on here!
brushcreek42 5 months ago
Love his sound!
JimBowie1133 7 months ago
@JimBowie1133 agree and thanks
YEFJJ 7 months ago
Amazing!
PavolBystricky 1 year ago
Extraordinary. Thank you!
TheRailroadblues 1 year ago