The Philharmonicas : Powerhouse

[willhalt01]

From 0:09-0:10 the guy on the far right switches sides of his harp in basically the blink of an eye. This video is fake.

[ToxicBrainSludge]

@willhalt01 that introduction part of the song is usually drawn out a little longer, that one note. it's drawn out for like 10-15 seconds. maybe they just edited that part out for air time.

[IanDarling1]

very cool.

[jwellingtonwimpy1]

a joyful rendition. it's sad there aren't more recordings of these 6 lads.

[borbetomagus]

@jwellingtonwimpy1 There's 'Get Happy' from earlier in the short, but it's not as entertaining --

/watch?v=Tj58OThHdDM

Here are some songs they did as the Philharmonicas Trio --

/watch?v=InqNH_JB5ZQ -- Monti's Czardas

/watch?v=0JCM-5FdT4w -- unknown tune

They had a hit -- 'Always in my Heart', plus the trio had an album 'Harmonica Holiday!' and were in these films: "Arcade Varieties", "Two Guys From Texas", "Rose of Santa Rosa", "Tars and Spars". At one point there were six members.

[borbetomagus]

@borbetomagus Actually, seven members -- Joe Pitello, Charles Leighton, Harry (Curly) Halicki, Victor (Panky) Paul, Frank (Moose) Mitkowski, Charlie Pitello, and Joe Jass

I think they were originally from Manhattan.

Charles Leighton was also in the 'Cappy Barra Boys'. This clip includes Moe Howard of the Three Stooges -- /watch?v=2nnK56212GU

He also did a classical album -- "Classical Chromatic Harmonica"

Here's a jam session from a documentary later in his life -- /watch?v=hYV5vU1Ju1k

[CabbageNappa]

How?

[bancoran]

They had to pan away at the end so you wouldn't see them slowly deflating like balloons.

[xplodinggrrrl]

Raymond Scott was the man! he wrote amazing stuff.

[cywiringwlad]

I can definitely hear the 'connections' to James Horner's main theme for "Honey, I shrunk the Kids" - especially the bit @ 1:07!

[fvencel]

such as crickets

[JoeSzilagy]

That part at 1:15 Rush use in one of their instrumentals.

[MrUnidyne]

I used to hum this melody at work until my boss complained. He shouted "STOP THAT! I keep expecting Daffy Duck to run up from behind me with a frying pan!"

[abola2121]

@MrUnidyne Was it at a factory? xD

[MrUnidyne]

@abola2121 I'm a packing clerk at a printing plant. The rhythm of the song helps me keep pace with my work. I now have a new department manager and no one complains about my humming this song while I wrap the finished product.

[MrUnidyne]

@abola2121 It was at a silkscreen printing plant, and I'm a packing clerk. We don't have big machinery, but my movements are repetitive and the music help me keep rhythm.

[pianist9000]

2 people don't know how much time and dedication it takes to accomplish something this amazing, therefore, they are ignorant.

[rotoscoop]

Holy COW i never realized that song was harmaonica!

[radiootoo]

Inspires Wim Grundy to write a kids' underwater fantasy!

[Feitlebaum420]

The crazy haired man at the end with the two feet long harmonica looks like a baby teething.

[mardisant12345]

2.03 inspires me to keep on learning to play the harmonica

[TheWhiteTiger57]

What astounding skill. it's just amazing that such a tune can be rendered that faithfully on harmonicas. And today scratching a needle back and forth on a vinyl record is called a "talent". Can we say culture in decay, boys and girls?

[blah7676]

Tom and Jerry

[ChristopherBix]

@blah7676 The title of the cartoon is "I Gopher You" featuring Chip and Dale in a tomato cannery. The song has been featured in several cartoons though, including "Baby Bottleneck" where babies are on an assembly line at the Stork factory. Great stuff.

[jollywally001]

I love Larry Adler (one-time "World's Greatest"), Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats and "Toots" Thielmans, AND Stevie Wonder - but these KIDS!!! Hohner Chromatic 64's on fire!! Bow wow!

[Yahonathan]

and then the orchestra comes in at the end to say "look what we can do!"

[louswire]

You have no idea how hard it is to play this on a chromatic harp... those things are a stone bitch to play.... and something as busy as this, at this speed.... hats off to these guys ... it's too fast for me.

[Martianhammock]

God.... DAMN!!! o.0 That is flipping amazing!!

[ishouldplayzelda]

@Martianhammock that there is old time entertainment. back before MTV shit existed.

[Martianhammock]

@ishouldplayzelda : And boy, is it badass!!

[StrangeYeargain]

makes me grin from ear to ear every time i watch it

[communistrecords]

Ah the golden days of when harmonicas were awesome.

[BroCainY2K]

Can they do the Green Hornet theme?

[spewey111]

I like to have sex to this song!

[expectador]

@spewey111 Hahahahahaha

[Globez123]

@spewey111

Nice!

[comodor012]

cool:D

[inputmodule]

this makes my brain explode.

[AEMoreira81]

1:07 - Powerhouse B with a harmonica for the win.

[valeskathomas]

According to some info I read on a list..

Joe Pitello...chromo

Charlie Leighton...lead chromo

Harry Haliki...chord

Vic Paul...chromo

Frank Mitkowski...chromo

Charlie Pitello...bass

[GrahamScottSmith]

Nothin' like a Harmonica driven Powerhouse!

[nerdelicious5]

That's one of the most awesome things I've ever seen.

[Goatmon]

What is that massive harmonica-looking thing the guy on the right is playing? I WANT ONE.

[valeskathomas]

@Goatmon It is called a Chord Harmonica

[TheGreatMrKite]

This made my night

[jasobres]

I always wanted to hear a harmonica band arrangement of this song!

[HaystackCaldoon]

This is a great take on Scott's music. Thanks for posting!!

[rvdsux]

I'm expecting some construction or factory scene to show up ... LOL

[cultivatedmasochist]

Oh my goodness, what a talent! I think this is my favorite version of Powerhouse. SO amazing.

[TheGreatVarholy]

I've been thinking--It's a gotdamn miracle none of the fellas flat out passed out or keeled over

[dancagurli]

@TheGreatVarholy Iron lungs

[aderandie2]

@TheGreatVarholy especially when you realize its the 30's and that they probably all smoked heavily

[louswire]

'If it's ACME it's a Gasser'... this should be the ACME company song, (if it ain't already), towards the end, watch how busy the bass is and how (almost frantic) the rythem/chord player is...and the chromatics the other four guys are playing, are just a stone bitch to play at this tempo... totally manic! and very well done!

[Vorticose]

Insanity!

[tomaspepino]

COOL !

[ZaneMcFate]

Spec-freakin' tacular!

[klimkcoC]

STARTING @ 1:06 it inspires me to build a crazy contraption

[TheGreatVarholy]

Rube Goldberg would be proud.

[finalorbit]

@klimkcoC Hahahaha! So damn true.

[sisswingeroo]

only knew the versions by Harry Roy & R. Scott (of course!) yet!

This is a super-duper version of powerhouse - absolutely great - a killer!

Thanks for sharing!!!!!

xox

miss rhapsody

[tapdance86]

All I can see in my head is a reel of Looney Tunes cartoons. But EgAd! I have never seen a harmonica that size. Seems unreal!

[getula64]

haha!!! ;) and the band plays a 'TA DAAAAAAAA!!!' at the end! i love it!!

[TheGreatVarholy]

Ya gotta admit, they earned it. Keeping up such a frantic pace for more then 2 minutes on freaking harmonicas.

Shoot, if I managed to do something like that I had damn well better get a friggin' TA-DAAAA

[paulski5]

lol...

[getula64]

haha! ;) they certainly did earn it! you're absolutely right!

[kikiintimesqar]

That is more badass than metallica guitar solo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ats281]

Hmm. My opening to Piano Man looks a little weak now.

[TheGreatVarholy]

This is f'n LEGEND!

I mean, this is serious skill that is missing from modern day

[thrutheiofthebholder]

a manic huffing and puffing sonic spectical ...but, undeniably entertaining.

[drcoxcentral]

Sounds like a fast train chugging along.

[rednecksinspace]

That's pretty much exactly what it's supposed to sound like.

[RICKOBEAR]

damn!!!!!! lol!!!! this is a trip!!! they got it down note for note!! ;) i love when they kick back into it at 1:58! lol!!! the guy on the left is turning his harmonica every which way!!!

[Goldberg1337]

Amazing how you can play such a varitey of music on the harmonica! I would have never expected it to be possible to play this song.

[gar949]

This reminds me of the Freak movie of about the same era. I know these guys are no freaks but just has that vibe. I;ve never seen a harmonica that size before.

[k9builder]

I want to know where I can get one that size.

[LafinJack]

Do a Google search for "Hohner 267/384 48 Chord Harmonica "

[k9builder]

Thank you for the advice. I will have to save up for that one, but it will be worth it.

[Fullmetalsgal]

lol the guy with the huge harmonica looks like he's eating it XD

[scriptdesigner]

I have been trying to identify this song for who knows how long. I was hoping I could find the live performance, which I did of Raymond Scott; however, this was a suggested related video. I must say, The Philharmonicas are a grand treasure! It would be nice to find a Record/CD with more of their talents.

[zabimuz]

wow. that´s amazing. thanks to the upper.

[bablazo]

I used to work in a music store in Ventura the mid 90's. I met this gentlemen who came to ask about our harmonicas. He was really picky but ended up being a real nice fellow. His name was Joe Jass. He said that when he was a kid, he was in a famous harmonica band. Of course I wanted to know more and asked him a million questions.

[bablazo]

The next day Joe brought a video in for me to look at. The minute that video starting my, I sat there with my mouth wide open bamboozled. He kept sayin he was the tall good lookin kid 4th one down to the right. He mentioned they were called the "Phil Harmonicas". I lost touch with Joe but I think about him time to time. I still have the video he gave me.

What an honor to have met him!

Hope your doin great Joe.

[TuboEspectador]

@bablazo My gosh what a wonderful story!

[sickemdudley01]

God, you talk about a lost art! That was rather snazzy and you can't tell me this video doesn't put a smile on yer face.

[papaboule]

The best "Powerhouse" rendition I've yet to hear. From a time when music was served up fresh.

[louswire]

thes guys sure gave the Harmonicats a run for the money... great playing of a unique tune.

Great posting too, BTW!

[arivera3426]

absolutely brilliant!!!!!

[renegademax]

Holy crap! Amazing! Pity that no one, to my knowledge at least, thinks its "cool" to play that type of music, with that much ability. Probably in one of the Slovak countries, but not here.

[freereeder]

What a shame that playing at this level is virtually forgotten !!!! (Second guy from screen left is Charlie Leighton...still around and still great. Next guy, to Leighton's left, is famous low-note virtuoso Frank "Moose" Mitkowski...whom I was also privileged to know.)

[wormbaby79]

It's not forgatten you still find bands of old folks playin beer barrell polka on the 48 chord all over Florida. Cool thing is when one of em dies they usually need some young blood to fill in and they are very willing to teach.

[vidjowhiz]

Well, I haven't toured the Beer Barrel circuit in FLA, but do they really play at this level, or are you just being kind?...or cute?

Personally, I haven't heard groups at this level in many years!

[wormbaby79]

Not being cute, Check em out. Dinner clubs in FL are a great place to find amazing talent. Anyplace with live entertainment and dinner starting at 5. Alot of these guys were in the circuit in the 50's 60's and 70's they get together as a hobby now instead of a career but talent is talent these guys can blow! Find a place that has chain resteraunts from NY or Chicago. Long live the 48 chord harmonica!

[freereeder]

I don't know when I'll next be in FLA, but I'll look into it when I am. Thanx.

[madogblue]

Simply the best Vintage Chromatic group harp video I have ever seen, what a Gem!!

[georgiasavorian]

Hallo Peter!yor sellection of videos is verry nice!

[bertdockx]

GREAT!!!!