Modern Blues Harmonica - records 9 (Gussow.105)

[trin75xx]

I'm starting out and i love listening to sonny boy...i like his style and have been trying to learn the song, "help me"..but there are sounds in there that i don't know how his doing?...would you have anything on that song?

[KudzuRunner]

@trin75xx: google gussow tradebit sonny boy help me. You'll find a video (mov) and a tab (pdf) for "Help Me."

[trin75xx]

@KudzuRunner Got it! Thank you.

[surrealIdeal]

i adore sony boy. question: did he use overblows? was he even familiar with the technique? or perhaps overblows didn't exist back then...?

[3og3er6]

Great records.

Interesting Gossow finds it difficult to play the Sonne Boy lick, it shouldn´t be that difficult, but it is. This is art and pure communication and not just a question of tecknique. You can find the Sonny Boy solo version of this song on tou tube.

Search: Bye Bye Bird - Sonny Boy Williamson - Live In Europe

Listen and don´t forget the man played for more than 50 years.

Sonny Boy old version of Pontiac Blues is art too. The SugerBlue version doesn´t touch my heart.

[tenichols10]

Adam:

I believe you're right. I have the remaster of this album on CD and in the liner notes it says that Keith Relf, singer and harp player for the Yardbirds when they're not with Sonny Boy, plays sings and plays blues harp. It would make sense that it wasn't Sonny Boy. Thanks for the lessons

[colonelhall]

Sorry about this lengthy response. The parts are in reverse order.

Thanks again

Mike

[KudzuRunner]

Mike:

It's great to have all your wisdom and first-person witnessing posted here, to be shared with the world. Let us know when that Sonny Boy compilation is available....

[colonelhall]

That Sonny Boy compilation is out in the U.K. now. It's called "Nine Below Zero" and it's on Snapper. It's got Pontiac Blues and all the good trumpet recordings.

I've also knocked off Cds on Rosetta Tharpe, Memphis Minnie, Tampa Red and Blind Blake along with a Rolling Stones Roots album.

I'm going to try to do another of my little youtube films, this time on Sonny Boy so look out!

[colonelhall]

I am sure that he played an Echo Vamper, which I ran off to buy. Most probably the model used on "Help Me".

Have you heard "Don't Send Me No Flowers" featuring Jimmy Page and Brian Augur? It's a very jazzy outing, but well worth a spin. It's a studio album, but perfectly captures the sound of the Soho blues clubs of that time. Certainly better than the Yardbirds and Animals albums.

Thanks for your videos, absolutely inspirational!

Mike

[colonelhall]

Anyway, I was around during the Sonny Boy tour. I saw him in a club backed by a group called The Cheyenes. The drummer was Mick Fleetwood and I gotta tell you, those guys did not get on. Sonny Boy was mumbling insults and Fleetwood was pulling faces. It was a bit of a shambles, to be honest, but Sonny Boy still produced magic.

Mike

[colonelhall]

Whilst waiting for the post, I am practising on a Chinese harp that someone gave me. I think that they retail at around 10 dollars. Oh boy! Am I having a hard time. I am sure that I could do better than this. Please tell me that things will get easier when my Marine Band arrives!

Mike

[colonelhall]

I recently had the pleasure of compiling a Sonny Boy CD for Snapper Music. I haven't listened to him for some time and certainly haven't touched a harp in nearly forty years. The project not only brought me to this site, but made me send off for some new harps.Thanks Mike

[BlindDogFulton]

That has to be one of the Yardbirds in the opening lick... You're right, he does a little of Sonny's stuff, does a little crowd catching intro, then gives the band to Sonny.

Plus, why would Sonny repeat himself, on a different Harp?

Do you have one of those old Tenor Harps? They are really fun to play.

[stoelefj]

oh no, that's not Sonny Boy... :) I always imagined the announcer playing harp, as Sonny Boy was entering the stage? Anyway, the feeling is much different from all the late footage of him. By the way, do you play the marine band? What do you think about the special 20? I kind of like it (Though I've only tried the C harp yet). Love your videos!!

[KudzuRunner]

About my choice of harps, see the FAQs page at modernbluesharmonica dot com

[doghouseauggie]

hey adam have you ever played a Huang harmonica?

I was just wondering

[KudzuRunner]

Yes, once or twice.

[leesbo55]

Keith Relf was singer/harp with yardbirds. It was Relfs harp on 'Im a man' that was my intro to harp playing. He later formed Reanissance with his sister. Early harp influence.

[2HoleDraw]

"Those English kids want to play the blues so bad, and they play the blues so bad"

- Sonny Boy Williamson 1964

That was a quote taken from Clapton's recent autobiography. Sonny Boy actually pulled a knife on Eric when Eric asked "hey isn't your real name Rice Miller?.

Clapton's favourite harp player (and one of his most respected blues artists) was Little Walter. :)

[KudzuRunner]

Great stuff. Look, I love "For Your Love," and Clapton will always be one of my heroes; it's just that this gig wasn't necessarily the band's high point.

[2HoleDraw]

Apparently the whole tour was like that. :P

[g0moz]

yes Adam its was the singer in the yardbirds who was playing the harp at the beginging of bye bye bird.

[leanground]

Adam, Rice Miller played Hohner 12 hole "Echo Vamper" harps...cool sound and he played 'em no hands!

I agree, he doesn't have the same tonal depth as Sonny Boy.

Thanks for a great lesson

MH

[slapshot4aero]

Another great lesson Adam.

I've been picking up some of these riffs when I can.

Thanks for all that you have done for us.

Merry Christmas,and have a safe Holiday season my friend.

Slapshot

[SiggyMe]

Adam as usual, this type of material inspired me to buy 18 CDs featuring harp players you mentioned. It has made my daily commute of 3 hours; a learning and jam session to practice listening, and playing when stopped. Thanks doc dc

[meipapa]

アダムさん、始めまして。日本から毎日貴方のレッスンを楽しみに­受けています。

もっとも、英語が殆どわからないので辛いのですが（笑）。

貴方のようにハープが吹けるよう練習しています。こんど、所属し­てるハモニカサークルでThunky Fingを吹きます。がんばります～！

[LCHarp]

Hey Adam, i have "you-tube chaine" and you're my inspiration.

For me, you're a great great great harmonica-player. My reference !

Thank you for all.

Laurent LCHarp.

[Clarky3009]

nice adam!

[LCHarp]

Hello " from france" Adam !

Me too i have harmonica's lesson in You-Tube.French lesson.

If you want, you see and you say if it's good.

Your judgment is very important for me !!!

Thank you for that!

Laurent.

[blopper68]

Adam,I think it was Keith Relf ,vocalist and harp player for the Y'BIRDS who opens that cut.I believe he died from electrocution while woodshedding at home with a guitar-amp.

Regards.Sean

[penfifteenclub]

Awesome stuff Adam. It's fun to hear The Yardbirds trying to jive with that.

I like exactly one city block from Buddy Guy Legends in Chicago. Unfortunately the place is moving in the near future.  Anywho, I was wondering, have ever been their?

[penfifteenclub]

And by "I like" I mean "I live" haha

[KudzuRunner]

I played at the jam session at Legends back in August, on my way to SPAH. Satan and Adam played there two or three times during the 1990s.

[pagmatic]

SBW2's album Bummer Road has something in there about how much he couldn't stand The Yardbirds