Sonny Boy Williamson rare video

[6973a]

Tell me he doesn't have SWAG... He has got to be the coolest I've seen, he is so laid back when he plays.

[77bubba00]

Wow!



[MrMuddymilton]

A treasure!!! Umbelievable, unique!!!

[jrjaman23]

Wow...

[Ahmabehr]

Er hat über swäg.

[mariosaldanar]

¡Qué simplicidad! Es un tesoro musical.

[MAGICNICK145]

You're Killin' Me

[coketimemdear]

HA look how young he is!!!!!! Lol I never seen a picture him before his 40's. A truly great artist!!

[joaolboff]

Very good!!!!!

[manchadeltigre]

The real real thing

One of the greatest blues performers

[OtisSpain]

He's got a cool disposition...

[Macjacobite1745]

The epitome of cool.Another legend lost forever

[GAELMAO]

uy q temota

[jamielees3]

Who ever disliked this is STUPID. Must be a stolid idiot. But you probably don't know what that means. haha

[30M]

Amazing

[littlegreenman2001]

A great performance. Just makes you sit back and think. Nearly ALL modern blues lyrics singers, can't actually write this type of old song lyrics from a first hand experience. The old school originals have just about all moved on, leaving only 2nd hand experiences to be sung about. Respect to all forms of the blues!

[paranoia1337]

Brilliance.

[4457976]

bluees son la major

[150719541]

THE BEST BLUES SINGER &MUSICIAN IN THE WORLD ¡¡¡

[NancyMcgill1]

Wow

[Rabidburt]

Sure, he was a killer harp player. But who's a better blues singer??

[hankbubba]

In awe. This video is a tour de force example of Sonny boy's tone, bend technique and raw power. The solo sounded close to "trust my baby," so i am assuming he used it alot. I hope there will be more old footage taken in Europe found.

[lucxobox]

maestro!!

[excommunication1]

video is amazing! and sonny tagged the wall behind him, sweet old grafitii? haha

[MrDidjcripey]

It doesn't get much more bare than that, does it? The way he could hold a groove, with nothing, was amazing.

[kingsfordstarr]

Unbeleivable!!! Inspirational...

[loctothebrain420]

Made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. A true legend.

[bluesmann1000]

great,great,GREEEEEAT

[sonnyboy3]

lucky You

[46professor]

So glad that I was able to catch Sonny Boy live here in Stockholm 1964, Thanks for this great film.

[nickbarcenas]

wrong sonny is the best so much passion soul you can tell he's not lying i believe every word sonny says.. also i love the way he can play accapellas on harmonica with no music because i can't do that damn im speechless if there really is a heaven i hope to go were sonny went and meat up with him and have a heavinly blues revival with all the blues legends..

[sharkabilly]

beautiful!!!!

[strat6911]

Awesome harp work.

[eliasthegreek]

thank you for post this video :D

[roussos87]

sonny the soul

[phatdic11]

The blues is beautiful, but it was created out of pain. So it's not to be played with like some who do, without suffering of some kind. We know to experience, or live it , makes for true blues. It only becomes a bad or good cover, when people try to copy it. But not genuine from a tormented soul who can tell the story straight from the heart!

[2menace]

isnt this sonny boy williamson II ?

[mpo1107]

@2menace

Yes, Rice Miller

[Allie01010101]

virtuoso!

[gianniscassa]

Does anybody know the key of the harp?

[TheSnidge]

@gianniscassa Yes it's a Hohner Marine Band in G played in 1st position.

[casu3]

@TheSnidge if hes in europe maybe its an echo vamper

[TheSnidge]

@casu3 In Europe the standard Marine Band,was at that time,called the Echo Super Vamper which was a ten hole which is what is being used in this clip.The Echo Vamper was.and is a twelve hole-in this clip Sonny Boy is playing a regular ten hole instrument in G regardless of whether the cover plates are stamped Marine Band or Echo Super Vamper.

But yes,when in Europe Sonny Boy did carry Echo Super Vampers-the pont is that he's playing a regular ten hole in G in the firstt position.

[casu3]

@TheSnidge yes they are the same thing i believe only the top cover plate its diferent. have a nice day

[anginicholls77]

Thanks for posting. I can't stop watching this, it's so sexy.

[pryan2002]

The harp is the same as on You killin me. which was in D !st position it does sound like a trumpet pure genius the ultimate harpdog.

[casu3]

who say first position aint coll

[rayoll]

fantastic...I do not have this in my collection. this is the first SBW I have seen on youtube that I do not have.

[Juniorhooker]

thanksman that is very cool sounds like a trambone or a trumpet wicked vibrato

[eosdelb]

At (on the second counter) 2:52 Sonny Boy Williamson began a lesson in the blues many dont appreciate or even acknowledge. His ease was a product of his mastery. You could learn from him.

[0lafrida0]

seguro era un programa que hablaba sobre los afroestadounidenses, sea lo que sea, ¡a su salud señor Sonny!

así empiezan las cosas, en pequeños cuartos, tan pequeños que no entran ni una estufa de cocina, pero en los que se pueden ver el sol, también la lluvia

[ASAdamson]

SWEET SWEET SWEET>>>>> THank YOU for posting!!!!!!

[TheCatwhisper]

that of burning at the begining has to be wwII ,dont it,is it just not edited quite right.on" cooking stove" sonny boy would "cook" food in his hotel room ie chicken in coffee pot.so i think the song reference is to do with that,[BlueDiamondPro].. ok

[Raiwons]

The blues is a way of telling the truth with music,

Olé, Olé Olé & the Blues!

Martin / Another channel PityYou007

[pozegausaill]

@Raiwons Amen i play the harp i noo!!

[AviMech85]

i like the snapping at the end. just adds another element, BADASSNESS

[citychiro]

That shit is SICK

[Bruscarful]

Whatta heck is that freacking image (second WW?) on the first seconds?

Gee... that's way out of place here!

I can't avoid voting it up but...

[robdiesel1969]

@Bruscarful its an image of a black man being burnt by fire. whites did this to terrorize, dehumanize, emasculate & punish blacks when they fought back, spoke up, or tried to escape. even if a black man looked @ a white woman, he could be hung or burned like this man. this is where the term 'picnic' comes from. it literally meant: 'pick a nigger', aka 'picnic.' at a 'picnic' the bbq was a black man. white women & children would come for the entertainment. from this life blacks created the blues

[Bruscarful]

@robdiesel1969 Thanks for the review on the beauties of our species (no offences meant, I'm also part of such species)... but yeah, it's a sad reality never fully 'corrected' (if there's ever such a thing)

We here in Brazil had had our share of prejudice, and not only racial (I say "had" just for the sake of argument) - and all it's atrocities. But though I for one find it very important to know where "the Blues" came from...

I was looking simply for some Sonny Boy's amazing harp.

[Bruscarful]

@robdiesel1969 Anyways, honestly thanks for the 'heads-up' about 'picnic', that's new info to me... (next time I'll just suggest a "meeting at the park with some food over a towel" :P) and sorry everyone for the long posts here!

Keep playing the blues!

(we have already plenty of reasons to feel it)

;)

[1986dovic]

@Bruscarful

Whether picnic is actually based on the verb piquer which means 'pick' or 'peck' with the rhyming nique meaning "thing of little importance" is doubted; the Oxford English Dictionary says it is of unknown provenance. The word does not come from any racist origin, as a false rumor spread mostly via the internet suggests. (Wikipedia)

This doesn't cancel or justify the shameful atrocities, of course.

[Bruscarful]

@1986dovic Cheers man for the 'chilling down' about burning people and all... to be honest I hadn't 'tainted' any good memory of a picnic at the park because of the comments here (and probably it's unlikely I'll ever do it based on virtual comments as a matter of fact) ...precisely because of such rumors

Gosh man! Let's FOCUS! Sonny boy - harp playing - BEAUTY!!!

:P hehe, nothing personal 1985dovic ...things seems to be running out of control (yeah, started with my comment about the image)

[almanacofsleep]

@robdiesel1969 The term picknic been around since the 1600's, formed from two words, piquer which means 'pick' or 'peck' with the rhyming nique meaning "thing of little importance". Its not of racist origin.

[spyguys]

@robdiesel1969 The word predates lynching in the United States; claims that it is derived from a shortening of 'pick a nigger' are false. The term "picnic" has been traced back to 1692 in Europe.

[gianniscassa]

No true and perfect tuning of any instrument without reference to the piano sound. I didnt change my mind, I only said that to get such a low G on a 10 holes it must be customized.Have you got an electronic tuner? If so, check the note on it and you'll find out that is a low G.

[gianniscassa]

If the note is not compared with the correspondent one on a piano keyboard is not valid! That's why you think it is a normal G

[TheSnidge]

@gianniscassa He's not playing a piano! -he's just playing a regular G harp.You've already changed your mind from it being a twelve hole and now concede that it's a ten.

This is my last word but please carry on posting if you wish.

[casu3]

@gianniscassa what u mean you cant find the blue third on a piano can you?

[gianniscassa]

Did you tray to play that note on a piano? Only if you do you'll understand that a normal G harp has not that low G, more remember that Sonny used to raise and low the pitch of his 10 hole harp, the one is using the clip. Please before giving other reasons, do try the note on a piano keyboard.

[TheSnidge]

@gianniscassa Not on piano-but it's the 1 blow on the regular G harp--the same note as on the 3 blow on the 64 chromatic.You can't adjust a reed to drop an entire octave.

The G note an octave down is on a Seydel double low F harp that I have but it's way lower than than what is heard here.

Sonny Boy is said to have tinkered with harps but I think just to clean and repair then.All the recorded stuff I have heard by him is normal tuning.

[gianniscassa]

on a regular G harp there ts not that low G

[TheSnidge]

@gianniscassa You are mistaken but have it your qwn way.

[gianniscassa]

If you check the notes on a piano you'll see that the last note of the initial turnaround is a G, letf of the central C, so it can not be a plain G harp, that on the first holes has a C, the same of the central C on the piano. More, I tried to play the song first on a simple G harp, but couldn't play the last note, whereas trying it on a low G i could.

[TheSnidge]

@gianniscassa The note you can't find is the one blow on a regular G harp.

Remember he is playing in first position-key of G on a G harp.

[justinev10]

Thank you for sharing this video

[bigwillhenk]

Master

[ewalks73]

this guy is so talented i like how he just sits in his little room and just plays to him self

[gaijin134]

@ johnnychaos. Drop your jaw. Look at Adam Gussow for how to.

[BlueDiamondPro]

Does anybody think he is talking about drugs? Alone, feels so good when she lying in my arm, to small to put up no cooking stove. Just a hunch.

[gianniscassa]

It is not a simple G harp, it's a low G

[TheSnidge]

@gianniscassa It's a regular G harp.There ain't no 'low' one.There's a high one though.

[gianniscassa]

@TheSnidge It is a Marine Band 364 low G, you can't play the last note of the initial riff on a simple G harp. Sonny often used low C and G Marine Band, see Bye-bye bird and What's going to happen.

[TheSnidge]

@gianniscassa You are mistaken-it's a regular ten hole G harp-you can see it!

Sonny Boy did play the twelve hole sometimes,but not in this clip.

[DnD20091234]

for anybody who wants to know what harp he's using its a G harp in 1st position

[casu3]

the harp its not the problem if u got it any haro will sound great little sonny plays 5 dollars old standbys

[jeffbluesmanjohnson]

bending the notes on a harp is achieved by varying the amount of airflow. By (usually) pulling harder or softer. More difficult to do blowing but doable

[jeffbluesmanjohnson]

If you are having difficulty, it may be the harp. Cheaper ones don't have the same reeds. Not that you have to buy top range either, lee oscars or mid range hohners will see you right

[gazwozere748]

Great footage. Top work, fella!

[johnnychaos91185]

Can anyone explain how you bend notes on a harmonica. I been playin a year and I just can't do it.

[delio5]

@johnnychaos91185 To bend notes drop your tongue while sucking hard. Say, "Yo". Feel what your tongue does? Now drop your tongue more and suck. It's harder to do when a harmonica is new. they need to be broken in. It helps to soak the harmonica in water for a while first. This may cause the wood to swell and If that happens file the wood flat with a file and sandpaper. You can bend the reeds by blowing too. Same thing....drop your tongue in your mouth and blow.

[bigredlover77]

@delio5 No- Don't ever soak your harp (of any material, wood, metal, etc.) in water- if anything, use alcohol. - Neil Young used water, & though he used the instrument- he didn't really play the instrument- so , never use water. Most wood harps don't have wooden reeds- some do, but they are shorter of life, yet sound great for a time. When you tune your harp, filing is a way to do it. I suggest very cheap harps, & mess w/em- but not w/ water.= I speak from experience.

[negrokezo]

@johnnychaos91185

try another instrument, lol ^^

[klykas]

what key is it ? A?

[viduayte]

@klykas he plays on a C harp

[klykas]

@viduayte really?!!! I cannot imagine how does he pull it off... I just cant get the same sounds :) ... How does he do that??

[viduayte]

@klykas that's because he's oozing with soul :) and bending notes ...

[klykas]

@viduayte I guess its more the oozing with soul thing than bending :)

[tripharmonica]

this is the holy gail, the deep blues, thanks for posting this, is there more?

[bigwillhenk]

i wish, i had that blues

[klykas]

@bigwillhenk I bet you dont't :)

[papnevelde]

Incredible, unique style!

Rice could be the grandfather of all blues harp players...

[JamCamp06]

No kidding this is rare. Love his Straight Harp style.

[TheCatwhisper]

Like ,Bring it on home,suppose Willie Dixon was too then ?Planty shoulda been gratefull he spoke to him at all.Any ways he was known to carry a knife,how mean are we talkin?

[SONSAKO]

sonny.... one of the best.!

[juniorvegasblues]

who cares if he was mean to robert plant sonny knew he wanted to steal the the music>get a life like you and robert plant are friends.

[taterbrains]

Cool music, too bad he was so mean to Robert Plant

[sonnyboywannabe]

mmm mmm mmm

[conjob1000]

thanks for posting

this is very inspiring

[myatt315]

I could watch this forever.. . .

[georgerism]

sonny boy was about the greatest harp player next to little walter

[SurroundedByWugs]

Good Lord....I can smell the whiskey and the cigarettes!Thx for posting!

[Hornilope]

nice

[BluePhantom1896]

RARE is the Blues FIRST POSITION Harmonica style made famous by Sonny Boy 2 here and other Sonny Boy 1(John Lee Williamson), Little Walter Jacobs, James Cotton, and Big Walter Horton. This harmonica position is SO expressive and was used sparingly, but with great effect, by these Chicago Greats. However it is rooted from way down South of the Mason Dixon Line.

[misterd699]

Really wonderful soulful sounds- Thanks for posting this up!

[Zapi294]

Hi, it's really very rare Sonny Boy clips recorded in Denmark October 3, 1964, film backyard of the old Monmartre Club in Copenhagen.

Only one time issued in film "Faces in Jazz". Sonny Boy recorded It Ain't But My Way Out [One Way Out?] in the same place and time.

thanks

[thedirtyaces]

"His harmonica spoke a language of our time: tortured, wailing, crying, and strangely beautiful -- its effect was powerfully human.He seemed to mold the notes through the long fingers of his hands, which were laid palm top palm as if he were to take a long drink of water from them. He would utter the words of his blues from the side of his mouth, slipping the harp between his lips as he finished a vocal phrase so that the melody was sustained on the instrument." Paul Oliver

[thedirtyaces]

"The hands are bony, gnarled and beautiful. He is a gripping entertainer —swaying, leaning over backwards, tapping out the beat and blowing fantastic shrill notes, wails, moans and deep growling "harp" sounds." Chris Morphet, The Guardian Tuesday January 19,1965