Man, if james had kept this up....he would have kept the weight and some of the age off. No disrespect, though. I give everybody credit who keeps on swingin' and rockin' in this crazy-ass world!
This was 80s LA music...regardeless of definition. LA music was lots of the club scene with a fe fortunate bands to pick up the radio spots or a record label...
I modestly attempt it. In case you're interested, checkout some vids by hotlip & the cornerbros, a streetmsic group from cologne. It's not full-on Hollywood Fats, since I don't want to copy him, but maybe you hear some of him in there.
I saw James Harmen and His Dangerous Gentlemen a ton of times around the time of this video. The Wildcards used to open for them a lot. Where was this filmed? The Music Machine? Goodies? Radio City?
Sorry, ispyworld, James Harman never had a drummer who played standing up. You said '81 or '82 right? OK, from '78 through '90 that was Stephen Hodges sitting behind that huge 32 inch bass drum! Your mind must have turned it into a standing drummer; maybe you had just seen the Stray Cats and mixed them up.
i saw the james harman band 1981-2 open for g throgood in riverside....gooood blues! also with kid ramos and a bass man and a guy playing drums standing up...who was that you tell mw
get hip, the bass player was Willie J, Campbell, he was with Harman from '76-'88.
William Clarke was a harp player/singer who also died, but that was a few years later. This band was together 5 years, Fats quit his own band to play with the James Harman Band in 1980. He usualy played a 1961 cherry red Gibson ES345 with the veri-tone and sterio taken out.
this was recorded at the Belly Up Tavern in Salona Beach, north of san diego, it was a 2 nite gig March 22-23 1985 i was there both nites and it rocked!! harman came out with a cd called "strictly live in '85" from these 2 nites but the cd wasn't as good as the concerts. fats is playing a gibson L-5, I forget what year it is, it's harmans gtr.
I saw him one time when he came thru Dallas with the Paladins. Dec. 1985 at the Greenville Ave. Bar & Grill. One of the best shows I ever saw.
Then about 5 years ago, a buddy who knew how much I dug Fat's playing, laid a CD in my lap that was a recording of that show!!! I've heard most all the awesome Fats recordings out there but this one with the Paladins is (IMHO) by far the best. Absolutely stunning! I'm planning to release the recording/CD in 2-3 months.
I was lucky enough to meet and learn form Hollywood. He was my friend. I never saw him play a bad note or the same solo twice. If anyone has any videos out there please post them. There is some great stuff there. There isn't a time I pick up a guitar that I don't think about him. RIP HF!
I play too and my older brother Tom Moore was friends with Fats during the early 80s in SD. I saw them play when I was 17 at a place in Laguna Beach. I've been playing guitar ever since.
i know your bro tom moore..what a great guy and a good harp player i've recorded him playing w/HF and others at the B.U.T., we all used to hang together in the 80's..those were the days....
I saw Hollywood Fats live several times in the early '80's, and may just be one more testify, he WAS all that! I used to go to shows and get the ball rolling by cheering for individual solos. Then I'd hang back and let nature take its course. This kind of appreciation from the audience really puts performers in the mood to get out there and work. One night, started an audience up at a Harmon/Fats show at Madame Wong's on Wilshire in Santa Monica, and it was bedlam. And what a show!
Hey James. I got a little bad news. When you get to heaven, and you are trying to get a gig in the band. Well,.....You see,....GOD'S got this chick singer.
James is going to die in a minivan going from San Diego to a gig in Texas somewhere and Peop;e should build a fucking monument to a man who was The Real Fucking Thing. Taught me more about blues and "Showbiz" than anyone I have ever had the privilidge to know. Lookin Sharp Baby. Rayon Sports Shirts, and Silk Slacks If You Please.
Oh Baby, man I love Fats. Muddy Waters said that with Duke Robillard and Hollywood Fats in his band, he'd rule the world. He was the king of West coast swing
Hey "Bluesman" I guess you really don't deserve the name. Fats and Junior watson created the west coast blues sound in the late 70's. For your info Fats was asked to play at T Bone's funeral. Fats was a Master at his craft. Ask Kim Wilson, Mark Hummel or Al Blake(if you know who they are) and they will all say he was great.If you can get any of his discs you should take a serious listen.
Hey, sorry - that was meant to respond to that whole "jazz isn't that good" thing. I love jump blues and west coast blues, and I'm very familiar with Junior Watson, Kim Wilson and Mark Hummel, although not Al Blake - I'm looking forward to finding out more about Fats - based on this video, he was a moster player! Re-read my post in the context of responding to the "Jazz isn't that good" comment, and I think it'll make more sense.
sorry man my computer showed your comment out of order so I thought you were talking about Fats. Yea AL was the singer and harp player for The Fats band ,he's a great musician and one hell of a person.This comes a video done at the Belly Up in Solano Beach Calif the entire video is abound 1hr 45min with some amazing stuff.
Is it possible to get the full length 1hr 45min video done at the Belly Up in Solano Beach Calif? It would be a Godsend to have something like this to watch whenever I wanted! Tks...
Also, I highly recommend Kid Ramos' "West Coast House Party" album for more of this kind of thing, complete with Duke Robilard, Little Charlie Baty, and others. Cheers!
No problem! The stuff you hear Fats playing comes mostly from a guy named Pee Wee Crayton. If you listen to Pee Wee and then listen to Fats - you'll see. Fats, of course, had many other influences including some lesser know guitarists like Bill Jennings and Tiny Grimes. My older brother lived and played with Fats in San Diego during the early 80s. Fats does/did play a lot of jazz-influenced chords and runs, but most of his music is swing/jump blues or just plain blues.
you could not further from the truth! Its a stab at the young players that do not do there homework, SRV was great no doubt however he was not the end all in Blues, many came before him who deserve praise and are worthy of credit Fats being one.Similar things happend with Clapton, and Hendrix the masses look to the flavor of the month and try to "copy" what is the trend. And as far as this being jazz, not in my view its swing blues.
You are right! Fats and Jr. Watson both played with a lot of jazz feel to their chording and runs, but when you break it down, it's Pee Wee Crayton and T=Bone mostly.
This guy was absolutely the best. I have to learn to play like that!
Ray12946
Ray12946 3 months ago
Is there a DVD of this show?
lophatmike 1 year ago
I like this very much....gonna spend what's left of my life trying to copy it........
anabdab1 1 year ago
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Acacialatrice 1 year ago
today is dec 8, 2010 R.I.P. Fats mar 17,1954 - dec 8, 1986. he was the best!
katietheblueslady 1 year ago
This is just one of the finest examples of a rockin' blues band..I love every note every word every frame.
elmercloud 1 year ago
Man, if james had kept this up....he would have kept the weight and some of the age off. No disrespect, though. I give everybody credit who keeps on swingin' and rockin' in this crazy-ass world!
keep on rolling everybody!
pyannaguy 1 year ago
Cool Stuff ! thx for posting. ! 5 Stars.
I played Blues like this too... on bass :)
abc123gpl 2 years ago
Seriously. WTF? Magic in a bottle of Johnny Walker.
dunskie 2 years ago
Does anyone know the name of this song, and whether Harman ever recorded it?
TRogdorthe4th 2 years ago
this song was known as "Jump Fats" they did several different versions of this song and no they never recorded this in the studio, only live.
katietheblueslady 2 years ago
Do you know..Was James Harman playing harp back in the 80's? i know He was blowing some mean harp later on...
harpman2009 2 years ago
Nice clip. Blues is Jazz, IMHO.
SamPaiKenpo 3 years ago
West coast started w him-early death blocked him of his just dues
muddyguitar 3 years ago
This was 80s LA music...regardeless of definition. LA music was lots of the club scene with a fe fortunate bands to pick up the radio spots or a record label...
transittrash 3 years ago
It should be added that this stuff was done at a time in the 80's when "New Wave" was big.These cats were like "Flock a Seagulls" THIS motherfuckers.
bluesborn 3 years ago
Hey, watch it there -- or I just might video respond with Duran Duran's melody tribute to Tears for Fears.
johannesgrimm 2 years ago
I wish more contemporary blues guitar players would emulate Fats. Maybe these posts will help a little.
GlenDoll 3 years ago
I modestly attempt it. In case you're interested, checkout some vids by hotlip & the cornerbros, a streetmsic group from cologne. It's not full-on Hollywood Fats, since I don't want to copy him, but maybe you hear some of him in there.
thailow117 3 years ago
love james harmans dancing
9jem 3 years ago 2
I saw James Harmen and His Dangerous Gentlemen a ton of times around the time of this video. The Wildcards used to open for them a lot. Where was this filmed? The Music Machine? Goodies? Radio City?
Love it!
taboomarnoo 3 years ago
Sorry, ispyworld, James Harman never had a drummer who played standing up. You said '81 or '82 right? OK, from '78 through '90 that was Stephen Hodges sitting behind that huge 32 inch bass drum! Your mind must have turned it into a standing drummer; maybe you had just seen the Stray Cats and mixed them up.
porkbuttslim 3 years ago
i saw the james harman band 1981-2 open for g throgood in riverside....gooood blues! also with kid ramos and a bass man and a guy playing drums standing up...who was that you tell mw
ispyworld 4 years ago
get hip, the bass player was Willie J, Campbell, he was with Harman from '76-'88.
William Clarke was a harp player/singer who also died, but that was a few years later. This band was together 5 years, Fats quit his own band to play with the James Harman Band in 1980. He usualy played a 1961 cherry red Gibson ES345 with the veri-tone and sterio taken out.
porkbuttslim 4 years ago
this was recorded at the Belly Up Tavern in Salona Beach, north of san diego, it was a 2 nite gig March 22-23 1985 i was there both nites and it rocked!! harman came out with a cd called "strictly live in '85" from these 2 nites but the cd wasn't as good as the concerts. fats is playing a gibson L-5, I forget what year it is, it's harmans gtr.
katietheblueslady 4 years ago
Thanx guys for all the posts and info - I will post some more swingin' Fats! Watch out!
bluesintruder 4 years ago
I saw him one time when he came thru Dallas with the Paladins. Dec. 1985 at the Greenville Ave. Bar & Grill. One of the best shows I ever saw.
Then about 5 years ago, a buddy who knew how much I dug Fat's playing, laid a CD in my lap that was a recording of that show!!! I've heard most all the awesome Fats recordings out there but this one with the Paladins is (IMHO) by far the best. Absolutely stunning! I'm planning to release the recording/CD in 2-3 months.
Lester1Moran 4 years ago
Hollywood Fat's real name was Michael Mann. He died in 1986. Heroin OD.
He was without a doubt one of the top 2-3 guitarists that ever walked the planet.
Perfect phrasing. Flawless delivery. Jr. Watson is a close second.
I've been woodsheding on Fat's stuff for around 20 years now.
Lester1Moran 4 years ago
what happened to Hollywood Fats and what is his real name?...thank you.
DanielS58 4 years ago
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mrtmthntrz 4 years ago
Way too much!
bub64882 4 years ago
I was lucky enough to meet and learn form Hollywood. He was my friend. I never saw him play a bad note or the same solo twice. If anyone has any videos out there please post them. There is some great stuff there. There isn't a time I pick up a guitar that I don't think about him. RIP HF!
ichpick 4 years ago
I play too and my older brother Tom Moore was friends with Fats during the early 80s in SD. I saw them play when I was 17 at a place in Laguna Beach. I've been playing guitar ever since.
djmoore20041 4 years ago
i know your bro tom moore..what a great guy and a good harp player i've recorded him playing w/HF and others at the B.U.T., we all used to hang together in the 80's..those were the days....
katietheblueslady 4 years ago
I saw Hollywood Fats live several times in the early '80's, and may just be one more testify, he WAS all that! I used to go to shows and get the ball rolling by cheering for individual solos. Then I'd hang back and let nature take its course. This kind of appreciation from the audience really puts performers in the mood to get out there and work. One night, started an audience up at a Harmon/Fats show at Madame Wong's on Wilshire in Santa Monica, and it was bedlam. And what a show!
it401301 4 years ago
Hey James. I got a little bad news. When you get to heaven, and you are trying to get a gig in the band. Well,.....You see,....GOD'S got this chick singer.
dunskie 4 years ago
James is going to die in a minivan going from San Diego to a gig in Texas somewhere and Peop;e should build a fucking monument to a man who was The Real Fucking Thing. Taught me more about blues and "Showbiz" than anyone I have ever had the privilidge to know. Lookin Sharp Baby. Rayon Sports Shirts, and Silk Slacks If You Please.
dunskie 4 years ago
great fats, jump blues at top!!is a guitar lesson for all blues fans
guerrinig 5 years ago
This stuff is untouchable. Jame H. and Fats are cornerstones in Blues history. You want to play the Blues, take notes here.
jakedreierband 5 years ago
Oh Baby, man I love Fats. Muddy Waters said that with Duke Robillard and Hollywood Fats in his band, he'd rule the world. He was the king of West coast swing
shakeysgone 5 years ago
What a tone! No one makes a guitar sound like that anymore. POST MORE VID PLEEEESE!!! THAT is the stuff!
Bradwick1 5 years ago
Holy Shit!
danielvalentino 5 years ago
WoW! thats what the Fats legend is all about.
ab763 5 years ago
Oh my---THANK YOU!!!! I've seen some of this, but this is abetter copy--AND---it's now on youtube!!!
64strat 5 years ago
Great to see FATS! a true master perhaps some SRBABIE Vaughns should look at this and learn
silkee59 5 years ago
I'm guessing that's some stab at people who play like Stevie Ray Vaughan. That's Blues, man. This is Jazz. Jazz isn't that good.
negroid2004 5 years ago
Jazz isn' that good....hmmm what a profound comment
I guess you know all and see all
silkee59 5 years ago
Yes, I do.
negroid2004 5 years ago
Hey, T-Bone Walker called. He said you're an idiot. Stevie Ray called, too - he said to listen to T-Bone.
BluesmanDave 5 years ago
Hey "Bluesman" I guess you really don't deserve the name. Fats and Junior watson created the west coast blues sound in the late 70's. For your info Fats was asked to play at T Bone's funeral. Fats was a Master at his craft. Ask Kim Wilson, Mark Hummel or Al Blake(if you know who they are) and they will all say he was great.If you can get any of his discs you should take a serious listen.
juniorfats 5 years ago
Hey, sorry - that was meant to respond to that whole "jazz isn't that good" thing. I love jump blues and west coast blues, and I'm very familiar with Junior Watson, Kim Wilson and Mark Hummel, although not Al Blake - I'm looking forward to finding out more about Fats - based on this video, he was a moster player! Re-read my post in the context of responding to the "Jazz isn't that good" comment, and I think it'll make more sense.
BluesmanDave 5 years ago
sorry man my computer showed your comment out of order so I thought you were talking about Fats. Yea AL was the singer and harp player for The Fats band ,he's a great musician and one hell of a person.This comes a video done at the Belly Up in Solano Beach Calif the entire video is abound 1hr 45min with some amazing stuff.
juniorfats 5 years ago
Is it possible to get the full length 1hr 45min video done at the Belly Up in Solano Beach Calif? It would be a Godsend to have something like this to watch whenever I wanted! Tks...
mrnglry 4 years ago
Also, I highly recommend Kid Ramos' "West Coast House Party" album for more of this kind of thing, complete with Duke Robilard, Little Charlie Baty, and others. Cheers!
BluesmanDave 5 years ago
Are you saying that what Fats is playing in this video is Jazz? If so, you don't know what Jazz is either.
djmoore20041 4 years ago
Sure, Mac. Thanx for settling this point.
strandwolf 4 years ago
No problem! The stuff you hear Fats playing comes mostly from a guy named Pee Wee Crayton. If you listen to Pee Wee and then listen to Fats - you'll see. Fats, of course, had many other influences including some lesser know guitarists like Bill Jennings and Tiny Grimes. My older brother lived and played with Fats in San Diego during the early 80s. Fats does/did play a lot of jazz-influenced chords and runs, but most of his music is swing/jump blues or just plain blues.
It is not Jazz.
djmoore20041 4 years ago
I'm guessing that's a stab at people who play like Stevie Ray Vaughan. That's blues, man. This is Jazz. Jazz isn't that good.
negroid2004 5 years ago
you could not further from the truth! Its a stab at the young players that do not do there homework, SRV was great no doubt however he was not the end all in Blues, many came before him who deserve praise and are worthy of credit Fats being one.Similar things happend with Clapton, and Hendrix the masses look to the flavor of the month and try to "copy" what is the trend. And as far as this being jazz, not in my view its swing blues.
silkee59 5 years ago
You are right! Fats and Jr. Watson both played with a lot of jazz feel to their chording and runs, but when you break it down, it's Pee Wee Crayton and T=Bone mostly.
djmoore20041 4 years ago 2
This is blues...
observer74 5 years ago