No, BIg John isn't here. This is Floyd on bass, Jimi "Prime Time" Smith on guitar, and Tenner "Playboy" Venson on drums. Wrencher had passed away by this time. (Wrencher had only one arm, so he'd be immediately recognizable if he were here.)
Jimi Smith, by the way, is the son of the late singer Johnnie Mae Dunson.
@sopleto I totally agree. My favorite harp player, but he was over-stepping his ground. Maybe he had too much to drink and impressing a pretty woman lol. Peace.
@c: Every time I saw him at BLUES, Walter played through a Fender Champ: 1 / 8" speaker powered by a 5 watt class A amp. He may seem overbearing on this video because of the recording microphone's placement.
@c: Got me wrong, "c": I'm defending the old guy, (62 here, as I am now!). Big W's the best I've seen, & I've seen'm all, (not Little W, but from what i'm told, he was way past his prime by the time I might have). Big W's prime lasted to the end. / My point was that much great blues has no rhythm & lead role-playing, but rather, intertwining lines, so if a recording brings out a line too loudly, it'll sound like hogging a solo.
The club is B.L.U.E.S. on Halstead St. Chi.This band started out as Big Walter, Floyd
Jones,Playboy Venson and Homesick James. Bill Gilmore, "Gilmo",as Floyd called him, kept these guys working as long as they were able. i recall the B.L.U.E.S.schedule in the chicago Reader as, Sunday night- the "Big Walter Horton Blues Band",monday the "Homesick James Blues Band",tues the "Floyd Jones Blues Band" and wed. the "Playboy Venson Blues Band".Smith replaced Homesick, Steve Freund replaced Smith
Wow!!!! This is incredible!! Isn't Playboy Vinson the cat from the Big John Wrencher Maxwell Street Alley Blues record??? That's one of the most low down blues recordings I've ever heard and this is just as low down!! Wicked!!
Thank-you so much for posting this! GREATEST! We were their many a night watching these guys play the real deep blues. Their is Little Joe Berson my harp player on the right sitting watching Big Walter! These were the best days we used to have living here in Chicago!
The big woman walking around in front of the stage is Big Time Sarah. I also recognize the late Little Joe Berson, who was Jimmy Rogers' harp player in the '80s (and a major disciple of Big Walter), sitting right up front - he's the guy with the beard sitting right in front of Floyd.
Gerry, thank SO MUCH for finally making a little bit of your footage available - I hope to see more soon!
No, BIg John isn't here. This is Floyd on bass, Jimi "Prime Time" Smith on guitar, and Tenner "Playboy" Venson on drums. Wrencher had passed away by this time. (Wrencher had only one arm, so he'd be immediately recognizable if he were here.)
Jimi Smith, by the way, is the son of the late singer Johnnie Mae Dunson.
jazzmanchgo 4 months ago
Another Great Harmonica Legend is in the crowd in the right frame.Little Joe Berson. Little Joe was one of the greatest ever.
SteveArvey 5 months ago
Kim Wilson sounds just like big Walter
amandasrollercoaster 1 year ago
@amandasrollercoaster and i play baskeball just like michael jordan
TheSatanas666 8 months ago
Big Walter was the boss! Great footage!
★★★★★
SwampBluesTed 2 years ago
Is Walter playing first position?
cedricleecason 2 years ago
Yes, that is Joe sitting in his usual spot at the corner of the bar. RIP Joe.
condor1087 2 years ago
Good Stuff!
strawwoodclaw 2 years ago
I was lucky enough to spend the '80's living 4 blocks from B.L.U.E.S
nuff said - This is my heart and soul
JMGPublic 2 years ago
What year is this!!! Oh my God, and that Big John Wrencher must be the only video of him! WOW
ZackPomerleau 3 years ago 2
I think about 1979. There is some great film footage of Big John in one of the Maxwell Street movies, I believe.
GerreeCee 3 years ago
Well it is amazing!
ZackPomerleau 3 years ago 2
The undisputed heavyweight champion of 1st position blues harmonica!
tweedfendr 3 years ago
all the walter things here are excelent, but please let me here the guitar soloo!!!!!!! i love walter but he play too much sometimes.
sopleto 3 years ago
@sopleto I totally agree. My favorite harp player, but he was over-stepping his ground. Maybe he had too much to drink and impressing a pretty woman lol. Peace.
cedricleecason 8 months ago
@c: Every time I saw him at BLUES, Walter played through a Fender Champ: 1 / 8" speaker powered by a 5 watt class A amp. He may seem overbearing on this video because of the recording microphone's placement.
lazur1 6 months ago
@lazur1 Oh ok. But even tho he seems overbearing, this still sounds so good. He could make it work huh? Peace! Thanks!
cedricleecason 5 months ago
@c: Got me wrong, "c": I'm defending the old guy, (62 here, as I am now!). Big W's the best I've seen, & I've seen'm all, (not Little W, but from what i'm told, he was way past his prime by the time I might have). Big W's prime lasted to the end. / My point was that much great blues has no rhythm & lead role-playing, but rather, intertwining lines, so if a recording brings out a line too loudly, it'll sound like hogging a solo.
lazur1 5 months ago
@lazur1 yeah I know you were defending him. BW is my favorite as well. I understood what you were saying bout sound.
cedricleecason 5 months ago
@lazur1 Question: Did BW play every song in the key of A with an A harp? I havent found anything with him playing a "D" harp in 2nd position.
cedricleecason 5 months ago
@c; Wow, never occurred to me. i play guitar, little to no harp. His 1st position's so rich, (so "not 1st position"), it almost passes for 2nd.
lazur1 5 months ago
@lazur1 Thanks. Yes it does. I thought it was first, the first few times I watched it lol. Thats y I started learning first position. Peace man!
cedricleecason 5 months ago
musica interessante posso dizer que esse blues é bom
luizguilhermemsales 3 years ago
Now I know what the madcat was talking about...horton is such a good harp influence!
bigoldsun 3 years ago
big walter!the harp god!!!!!!!!!
superbluesman 3 years ago
The club is B.L.U.E.S. on Halstead St. Chi.This band started out as Big Walter, Floyd
Jones,Playboy Venson and Homesick James. Bill Gilmore, "Gilmo",as Floyd called him, kept these guys working as long as they were able. i recall the B.L.U.E.S.schedule in the chicago Reader as, Sunday night- the "Big Walter Horton Blues Band",monday the "Homesick James Blues Band",tues the "Floyd Jones Blues Band" and wed. the "Playboy Venson Blues Band".Smith replaced Homesick, Steve Freund replaced Smith
shenadoh 4 years ago
I think this is the best tone big walter has in any video, this is the way a harp should sound way up in the mix.
great stuff -low down , down -in -the alley , gutbucket blues
247blue 4 years ago
The best of Post War Chicago Blues .........
History for sure !!!! Thanks for posting and sharing .
Bumblebee38 4 years ago
Wow!!!! This is incredible!! Isn't Playboy Vinson the cat from the Big John Wrencher Maxwell Street Alley Blues record??? That's one of the most low down blues recordings I've ever heard and this is just as low down!! Wicked!!
okiedokiestomper 4 years ago
They don't make them like that any more. Thank you. Al Blake
BigAlBlake 4 years ago
I keep hoping I'll wake up and it'll still be 1979. Damn.
BluesExpert 4 years ago
Yeah me it's 1959 lol
bluesdoor 3 years ago
A young Jimi "Prime time" Smith. I like him better here.
66es345 4 years ago
doesn't get any better than this:)
paintitpurdy 4 years ago
this is truely beautiful!
mmowoa 4 years ago
Wow!!
Amazing!
haleyfan 4 years ago
Just proves there was some great blues on the North Side Wonderful and historic video
eddiesoye 4 years ago
Thank-you so much for posting this! GREATEST! We were their many a night watching these guys play the real deep blues. Their is Little Joe Berson my harp player on the right sitting watching Big Walter! These were the best days we used to have living here in Chicago!
barrelhousechuck 4 years ago
Wow! I just wish I'd gotten to see Big Walter back in his days. Hi to checker764.
Blueslovinbob 4 years ago
ok Gerry! keep it coming man. I am thrilled you are posting.
rayoll 4 years ago
Wau!
What a nice video, Big Walter was so AWESOME
This is a very good X-Mas gift - Thanks!
t. BlueFinn
redi15 4 years ago
Wow! That was incredible stuff! Thanks!
jlemko 4 years ago
Awesome!
The big woman walking around in front of the stage is Big Time Sarah. I also recognize the late Little Joe Berson, who was Jimmy Rogers' harp player in the '80s (and a major disciple of Big Walter), sitting right up front - he's the guy with the beard sitting right in front of Floyd.
Gerry, thank SO MUCH for finally making a little bit of your footage available - I hope to see more soon!
checker764 4 years ago