The Philharmonicas : Powerhouse

Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse", from the 1939 short "The Dipsy Doodler" by Larry Clinton and His Orchestra.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• raymond
• scott
• exotica
• harmonica

[klimkcoC]

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

[TheGreatVarholy]

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

[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.

[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.

[TuboEspectador]

@bablazo My gosh what a wonderful story!

[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

[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.

[finalorbit]

@klimkcoC Hahahaha! So damn true.



[IanDarling1]

very cool.

[jwellingtonwimpy1]

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

[CabbageNappa]

How?

[bancoran]

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