Modern Blues Harmonica - records 9 (Gussow.105)

Gussow finally takes on Sonny Boy and the Yarbirds w/Eric Clapton, and offers a startling theory about who is playing harmonica on the opening sequence. (Hint: not Sonny Boy.)

For more harp stuff, including several lessons focused on Sonny Boy, visit:

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Adam
• Gussow
• blues
• harmonica
• harp
• Sonny
• Boy
• Williamson
• Yardbirds
• Eric
• Clapton

[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."

[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....

[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

[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]

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