Perhaps a useful reminder of what non-harmonica players consider the non plus ultra of the instrument in pop/rock contexts: https://rockmyworld.com/10-harmonica-solos-that-rock/
@kudzurunner: Watch it now, Jimmy Z is "the best harmonica player in the universe", according to Dave Stewart. Then, of course, he can disregard such stuff as chords and scales and just keep going with his minor 7th riffing.
I think this is good information to know. Harmonica players, like any hobbyists, can get tunnel vision. We focus in on details and sometimes lose sight of the big picture. We can be elitist and snobbish.
This is a reminder that what is popular does not have to be technically challenging. I can't think of anything that Little Walter or Junior Wells played that eclipses the popularity of "Piano Man." I love that harp part in "What I Like About You". It really fits and it adds so much to the song.
I am really surprised that Whammer Jammer is not on there, but maybe that doesn't count as a solo. Maybe it's classified as an instrumental. Does solo imply that it's only part of a longer musical piece? ---------- Marc Graci YouTube Channel
Last Edited by Mirco on Aug 22, 2017 9:29 AM
@Martin: I dunno...sounds to me like Jimmy Z is moving through the chord changes rather adroitly. Keep in mind that the harp solo on the original recording of this tune was played by Stevie Wonder on a chromatic.
How about the solo in Tina Turners "What's love got to do with it" between 2:04-2:24 I'm not even sure if it's played on harmonica or synthesizer, however it can be played easily on harp. It is not fast and not bluesy so it is a harmonica solo that rocks and at least 25 000 000 people have heard it, mara ps. so listen it and tell me is it a real harmonica or not. https://youtu.be/oGpFcHTxjZs
Hahaha......the promise of the internet, where any Schmendrick with enough money to afford an internet connection, computer and copy of web page design for dummies can post a best 10 Harmonica Solos list and get people who actually know something about harmonicas and harmonica solos talking about it. You gotta love it.
I'll confess, on the strength of Tom pointing out that the list had Heart of Gold on it TWICE (I guess that makes it a top 9 list, we'll let Neil keep the 9 spot and everbody else can move up one), I went to the website. Safe to say, I never would have known it existed except for being mentioned here, and I'll most assuredly never be going back. So this list being devoid of absolutely any rhyme or reason comports perfectly with the quality of the site. Hey, they got a top 5 Led Zeppelin songs list too. Anyone care to guess what's number one? Hint: rhymes with Fairway to Leaven.
Yeah, the list itself is truly laughable. I'm usually not a fan of lists to begin with because generally there'll be a clam or two in there and a few that everybody thinks should have made it that didn't. But this one? Hahahahaha. And that's about all you can say.
Last Edited by Honkin On Bobo on Aug 22, 2017 1:25 PM
For a harp solo the first thing that hit`s me,and this is solo start and finish..."Every things gonna be alright" Paul butterfield blues band,live at Woodstock he,doittoit.and "suicide blond"too.....
Last Edited by nowmon on Aug 23, 2017 4:39 AM
A bit of somewhat OT info on how these lists are produced
Every day I trip over ads for blogs/companies/websites seeking writers for lists (commonly called "listicles" . . . a bastardization "list" and "article"). They're generally very low-paying tasks (maybe $10 for 500 - 1,000 words) and typically specify that applicants need not have writing experience or expertise in the assigned topic.
Listicles are popular because attentions spans (average Internet users) have become too short to read anything over about 400-500 words. Or, at least that's what the industry believes.
It's all click-bait stuff, as is much of the Net. Companies simply want ever-changing content - and quality doesn't matter - because loads and loads of new content scores relatively well on the current Google algorithms. The "bots" don't/can't factor in aspects such as truth, research, readability, etc.
Long gone are the days where a music aficionado (or a writer willing to do tons of research) would attempt a piece of this nature. Now, such stuff is written by anyone willing to work for crumbs.
The Net killed the freelance writing business; rates for freelance (on average) are FAR lower now than they were in the 1980s.
Last Edited by Rontana on Aug 23, 2017 5:43 AM
@hvyj: There are no right and wrongs here, and if it sounds good it sounds good. But I cringe a little when I hear his repeated min 7´s. (Not so on Stevie W´s very elegant original solo.) Jimmy Z is a player for whom the harp only lives in 2nd pos, and here might be a case where another player would have chosen a C or G harp.
Aside from that Jimmy is extremely skilled at those fast holes 4 and 5 riffs -- and consequently he uses them a lot.
Rontana, there was more information in your comment than on that entire website. Nice job. I expected as much, looking at some of the stuff on the internet these days, but some of the details you posted were interesting.
Last Edited by Honkin On Bobo on Aug 23, 2017 6:51 AM
The Bruce Willis track is fascinating. When it begins you think, oh ho, not so bad. Then you realise it's mainly sound effects. Then you realise it hasn't gone anywhere yet. Then you realise it's not going to go anywhere. Then you wonder whether you are going to die of boredom or if you should maybe top yourself to end it all. ---------- Andrew. -----------------------------------------
Last Edited by Andrew on Aug 27, 2017 10:21 AM
long train running harp solo was done by norton buffalo in studio.....saw doobies in knoxville,tn.....the harp solo by whoever sucked.....I could have done better.....and so could many members much better