easyed
33 posts
Dec 13, 2010
10:04 AM
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I've been listening to a little bit of Junior Wells and Buddy Guy ( Alone and Acoustic ). Junior's playing is great, kind of beautifully understated. What do you consider to be Junior Wells' best recordings? Thanks
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hvyj
906 posts
Dec 13, 2010
10:33 AM
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"Hoodoo Man Blues" and "It's My Life Baby" are considered by many to be his seminal recordings. I particularly enjoy "On Tap" which is a later live recording.
These are all electric performances, though.
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Joe_L
900 posts
Dec 13, 2010
10:41 AM
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"Blues Hit Big Town" is a collection of 45's from the 1950's. It catches a young Junior Wells blowing his ass off and being backed by a variety of fabulous Blues artists including Louis Myers and Elmore James.
"Hoodoo Man Blues" is probably his most well known work and features a fabulous band. It doesn't get much better than this.
"It's My Life, Baby!" is a fantastic set. Half the album is a live club recording from Pepper's Lounge and captures Junior in top form. The other half is an excellent studio recording. It's great stuff.
There is another CD worth tracking down if you can find it. It has very little harp on it, but it features Junior's fine singing and songwriting along with some phenomenal guitar work by Earl Hooker. It's called "Messin’ With The Kid 1957-63"
Junior was a great harp player. His style is deceptively simple, but you won't find many that can play it right.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2010 10:43 AM
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5F6H
436 posts
Dec 13, 2010
11:19 AM
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It's not a Jr Wells album as such, but Jr's set on Sam Charters'"Chicago! The Blues Today" is a must have.
Southside Blues Jam is a slightly more sedate, less funky (despite Jr's attempts) session than a lot more of his contemporary recordings...but I must admit to having a soft spot for it.
He had a 4 draw and 4&5 draw sound to die for...even if he just played that over a whole 12 bar, it would do it for me! When guys talk about a "chicago harp" sound...I always think that the concept of one specific sound fitting the bill a bit daft, but if anyone ever did it, in my book it was Jr on Muddy's "Standin Round Crying" & "Iodine In My coffee"
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groyster1
578 posts
Dec 13, 2010
11:37 AM
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Joe L
very much in agreement with you have both of those on vinyl and I think thats why jr gets dissed on this forum because he did keep it simple dont care he played with so much emotion only saw him live once and he came on like an F5 tornado will always appreciate jrwells
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hvyj
908 posts
Dec 13, 2010
12:16 PM
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junior Wells was certainly a minimalist in his approach, but IMHO there's nothing wrong with that. In this regard, I think he and Paul Butterfield had a lot in common.
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groyster1
579 posts
Dec 13, 2010
12:56 PM
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hvyj
butterfield had his own way too the driftin solo he did live always blew me away they all have their own style and how they impress the crowd is what counts
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alliag
1 post
Dec 13, 2010
3:25 PM
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"Lord, Lord"- from Blues Big town is one of my favorites
and "Please throw this poor dog a bone"
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joeleebush
156 posts
Dec 13, 2010
6:47 PM
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One of the finest First Position pieces of work can be heard on "Junior's Wail". Using a D harp in first and that is not easy.
Junior's Wail and Trouble in Mind by Big Walter are the best first position blues stuff I ever heard.
No, No, No,..."trust my baby" doesn't rate with these two.
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chromaticblues
395 posts
Dec 13, 2010
8:06 PM
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Blues hit big town! I liked junoirs harp playing more when he was young.
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didjcripey
21 posts
Dec 13, 2010
8:39 PM
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'My Baby She Left Me (She Left Me a Mule to Ride)'
I also love the version/version's he did of Help Me.
There's no harp on it, but I love his funky 'Watch Me move' too.
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Lucky Lester
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Joe_L
901 posts
Dec 13, 2010
10:11 PM
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Junior was a great singer, songwriter and band leader. The "Live at Buddy Guy's Legends" was a really good recording and captured Junior in an excellent performance. Junior had an ability to capture and captivate an audience like few others.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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Ant138
699 posts
Dec 13, 2010
11:43 PM
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I'm finally going to check Junior's stuff out after reading this thread. I've always been meaning to check him out but never really bothered.
Thanks
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http://www.youtube.com/user/fiendant?feature=mhum
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7LimitJI
236 posts
Dec 14, 2010
12:35 AM
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My fav is "Come on in this House" with various guest slide guitarists. A great album that I always return to.
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The Pentatonics Myspace
Youtube
Due to cutbacks,the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.
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Rev. Jim
41 posts
Dec 14, 2010
4:39 AM
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Love "Blues Hit Big Town." I saw one of his shows with Buddy Guy back in the '80s, and it was just insanely wild and fun - one of the best.
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Baker
86 posts
Dec 14, 2010
5:09 AM
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Jr Wells is probably my all time favorite player. Beautiful tone and minimal yet meaningful style. I think is my favorite recording of him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbYFn5RkX0U
(Embedding is turned off)
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Barry C.
80 posts
Dec 14, 2010
7:32 AM
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JW my number one fav blues singer - nobody put the funk in blues like that man could! His harp playing is a lesson in restraint and impecable timing - no 100 mile an hour runs for JW - just nice 'n tasty!!
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~Banned in Boston!
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groyster1
580 posts
Dec 14, 2010
7:51 AM
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even if jrwells was not your favorite harp player its good to hear all these positive responses he was a legend
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toddlgreene
2216 posts
Dec 14, 2010
8:05 AM
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I love Junior Wells' stuff-older and the later stuff. I like that he sounded so different from his contemporaries. His solo on Messin' With The Kid still gives me chills. As a singer, check out his very funky version of That's what Love Will Make You Do-no harp in it, but damn, it grooves-he had a serious James Brown fell about his vocal phrasing.
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Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
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Ant138
701 posts
Dec 14, 2010
8:27 AM
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I've just been checking Junior out on Amazon. I'm going with "Hoodoo Man Blues" and "Come on in this house".
I think the reason i've not really bothered to check him before is because of his dress sense. I know that sounds crazy but the only pictures i've ever really seen of Junior has been from the Eighties, man! he was always dressed like Willy Wonker on Crack!!
I really couldn't take him seriously but man can he play harp! I'm glad i've taken the time to check him out properly now, can't wait for the C.D's to arrive:o)
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http://www.youtube.com/user/fiendant?feature=mhum
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toddlgreene
2217 posts
Dec 14, 2010
8:49 AM
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haha, if everyone used your wardrobe-based musical selection method, Ant...I doubt Jason Ricci would have many fans!;-)
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Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2010 8:54 AM
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Joe_L
902 posts
Dec 14, 2010
9:36 AM
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Junior always dressed sharp. It was rare that you would see him without a suit, hat and a ton of gold. He had an image to uphold and he did it. If you had ever been to the South Side of Chicago, you would have seen lots of people dressed that way. People dressed up.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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MP
1132 posts
Dec 14, 2010
12:39 PM
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yeah,
Blues Hit Big Town.
my fav of all his recorded output.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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Miles Dewar
520 posts
Dec 15, 2010
9:09 AM
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Listen to:
-Tobacco Road
-Help Me
-Everything's gonna be alright
-Hoodoo Man
-We're Ready
These all have good harp. Junior is easy to follow too.
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---Go Chicago Bears!!!---
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Miles Dewar
521 posts
Dec 15, 2010
9:13 AM
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Hoodoo man is a cool song. Buddy Guy is playing through Leslie organ speakers.
I think it was recorded in Aurora here in Illinois. If you listen closely you can hear all of us mexicans in the backround......:)
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---Go Chicago Bears!!!---
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mr_so&so
385 posts
Dec 15, 2010
2:01 PM
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I have a CD called "An Introduction to Junior Wells" from Stony Plain Records. It has a couple of bonus live tracks where the band is fantastic and Junior is great too. One of them is Help Me, his tribute to Sonnyboy II. Junior had the whole package, singer and harp player. I think Buddy Guy is playing guitar on most of the cuts too.
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6SN7
120 posts
Dec 15, 2010
4:04 PM
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"Buddy Guy and Jr Wells plays the blues"
This album changed my life at 14. There is a version now with added material. Excellent variety of material explored, very assessable to any listener of music.
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Joe_L
903 posts
Dec 15, 2010
4:43 PM
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If my memory is correct, they are backed by members of the J Giels Band on that one. That's a pretty good album.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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groyster1
581 posts
Dec 15, 2010
5:28 PM
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have really enjoyed this thread about 1 of the best harp blowers ever!!!
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