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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Third Top Ten List?
Third Top Ten List?
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atty1chgo
927 posts
May 15, 2014
1:00 PM
Third Top Ten List?

Why? Because there are some names within the list that are clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the group. OK - maybe 11 or 12 is more fair. Not trying to pick a fight, just trying to be accurate.

So - as always NOT in any particular order - Third Top [Twelve] List:


Billy Boy Arnold
Jerry Portnoy
Phil Wiggins
Johnny Sansone
Rick Estrin
Sugar Ray Norcia
Mitch Kashmar
Taj Mahal
Carlos Del Junco
Lee Oskar
John Popper
Paul Oscher

Last Edited by atty1chgo on May 15, 2014 1:02 PM
Frank
4257 posts
May 15, 2014
1:36 PM
Do you mean this list is at the bottom of the first two lists? If so, what are the 1st and 2nd lists?
JustFuya
156 posts
May 15, 2014
2:33 PM
Is this a list of harp players whose music you to like hear or of those you admire for their ability?

Edit: grammar/simplification

Last Edited by JustFuya on May 15, 2014 3:18 PM
1847
1787 posts
May 15, 2014
2:52 PM
what if we did away with the top ten list altogether?
we can refer to all the greats as the one per-centers

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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
Frank
4260 posts
May 15, 2014
3:08 PM
How'd John get on the same list as Billy Boy, that's sacrilegious :)

Last Edited by Frank on May 15, 2014 3:10 PM
JustFuya
157 posts
May 15, 2014
4:51 PM
I'll list a few that aren't on the list.

Lazy Boy Lester
Jimmy Reed
Sonny Boy I
Sonny Boy II

Anything that came out of Chess gets my listen. Billy Boy Arnold gets my respect but I wish he had more props for Sonny Boy II. SB II's tribute to SB was not only by name. He ran and wailed with with that banner.
SuperBee
1983 posts
May 15, 2014
5:03 PM
I think the sonny boys are both on the top ten list.
SuperBee
1984 posts
May 15, 2014
5:05 PM
And jimmy reed is on the second tier list.
Komuso
311 posts
May 15, 2014
5:17 PM
No top ten list without Bob Dylan? phhhhht

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HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
Frank
4263 posts
May 15, 2014
6:08 PM
Bobs on the tier 4 list - poor basterd :)
JustFuya
159 posts
May 15, 2014
6:55 PM
Bob Dylan gets honorable mention but not for his harp playing. When he sets his harp down during the long version of 'Sara', he leaves a wide opening for you to fill. Pick your weapon.
walterharp
1382 posts
May 15, 2014
7:35 PM
for those that do not know what he is talking about, go here
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/blues_harp_gods.html
or to the all time harp greats link on the menu to the left, and see, there is a top 10 a next 10 list and an honorable mention.. this is an attempt to assign positions 21-30.
discussion of the list order is a regular theme here and a search of the forum will bring up prior discussions.

fwiw there is no final closure other than what gussow chooses, and not sure if adam can really be convinced to change the list in the span of one threads.
Goldbrick
434 posts
May 15, 2014
8:25 PM
Not Taj playing but Some good harp on this

Last Edited by Goldbrick on May 15, 2014 8:26 PM
SuperBee
1985 posts
May 15, 2014
8:35 PM
I don't think I've ever seen anyone make a case to argue sb2's identity theft was a tribute to sonny boy, although I've heard it said imitation is a form of flattery. I've heard people speak admiringly of miller's ability to play sonny boy's stuff 'better than sonny boy'.
We're not really talking positions 21 to 30 here though are we?
The top 10 has 11 names, and the second tier has an album of prewar players in addition to the 10 named players. I'm not sure if that means every player with a recording on that record is on the second tier...
I dunno if Hammie Nixon is on that record. There's a fair chance he is I think. He should rate kinda high anyway IMHO
JustFuya
162 posts
May 15, 2014
9:35 PM
I've seen 2 somewhat recent videos of Taj lately and am very surprised to see him on stage in front of big crowds. In my mind he is a stadium filler but both times I've seen him perform he was in front of well behaved crowds of 50 or so. Folding chairs above the Moonshiner Bar in SF for instance. Excellent performer and man.

I'm gonna sit here thinking his comfort zone has expanded but I'll always wonder. At the time I was told that all he wanted was to entertain a crowd he could meet.

@Bee-I'll argue SB2's case. The rules were different back then. Billy Boy is labeling his tributes and does them very well. Before the web would he have done the same?
SuperBee
1987 posts
May 15, 2014
9:51 PM
Everything I've ever read about the identity issue seems to say straight out that it was opportunism and that sonny boy was not impressed and took issue with miller using his name. I think it's true miller didn't record under the name until after sonny boy died.
I'm not sure what billy boy Arnold has to do with it. I'm not aware he has ever billed himself under another player's name but I know that this kind of thing did go on. I think I recall rod piazza or was it mark Hummel...speak about George smith promoting his gigs in a misleading way...but it's a vague memory...something like a poster proclaiming "little walter" in large prominent font and "smith" in much smaller print...or just straight out lying about who was on the bill. But not actually masquerading as the person who made the record. No doubt someone did it. I don't think it's correctly characterised as a 'tribute' though...I think that's a very generous interpretation. Maybe it was harmless opportunism,maybe it even helped sell a few records. Billy boy had a hero and he sees miller as somewhat of a fraud...maybe that colours his opinion of miller's work...I can see that could happen. No doubt both the sonny boys deserve their place in the pantheon
JustFuya
166 posts
May 15, 2014
10:43 PM
Who 'owns' anything that is not original? And if you do it 'better' is it truly better?



I don't have to love the musician to love the music. Talk is static interference on your receiver with a 60 cycle hum.

Billy Boy's latest: a "tribute" to Bill Bronzy



Yup. I wish I could like him but 1 out of 2 is OK.
SuperBee
1989 posts
May 15, 2014
10:59 PM
Well maybe I just don't understand what you mean JustFuya
JustFuya
168 posts
May 16, 2014
12:32 AM
@Bee
OK. If I have something bad to say about someone I either change the subject or talk as if I have a mouthful of marbles. When I hear someone talk bad about someone else I have a tendency to spit those marbles out at the speaker.

Edit: Removed some marbles.

Last Edited by JustFuya on May 16, 2014 9:34 AM
harpdude61
2001 posts
May 16, 2014
4:25 AM
List lost credibility with me when indecision crept in and it went to 11 or 12 1/2....whatever. I miss the stirring debates of Top 10/second 10. I enjoyed listening to the artists with Adam's why or why not reasons in mind.
I'm gonna go now and listen to Kasey Kasem's Top 42 hits....
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www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband
Goldbrick
436 posts
May 16, 2014
4:47 AM
Kasey probably has a top 412 hits in the countdown what with being lost and the Alzheimer thing, Wait I forgot what the thread is about


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