When I was a little kid there was a song I heard that I really liked. For years I tried to find the name of the song. Years. (I finally did, and found I didn't really like the song after all, but that's not the point.) 9 minutes between the question and the answer in this post. Isn't the internet awesome! ---------- Nate Facebook
Actually, that was from the same session that Muddy recorded "Standing Around Crying," and the harp player on that session was actually Junior Wells, and this is more distorted than what most people know od Junior these days, but the way to figure it out is that Junior had a much slower vibrato that Little Walter had. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
...and "Going to Main Street", "Who's Gonna Be Your Sweet Man" were also the same Waters session, Wells on harp. When people talk about "that classic Chicago tone/sound" (if there is such a thing), it's these tracks that immediately spring to mind for me.
I've always given the description of that sound from that session as "the big angry horn." ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Junior Wells was 18 years old on the recording made on September 17,1952. Junior wanted a Marine Band-two dollars at the time. He saved his money working the picture shows,and went off to spend his hard earned money. The clerk gave him a regular Hohner-$1.75. He wanted the Marine Band-25 cents more. He left the money on the counter and ran out of the store. When brought before the judge he said "I had to have that harp,sir". The judge asked him to play,gave the shopkeeper 25 cents and declared "case dismissed"! Shortly after this,Junior showed up at one of Muddy's gigs-Muddy asked if Junior knew his timing-Junior said he did,to which Muddy replied "let me check with Walter-this is his amp and microphone afterall". Little Walter said "if this lil ol pip squeek thinks he can do it,then let him do it". Afterwords,even Walter was impressed. Shortly after this,Wells hit someone in the head with a lead pipe. His mother brought in character witness to speak on his behalf-they included Muddy, Tampa Red, Sunnyland Slim and Big Maceo Merriweather. They all signed the release documents,and Muddy became Junior's "father" so to speak.
just for the record Marine band harmonicas in the sixties were selling for$1.25 they didnt get to two dollars till the early seventies , in the 50's when jr wanted the marine band they must've have been about 50 cents, he was probably still a quarter short. ive heard this story before. he was a great harp player . the stuff with muddy and the stuff he recorded in the 50s is some of the best chicago blues ever recorded.
