OK, so there's no harp in this version recorded at the Fur Peace Ranch but DAMN, this is a great version and Fiona and Geoff are really playing off each other. Great musicians, Fantastic tune, worth watching.
The original version JW recorded had Earl Hooker on guitar and no harp on it at all. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
I dig them both too each is great in their own right. This version was a refreshing change. It takes away the traditional harp and shows how two muscians truly listening to each other and well versed in their instrument can really work a tune.
You're absolutely right Bob. Earl added tasty licks to JW's tune and a good leads to make that version a classic as well. Rory Gallagher does and excellent rocked up version too.
You guys bring back memories. Best version of all-- JUnior and Buddy on Chicago The Blues Today! Vol. 1 (1966) Track 3. His harp solo in the middle inspired many harp players. Non-harp players too, I think. Seek it out and listen if you haven't. Harmonica Funk, all the way.
When I was young, I heard that solo, taped it on my portable Philips tape recorder, and played it over and over, bit by bit, till I could play it. I had to learn that thing! It was too cool.
You youngsters haven't had the joy of struggling with play/rewind/fast forward. That's how we learned back in the day, right, BBQ Bob? But, I digress.
Years later, I sneaked into the dressing room backstage at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, where Junior and Buddy were playing that night. They were on a break. I found Junior. I pulled out my ever-present harp and said, "Junior, I can play your solo in Messin' With the Kid!" I played. Halfway through, he frowned, and said, no, no.. that's not how you do it. He pulled out his F harp and demonstrated what he meant. I listened, raptly. We ended up sharing a fifth of gin and talking about harp, blues, and whatever. He missed the middle set that night, but that's another story.
What can you learn from Junior? Playing the harp in a funky way. Is it modern? Well, it's more modern than the 50s shuffles, not so modern as what we hear in this, the 21st centtury.
Musically, I love James Brown's funk phase, and I love playing my harp in a funky setting. I love dancing to funk music too, which brings me to my ever present goal as a musician-- to inspire people to dance. The groove be all important. Junior had it.
Hey Wolf - I wore out several Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson records before I started taping the damn things.
A person can learn a lot of things from Junior Wells.
The number one thing is restraint. He didn't play a lot of notes. The ones he did play meant something. I think his style in deceptively simple, but very few people can do it.
He had beautiful tone. It often goes overlooked because he played through the PA, but he had some of the most amazing acoustic tone that I've ever heard.
He was a helluva songwriter and interpreter. When he did songs that weren't his, he made them his own. Junior had a way of delivering a tune that was different than anyone else around.
A lot of those tunes he did in the early 60's for the Chief label had no harp on them. Many of them are classic recordings.
Joe_L, send me an email, so I can get yours. Don't like to do this in the public forum, but I don't see any other way. You can get my email by clicking my user name. All of you-- check out Junior's '66 version of this song.