[Harp-L] Richard Hunter FREE subscriber download for October 2004

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This month's FREE download to my subscriber list is from my archives. 
"Put The Lever Down" was originally released in 1982 as the B side of my
first 45 RPM single on Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Arf Arf records. 
At the time it was very well received by critics and musicians,
especially in Boston.  It was the theme song for a Worcestor,
Massachusetts-based National Public Radio show about harmonica called
"The Tin Sandwich".  If I may say so, it remains a strikingly original
and groovin' piece of harmonica electronica.  Blues harmonica players
are likely to be interested in it for a number of reasons; it's very
much blues for the late 20th century.

I used three harmonicas on "Lever Down."  The first plays the
octave-jumping figure that anchors the piece, and also the lead (along
with the second).  The third is a rare Chordomonica II, which plays the
chorded figure that supports the lead.  The lead harmonicas are played
through a Boss BF2 Flanger into a vintage Fender Champ amplifier that
producer Erik Lindgren pulled out of the garbage in front of someone's
house a few days earlier.  (Note to readers: if you are planning to put
a vintage Fender Champ in your garbage, please call me collect first.)  

The lead harmonica on the piece was played in the key of A minor on a
Dorian-tuned diatonic in the key of G, to my knowledge the first time
such an instrument was used in a commercial recording.  The bass line
was played on an electric guitar running through a Boss octave divider. 
To put it mildly, this tune has its own sound goin' on. 

I wrote the piece in the parking lot of a roller skating rink in
Taunton, Massachusetts.  The entire recording, from first note to final
mix, took 5 hours.  When you're hot, you're hot.

This piece is available for download ONLY to subscribers. All you have
to do to be a subscriber is send me a valid email address, and I'll tell
you where to get the latest download every month.  See
http://www.hunterharp.com/freemus.html for the very few remaining
details.

Enjoy, 
Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com