[Harp-L] Re: Muddy and Sonny Boy11 video

["M. N." <mnessmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim wrote:
"I like the part where Muddy winces at some of Sonny Boy's sour notes. The 
video clip is from the American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Vol. 1."

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I've got volumes 1 and 2 of those DVDs. Great stuff but, make no mistake 
about it, it's not like you'll be magically transported back to a 
Mississippi juke joint or some South Side bar in the '50s. No, these 
performances were done on elaborate sound stages in Europe for seated 
audiences in suits and dresses. And the performers were all on their "best" 
behavior.
It's GREAT too see some of my heros in the flesh but some of the 
performances IMHO were less than stellar. While Muddy hit a home run with 
"Mojo" on volume 1, I thought SBWII's harp really didn't fit there. It 
could/should have been an amazing platform for an amplified master like 
Junior Wells or Big Walter.
Also, I thought Sippie Wallace's version of "Women Be Wise" was cool the 
first 60 seconds or so - then she just started singing the same verse over 
and over and over - and over - again.
In volume 2 I cringed throughout Victoria Spivey's "Black Snake Blues" the 
first time I watched it, largely because of SBWII's weak, out-of-place 
playing (now, I LOVE the guy - but his playing here sucked). Now, I just 
skip past it when I'm watching the DVD.
MN