Re: [Harp-L] Pre-War Overblowers

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The famed track is "Mean & Low Blues" and it's available on this: http://www.amazon.com/Great-Harp-Players-1927-1936/dp/B000000J4W along with along with 'Harmonica Blues' and a couple of trax with the 'Bubblin' Over Five' which group also includes Simons AKA Birdhead on harp.
If you hit the play button to hear a sample on this website, the track starts with roughly the last bar of the twelve bar cycle; the complete twelve that follows includes the famous (and only) overblow, on the sixth bar on the beat '3 AND', in other words, just before going back from the IV chord to the I.
Simons wasn't an amazing harp player because of this one note, however. This piece is an adaption of Louis Armstrong's 'Savoy Blues' (and in particular, the second and maybe third chorus of that piece) and it's a direction that very few have bothered to explore. With the exception of 'Rhythm Willie' (Willie Hood?) I can't think of anyone, and certainly no contemporary players I have heard.
RD


>>> <captron100@xxxxxxx> 24/06/2008 9:05 >>>

harmoniman@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote: 

A few months ago I came across a Harp-l e- mail that had a link to a pre war 
overblower who was really incredible.  I thought Howard Levy was the inventor of 
this style until I heard this person. Does anyone out there in harmonica land 
know the name of this person ? 

  James Simons, aka Blue Birdhead is credited with having the first OB ever recorded.  I forget the
name of the song, tho i have a copy of it in my collection somewhere.  Maybe search the archives or
google him.
ron  

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