Re: [Harp-L] Re: Charlie- Good Morning America

[<bfrain@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

i saw charlie at the golden bear in huntington beach, ca back in '70.  seen him several times since, of course.  like i said before, give a listen to 'louisianna fog' or most anything up to continental drifter.  most everything i hear after just doesn't hit me where i like to be hit.  but that's just me.  and i like to think my style is a smushing of butter and charlie.  my 2nd solo on 'digital blues' is charlie inspired. (bill frain myspace)
for me, and the thing that got me into blues, was the intensity of emotions.  i really gotta feel it right here.  that's why i like ronnie earl on guitar.  butter on harp.  i've seen kim wilson a number of times, and after about 5 songs i'm hearing the same stuff over and over and it kills me.  there's a live vid of him on the harp amp page, and the solo just isn't hitting me.  it's almost boring.  it's a "so what" solo.i generally like piazza's harp..duh...but his voice grates me like cheese.  and his corny lyrics on a tune i heard, don't know title, i'm a bluesman, was akin to jack jones doing "i'm a singer"...kinda weird to me...but his harp on the tune is some of his best.  the tone is absolute murder!  the best!
but that's just me.  i gotta really feel it.  i didn't feel any of it in GMA. and lauper was screwing up that slide work...


---- Greg Heumann <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> @Winslow - yes, that was a BlowsMeAway mic and volume control.
> 
> @ToddG - That was the Cruncher. There are many reasons it might have  
> been faced backwards, and I'm sure it was a conscious decision made by  
> professionals.
> 
> @Bfrain and Rubben - I have to beg to differ with you guys. Charlie  
> ain't lost nothin'. Go to one of his shows, listen to his recent  
> albums - he is as good or better than ever.  Charlie sounds .... like  
> Charlie. He has never had a traditional blues tone, nor has he ever  
> played traditional blues riffs like everyone else - that was evident  
> from his very first album. In THIS case Charlie is working for Cyndi  
> Lauper. I'm SURE he played as much as he did, under the vocals,  
> because SHE wanted it that way, And if she didn't like his tone she  
> might have asked for something different. Blues is in the eye (or ear)  
> of the beholder. If she wants to call what she is doing blues, she can  
> defend that statement - she is doing a bunch of blues standards with  
> some of the best blues musicians in the world. But she is, after all,  
> Cyndi Lauper. She has to be herself. I happened to enjoy what I  
> heard.  In the end, THE CROWD LOVED IT.
> 
> That's my opinion.
> 
> 
> /Greg
> 
> http://www.blowsmeaway.com
> http://www.bluestateband.net
> http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/duracool/id343874731
> 
> 
> 
> > From: <bfrain@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: June 23, 2010 3:25:23 PM PDT
> > To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx, toddg <toddg@xxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Charlie- Good Morning America
> >
> >
> > i didn't care for any of it at all. lauper has a great pop voice,  
> > but like many pop artists who try, they really overdo the blues.  
> > charlie's tone and volume were poor at best..and, i hate to say  
> > it...here i go...he's one of my heroes, along with butterfield...but  
> > i feel he's lost a lot off his fastball...his playing is just too  
> > mellow for my personal taste.  driving back from the texas coast  
> > yesterday i listened to 'louisianna fog'...now that's some harp!   
> > blazing.  emotional.  inventive. fitting and serving the song.  give  
> > it a listen.
> > as always, that's MY opinion. your mileage will, no doubt, vary.
> 
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