Re: [Harp-L] Chi-Lites Question

[Ken Deifik <kenneth.d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As an admirer of both the Chi-Lites and Cy Touff, and a lover of what I had 
always thought was a harmonica solo on Oh Girl, I listened to the record a 
few times just now and that sure doesn't sound like a melodica to me.  The 
hand-shaping of the notes sounds especially harmonica-like.

However, Cy Touff being one hell of a great musician, with some beautiful 
Blue Note recordings hiding out in the catalog, I wouldn't put it past him 
to have found a way to make the melodica more like the harmonica.  (It 
kinda doesn't sound like either, or sounds like both.)

This is just to say that I don't agree or disagree with internet 
authorities, I'm just impressed with the difficulty I'm having identifying 
the instrument in this particularly beautiful solo.

When this record was made, they were just coming out of an era in which 
making it hard to pick individual instruments out of a blend was really 
part of the recording art.

The Chi-Lites recut the tune a few years later, and it's also a strong 
record, but without the harmonica-sounding thing (sax is substituted) it 
doesn't sound like a hit.

Score one for free reeds.