[Harp-L] RE need some help from a harmonica history buff

Roger Trobridge gopher@xxxxx
Fri Jul 24 12:35:41 EDT 2026


When Joe Filisko was over here in the UK, a decade ago, we took the 
opportunity to add valuable playing information to the tracks on his 
double CD - Harmonica Rarities. The CD only has the original recordings.

Joe talks about the artists and the harmonica/keys which were used.

The new recordings are on my website - www.the-archivist.co.uk . I am 
sure sure if the CD is still available but second hard copies may still 
exist.

The first recording has harmonica solos and the second had recordings 
with singers and other musicians.

CD 1 - Rare Early Solo Instrumental Blues Harp Recordings introduced by 
Joe Filisko. | The Harmonica Archivist 
<http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/rare-early-solo-instrumental-blues-harp-recordings-introduced-by-joe-filisko/>

CD2 - Rare Early Blues Harp Recordings by Singers and Sidemen introduced 
by Joe Filisko. | The Harmonica Archivist 
<http://www.the-archivist.co.uk/rare-early-blues-harp-recordings-by-singers-and-sidemen-introduced-by-joe-filisko/>

Enjoy Joe's insights into these pioneer performances.

These recordings have been used as part of a teaching program.

Roger Trobridge
Editor Harmonica World

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Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:16:40 +0000
From: "Mark \"Mad Dog\" Friedman" <maddog at xxxxx>
Message-ID: <IA6PR19MB260996B53048AA7B0AD53D6C84C4FA2 at xxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hello  fellow harp history nerds,
In this modern guitar-centric blues scene, the role of harmonica in the history of the blues is often diminished. Having gotten deep in the harmonica music of the 1920' an 1930's, I  am obsessed with  harmonica hokum work of folks like Sonny Terry and Peg Leg Sam. I cover Peg Leg, and there is rarely anyone in the audience that has heard of him. I had not heard of him myself until Mad Cat Ruth mentioned him to me about a year ago when I went down this path of developing my solo harmonica songs. Buried in obscurity is some of most inspiring harmonica music of all time. In an effort to bring back this nearly lost tradition I just released an LP of 16 original songs for unaccompanied harmonica and voice. It is called HOT HARMONICA HOKUM, was released under the artist name Mad Dog Blues and is now on all the streaming services. (Here is link tree of direct links for all the services if you want to listen: https://tidal.com/album/534394472/u.)  This album revives a rare American t
  radition-marking the first full-length, unaccompanied harmonica and voice album to be recorded since J.C. Burris' landmark 1975 LP, One of These Mornings. The I need help with this is where or who can I send it to for a review that would understand the historical significance of this album.
Thank you in advance for maybe listening , advising and helping to spread the word.

Mad Dog Friedman
https://coloradocountryblues.com/mdb_solo.htm


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