‘Huckleberry’ Harp Hound

Jack Harrison (1931 – 2013)

My son found this beauty in an op shop for me.

Western Australian Jack Harrison was a music prodigy from the age of five when he first blew melodies from the ten hole diatonic mouth organ. One year later Jackie, as he was known, presented his talent to radio 6PR’s radio audience. He then went over to the other side teaching himself the intricacies of the chromatic harmonica. Jackie was so good that Hohner signed him to be their youngest endorsee. In 1940 he won the Search for Talent Quest on 6PR winning £150 and a trip to Sydney where he would top the poll in Australia’s Amateur Hour. From there Jack was in heavy demand and would regularly perform on ABC radio.

At the age of eleven years he was tutored on the clarinet by Percy Newton and these studies were continued under a leading clarinet player in Perth. During the late forties Jack was hailed as one of Australia’s youngest and finest band leaders initially with the Harrison Trio with twin sister Jill on piano and brother Ray on drums. He would venture into many different highly credentialed outfits of various sizes and combinations.

In 1950 he travelled to Sydney to obtain special tuition from world famous clarinet player Clive Amadio. The following year Jack spent three months with the South Australian Symphony Orchestra before landing a position with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. In 1966 he was awarded the position of Principal Clarinetist with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. Jack retired his position with WASO in 1992.

Jack never lost his love for the harmonica, playing right up to his last breath. I do believe Jack was lovingly known by his family and grandchildren as Huckleberry.

Advertising

There never was and there never will be! Now that’s a claim. I speculated on how easy it was back then to replace worn out parts. I might throw this one over to the Guru – not that he’s that old!

“The covers would be easy enough to replace, as they are attached with nuts and bolts. However, although I’ve never seen inside one, I assume that the reedplates are nailed to the comb. Whilst it is true that they could be removed and a fresh set nailed in place, it’s not exactly a trivial task. It took me a while before I could do it consistently to a decent standard. Two thoughts come to mind. The first is where did you get these parts? I’ve never seen them advertised along with the harmonicas. Having replaceable parts is not that useful unless they are readily available to customers.

The other thing is that I don’t recall seeing any claims of replaceable parts on other instruments made by Rauner, even on those covers and boxes with a high word count. I suppose it could be a special feature that was requested by Allan, but Rauner didn’t think it was worth doing for their own branded harps. Perhaps this was part of the Dunlop System? Or maybe it was just marketing hype. Was there really sufficient customer demand to sustain something like this? Even today, with all sorts of replacement options offered by numerous brands, I think most players just buy a new one when they wear one out.”

I agreed totally with Pat. I have no evidence these parts were actually available for purchase. The advertising of replacement parts appears limited to 1925 and only a few from that year mentioned replacements. I hadn’t considered that other F A Rauner harps never mentioned this service. Perhaps Allan’s Crackajacks were trying to continue the myth of the Dunlop System.

It might also have been a ploy to compete with Albert’s Boomerangs, who claimed this availability on their cover plates and housing. Again there is no evidence that replacement reed plates were available for purchase. Personally I’ve never been bothered with replacement parts even with the ever increasing cost of a new harp! I’m with Pat that it’s more likely marketing hype! Pat also came back with additional thoughts.

“Announcing you have spare parts available is the easy bit. I know when Lee Oskar first had the idea for a whole range of harmonicas and related products, the replacement parts thing was the toughest bit to make work and that was with one basic harmonica design where they all shared the same combs and covers, with one size and shape of reedplate. Imagine trying to make this work with multiple sizes of harmonica.”

For more on all things harmonica head over to Pat’s website – Pat Missin.

Witness his harmonica talent on Andy Welsh’s new single All About You which dropped yesterday. He’s lookin’ like a groovy guru with the sacred cows in the video.

Down Under

Well I’m an old dog, gotta lotta new tricks, Hey l’m an old dog, with a lotta new tricks Yeah I’m an old dog, take a look at my tricks, Oh I’m an old dog, but l’m learning new tricks It’s really something, Blood’s really pumpin’, I’m an old dog, gotta lotta new tricks

This ripper tune, New Tricks dropped in my inbox and although there’s no harp, there’s some tasty Hammond organ. The culprit is Gary’s music producer, Ben Hense, at Beat Tank Studios. The subject matter sits well with the Ol’ Dawg Hisself especially in relation to his own recent musical peregrination – I’m an old dog with a lotta new licks.

On further research, I found Gary had released a four track EP last year and Coming Back Again featured that musical instrument that fits in your waistcoat pocket. I asked Gary if it was he? “Shep the Harp player on ‘Coming Back Again’ is Alan Bowles.  He came into the Beat Tank Studios and did an amazing job on it.” He certainly did Ollie.

Here’s Gary’s take on his new toon. “New Tricks is essentially a counter argument to the old adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. My recent musical awakening is proof that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, and that’s what inspired me to write this song. Amen Gary.

I wouldn’t normally promote someone who has been a contestant on Idol, but I’m making an exception. Don’t judge me too harshly! Gotta love an old dog ditty. This is a nice little country rocker from Boggabri’s Sam Snape – AC/DC goin’ country? Old Dog Old Ute Old Hat is just his second single and pays tribute to a simple life on the land with his old dog Pip. Sam shares his thoughts on the tune. “It’s pretty much describes me a lot. I’m just happy with what I’ve got, my old gear. I wanted to write a song about an item, and it was going to be my old hat then it grew from there to include my ute and, of course, my Kelpie.”

Up Over

Can ya hear the difference
Do ya know what I’m talking bout
When ya spin a vinyl on and put your cell phone down
Get back to where it started from
When the music was in the air
Sit back relax shut down your brain
And maybe you’ll get there

What a great segway into a favourite of the authors, Seasick Steve. I’m not too sure about his latest album – seems a distance from his original DNA of Dog House Boogie. The first tune sounds like a remake of Creedence’s Green River. There’s hobo harp on Internet Cowboys with Michael Arison (The Boss Hoss) blowin’ the licken’ stick and also on one of what I believe are the two standout tunes off the album. If you can wait round to the last track, the heartfelt folky Elisabeth features the sonorous, soulful harp of Mickey Raphael. My favourite track doesn’t identify with the soul biscuit, but the sentiment resonates and the Seasick DNA rises to the fore with its hypnotising groove on Let The Music Talk. I wonder if the album title might be referring to us geriatrics.

With an overhaul of many older posts, Steve’s release provided an opportunity to reinsert an updated version of #9 – the missing track.

MIA Seasick Steve Tune #9

“Turn me on dead man, number nine, number nine.”

There was a lost track off Seasick Steve’s limited print compact disc, ‘Cheap’ from 2002 on the There’s A Dead Skunk Record label. When ‘Cheap’ was later released on the Bronzerat label, track nine, Walking With The Devil (jam with a ‘C’ harp) was nowhere to be seen or heard. A ripper track with some nice rhythmic hobo harp. A perfect fit for the Hobo man hisself (Steven Gene Wold) even though his personal narrative might be fiction. It is the instrument of choice for hobo’s like you and me. Where did the tune go and why? According to Matthew Wright, author of ‘Ramblin Man’, Steve didn’t want to credit the guest musician due to personal reasons. Apparently Steve had a knack for having personality clashes.

The harmonica player had been unknown to the author, but I’ve just seen the original CD. Steve credits a Jo Stein Harp King (see below). I reckon this could be Norway’s Jostein Forsberg. Steve didn’t revisit the blues burger again until 2016 when he released, ‘Keeping The Horse Between Me And The Ground’ where he covered Arthur Lee’s, Signed DC. Multi instrumentalist, Burt Dredge blew the hobo harp on this occasion.

Coming Up (Like A Flower)

Sunday we’ll have money. 1971 a great year for IBG. Check out Mike & Broc’s version live on HRR.

In the flesh

A great find by collector Mike Partridge a blue enamelled Crackajack Regal. These beauties hit the market here just prior to WWII. I hadn’t viewed a physical specimen before – for more on the Crackajack Story click on the pic.

Benoit Live @ Selby & TDL

A new career Renski – a female George Costanza! No turning the music up to eleven Ren it might damage the epidermis! Benoit appeared live on 3MDR’s ‘The Dotted Line’ where Ren, who co hosts with Dave, promoted his latest release ‘Live at Selby Folk Club’. You can listen back for a short period of time on 3MDR’S on demand service – click on the photo. Benoit played a new toon too and it was a cracker, Till You Came Along.

Won’t be a career for you Lach!

Crook Chooks

It has been a tough time for chooks here in Victoria. Out of respect I won’t mention the war!

The Sky Is Falling (Invisible Chook)

Well we all know the sky isn’t falling? Don’t we?

Let’s brighten things up here with one of my favourite Russell Morris tunes from 1979 – The Sky Is Falling. I remember being gob smacked hearing it live back in the day at the Bridge Hotel. So much so, I went out and bought the album on cassette (bloody things – I now have a vinyl copy) for the car.

In this 3MDR interview about Rusty’s 2012 album Sharkmouth, I just had to ask him about how this song came to fruition. A wee bit of the song can be heard here after our rabbit and pork – for the full tune click on the link above.

I turned out my lights and I went outside. Faintly in the distance I was straining my eyes. I could see leaves a burning amongst the trees and I could hear distant humming coming at me.

Riff Raff

We had an extra blog this month with a little dissertation on playing upside down – it’s great for decompressing the vertebrae. Here’s the direct link – Over Under Sideways Down.

If you were an early bird you would have missed an update relating to Charlie McCoy’s unusual technique – there’s a photograph and audio.

Check out the Wolf quickly discovering the harps upside down on How Many More Years. Don’t tell me he’s holding the harp in his right hand. I told you not to tell me that.

Vale Phil Wiggins 1954 – 2024

Back blowing the Piedmont Blues with John.

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