Ruffled Feathers – Ol’ Shep
(with special guests Zach Grace & Lachlan – Young’un Shep)
Stream/Buy here Ruffled Feathers
How to follow up my first hit (well huge in Biddleonia) Locomotive Weave, which uses a train rhythm as its basis? Well why not another ol’ timey harmonica piece – a fox chase. Although only loosely based on a fox chase, there’s no whoopin’ & hollerin’ (not a fan) and hounds aren’t chasing a fox. Ruffled Feathers sees chooks in their pen and run becoming a little unsettled. Why? Perhaps a fox or even a wayward, excited rooster? I suppose, all in all, it’s just a bit of fun and there’s a wee tribute to a few of my favourite harpists. I’ll let you guess.
After playing the demo to my son on a visit last summer, he started whistling a somewhat similar phrase. I recorded him then and there and thus it finds its way on to the recording. I’m also hoping Peej from 3MDR 97.1 ‘The Imaginary Friend’s Show’ on radio 3MDR 97.1 will air this on his next whistling special.
I’d bought a mini bass harp a year ago and thought it could be used, perhaps for a Benoit recording. Dave the most excellent producer/sound engineer could hear electric bass flavouring Ruffled Feathers on the first airing of the demo, not harmonica bass, but anyhoo I laid down a little riff or two on the pocket bass burger for his edification and approval. Again, like my first single Locomotive Weave, it was produced, mixed and mastered at Fretwire Studio with skilful aplomb.
Dave’s attempt at the bass groove were unsuccessful so feelers were sent out for a bass man and Zach Grace, known in many circles as a chicken whisperer, stepped into the chook run and he’s walking bass smashed it (not the eggs).
Barnaby Jones Wisdom
“There’s an old saying that one Rooster can’t do another one’s scratching for them.”
Just in case you missed the previous one.
“When one egg is broken you blame the chicken, but if they’re all broken you get the feeling a fox has been in the henhouse.”
Locomotive Weave – Ol’ Shep
Stream/Buy here Locomotive Weave
Harmonica Riff Raff 
Just popped in to read this after you sent the Bandcamp email. So….Thanks for providing the link Shep. I could purchase the track, so brilliant that you made it easier to access.
What can I say! My foot was a tapping’ with glee and abandonment. Funnily enough, we had a rooster in the village a few years back which called out at each morning’s sunrise. When I listened this morning, it reminded me of that rooster’s clarion call. It was one of those welcoming rural sounds that brought a smile at start of each day. I’ll put your song through the little iPad friendly Bose speaker later. It has a real gutsy bass frequency sound on it.
All round gem of a listen Shep. Great harp playing. That end bit though. Have you got your breath back now! Nice bass guitar delivery inherent on it too. Good decision making there. Love the addition of your son’s whistling contribution and the story behind it too. And all those quirky add ins that widen the musical story. Nice one. Now…..on to the third song? Hope so.
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Thanks Gray for all your positivity regards Ruffled Feathers. Now, I am a bit concerned for the whereabouts of your local rooster. Cheers Shep
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It’s great to hear the track now. Well worth the wait. Onwards to an album hey? Can’t guess your harp influences. Maybe the band Chicken Shack! 😊 The guy that had the chickens and rooster was an elderly guy who lived in the middle of the village. He used to lean over the back garden wall and chat. The back wall is next to a farmer’s field where sheep graze. So with chickens and sheep I get plenty of the countryside vibe.
By the way. Can you let me know if the Bandcamp transaction goes through okay Shep. I’m a bit useless with these type of things. Angie does all that sort of stuff. The female competent brain behind the naively blessed me. Cheers.
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I like your guess. Sonny Terry’s one. This was a drawn out process, but we’ll see what the future holds. It has been blowing a gale here for days. Never seen anything like it. Perhaps that’ll be the title of my next single – Blowin’ A Gale! Yes I can let you know re transaction – nothing to date. Good on Angie. That’s why Pam’s my manager. 💨 🌀
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We have great supportive wives then Shep. Dynamics are Angie’s for me to sit back and admire. She went full tilt into making sure I got the Apple recording system. I wouldn’t have chased it down like she encouraged me to do. But she insisted. She could see how upset I was after the two guys backed out of the gig project.
Listened to the song Midnight Special by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Again, you’ve provided great links to new listening. Can see his style certainly.
It’s pouring down over here again. The sun has been a brief visitor since July last year until now. Watched the water running in rivulets down the road in the middle of the night. Crazy. Not windy like over with you though. Blowing a Gale sounds the perfect play on words song title for a harp player. Cheers Shep.
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You are too kind Gray. Money’s arrived for chook layer pellets. 🙏
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🙏🏽 I’m a technophile. Yay! Cheers Shep.
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Hello could you please help me out.I have a 40 Bell made Reed.
Dunlop Cracker Jack
Professional.
I can’t find any where or Dunlop.
Look forward too finding out.
Thankyou in advance.
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Allan’s Crackajack mouth organs were made by F A Rauner. We believe Dunlop System is just made up. Like Albert’s System on Boomerangs – just branding. There’s heaps of stuff in my archives. I’d suggest ‘A Crackajack Story’ as your first point of call. There is a timeline on all Australian branded harps. Just put Crackajack in search box. Cheers Shep
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