Zanthus (aka Henry the Horse)

The earlier 1964 production had zilch on the harmonica to identify with The Beatles – the box, however is sought after with the Fab Four’s caricatures & signatures depicted. Can you spot something (in the way she looks)?

A couple of titbits on Love Me Do. Originally the song was penned in the key of ‘A’ and more uptempo. Just before entering the recording studio the key was dropped to ‘G’ and slowed down. Producer George Martin was keen for harmonica on the tune and questioned the Liverpool lads if anyone played. We all know the response – John added a pretty simple, but effective riff. Trouble was he couldn’t sing lead as the harmonica overlapped the vocal so Paul, who hadn’t sung lead vocal before, nervously belted out Love Me Do.

Being For The Benefit Of Mr.Kite

For the benefit of Mr. Kite
There will be a show tonight on trampoline
The Hendersons will all be there
Late of Pablo Fanques Fair, what a scene
Over men and horses, hoops and garters
Lastly through a hogshead of real fire
In this way Mr. K. will challenge the world
(Lennon-McCartney)

“Yes John I can smell the sawdust.”

In one Beatles publication it has documented that Mal, George and Neil (& maybe John too!) are all playing the bass harmonica. There is also a famous photograph with George playing a chord harmonica and John the bass. Help me if you can I do not understand.

Y’all Got Your Ears On

(One with a touch & one without)

Mother Nature, Father Time spinning round and round with the seasons - leaves and lives they intertwine. The time we share connects us all. There’s something sad and sacred when a mighty oak tree falls - we fall. (The White Oak Tree - Brendan McMahon)

Two excellent tunes from local independent artists. The one with a touch of harmonica is How The Other Half Live by The Humbuckin’ Pickups. Frontman Ewan Cloonan (maybe now a banana bender) on a recent tour of the east coast, witnessed first hand all the issues with social housing and its subsequent mental health problems which resulted in this empathetic thought provoking tune. Tasty mandolin by Vinny Russell (aka Rufous Whistler) and a sprinkle of the people’s instrument from Shane Nicholson – the songs producer. HRR contacted Ewan for confirmation of the harpist. “It’s Shane on the recording but I’ve been practicing my chops for the live shows! I’ve played a bit of harp for years but haven’t had a lot of need for it with two other lead players in the band most of the time.”

Next up is Brendan McMahon’s The White Oak Tree – the one without harmonica, but with melodic piano. Brendan penned the tune about a huge white oak tree, a landmark in the small village of Olinda in the Dandenong Ranges. The mighty oak, without warning in 2022, split in two and would later fall. This easy listening piano ballad retells the tale of the significance of this mighty oak to the community and life in general. The chorus has a poignant sentiment and will have you singing along.

The gentle breath from the ocean swept the water to the shore. From this hotel bed, your sad eyes said you couldn’t do this anymore. And as the sun went down on Williamstown, and down on me and you, across the burning sky the birds of Rye were flying.
(The Birds Of Rye - Khristian Mizzi)

Woohoo!!! 🥳 All the Shep’s are big fans of Khristian Mizzi, so do yourself another service and head over to Bandcamp for his latest – a live album that features past hits and melodic (of course they are) new material. When we first heard The Birds of Rye we couldn’t wait for it to be released. There’s a wee bit of wrong harp (and right 😂) on the fabulous ditty A Little Space. 👏🏻

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Award winning Scottish singer songwriter Dean Owens is heading down under next year. He’s in Victoria with his band The Sinners for the Port Fairy Folk Festival and the Yackandandah Folk Festival. Dean has had a wee review in the past on HRR for his second in the Ridge Trilogy the EP Ridgeline. The trilogy is realised with the landing of Sacri Cuori. Do yourself a service and wrap your lug holes around his tunes. There’s no harp, but his music is brilliant and The Sinners will always bring horns! Hey Peej, there’s even whistling 😚!

How Bazaar!

Our local antique/vintage emporium has (had) a Boomerang Accordion (in pretty good condition for its age – possibly a genuine antique) on sale for $300 buckaroos.

The Imaginary Friends Show (not a Christmas Special)

Peej returned to Pamcake’s Palace (aka Shep’s Shanty) for a non Christmas edition of the infamous Huff’n’Puff (a segment with segments) for his The Imaginary Friends Show – to be aired on the 24/12/2024. Recorded live (and with no editing) we include a new segment, Shep’s Chagrin and there were all the old favourites too, like ‘Name That Riff Before Shep Sings’ with me huffin’ and puffin’ on the licken’ stick trying to sound like Corky Siegel.

We then headed off (underground) to the local mine cafe for a brekky lunch and an espresso – delicious!

Dawg Blawg

Earlier this month we posted a blog on Max Braybrook, who penned a tune in jail on his pocket piano that was sung on prime television in the sixties.

A couple of additions to posts of the past. Sounds Of Cockatoo had an advertisement of a Cockatoo mouth organ inserted and Mr. Versatility had a newspaper photograph of his harmonica quartet The Four Octaves embedded under the year 1953.

Wishing y’all Riff Raffers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – see you in twenty twenty five. Come Back Again (I’m just crazy ’bout you babe).

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