I have been well ministered by Steve Williams on the need to stay away from the vocal when playing harmonica, both in the band and in the recording studio. In recent times I have become increasingly discerning of harp players trying to play too many notes and play phrases that don’t appear to have any … Continue reading The Space Is The Place!
This months 45 Revs is Spectrum’s iconic single ‘I’ll Be Gone’ (b/w “Launching Place Part II”). It wasn’t atypical of Spectrum’s progressive sound having more of a folky, country flavour. However, the tune did sit well with the punters who loved the catchy hook of the harp riff - so much so that it rose … Continue reading 45 Revolutions #3 – I’ll Be Gone
A recent acquisition to my harmonica ephemera is Aussie (and American) Gene Jimae’s program handout displaying some great illustrations and information. I had to look up ‘moppetry’ a term not frequently used in today’s vernacular. Its reference is to childhood. I have no idea of the meaning of ‘sock results’ mentioned later in the pamphlet. … Continue reading Moppetry Hogwash
My recently acquired Crackajack Artist had me delving into the world of harps with fluted covers. The Crackajack Artist (1926) manufactured by F A Rauner is shaped like their fluted World Master mouth organ. ‘Down Under’ we also had the Rozella (1913) by F A Bohm and the Perla (1926) both with fluted cover plates. … Continue reading Fluted Harps
W J Deane in 1896 were selling both the Woolloomooloo Warbler and the Kangaroo Chalmer. In ‘97 they advertised the newly invented Native Waratah and Boomerang mouth organs and in ‘98 Deane And Son had their own model The Bugler for a Bob. I had initially thought The Bugler mouth organ may have been produced … Continue reading Deane’s Sticka
This months 45 Revolutions is Russell Morris’ ‘Jail Jonah’s Daughter’ from 1971. It was the flip side to the incredible ‘Sweet Sweet Love’ which peaked at number six on the National Go Set Charts. Both tunes were lifted from Rusty’s debut album ‘Bloodstone’. Well it was Sunday morning about seven to eightAnd the church gate … Continue reading 45 Revolutions #2 – Jail Jonah’s Daughter
1896–Woolloomooloo Warbler (Seydel/Alberts) originally had a patent bone lip protector. Kangaroo Chalmer (Seydel/Alberts)-Later that year King Billy (Seydel/Alberts)-two sided & another with bells maybe later at 3s 5d. Boomerang Large & Miniature (Seydel/Alberts)-also three sided models in both. The Federal Harp (Ernst Hess/J Hess & Co) perhaps as early as 1880, three models sold in … Continue reading Aussie Models (Remastered)
An early advertisement in the Colony for a Mundharmonika at R Clisby’s Musical Repository in Rundle Street Adelaide. It appears in the South Australian newspaper the Sud Australishe Zeiting in 1862. South Australia had a large intake of German settlers in the 19th Century, so much so that they represented 10% of all South Australians … Continue reading Schokolade & Adelaide
Act I. Back in 1973 at the Shep's household in the not so beachside side of Parkdale (east of Nepean Highway) we had an elderly guest at the table for Christmas lunch, someone we had never met and all the way from the United States of America. This would be the first time the condiment … Continue reading Known Unknowns
The first of each month this year will feature a brief gander and a listen at a classic Aussie 45 rpm single tune within the 1970-75 time frame. Not all are hits, not all reached the Top 40 and some are not even the ‘A’ side, but all contain a harp riff or two. Our … Continue reading 45 Revolutions #1 – Fleetwood Plain
