Revisiting a tune with a catchy harp riff that's having its thirtieth anniversary and is as good today as it ever was. It continues to mature like a single malt scotch whisky in an old oak barrel. When Scottish group Del Amitri released their single 'Kiss This Thing Goodbye' for the first time the tune … Continue reading Kiss This!
Hello Raffers, Here we go again a track back (or is that a back track) to the Crackajack. Further evidence the manufacturer was F A Rauner. Just a spelling difference for the Straylian market, perhaps. Registered number 28285 appears in a magnificently presented PDF file entitled, 'A Collection Of Early Box Art 1890-1940' by John … Continue reading #28285
Here's a story about a man named Hogan who was busy with five boys of his own, six men all living together, but they were not alone (bit of a mish mash of old TV sitcoms). Just prior to the turn of the twentieth century a young lad raised in the country town of Naracoorte … Continue reading Hogan’s Heroes
Hohner, a world leader in accordion and mouth organ manufacturing, had its share of difficulties in becoming one of the major players in the Australian Mouth Organ market in the early part of the twentieth century. Most models were available in the colonies and they included the popular ‘Up To Date’ and ‘Second To None’ … Continue reading Hohner’s Hollandia (Nova) Harp
Hi Riff Raffers, Within my substantial vinyl record collection there is a twelve inch extended play by 'The Goanna Band' titled, 'Living On The Razor's Edge'. Released in 1979 there was a limited print of 500 (maybe 1000?). It was produced by Broderick Smith on the Custom Press label a subsidiary of EMI. Two of … Continue reading Goanna Man Of Mystery
Pinch & Punch Riff Raffers, An interesting insight into how the mouth organ was perceived in the colonies during the late nineteenth century. (Sydney Evening News, Thursday 9th August, 1894) Here's the full transcript with a 'pic' thrown in. THE LYRICAL LARRIKIN MADE MORAL BY MUSIC THE MELODIOUS “MOUTH ORGAN” After having decided either to … Continue reading NFSCD #4-Biting A Chew Off A Plug…
A special free offer with today's St. Patrick's Day edition. Sláinte. Mimicry: the action or skill of imitating someone or something especially in order to entertain or ridicule. (Oxford Living Dictionary) The harmonica is well known for it's imitation of the steam train, the hounds of the fox chase, sirens, chooks and babies crying for their … Continue reading Mouth Harp Mimicry
Hello Riff Raffers, “Well I remember when I was young the world had just begun and I was happy. I used to wonder about the earth and how it moved around the sun so snappy.” (Matt Taylor) Back when I was young you could venture down to the local milk bar and purchase sixteen aniseed balls … Continue reading Humpo Bompa (with a dadada da da over the top)
A timeline of Australian models (an attempt), as promised a while back. An up-to-date remastered version is out now. Just click here Remastered. 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, The Federal Harp-(Ernst Hess/J Hess & … Continue reading Aussie Harmonicas – Timeline
Hi Riff Raffers, Greg Foster is more than an accomplished harmonica exponent and yet for some reason he goes under the radar when we discuss the best Australian harp players. His extensive body of work with Jazz super group 'Galapagos Duck' alone is testimony enough to his proficiency as a musician, songwriter, performer and particularly … Continue reading Ah! Fosters-He’s Got The Flavour
Harmonica Riff Raff 