Marshall's Portable Music Machine. Positively, definitely the best you've ever seen. Painted violet, ebony and green. Marshall's Portable Music Machine Written by Don Mudie and Brian Cadd for Robin Jolly. The fun tune reached the Top Five of the Oz Charts in 1972. In my rummaging through harmonica advertising I stumbled across this amazing portable … Continue reading Marshall’s Portable Music Machine
“Wherever you be let your wind be free” (Paddy Sheppard) One of Grandfather’s favourite sayings. He was a seaman, but I think he was referencing a gastro intestinal condition. The Hohner Auto Valve Harp was not in the business of letting it go, but rather in saving it by the use of leather valves. I … Continue reading Saving Wind
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 Otto Weidlich and the Perla (1926) both with fluted cover plates. It … 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. The Federal Harp (Ernst Hess/J Hess & Co) perhaps as early as 1880, three models sold in 1910 as the Midget Federal 20 reeds, Junior Federal 20 … 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
Harmonica Riff Raff 