770 notes (8 feet long) demonstrated in Michigan, Detroit 1932 Left - 320 notes (41 inches long) designed for duets on display Michigan Illinois 1938 and Right - Ah ha! That’s what’s going on. A Blue Bird (F A Bohm) built for two. 1938 - Two more sharing a Blue Bird (F A Bohm) The … Continue reading The Big One (Pictorial #1)
"Trying to leave behind this insincerity leave it to die in the burning ruins." (Providence) For some time I have had a desire to write about Matt Taylor's venture with country rock band Western Flyer in the late seventies. Within my vinyl collection is their fine debut album First Flight. In my research I stumbled … Continue reading Western Providence
A recent addition to the Shep collection, the Hohner Echophone attachment. This is the Bakelite version that was sold in Aussie Music Emporiums after WWII. An article is in production as I type. Love this album from expat, banana bender Michael Brinkworth, who is currently based in Berlin. Michael’s tunes have a defining ambience sourced … Continue reading Echophone…..phone…hone
I’d often wondered about this mouth organ named the Triller that was referenced to in a 1899 W H Paling’s advertisement. Just recently Mark Weber discovered it in a job lot and bought it. It just might be the only one in existence. Interestingly the trilling effect is provided by a slider button identical to … Continue reading Triller Thriller
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
Strange days indeed. Most peculiar Mama. Had a reply earlier this month to an email I sent in November 2018 from harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite. Nearly fell off my couch! Better late that never. After Memphis Charlie's second album with Ben Harper I asked him this question via his website contact. "Just wondering if Charlie … Continue reading Crackshot
Gary Young and Steve Williams have pressed an album of country originals. Gary is a prolific songwriter and here are twelve excellent examples of country tunes he has penned on love and loss. Steve helps out and lays some excellent country riffs including harmonizing harps on a couple. You can hear this technique on the … Continue reading Love and Loss-Recordz & Gigz
The year was 1970 when Rebel, a little known Melbourne record label released two highly significant singles in Australian music history, both featuring the mouth harp of a young Matt Taylor. Rebel was owned by Peter Goodman (a former member of the band The Town Criers) and they would press eleven singles and one long … Continue reading Rebel’s Yell
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)
st people I know are not aware that Billy Thorpe blew the gob iron. There’s a few who think I'm crazy, but here is the evidence that Bill did indeed play the harmonica. Who would have thought that a clean cut ‘Mod’ with songs like, ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ and ‘Mashed Potato’, would transform … Continue reading Forpies’ Blues Burger (No Mashed Potato)
Harmonica Riff Raff 