Slim Harpo - 'The Excello Singles Anthology'

 

In 1961, during my freshman year of high school, I was summoned to my guidance counselor’s office.  His name was James Byrne, and he was basically a well-meaning, but clueless man.  We spoke of my future plans, goals etc., and when I told him I wanted a career in mathematics, he said condescendingly, "Oh you want to be a career gal, eh?", and told me of my options, which were teaching, bookkeeping or secretarial work.  He then told me a typing course would be in order, and put me into the introduction to typing class.



A few days later, I found myself sitting in front of a typewriter with no letters on the keys. Our teacher was Mr. Williams, he was the only black teacher in my school.  Due to my not wanting to be in the class, I had a bad attitude about being there, which Mr. Williams picked up on, so our relationship was strained at best. 



So what does this have to do with Slim Harpo, you ask?  
Well, Mr. Williams was the spitting image of the above photograph of Slim.  They even wore the same glasses.  After a few weeks in his class, Mr. Williams and I started to warm up to each other.  One day I asked him, "Has anyone ever told you, that you look exactly like Slim Harpo?", he asked me, "Who’s Slim Harpo?"  When I told him, "Slim Harpo is a blues musician.", he became agitated and said to me, "I guess we all look the same to you!", shook his head, and walked away.  I should point out here, that many kids called Mr. Williams’ class, "N***er typing", and Mr. Williams thought I was part of that crowd. 

The next day I said to Mr. Williams, "We had a misunderstanding" and showed him the above picture of Slim in a music magazine, he laughed, and said, "Damn, you were right!"

What'd you know? Here's Slim Harpo!

'The Excello Singles Anthology' is a 2CD set, it was released on the Hip-O Records label in 2003.  It also has a very nice 24-page booklet (included in the freeload). This is the Slim Harpo, I play the most.

Slim Harpo, brought a distinct Louisiana swamp vibe to his recordings, in these classic singles for Jay Miller’s Nashville-based Excello Records in the early 1960s.  The rustic and laconic nature of these recordings, is enhanced by Miller’s signature echo-laden production.  Classic stuff.

To my ears, all the best musicians, producers, and many record labels have a signature sound.

For the freeload, what are some of your favorite signature sounds?