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| What'd you know? There's Slim Harpo! |
Slim Harpo (born James Isaac Moore) made his impressive entrance into the world of blues recordings in 1957. Here was a man with an unforgettable name, a strong song, "I'm A King Bee" in a finely-crafted minimalist style, at once familiar and novel. In 1961 Slim Harpo made a crossover entry into the American Rhythm 'n' Blues and Popular Music charts when "Rainin' In My Heart" became one of those barely uncategorizable hits that just couldn't be ignored. Then came 'Baby, Scratch My Back', a soulful rhythmic number that led to world tours.
The story of Slim Harpo and his
music is among the most fascinating in all blues and Rhythm 'n' Blues.
Harpo's music had timeless and mellow qualities that made his sound both
authentic and accessible. By many benchmarks he was a success, and for
periods in his life he was in the spotlight, yet little, really, is
known of him beyond his fading circle of musicians, friends, and family
in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Born in 1924, he was among the last of the
original down-home bluesmen, but also one of the first to register hits
in the popular music charts.
Harpo lived, worked, and performed most of his life in Louisiana,
but he was highly regarded in the rock music circles of New York and Los Angeles
when he did appear there in his last few years. Apparently an unassuming
and calm man, he nevertheless developed a very polished and slick stage
appearance. He died at the age of forty-five, leaving behind one of the
most consistently good and coherent bodies of blues recordings.
Slim made music that was 'pure' blues in a number of forms but also borrowed
from and wandered into soul and country styles without losing face. It's easy to listen to, easy to love, but real. It has an underlying
intensity that continues to make it appealing to generations of
performers who have recorded Harpo's songs down the years.
Slim
Harpo's songs were recorded in Crowley, Louisiana by pioneering record
man J. D. Miller, among others, and issued on Nashville's Excello label. Down the years his songs have been covered by artists as diverse as the
Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, the Grateful Dead and Hank Williams Jr. His sound and style is at the forefront of the music that became known
as 'swamp blues' or 'swamp pop.' Also, when Muddy Waters' records one of your songs, and then titles the album after your song, you know you're doing something right, as Muddy did with Slim's "King Bee".
Buzzin' The Blues - The Complete Slim Harpo, is a 5CD set from Bear Family Records label, and was honored with the 'Blues Music Award 2016' as 'Best Historical Album of the Year'.
CDs 1 and 2 have all of Slim's Excello label 45s and original album tracks.
CDs 3 and 4 have all the recordings unissued in Slim's lifetime and all the alternative takes of issued songs.
CD 5 features a live recording made in 1961, one of the very earliest to capture an original and important Blues artist in their prime.
For the freeload, tell us what are some of your favorite musical subgenres.