"i just recently found out sonny only used an A harp two times"
You could be right - I just checked my CD (how the hell have I only got one?) and he doesn't play an A harp at all on that! That's blowing my mind. ---------- Andrew. ----------------------------------------- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000874537399
"if he chose to use a Bb harp it was for a reason there was something in a Bb he couldnt do on a C harp which was his favorite."
I suspect like most of us that sing. Sonny Boy would have just used whatever harp suited his voice for a certain song. Just because you can sing a certain song in one key, doesn't mean you can sing any song in that key. Most harp player/singers in my experience use the harp that suits the voice for a song, rather than struggling to get the vocals in a key that is difficult to pitch (if that makes sense?). Or maybe his Bb was simply his best playing harp at the time. We will never know.
Last Edited by on Mar 24, 2012 10:50 AM
"well the thing was i always played along with the record using an A when the bass player after playing a good 30 seconds or so figured it out it was in F. using a B flat made a world of difference. its a weird tune."
Well it would make a world of difference wouldn't it! :-) Why is it a "weird tune"?
"sonny always had a harp of every key and bought 364/365s frequently. he had no problem singing in E on bring it on home."
billy shines - Maybe I'm reading your post wrongly, but I fail to see what "Bring it on Home" has to do with "Help Me"? Different song, different groove, different key. Just because he could pitch "Bring it on home" in E, doesn't logically mean that he could pitch "Help Me" or indeed any of his other famous songs in E.
Last Edited by on Mar 24, 2012 11:24 AM
Here's the list of Sonny Boy's tracks that Billy took down.
The Essential (Chess 1993) - Disc 1 1. Good Evening Everybody – C, C harp (1st Position) 2. Don't Start Me To Talkin' - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 3. All My Love In Vain - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 4. You Killing Me – Dm, G Harp (2nd Position) 5. Let Me Explain – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 6. Your Imagination – B, E Harp (2nd Position) 7. Don't Lose Your Eye – B, E Harp (2nd Position) 8. Keep It To Yourself A, D Harp (2nd Position) 9. The Key (To Your Door) – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 10. Have You Ever Been In Love – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 11. Fattening Frogs for Snakes - B, E Harp (2nd Position) 12. I Don't Know - D, (Low) C Harp (3rd Position) 13. Like Wolf – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 14. Cross My Heart - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 15. Ninety Nine - F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 16. Born Blind - F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 17. Little Village – C, F harp (2nd Position) 18. Unseen Eye – G, (Low) C Harp (2nd Position) 19. Your Funeral And My Trial - D, G harp (2nd Position) 20. Keep Your Hands Out Of My Pocket –F, Bb harp (2nd Position) 21. Unseeing Eye – B, E Harp (2nd Position) 22. Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 23. The Goat – A, D Harp (2nd Position)
Disc 2 1. Cool Disposition – B, E Harp (2nd Position) 2. Santa Claus – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 3. Checkin' Up On My Baby - A, D Harp (2nd Position) 4. Temperature 110 – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 5. Lonesome Cabin – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 6. Somebody Help Me – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 7. Down Child – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 8. Trust My Baby – Gm, G Harp (1st Position) 9. Too Close Together – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 10. Too Young To Die – D, G Harp (2nd Position) 11. She's My Baby – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 12. Stop Right Now – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 13. Too Old To Think – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 14. One Way Out – D, G Harp (2nd Position) 15. Nine Below Zero - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 16. Help Me - Fm, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 17. Bye Bye Bird – G, Low C Harp (2nd Position) 18. Bring It On Home – E, A Harp (2nd Position) 19. Decoration Day – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 20. Trying To Get Back On My Feet – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 21. Close To Me – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 22. I Can't Be Alone – C, (Low) F Harp (2nd Position)
His Best (Chess 1997) 1 - Good Evening Everybody – C, C Harp (1st Position) 2 - Don't Start Me Talkin' - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 3 - All My Love In Vain - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 4 - Keep It To Yourself - A, D Harp (2nd Position) 5 – Fattening Frogs for Snakes - B, E Harp (2nd Position) 6 – I Don't Know - D, C Harp (3rd Position) 7 – Cross My Heart - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 8 – Born Blind - F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 9 – Ninety Nine - F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 10 – Your Funeral and My Trial - D, G Harp (2nd Position) 11 – Keep Your Hands out of My Pocket – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 12 – Sad to Be Alone – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 13 – Checkin' Up My Baby - A, D Harp (2nd Position) 14 - Down Child - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 15 – Nine Below Zero - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 16 - Bye Bye Bird –G, Low C (2nd Position) 17 - Help Me - Fm, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 18 – Bring It on Home – E, A Harp (2nd Position) 19 – My Younger Days – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 20 - One Way Out - A, D Harp (2nd Position)
I Ain’t Beggin’ Nobody (Trumpet, 2000) 1. Cat Hop [Inst.] – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 2. She's Crazy – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 3. 309 – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 4. Sonny's Rhythm [Inst.] – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 5. City Of New Orleans – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 6. Gettin Out Of Town – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 7. Keep It To Yourself – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 8. Red Hot Kisses – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 9. Going In Your Direction – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 10. Empty Bedroom – D, G Harp (2nd Position) 11. Clownin' With The World [Inst.] – D, G Harp (2nd Position) 12. I'm Not Beggin' Nobody – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 13. Shuckin' Mama – D, G Harp (2nd Position) 14. From The Bottom – Bb, Bb Harp (1st Position) 15. No Nights By Myself – C, F Harp (2nd Position) *some tracks may be sharp or flat
In Europe with Clapton, Dixon and Spann & Matt “Guitar” Murphy [Live] (Evidence, 1963/1995) 1. I'm Trying To Make London My Home – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 2. I Don't Know – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 3. Sonny Boy's Harmonica Blues [Inst.] - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 4. Had My Fun - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 5. Dissatisfied – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 6. Bye Bye Bird [Inst.] – G, Low C Harp (2nd Position) 7. Mister Downchild – D, G Harp (2nd Position) 8. 23 Hours Too Long – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 9. Pontiac Blues - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 10. Take It Easy Baby (#1) – G, Low C Harp (2nd Position), Outro & 2nd Solo: C Harp (2nd Position) 11. Out On The Water Coast - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 12. I Don't Care No More - G Low C Harp (2nd Position) 13. Do The Weston [Inst.] – G, Low C Harp (2nd Position) 14. Take It Easy Baby (#2) – G, Intro: Low C Harp, Solo & Outro: C Harp (2nd Position)
Keep It To Yourself (Blues Journey, 1991) 1. Keep It To Yourself - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 2. Wake Up Baby – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 3. Your Funeral & My Trial - D, G Harp (2nd Position) 4. Trust My Baby - Gm, G Harp (1st Position) 5. Sad To Be Alone - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 6. Peach Tree – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 7. Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 8. This Is My Apartment – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 9. One Way Out - A, D Harp (2nd Position) 10. Like A Wolf – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position)
King Biscuit Time (Arhoolie, 1993) 1. Do It If You Wanna – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 2. Cool, Cool Blues – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 3. Come on Back Home – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 4. Stop Crying – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 5. Eyesight to the Blind – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 6. West Memphis Blues – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 7. I Cross My Heart – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 8. Crazy About You Baby – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 9. Nine Below Zero – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 10. Mighty Long Time – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 11. She Brought Life Back to the Dead – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 12. Stop Now Baby – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 13. Mr. Downchild - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 14. Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 15. Pontiac Blues – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 16. Too Close Together – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 17a. Radio Program - A, D Harp (2nd Position) 17b. V-8 Ford - A, D Harp (2nd Position) 17c. Stormy Monday- C, F Harp (2nd Position) 17d. Right Now – B, E Harp (2nd Position) 17e. Come Go – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 18. Dust My Broom – E, A Harp (2nd Position)
One Way Out (Chess 1968) 1. Born Blind - F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 2. Work With Me – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 3. You Killing Me – D, G Harp (2nd Position) 4. Keep It to Yourself - A, D Harp (2nd Position) 5. Don't Lose Your Eye – Bb, E Harp (2nd Position) 6. Good Evening Everybody – C, (Low) F harp (2nd Position) 7. Too Close Together – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 8. Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide – G, C Harp (2nd Position) 9. I Wonder Why – B, E Harp (2nd Position) 10. This Is My Apartment – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 11. One Way Out – D, G Harp (2nd Position) 12. Like Wolf – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 13. Have You Ever Been in Love – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 14. Cool Disposition – B, E Harp (2nd Position) 15. I Know What Love Is All About – G, C Harp (2nd Position)
The Real Folk Blues & More Real Folk Blues (Chess, 2002) 1. One Way Out – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 2. Too Young To Die - D, G Harp (2nd Position) 3. Trust My Baby – Gm, G Harp (1st Position) 4. Checkin' Up On My Baby - A, D Harp (2nd Position) 5. Sad To Be Alone – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 6. Got To Move - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 7. Bring It on Home – E, A Harp (2nd Position) 8. Down Child – C, F Harp (2nd Position) 9. Peach Tree - G, C Harp (2nd Position) 10. Dissatisfied – Ab, Db Harp (2nd Position) 11. That's All I Want – F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 12. Too Old To Think - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 13. Help Me – Fm, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 14. Bye Bye Bird – G, Low C Harp (2nd Position) 15. Nine Below Zero - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 16. The Hunt – D, G Harp (2nd Position) 17. Stop Right Now - F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 18. She's My Baby - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 19. The Goat – A, D Harp (2nd Position) 20. Decoration Day - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 21. Trying To Get Back On My Feet - A, D Harp (2nd Position) 22. My Younger Days - C, F Harp (2nd Position) 23. Close To Me - F, Bb Harp (2nd Position) 24. Somebody Help Me - C, F Harp (2nd Position
Last Edited by on Mar 24, 2012 11:14 PM
From The Bottom – "Bb" Good Evening Everybody – "C" Trust My Baby – "G" 364/365 Marine Band
Songs in D Second Position "G" Harmonica
Clownin' With The World Empty Bedroom Mister Downchild One Way Out Shuckin' Mama The Hunt Too Young To Die Your Funeral And My Trial You Killing Me
Songs in E Second Position Old Standby? "A" Harmonica
Bring It On Home Dust My Broom
Songs in F Second Position "Bb" Harmonica
Born Blind Close To Me Help Me I'm Trying To Make London My Home Keep Your Hands Out Of My Pocket Like Wolf Ninety Nine Stop Right Now That's All I Want This Is My Apartment Too Close Together Wake Up Baby
Songs in G Second Position "C" Harmonica
All My Love In Vain Cat Hop City Of New Orleans Crazy About You Baby Do It If You Wanna Don't Start Me To Talkin' Gettin Out Of Town Got To Move I Know What Love Is All About Keep It To Yourself Let Me Explain Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide Mighty Long Time Mr. Downchild Peach Tree Pontiac Blues She's Crazy Stop Now Baby Too Close Together
Songs in G Second Position "C" 364/365 Marine Band/Echo Vamper Harmonica
Bye Bye Bird Do The Weston I Don't Care No More Take It Easy Baby Outro & 2nd Solo: C Harp (2nd Position) Unseen Eye
Ab Second Position "C/Db" Koch Harmonica
Dissatisfied
Songs in A Second Position "D" Harmonica
Checkin' Up On My Baby Come Go Eyesight to the Blind Have You Ever Been In Love Keep It To Yourself One Way Out Radio Program Santa Claus The Goat Trying To Get Back On My Feet V-8 Ford Work With Me
Songs in B Second Position "E" Harmonica
Cool Disposition Don't Lose Your Eye Fattening Frogs for Snakes I Wonder Why Right Now Unseeing Eye Your Imagination
Songs in C Second Position "F" Harmonica
23 Hours Too Long 309 Come on Back Home Cool, Cool Blues Cross My Heart Decoration Day Down Child Going In Your Direction Had My Fun I Don't Know I'm Not Beggin' Nobody Little Village Lonesome Cabin My Younger Days Nine Below Zero No Nights By Myself Out On The Water Coast Pontiac Blues Red Hot Kisses Sad to Be Alone She Brought Life Back to the Dead She's My Baby Somebody Help Me Sonny's Rhythm Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues Sonny Boy's Harmonica Blues Stop Crying Stormy Monday Temperature 110 The Key (To Your Door) Too Old To Think West Memphis Blues
Songs in C Second Position Old Standby? 364 Marine Band? "F" Harmonica
I Can't Be Alone Good Evening Everybody
D minor Third Position 364/365 Marine Band "C" Harmonica
Hey billy, you are probably the guy can clear something up for me. I am looking for a version of checking up on my baby which is not the well- known one you can find everywhere. I don't even know if this version exists, but I believe there are 2 versions cut by sonny boy. I've never heard the second one, but I'm wondering if it has a third verse which is not in the common cut. I've asked this question a couple times over the last couple years, always just falls to the bottom of the pond and lays there till the crabs find it. Cheers, dave ----------
So basically I guess it's pretty much the same list just sorted into keys rather than albums. Either way it's a useful tool. For anyone wanting to know what key/position track for a particular artist I highly recommend the harmonicamasterclass website. It's free and very informative. There are also sections on mics and amp which can be very useful too. All in all it's a great free resource provided by David Barrett.
theres only two i know of one by the real sonny and one by that other guy who got murdered coming home from gambling in chicago. if its anywhere its on this and way too steep for me
billy shines and SuperBee - I have that track. It's quite different to the version that most people have heard. Personally I think I prefer it in someways to the released version. If you want to listen to it I'd be happy to help out. My email address is on page 3 of the "For Sale Page: 2012" thread.
some chatrooms do cdr weeds. where a rare hard to find recording owned by someone is copied then offered to the first two people that respond. when they get their cds in snail mail they put out another two offers make two copies and mail them out. the offers continue until the weed is closed because it cant grow anymore. theres no charge in this so its not piracy its sharing music. its not copyright infringement because your not doing it on a torrent or youtube. its just sharing among a group of freinds for non profit. if it expands to other harmonica groups the record companies may consider putting it out again because it could be a deluxe boxset money they are not getting.
