mankycodpiece, where are u from? My grandparents drink in the same pub as plant, he signed my mothership album :) Go worcester warriors and wolverhampton wolves ---------- "Blow as thou pleaseth"
Them featuring Van Morrison on vocals and harmonica and the harp playing by Brian Jones on early Stones LPs (Although I've always dug Jagger's singing, his harmonica playing leaves me "cold" for some reason). For a guy with asthma Keith Relf played w/ lots of "heart" on various tracks.
santana plays mean blues I hope this works ----------http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgH_oVplF5Q&feature=PlayList&p=CD1BB66B6826F9FD&index=25 Fred HARP (Harmonica Assn 'Round Philly)
I've never been much of a Rod Stewart fan. Recently I heard an old song of his, and evidently he started off as a traditional blues singer. He does a killer version of "I'm a King Bee". I'm sure there are other songs he did as well in his early years-
Check out Black Sabbath's first album (self-titled from 1969). There's a HUGE blues & jazz influence on there and Ozzy even plays harp on the song "The Wizard" from that album. It was the first cool harp riff that I learned once I figured out how to bend draw 2 all the way down. Ozzy starts with 2d bent all the way to the bottom and then releases, bends, releases, bends, releases, and then... BAM! The main riff!! The riff and solo are SUPER easy to play if you're good at bending and they fit the song perfectly IMHO. A good workout for those learning how to bend as well.
I'm partial to Aerosmith in this category. I know Steven's harp playing could never stand up to the withering critique of the crowd on this board (I mean that in a good way), but for a guy who is primarily the frontman for a hard rock band i think he does a great job on harp.
Maybe Jason Ricci, I'm not sure I'd call his tunes strictly blues. Don't forget Walter Trout, he's been blues a long time but his roots are rock 'n roll.
In Canada we had Big Sugar with Gordie Johnson, who is now based out of Austin, TX. Check out some of their vids on Youtube esp. Diggin a hole, fantastic harp player in the band too.
Years ago,in the late 80,s,early 90,s I bought a couple of $1.00 CD,s at a flea market by a band called Treat Her Right.They were out of the Boston area with a really unique sound.They released 3 to 4 CD,s from 85 to 90.The harmonica playing on these CD,s is awsome IMO with a totally different style of harp.The harp players name is Jim Fitting,in fact one of their tunes after all these years was played in the newer movie called the Hangover.The harp playing and the band for that matter is well worth a listen.I would recommend the CD called Tied To The Tracks,if its still available.
From a British perspective, what about the whole 70s Canvey Island / N. London pub-rock movement? Bands like Dr Feelgood, the 101ers (Joe Strummer), Lew Lewis, Blast Furnace, Nine Blow Zero, Kilburn and the High Roads (Ian Dury). Certainly some tasty harp playing from Mark feltham, Lee Brilleaux and the aforementioned Mr Lewis. I think it was hearing harp on thses protopunk records that got me hooked on harmonica.
Last Edited by on Jan 06, 2010 6:07 AM
jfllr,i come from a village called penkridge not far from wolverhampton. rob's a great feller.i bump into him quite often at wolves ground when i'm getting tickets for friends and family in the club shop. he'll talk football(soccer)all day,but not music or the band. nothing flash about him.he has a house at shatterford and a house in wales. he drives an old audi. no better rock singer ever lived for me,and if he did borrow from old bluesmen,if it was me,i'd be flattered.
uuhmm, I'd say, at one point, they were the same thing. If you look back at guys like Levon Helm, and Carl Perkins, and Elvis...they all sang blues. It may have been labeled rockabilly or county swing or rock and roll. But it was blues. It all changed when the brits took the blues and then brought it back as rock and roll. Even the Beatles started on skiddle which was kind of the same vein as what Carl Perkins and Conway Twitty were doing. Now as for my likes...early Fleetwood Mac, some Allman Brothers, a little bit of Savoy Brown and finish it up with the voodoo child Jimi Hendrix
You probably know this already but most of Treat Her Right ended up in the alternative band Morphine. A really interesting band, not really blues-influenced but a lot of blues guys I know dig them.
I was thinking about this thread today and thought of a few more Rock bands that played and still play blues are The Late Great Rory Gallagher,who really played some very early blues for example,Pistol Slappin Blues to name one of many,The underated IMO Robin Trower,Early Procal Harum(WhiskeyTrain)Humble Pie,Steve Marriot(could belt out some blues)Savoy Brown,especially early stuff Looking In,Lions Share and Street Corner Talkin,and when members parted hence, Foghat.Its amazing how American Blues influenced so many Brits,Irish gentleman.When blues died in the US so many of the American Bluesmen exiled to Europe where they,re music was still very much appreciated.Another thought just came to mind,Edgar Winters White Trash,and lets no forget about Johnny.White Trash was blues rock at its best.
Couple of blasts from the past: Sweetwater, and the Keef Hartley Band. Canned Heat...still playing rockin' Blues. Tommy Castro...blues based, but more of a rockin' band. Coco Montoya is awesome in both genres, often at the same time!
