Tom's great - probably my favourite songwriter along with Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Will Johnson and Alex McMurray
As far as I know, all the harmonica parts on Mule Variations were by Charlie Musselwhite. Charlie also plays on the Blind Boys of Alambama's version of "Down in the Hole" (the theme song to the first series of The Wire). I think his 3rd position playing (especially) is very distinctive
GamblersHand once again rushes in with the right answer: it's Musselwhite. I'm currently working on that heart-rending little solo from 'Come On Up To The House': for my money, the best gospel song that's ever been written.
I'm a big Waits fan. First time I heard him was 35 years ago - I was 17. Nighthawks at the Diner. Loved it. One of my favorite songs of his is "Christmas Card from a hooker in Minneapolis", as well as "Step Right Up" - but there are so many.....
I am a big Tom Waits fan as well. I´m reading a bio about him right now. Therefor have Charlie Musselwhite been my faworite harmonicaplayer for several years. I have been trying to play the harp in chocolate jesus once (on stage) but made a big fool of myself. I didnt know about third possition or what he might play there. I ended up in wrong key. Seeing peoples facec thinking "it sounds like the whole band plays in wrong key together" Now I´m studying Charlies style from the two books he wrote hoping to lern to play that good. Chocolat Jesus has got the best harp ever.
This is funny, I'm a HUGE Tom Waits fan and I think I have every single one of his albums, including the best offs and some bootlegs. I've been listening to his music for decades but I've never been listening for a harp. 1st thing I'll do when I get home tonight is listen to Chocolate Jesus (which is one of my absolute favorite songs). Can't wait to hear the harp!
More Tom Waits with Charlie Musselwhite 1 Tom produced a record with John hammond with only Waits songs on it -Wicked grin. Best is "Clap hands" The mouthorgan is werry deep and dark here werry cool. 2 Charlie is also in two songs on "Blood money" and they are strange enough for my plessure.
I once (a long, long time ago) saw Bette Midler on TV. She said, "This is a song written by my friend, Tom Waits." She then tearfully sang a VERY beautiful song. Does anybody out there, by any chance, have any idea what song that was?
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2009 12:36 PM
I also have a question which this song reminded me of... if you listen to it at about 1:19 there is a guys vocals but it's not lyrical vocals, y'know? It may seem like a dumb question... but what the heck is that called? I love that kind of thing.
here is another song that has that vocal thing I'm talking about:
If you like this style check out (the late) Nusrat Ali Fateh Khan - he sings in a Qawwali style, which is related to Sufi devotional music. He's probably best known in the West for his work on "the last temptation of christ" soundtrack and his collaborations with Eddie Vedder. Jeff Buckley was also a big fan (check out live at Sin-e).
Others on this board (Buddha?) can certainly add mre to my limited knowledge of the genre
Does anyone know what harp Charlie Musselwhite is playing on "chocolate Jesus"? It sounds like a Bb in I'm guessing third position but I'm not certain... Someone said they were learning this one earlier in this thread.
lol I forgot about this thread. Time flies by fast.
Nacoran, no that's not what I mean. I really don't know how to explain what I mean more than I did above. The kind of thing I'm talking about they turn their voices into instruments! listen to the second video I posted.... I still don't know what that type of music is called.
Oda, if you are talking about the start of the second YouTube video, you're getting some stuff off of Le Mystere des voix Bulgares: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Mystere_des_Voix_Bulgares They were a phenomenon in the Eighties, but I haven't really listened to them since about 1990. ---------- Kinda hot in these rhinos!
Last Edited by on Nov 20, 2009 1:55 AM
Ive only heard of Tom Waits in the past year & only heard like part of one song at a party before the host skipped that CD. Anyway, Im listening to his music for the first time today I found a copy of Mule Variations & am enjoying it. Noticing little dashes of harmonica (& other things) like you would parsley on a main course platter at a fancy restaurant, nice.
---------- ~Ryan Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Do you mean 'Muezzin' singing? The muezzin is the singer from the tower who calls Muslims to prayer. Tom Waits? For me, he does. But I don't like Randy Newman either.
Last Edited by on Nov 20, 2009 4:37 PM
Oda, at 1:19, I'd call what the lower voices are doing chanting or maybe singing a pedal tone, or maybe Muezzin, like blogward said. (I actually tried to sing Amazing Grace in a Arabic sounding key but I couldn't hold the notes against the guitar.)
If you want to play something that sounds sort of eastern without to much effort... I fake it playing my Chrometta with only blow notes, working the slide. You have to get the rhythms right, but it gives you a nice alternate scale.
