[Harp-L] RE: a bluegrass experience

[burket@xxxxxxx]

Thanks Steven:

"Shanty" is another great song (with subversive drug references no less :) where he does some nice harp work with guitar and rack.  I have heard him do the same solos live that he does on the recordings.  But actually more embellished if the band was really jamming.

I would not be surprised if the album track(s) were overdubbed for the simple reason that a great recording take of the basics: guitar, bass, banjo, and lead vocal...  only, then to have to do all those over again just to get the harp solo right playing it in real time, he probably opted for an overdub.  But I can't say for sure.

The live version of "Don't Cry Blue" is a good indication of how well he can play live with a rack.  If you compare the You Tube live version to the Album version, there is a spot at the end where his vocal tails over the harmonica entrance, so that was most likely an overdub.

Most everyone knows of the hit he had with "Sunshine", but I have been a big fan of many of his other songs for years.  His songs set up well for a small bluegrass band. 

For a little humble pie, I went and checked out the link posted here to Mike Steven's new album (which sounds awesome!), and followed the links to his version of OBS on the Grand Old Opry with Jim and Jesse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YIpFQccOUo&feature=player_embedded

If anyone can do that with a harp rack, switching between "two" harmonica's (the "gattling" harmonica rack for diatonics ??), while playing the guitar, mandolin, or banjo, parts at the same time, I would be most interested.

Mike's book "Bluegrass Harmonica" is a great resource for bluegrass riffs, techniques, and toonage.

Burke T.



Message: 6

Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 15:01:46 -0800
From: "Hellerman, Steven" <shellerman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] RE: a bluegrass experience
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

Thanks for the trip back, hadn't listened to these tunes from Jonathan
Edwards in over thirty years. (Made me wanna go dig up "Lay Around the
Shanty".)

But: Do you really think he's playing on a rack, while also playing
guitar? Maybe in a live performance, but these are studio cuts (i.e.,
laying down tracks). If it is indeed harp on a rack while also playing
guitar..... wow. 


SLH