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Blues Resophonic Artists

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Gary Calahan

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Nov 10, 2009, 10:21:54 AM11/10/09
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Hello,

Although I do play guitar, I am known as a Harp player of 40 years. I have
always loved the slide, particulary the percussive driven blues of Son House
etc, and I am now on a mission to develop a playlist of the artists and
their mantel pieces such a Death Letter.etc. I am serious enough to have
begun my quest for a National Tricone..

For those of you who are slide players, I am looking for help to build a
list of those players and songs that fit into my image of songs that
could excite the right audience
.
So far: Charlie Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson (i understand Robert
played open often and not resophonic...true????), Bill Bill Broonzy, Tampa
Red, Rev. Gary Davis, Bob Brozman, Terry Garland, John Hammond and one I am
not familiar with Hambone Willis Newburn (sp) Please, who have I missed and
what are the songs that are must haves of any and all these wonderful
artists???

Thank You!

Gary C


--
"You can't change the direction of the wind, but you can always trim your
sails!"

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Joel Fritz

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Nov 10, 2009, 11:58:21 AM11/10/09
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The following all made a lot of records:

Memphis Minnie (switched to electric in the early '40s)
Joe McCoy
Booker White
Blind Boy Fuller
Casey Bill Weldon (played the blues Hawaiian style--truly great player)
Kokomo Arnold (played a regular guitar on some records and a reso on others)


I'm not sure Newbern played a reso. He may although on his recordings
he played a normal guitar. He's best know for the original recording of
"Rolling and Tumbling."
Robert Johnson's records sound like a wood guitar to me.
I don't recall any Big Bill records with a reso. I haven't heard
anywhere near all of them. He was extremely prolific.

Fritz Bros Tunes: http://www.myspace.com/thefritzbrothers

Gary Calahan wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Although I do play guitar, I am known as a Harp player of 40 years. I have
> always loved the slide, particulary the percussive driven blues of Son House
> etc, and I am now on a mission to develop a playlist of the artists and
> their mantel pieces such a Death Letter.etc. I am serious enough to have
> begun my quest for a National Tricone..
>
> For those of you who are slide players, I am looking for help to build a
> list of those players and songs that fit into my image of songs that
> could excite the right audience
> .
> So far: Charlie Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson (i understand Robert
> played open often and not resophonic...true????), Bill Bill Broonzy, Tampa
> Red, Rev. Gary Davis, Bob Brozman, Terry Garland, John Hammond and one I am
> not familiar with Hambone Willis Newburn (sp) Please, who have I missed and
> what are the songs that are must haves of any and all these wonderful
> artists???
>
> Thank You!
>
> Gary C
>
>
>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.704 / Virus Database: 270.14.59/2494 - Release Date: 11/09/09 23:38:00

Gary Calahan

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Nov 10, 2009, 1:02:42 PM11/10/09
to
Thanks Joel,

I am not familiar with Joe McCoy, Casey Bill Weldon and have heard of Kokomo
Arnald but don't recall hearing any tunes. Thank you for your time! Are
there any songs that really stick with you??? Didn't Memphis play with her
husband for awhile?

I have done three or 4 songs from Terry Garland and Mark Warner and love
those tunes. Wang Dang Doodle, Forty-Four and Kokomo. Great Tunes!

BTW.....I have fallen in love with the National Antique Brass Tricone, What
a GOOD looking instrument.....IMHO!

Regards,

Gary C

--

"You can't change the direction of the wind, but you can always trim your
sails!"

Blues-L web site: http://www.netspace.org/~blues-l/

Joel Fritz

unread,
Nov 10, 2009, 1:38:21 PM11/10/09
to
Memphis Minnie made a lot of records with Kansas Joe McCoy (husband or
significant other) at the beginning of her career, most always playing
lead guitar. She later recorded with Ernest Lawlers (husband) in a
similar format. Memphis Minnie's big tunes include "Bumble Bee," "Me
and My Chauffeur," "In My Girlish Days," and "Black Rat Swing."

Joe McCoy's recordings include "What's the Matter with the Mill," "Evil
Devil Blues," "Weed Smoker's Dream"--the precursor to "Why Don't You Do
Right," which he also wrote.

Kokomo Arnold's big hits were "The Original Old Kokomo Blues," probably
the inspiration for "Sweet Home Chicago," and "Milkcow Blues" which was
covered by many others including Bob Wills and Elvis.

Weldon wrote and recorded "Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town."

You might look at Amazon, which has mp3s of most of the Document records
(country blues completist label) available for download. Individual
tunes are the standard price.

Gary Calahan

unread,
Nov 10, 2009, 10:38:55 PM11/10/09
to
Thanks Again Joel!

--

"You can't change the direction of the wind, but you can always trim your
sails!"

Blues-L web site: http://www.netspace.org/~blues-l/

Tony Whetstone

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Nov 11, 2009, 1:49:01 PM11/11/09
to
My favorite blues resophonic player was Blind Boy Fuller. He mostly played
his National in standard tuning but his songs were perfectly tailored to the
instrument's tonality. He did fewer songs in open tunings with slide, but
they were very good.

For contemporary resophonic players, my favorites are Steve James and Del
Ray, especially the first CD they made together, which is mixed so that you
can hear the intricacies of their guitar duets.

TW
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lonesome-Swordfish/163502165282?ref=ts


-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Calahan [mailto:glca...@GMAIL.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:10 AM
Subject: Blues Resophonic Artists

Hello,

Although I do play guitar, I am known as a Harp player of 40 years. I have
always loved the slide, particulary the percussive driven blues of Son House
etc, and I am now on a mission to develop a playlist of the artists and
their mantel pieces such a Death Letter.etc. I am serious enough to have
begun my quest for a National Tricone..

For those of you who are slide players, I am looking for help to build a
list of those players and songs that fit into my image of songs that
could excite the right audience
.
So far: Charlie Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson (i understand Robert
played open often and not resophonic...true????), Bill Bill Broonzy, Tampa
Red, Rev. Gary Davis, Bob Brozman, Terry Garland, John Hammond and one I am
not familiar with Hambone Willis Newburn (sp) Please, who have I missed and
what are the songs that are must haves of any and all these wonderful
artists???

Thank You!

Gary C


--
"You can't change the direction of the wind, but you can always trim your
sails!"

Blues-L web site: http://www.netspace.org/~blues-l/
Archives & web interface: http://lists.netspace.org/archives/blues-l.html
NetSpace LISTSERV(R) software donated by L-Soft, Inc. http://www.lsoft.com
To unsubscribe from BLUES-L, send an email with the message UNSUBSCRIBE
BLUES-L to: list...@lists.netspace.org

Blues-L web site: http://www.netspace.org/~blues-l/

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