Good sampling of the work of Slim Harpo
Steven A. Peterson | Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL) | 08/24/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Slim Harpo was a terrific harmonica player and a fine blues singer. His works were covered by many rock and rollers. He died, too young, of a heart attack at age 46.
Let's consider some of the exemplar tracks on this CD.
"I'm a King Bee": The Rolling Stones covered this and came up with their own credible version. But Slim Harpo's take on this is great fun to listen to. The vocal riff that recurs throughout this song:
"Well, I'm a King Bee
Buzzin' around your hive."
Another nice line:
"I'm a king bee,
I want you to be my queen."
Harpo displays an interesting blues voice in this sensual song. The backing music is almost hypnotic with its rhythm. Harpo plays the harmonica well.
"I've Got Love if You Want It": One of the Rolling Stones' earliest live albums played off this song title. The piece begins with Harpo's harmonica playing. This is rollicking music with the backing group playing well.
"Shake Your Hips": What a neat song, a nice up tempo dance piece! Once more, the harmonica work is strong.
"I'm tellin' you a dance that's going around
. . . .
Just shake your hips,
Do the hip shake, Babe."
The Rolling Stones, on their "Exiles on Main Street" recorded a close variation on this classic piece.
Finally, "Baby Scratch My Back": This is a nice dance piece. As the liner notes put it, "a slinky dance groove." Harpo's harmonica sings.
This is a nice sampling of the work of Slim Harpo. Well worth listening to. A good piece to add to one's blues library.
"
Rainin' In My Heart
The Bluze Brother | Sweet Home Shy Town | 03/20/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first song I ever hear from Slim Harpo was "Rainin' In My Heart." I hadn't heard that song before and I had to find out who this guy was. I called up the a.m. radio station and actually asked the disc jokey who that was. That was back in the late 50s and times were simpler then. From that moment on, I was a Slim Harpo fan. Slim is great all the time but I especially was knocked out to hear again "I'm A King Bee," "Rainin In My Heart," and "Baby Scratch My Back." Slim Harpo doesn't blow you out of the room. He sneaks up on you and just gets you. I dig him and his music and I think you will to."
