Slim Harpo Gibson "Lovell" ES-330

Gibson is proud to introduce the "Lovell" ES-330 hollow body guitar; a tribute to Slim Harpo and his wife Lovell, a creative tandem that developed a unique sound and produced chart-topping hits during the 50s and early 60s. The new Gibson Slim Harpo “Lovell” ES-330 hollow body guitar is part tribute, part historical artifact that celebrates the influential, albeit short career of James H. Moore aka Slim Harpo. Slim was a working man’s blues man from Lobdell, Louisiana; holding down 9 to 5 gigs as a longshoreman, and iron scrap hauler in addition to his side hustle as an artist. His wife and collaborator; Lovell, for whom the guitar is named was a huge influence and contributor to Slim’s evolution as performer and song writer. Together they forged a creative partnership that yielded pop-crossover success in the late 50’s and 60s, an era that was less than kind to black artists. Despite this, it didn’t take long for others to recognize and be inspired by Harpo’s talent and unique take on the Blues; a subgenre he unwittingly created appropriately called Louisiana Swamp Blues. Slim’s most popular tune “I’m a King Bee” achieved cross-over success at a time when that was far from the norm. Other artists also achieved chart successes with their covers of “King Bee” including the Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Lou Rawls, and Muddy Waters among others. While Slim’s time on the planet was short, his impact and influence are and will continue to inspire for generations to come.

The Fall Pinball Machine 1989

 The Fall doing a song about pinball albeit a cover. Written by Lonnie Irving. Pretty good eh? Album

Slim Harpo book

 I haven't read this but I should think it's good. 

Slim Harpo established Baton Rouge as a base for the blues. In the only complete biography of this internationally renowned blues singer and musician, Martin Hawkins traces Harpo’s rural upbringing near Louisiana’s capital, his professional development fostered by the local music scene, and his national success with R&B hits like Rainin’ in My Heart, Baby Scratch My Back, and I’m A King Bee, among others. Hawkins follows Harpo’s global musical impact from the early 1960s to today and offers a detailed look at the nature of the independent recording business that enabled his remarkable legacy.

With new research and interviews, Hawkins fills in previous biographical gaps and redresses misinformation about Harpo’s life. In addition to weaving the musician’s career into the lives of other Louisiana blues players—including Lightnin’ Slim, Lazy Lester, and Silas Hogan—the author discusses the pioneering role of Crowley, Louisiana, record producer J. D. Miller and illustrates how Excello Records in Nashville brought national attention to Harpo’s music recorded in Louisiana.

This engaging narrative examines Harpo’s various recording sessions and provides a detailed discography, as well as a list of blues-related records by fellow Baton Rouge artists. Slim Harpo: Blues King Bee of Baton Rouge will stand as the ultimate resource on the musician’s life and the rich history of Baton Rouge’s blues heritage.

Slim Harpo Got Love if you want it 1957

 

One of the greatest songs ever. Here

Here is the Slim Harpo wiki

We used to have a copy of this painting in our bedroom

Richard Bergh (1858–1919), Nordisk sommarkväll 1899–1900. Oil on canvas, 170 × 223.5 cm. © Gothenburg Art Museum

Lilley's cider

 Frome's cider provider with their new orchard.

New Vague fanzine book out soon

 This looks good. We were in Vague fanzine and met Tom. Here is what he says about the book. 

"More details about the Vague book release: The book will be available on presale from September 25 - a link to the shop will be shared here, the book will also be available at the launch on the September 23 and other launches later this year and early next in Brighton, Manchester, Bristol and Bath. Books will be shipped when orders are made from September 25. The book will be officially published on November 22 2023 when it will be available in retail outlets and shops. Here is a look at the front cover, back cover and spine, all the best from PC-Press"

Launch with Dave Barbarossa's new project

Loretta Lynn if You're Looking at me you're looking at Country

 Great song just heard on Country a Go go

I'm Movin' On Gene Vincent and the Houseshakers

 

Rocking up a storm. I used to have this as a youth on an l.p. I no longer have it but I think it was a 1971 record called Battle of the Bands but I am not certain. It is an utterly brilliant song that reminds me of the late Jake Stratton-Kent as he liked this too. Houseshakers wiki

Ross Poldark

 Bought this today for 50p. Poldark novels wiki. I enjoyed the 70s tv series and thought as it's the first one I might read it. Late 18th century Cornwall with its tin mines and so forth I liked. It was first published  in 1945

Jo Ann Campbell - (I'm The Girl) From Wolverton Mountain 1962 (Country Music Greats)

 We heard  this on the new Country a go go station. Susan remembers it and thinks they might even had a copy of it. 

Great Crested Newt

 My favourite amphibian. They are so great. Wiki

Jimmy Reed at the Fort Worth Masonic Temple, 1950's (bobcorritore.com) ....

 

The Beatles - Rock and roll music Live HQ

. Probably my earliest exposure to rock'n'roll. Had the Beatles for Sale album for my birthday. My first long player. Gate told sleeve which was a novelty. 

John's Children

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John%27s_Children

Tyrannosaurus Rex

In the days before the internet special interest clubs used to keep you informed about ghings. We used to be in the Tyrannosaurus Rex Appreciation Society which used to produce vinyl and facsimile books and programmes. It was very good. 

Tyrannosaurus Rex Warlord of the Royal Crocodiles

Marc Bolan's death day today. Keep a little Marc in your heart.

Tucker's Inn Janet Tanner

 I love libraries. I just went on to order a book by Reverend John Skinner who was rector of Camerton and I thought I would see what Janet Tanner books they had and this one was there. Promptly ordered. Tucker's is a local cider house which is one of the best pubs in the area. Janet Tanner is a local fiction author who writes about Radstock and thereabouts. Very successful. 

Flora is left distraught after the shocking murder of her father, the landlord of Tucker’s Grave Inn. She also senses her distant cousins, Louis and Gavin Fletcher, know more about her father’s death than they are letting on. With little choice but to move into Belvedere House with Louis and his daughter, she finds comfort in Gavin’s company, but still yearns to know the truth behind her tragic loss.

As Flora continues to look for answers, she soon finds herself drawn into a complex tale that spans from Cornwall to the terrifying events in Revolutionary France—in danger, and uncertain about whom she can trust . . .

Animals & Men To Live and Die in the West Country e.p.

 10 years ago our first sale of our e.p. in the U.S. Hit me up if you want one.

Mickey and Sylvia Since I Fell for you 1962

 I really like this - the flow, the harmonies it just seems so good. What do you think?  Released on their own Willow label. Mickey and Sylvia wiki

Trotsky's amoured train crew

 

Buy here

Teenage Beatnik Louis Nye

 Just heard on Boss Radio 66.

Two For the Road (trailer) 1967

 

. I once saw a DVD of this Audrey Hepburn film in a Charity shop and didn't buy it. I regret that now. Lovely film. Wiki

A Life On The Farm - Trailer | In Select Cinemas and On Digital HD 8 September

 

Here. My brother is going to see this and sent me this. It's filmed in Somerset.

Shakin' Pyramids - Tennessee Rock 'n' Roll - 1981 Studio

 on the kids tv show Runaround. Lovely.

Wolverine Bristol Zoo Project

 Such a handsome animal. 

LMR 57 The Lion

 While in Liverpool they saw the Lion. One of my favourite locos, famous for its role in the Titfield Thunderbolt an Ealing comedy filmed near here.

Billy Fury - You're Swell, in colour! (1962) [HD]

After posting a pic of Billy Fury I thought I would post a clip of him.

Billy Fury statue Liverpool

 Another pic from my daughter. 

Elvis Pinball

 Daughter just sent me this pic. It's in the Brew dog pub in Liverpool. My son got a replay.

Big Bad Ho Dad Lord Douglas Byron

 Just heard on Boss Radio 66.

Shakin' Pyramids

 This was a band I liked about 40 years ago. Bought the album but never saw them live. Wiki Steve Stack just played them and it came flooding back.

Stoney Littleton Long Barrow near Bath.

 Our local ancient monument is Stoney Littleton Long barrow which is great. You can go inside. In 2010 there was a crop circle which made us leap in the car and fire up there.

Tom Hanks goes country

 On Boss Radio 66. He is previewing Debbi D's new show Country a go go! I pm EDT. 

Midsomer Norton High Street

 Pic by Susan today.

Soldier of Love the Beatles 1963

 A cover of a song by Arthur Alexander. I like this and the original too. 

Lead Belly Sings "Goodnight Irene"

 This song is the main song of Bristol Rovers who me and my Dad supported. 

A folklorist, John Lomax and his son Alan Lomax, with funding from the Library of Congress recorded Huddie William Ledbetter, commonly known as Lead Belly or Leadbelly. They first meet him while he was imprisoned. They were deeply impressed by his vibrant tenor voice and huge repertoire, they recorded him on portable aluminum disc recording equipment for the Library of Congress. They returned to record with new and better equipment in July of the following year (1934), all in all recording hundreds of his songs. On August 1, Lead Belly was released (again having served almost all of his minimum sentence), this time after the Lomaxes had taken a petition to Louisiana Governor Oscar K. Allen at Ledbetter's urgent request. The petition was on the other side of a recording of his signature song, "Goodnight Irene." Kip Lornell, a Leadbelly expert, thinks this is almost certainly footage from March/April 1935, shot in Wilton, CT. --- probably at the home of friends of the Lomaxes. He wasn't sure if he'd ever seen footage from this event (Martha Promise Ledbetter joining Huddie in NYC), but I have seen stills. He confirmed that, this was before he recorded for ARC, though he had previously recorded for the Library of Congress. Its also well before he recorded anything for Moe Asch, which is now Smithsonian Folkways material. They made this film for the Library of Congress.For more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_Belly

Wolverines at Bristol Zoo Project

 

The Boy and the Heron teaser trailer 2023

 New Miyazaki film. Always worth a watch. Wiki

Angelheaded hipster the songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex

 Documentary out now.

Jerry Lee Lewis Breathless 1958

. Great song. Written by Otis Blackwell. One of THE great songwriters of the rock and roll era. Song wiki

I'm a Man Yardbirds 1965

 This was one we used to play when we used to Busk. We didn't have any amplification so it wasn't too much of a nuisance except to my parents who were horrified by me playing in public but I ignored them. This version is upbeat and easy to bash out. 

Bad Detectives first photos

 This Polaroid from Henry is the first photo. Before Ivan and Bunce joined. After we had bought a Mic and stand. Henry had a little Leo amp. This is in my parent's house in Frome. Already had short hair. I guess it's 76. We used to busk just the two of us in Frome town centre. We didn't make any money not that we cared it was pure youthful exuberance. I remember one lady giving us some money and asking for Annie's Song and us doing I'm a Man. Later mate Nigel joined on maracas which was tins of rice.

Leo 10w

She Does it Right Dr Feelgood 1975

 This song would have been in the set back when we started. One of my favourite Dr Feelgood songs on Geordie Scene Tv

My first time playing live 1976 or 1977

 This was our first gig. I didn't play drums this was during the interval between sets. I sang and played harmonica. It was at a farm near Batcombe at the party of a girl from Sunny Hill the local Bruton Girl's school. I was still at school I think at the amusingly named Sexey's school, a boys school in Bruton. We actually played Sexey's after I had left which was very enjoyable. We got paid £13. I wore cream drainpipe cords and patent leather Chelsea boots as I had a wage by then. 

January 1990 NME

 Celia picked up a pile of old NMEs at Cheddar Car Boot Sale. This one has the Fall and the Cramps so very nice!

Happy birthday Jimmy Reed

 Check out the illustrated Jimmy Reed discography here

Little Richard the Okeh Sessions 1966

 This is a great collection of the King in the mid 1960s. Explosive. 

Pixies Bone Machine 1988

 Susan picked up the Surfer Rosa l.p. for 50p. Reminds me of driving about playing it when the kids were little, spawning 3 Pixies fans!

Death Race 2000 (1975)

 We watched this last night. A classic from our teen years.A Black comedy is how I see it rather than Sci-fi.

Hubert Sumlin and the Wolf

 

Frankenstein Jr and the Impossibles (1966)

 Do you remember this? I don't. Looks good though. Wiki

Otis Rush 1956-1958 Cobra Recordings

 If you have never listened to Otis Rush then here is your start place. 

Ralph's Pop blues collection

 A genre I invented. 

Straight to your heart (like a Cannonball) Van Morrison. 1971

 

Good song. From the Tupelo Honey album. Also on there is the song I wanna roo you (Scottish derivative) which is also very pleasing.

Little Willie John -You Hurt Me 1960

 Sad song by Little Willie John

Wonderin' And Worryin' Slim Harpo

 So many good Slim Harpo songs but this is a firm favourite.

Howlin' Wolf Rocking Chair album

 Some Saturday night entertainment

Ramones and pinball

 

Tammy Wynette Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad (live)

 a great Country song.

Howlin' Wolf - You'll Be Mine - Chess 1813

 Wiki

Here. From around 62 I think. The song that Bolan ripped off for Jeepster. Some first rate guitar from Hubert Sumlin. Spotify for the Rocking chair album which has singles 60-62.

Velvet Goldmine trailer (1998)

 I think it was this movie that made Susan aware of Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. That and Gormenghast she says. I see he was in Michael Collins which I have on DVD but I don't remember him in that.

Dinah Washington September in the Rain 1960

 Something for today. Album wiki. Beatles covered this.

Mission of Honor/Hurricane 2018 Full movie

 Just uploaded onto Youtube. The story of Polish airmen from the 303 squadron in the Battle of Britain. Wiki

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers' Dracula (2013)

 Susan is a J R-M fan. She had just finished all 4 seasons of the Tudors when I spotted this for 50p. Turns out it has 3 discs and is a tv series that didn't make it to Season 2. Wiki

Norma Tanega Walking a cat named Dog 1966

 Just played on Boss Radio 66. There is a request hotline and this was a listener's choice. Apparently the singer lived in flats where dogs were not permitted so got a cat named it Dog and took it for walks.