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Forums :: General Discussion

Alan Wilson The Blind Owl

3 replies [Last post]
Mon, 08/18/2025 - 23:41
Tony Taylor
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Joined: 06/09/2022

Hi,

I was listening to Boogie Chillen No 2 on The Hooker & Heat Album. Just for fun and trying to work on my breath control I have been playing along with the track. How does The Blind play for that long and maintain his breathing? I can last about 30 seconds. Thanks 

Tony 

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Tue, 08/19/2025 - 16:21
#1
UkuleleRob65
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Joined: 06/06/2014
Alan Wilson and breathing

Tony:

Not sure which part of the recording you're referring to. If you're talking about Wilson's sustained E-Gb-A-Gb riff throughout almost the whole recording, my best take is that he's making judicious use of alternating the 2-draw and 3-blow for the E. 'Cause there's no way a human being can just draw constantily for eight minutes.

But if you've got a specific part of his solo (starting around 6:00), let us know. Around 6:50 he plays with a long, long 1 and 1' draw, but playing along, it sounds as if he's really mastered great tone and control with very little breath. A hallmark of a really good player. 

And if you can draw a note for 30 seconds, you've got great lungs. I just tried a quiet 2-draw on an A harp, and after expelling as much air as I could and tapping my stopwatch, good tone and intonation lasted all of 27 seconds. And after that went wonky. Good practice, though.

At 11:33 long, it's easy to see why this recording didn't get much airplay on AM radio back when it was released (1971). 

Also still sad that Wilson died (at age 27) before the recording was actually released. He had not only a bright future ahead as a musician, but also as a forest conservationist.

Looking forward to others chiming in with comments.

Ukulele Rob plays Hohner™ harmonicas customized by Kinya Pollard, The Harpsmith™

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Wed, 08/20/2025 - 09:15
#2
SOTB
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Joined: 01/10/2010
If this is the recording

If this is the recording you are referring to

https://youtu.be/yzmogN7aj-I?si=wOhfayzO-tutZrDf

 

"It sounds to me" like he's using a D Harp in 2nd Position.

He's releasing air on the 4 blow of the lick.

2,2,2,2,2,2,3',4+

At approximately 1:34 he changes he's breathing pattern and holds the 2 draw a bit longer

2, 2, 2 , 3'4+  (There's what I think is called a pull or chuck before each 2 draw and the 3')

"Another variation" you could use to change up your breathing pattern is 3+,3+,3+,3+,3+,3+,3',4+

 

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Wed, 08/20/2025 - 15:09
#3
UkuleleRob65
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Joined: 06/06/2014
Hooker and Heat

SOTB:

Yep. Same recording I was listening to. In A, 2nd pos. on D harp. Wilson is pulling the 2-draw to get that rhythm. Playing along, I find myself alternating 2-draw and 3-blow just to keep aerated. 

The YouTube version I found is the same recording with Canned Heat, released in 1971 by Liberty Records, and recorded at Liberty in Los Angeles. Funny, though: The link I found has instead of the album photo, a label photo of Hooker's original "Boogie Chillen" recording from 1948, released on Modern Records from Hollywood, but actually recorded at United Sound Systems in Detroit, the historic studio where the buidling is still standing as a historic landmark, but is threatened by a highway widening project. 

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