Tip of the Day

Do you ever feel frustrated with the lack of progress in your playing... even when you feel like you're practicing hard? I recommend you pickup the book The Practicing Mind by Thomas M. Sterner. It's short and very basic in nature, but keeps you on track in regards to being process, not product focused.

It's available in multiple formats. Thanks to Jon Harl for the recommendation.

There are so many fine recordings of Horton as a bandleader and sideman (Johnny Shines cuts are amazing... no wait, him with Jimmy Rogers!... oh, here we go!). I hope you don't ready this as "Dave only recommends these, what a fool! ;-)"... it's just to recommend the ones I and my students come back to often to mine the gems. These two albums, recorded in 1978/79, showcase Horton at his finest and with a very attentive band.

Big Walter Horton, Can't Keep Lovin' You
http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=7754

Big Walter Horton, Fine Cuts continue reading...

In my "You Missed Monday!" email from the B1 Blues Room yesterday (Joe Filisko's weekly classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music) was a very interesting chart titled "Little Walter Songs Overview"... a fascinating graphic overview of Little Walter songs assembled by Scott Dirks and Billy Blue. Take a look at it here, it's pretty cool: http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1411546531

If you already have "Big Walter Horton, Memphis Recordings 1951," then you don't need this, but I knew there was another release still in print out there that had his early material, it's "Horton Big Walter, Mouth Harp Maestro" http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=7760

1. Jumpin' Blues
2. Black Gal
3. Hard Hearted Woman
4. Go Long Woman
5. What's The Matter With You (Take 2)
6. Cotton Patch Hot Foot
7. Little Boy Blue
8. Walter's Blues (Aka I'm In Love With You Baby)
9. Blues In The Morning
10. Now Tell Me Baby continue reading...

This is a trailer from the Blue Midnight, the upcoming film biography of Little Walter (thanks to my buddy Pete for telling us about this). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtZDbiCEfnM&feature=player_embedded

"Memphis Recordings 1951" captures Big Walter Horton's amazing early work.
It doesn't look like this is in print anymore. You may want to contact Charlie Lange at BlueBeatMusic.com and see if he can recommend a current CD on the market that has some of these early recordings of Horton.

Make sure to take a look at a list Joe Filisko and others put together titled "Walter Horton Recordings," the PDF can be found here: http://www.filisko.com/assets/Walter%20Horton%20Discography.PDF

This last recording will round out your essential selections of George Smith. This release has the iconic blues chromatic instrumental in 1st Position, "Boogie'n With George." There are also cuts with Rod Piazza on this.

George "Harmonica" Smith, Now You Can Talk About Me
http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=9005

Considered by many to be one of George's best releases.
http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=19435

1. Mellow Down Easy
2. Can't Hold On Much Longer
3. My Babe
4. Juke
5. West Helena Woman
6. Tell Me Mama
7. Last Night
8. You Better Watch Yourself
9. Key To The Highway
10. Everything's Gonna Be Alright
11. Too Late
12. Love With A Feelin'
13. Goin' Down Slow
14. Just A Feelin'

Essential Recordings: George "Harmonica" Smith, Harmonica Ace
http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=9004

"Telephone Blues" and "Blues In The Dark" are worth the price alone.

1. Rocking
2. Telephone Blues
3. Blues In The Dark
4. Blues Stay Away
5. Have Myself A Ball
6. I Found My Baby
7. Oopin' Doopin' Doopin'
8. California Blues
9. Hey Mr Porter (Aka Down In New Orleans)
10. Early One Monday Morning
11. Rocking (Alternate Take)
12. Love Life
13. Cross Eyed Suzie Lee
14. You Don't Love Me
15. I Found My Baby (Alternate Take) continue reading...

Spread across two sets (4xCDs each) are the works of our grandfather of the modern blues harmonica sound.

Williamson Sonny Boy #1 (4CDS) - The Original (VOL 1) [JSP7797]
http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=13438

Williamson Sonny Boy #1 (4CDS) - The LATER YEARS (VOL 2) [JSP77101]
http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=16717