James Isaac Moore
b. January 11th, 1924 in Lobdell (Louisiana)
d. January 31th, 1970 in Baton Rouge (Louisiana)
BUZZIN' THE BLUES
Bear Family
March 1957 - December 1969
Il travaille d'abord comme ouvrier dans un chantier naval puis dans le batiment. C'est grâce à son beau-frère Lightnin' Slim que Slim Harpo rencontre le producteur J.D. Miller (ou Jay Miller) dans ses studios à Crowley. Miller avait un accord avec le label Excello d'Ernie Young à Nashville. C'est donc sur ce label que sortent les faces enregistrées par Slim Harpo. Sa musique simple et excitante qui s'inscrit dans la tradition du Swamp-Blues remporte instantanément un important succès. A la suite d'un désaccord avec Miller, Slim Harpo enregistre 4 morceaux pour Imperial, le label dirigé par Lew Chudd. Finalement, les deux hommes se retrouvent rapidement et continuent leur collaboration jusqu'en 1967. Après un autre désaccord - cette fois entre J.D. Miller et Excello - Slim Harpo n'enregistre plus à Crowley mais à Memphis, Nashville ou Baton Rouge sous la supervision d'autres producteurs comme Robert Holmes, Aaron Varnell, Lynn Ourso Jr ou parfois Harpo lui-même. Il décède brutalement d'un arrêt cardiaque âgé seulement de 46 ans. Slim Harpo eut une influence déterminante sur de nombreux artistes comme les Rolling Stones qui ont repris plusieurs de ses titres. Ce coffret édité par Bear Family reprend l'intégralité de l'oeuvre de Slim Harpo enrichie de nombreux inédits et prises alternatives.
He first worked as a longshoreman in a shipyard then as a construction worker. It's thanks to his brother-in-law Lightnin' Slim that Slim Harpo meets the producer J.D. Miller (or Jay Miller) in his studios in Crowley. Miller had a deal with Ernie Young's Excello label in Nashville. It is therefore on this label that the sides recorded by Slim Harpo are issued. His simple and exciting music which is part of the Swamp-Blues tradition instantly wins a major success. Following a disagreement with Miller, Slim Harpo records 4 tracks for Imperial, the label run by Lew Chudd. Finally, the two men quickly find each other and continue their collaboration until 1967. After a another disagreement - this time between J.D. Miller and Excello - Slim Harpo no longer records in Crowley but in Memphis, Nashville or Baton Rouge under the supervision of other producers like Robert Holmes, Aaron Varnell, Lynn Ourso Jr or sometimes Harpo himself. He died suddenly of cardiac arrest at only 46 years old. Slim Harpo had a decisive influence on many artists like the Rolling Stones who have covered several of his titles. This box set edited by Bear Family includes all of Slim's work Harpo enhanced with many unissued titles and alternative takes.
I'M A KING BEE
Ace
March 1957 - January 1964
Slim Harpo est un harmoniciste guitariste plutôt correct mais il s'impose surtout comme un excellent compositeur (même si ses mélodies peuvent paraitre répétitives). Il a développé un style bien à lui : voix nasale et décontractée, musique hypnotique très excitante. Ce CD reprend surtout des faces de la première partie de sa carrière. On trouve plusieurs pépites comme "I'm a king bee", "I got love if you want it", "Wonderin' and worryin'", "Don't start cryin' now", "Blues hangover", "My home is a prison" ou sa reprise de "Boogie chillun". Derrière lui, on peut trouver Guitar Gable, John "Fats" Perrodin, Clarence "Jockey" Etienne, Rudolph Richard, "Lazy" Lester, Katie Webster.
Slim Harpo is a fairly decent harmonicist and guitarist but above all he stands out as an excellent composer (even if his melodies may seem repetitive). He developed a style all his own : nasal and relaxed voice, very exciting hypnotic music. This CD mainly takes sides from the first part of his career. There are several gems like "I'm a king bee", "I got love if you want it", "Wonderin' and worryin'", "Don't start cryin' now", "Blues hangover", "My home is a prison" or his cover of "Boogie chillun". Behind him, we can find Guitar Gable, John "Fats" Perrodin, Clarence "Jockey" Etienne, Rudolph Richard, "Lazy" Lester, Katie Webster.
SHAKE YOUR HIPS
Ace
June 1961 - September 1966
Second recueil CD édité par Ace de l'oeuvre consistante de Slim Harpo pour Excello. On note qu'on trouve aussi ici ses quatre morceaux pour Imperial. Le programme mérite l'écoute en particulier les sommets que sont "Shake your hips", "Little queen bee", "Harpo's blues", "Sittin' here wondering", "Loving you", "Baby scratch my back", "Stop working blues". Mais, il y a également des morceaux plus commerciaux - surtout des bluettes sentimentales ou des chansons pop - à l'interêt plus limité.
Second CD collection issued by Ace of the consistent work of Slim Harpo for Excello. We note that we also find here his four tracks for Imperial. The program deserve listening in particular the highs that are "Shake your hips", "Little queen bee", "Harpo's blues", "Sittin' here wondering", "Loving you", "Baby scratch my back", "Stop working blues". But there are also more commercial tracks - mostly sentimental romances or pop songs - of more limited interest.
STING IT THEN
Ace
July 1961
Bandes live captées sur une scène de Mobile (Alabama) par David Kearns. Slim Harpo est supporté par son groupe habituel : Willie Parker (saxophone), James Johnson (guitare), Rudolph Richard (guitare), Sammy Brown (batterie). Qualité sonore assez limitée, set-list sympathique mais inégale. A conseiller avant tout aux fans confirmés.
Live tapes recorded on a stage in Mobile (Alabama) by David Kearns. Slim Harpo is supported by his usual backing band : Willie Parker (saxophone), James Johnson (guitar), Rudolph Richard (guitar), Sammy Brown (drums). Fairly limited sound quality, nice but uneven set-list. To be recommended above all to confirmed fans.
TIP ON IN
Ace
Early 1967 - December 1969
Recueil Ace centré sur la dernière partie de l'oeuvre de Slim Harpo toujours chez Excello. Le programme est très dense avec de superbes moments comme "Tip on in", "I'm gonna keep what I've got", "Folsom prison blues" (une belle reprise de Johnny Cash), "Mutual friend", "Jody man" parmi d'autres.
Ace collection centered on the last part of Slim Harpo's work still at Excello. The program is very dense with great moments like "Tip on in", "I'm gonna keep what I've got", "Folsom prison blues" (a nice cover of Johnny Cash), "Mutual friend", "Jody man" among others.