Description :
"What's the point in listening to us doing 'I'm A King Bee' when you can hear Slim Harpo do it ?" - Mick Jagger, 1968.
Slim Harpo died in 1970. Better known by his stage name than his given, James ... [Show more]
Description:
"What's the point in listening to us doing 'I'm A King Bee' when you can hear Slim Harpo do it ?" - Mick Jagger, 1968.
Slim Harpo died in 1970. Better known by his stage name than his given, James Isaac Moore, he epitomized the swamp blues style, and at the time of his passing he was at the brink of enjoying the kind of fame he'd deserved since the release of his first single, the infectious "King Bee" 13 years earlier.
Harpo was just beginning to play for urban, white audiences when he succumbed to an unexpected heart attack. There were plenty of people who were aware of Slim and not all of them were young British musicians who knew a good tune when they heard it. Pete Welding, writing in Rolling Stone, described Harpo as "a stylist who's carved out his own niche, and within the relatively narrow confines of that approach he's unbeatable and of course, immediately recognizable ... the emphasis is on forceful, direct rhythm, tight and simple arrangements (even when horns are used) that work beautifully with Slim's sly, laconic singing and harmonica playing and, above else, feeling".
What an iconic performer perfect for the full Analogue Productions reissue treatment. The Best of Slim Harpo (The Original King Bee) has his iconic hits from a formidable career : "I'm A King Bee", "Got Love If You Want It", "Baby Scratch My Back", "Shake Your Hips", "Te Ni Nee Ni Nu", "Mohair Sam" and more. They're included on an incredibly silent and rich-sounding 200 gram LP pressed by Quality Record Pressings. Mastering from the original analog tapes was by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. Finally, it's all contained in an old-style tip-on heavyweight cardboard jacket from Stoughton Printing. Spectacular sound and an eye-catching package. That's the Analogue Productions difference.
Just up the Mississippi from Baton Rouge, on February 11, 1924, James Isaac Moore was born. He would live in the area for practically all of his life. As a child he took up harmonica, and later, in adulthood, supported himself and his family as a laborer, as a gas station attendant, he hauled sugar cane, and did other odd jobs. He didn't become a professional musician until he began to record in the mid-'50s. In 1955, Moore began recording with Lightnin' Slim at J.D. Miller's studio in Crowley, Louisiana.
Two years later Moore first recorded as a featured artist. The initial session at Miller's studio resulted in three completed masters, all originals : "I'm A King Bee", "Got Love If You Want It" and "This Ain't No Place For Me". Still, Slim, through his career, didn't tour much, and his record label Excello was a small independent with promotion and distribution problems typical for its size. Most of Slim's fame and fortune came second-hand.
We're betting you'll enjoy this Slim Harpo compilation as much as we've enjoyed putting it together and bringing it to you. As Mick pointed out, there's nothing like the original. And Slim Harpo was original to the hilt. We're excited to honor his memory with this exceptional release.
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