Various Artists - In the Pocket: A Taste of Blues Harmonica

Title: In the Pocket: A Taste of Blues Harmonica Artist: Various Artists Release Date: 7/23/2002 Label: Telarc Distribution Album Type(s): Various artists collection UPC: 089408355622 Genre: Blues Styles: Soul, Soul-Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Chicago Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Modern Acoustic Blues, Electric Blues, Blues-Rock, Electric Texas Blues, Electric Harmonica Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Harmonica Blues, Contemporary Blues, Swamp Blues, Modern Electric Texas Blues, Album Rock, Regional Blues Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Mighty Fine Boogie :: James Cotton, Ronnie Earl, Kim Wilson
2. Knocking at Your Door :: John Primer, Matthew Skoller
3. T.D.'s Boogie Woogie :: Billy Branch, James Cotton
4. Rock Me Baby :: Annie Raines, Hubert Sumlin
5. Lightning :: James Cotton
6. I'm a Steady Rollin' Man :: Carey Bell, Robert Lockwood, Jr.
7. In Your Darkest Hour :: Charlie Musselwhite, T-Bone Wolk
8. Bring It on Home :: Rod Carey, Per Hanson, Kenny Neal
9. Muddy's Shuffle :: Muddy Waters Tribute Band, Jerry Portnoy
10. The Goat :: Corey Harris, Junior Wells
11. Starlight Diamond :: Lazy Lester, Raful Neal
12. Fire Down Under the Hill :: James Cotton
13. Pony Blues :: Kid Bangham, Guy Davis, Corey Harris, Steve James, Charlie Musselwhite, Graham Parker, Snooky Pryor, Annie Raines
14. Harp to Harp :: Billy Branch, James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Sugar Ray Norcia, Suger Ray Norcia

Year Type Label Catalog # 2002 CD Telarc Distribution 83556

No other editions were found for this album.

It's nearly impossible to think of any traditional blues band without one of their members blowing on a harmonica. This collection of great mouth organ players begins with Ronnie Earl performing "Mighty Fine Boogie," a song living up to its name. James Cotton's harmonica begins to take a more prominent role as the song progresses, but it's only near the end that he begins to shine. Cotton also duels with Billy Branch during a rendition of Tommy Dorsey's "T.D.'s Boogie Woogie." "Knocking at Your Door" has a slower tempo to it, allowing for Matthew Skoller to showcase his talents. It works particularly well against John Primer's guitar solo. One of the stronger performances is Annie Raines during "Rock Me Baby," a track where she does a lot by simply doing less harmonica work. It resembles an early Rolling Stones cover of "Little Red Rooster" in some parts. One of the timeless qualities of any blues harmonica is the emotion it tends to emit despite its lack of size or amplification. "I'm a Steady Rollin' Man" demonstrates this perfectly as Carey Bell does a fine performance over Robert Lockwood Jr.'s vocals. Equally interesting is Kenny Neal performing "Bring It on Home," using his harmonica to accentuate the song while his guitar maintains a steady rhythm. Junior Wells has a style all of his own during the jazz and swing feeling during "The Goat." Taken from his Come on in This House album, it possesses one of the catchier and more infectious beats on the album. The last third of the album features more extended blues numbers, including Raful Neal's rendition of "Starlight Diamond." It's a song that has a deliberate and leisurely pace to it, but tends to drag near its ending. The earthy and gut-wrenching feeling coming from Snooky Pryor's voice and mouth organ during "Pony Blues" is hair-raising at some points, which is another shining moment. Ending the compilation is an "all star" assortment contributing to "Harp to Harp." Featuring James Cotton, Sugar Ray Norcia, Billy Branch, and Charlie Musselwhite, it is a proper finish despite having a rather lengthy and bland beginning to it. ~ Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adrian Mills Compilation Producer Al Brown Bass Anilda Carrasquillo Art Direction Annie Raines Vocals, Harmonica Anthony Geraci Piano Bill Melcher Bass Billy Branch Harmonica Bob Sunda Bass (Acoustic) Bobby Arnold Engineer Buddy Guy ? Calvin "Fuzz" Jones Bass, Guitar Carey Bell Harmonica Carl Carlton ? Carl Weathersby ? Charlie Musselwhite Harmonica, Guitar, Vocals Chris Andersen Engineer Chris Bauer Engineer Chris Rival Engineer Chris Shepard Engineer Chris Thomas King ? Christine Ohlman Vocals Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown ? Colleen Sexton Vocals Corey Harris Vocals, National Steel Guitar, Guitar Dan McKinney Organ, Engineer, Piano Darrell Nulisch Vocals Dave Ferrara Drums Dave Van Ronk Vocals, Guitar David Maxwell Piano Deborah Coleman ? Derek Trucks ? Doug Wainoris Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Dobro, Guitar (Acoustic) Eddie Kirkland ? Eddie Shaw Vocals, Saxophone Eric Gales ? Erica Brenner Compilation Editing Frank Moscowitz Engineer G.E. Smith Guitar Grace Falconer Engineer Graham Parker Vocals, Guitar Gregg Allman ? Gregg Hoover Guitar Guy David Harmonica, Vocals, Guitar Harry Gale Engineer Herman V. Ernest III Drums Hubert Sumlin Vocals Irma Thomas ? Jay Burton Assistant Jay Newland Engineer, Associate Producer Jerry Portnoy Harmonica Jim Begley Engineer Jim Burt Design Jimmy Mouradian Bass Joe Brien Assistant Joe Harley Producer Joe Louis Walker Guitar, Vocals John Ellison ? John Mooney ? John Platania Engineer John Primer Vocals, Guitar John Snyder Producer John Wyman Engineer Jon Cleary Piano Junior Wells Harmonica, Vocals Keith Brown ? Kelly Willis Vocals Ken Saydak Organ, Piano Kenny Neal Vocals, Guitar Kevin Keithley Assistant Kid Bangham Guitar (Electric), Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Kim Wilson Harmonica, Vocals Koko Taylor ? Larry McCray Guitar Lazy Lester Harmonica Levon Helm Drums Lucky Peterson ? Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson Guitar Mark Murphy Bass (Upright) Mark Rubin Bass (Upright) Marty Stuart Guitar, Mandolin Matthew Skoller Harmonica Michael Bishop Engineer Michael Bitterman Engineer Michael C. Ross Engineer Michael Jerome Drums Mike Vernon Percussion, Producer Mudcat Ward Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Upright) Norris Johnson ? Paul Rishell Vocals, Guitar Per Hanson Drums, Percussion Pete Carlson Engineer Peter Re Organ Peter Wolf ? Raful Neal Harmonica, Vocals Randy Labbe Producer Reggie McBride ? Rico McFarland Guitar Robben Ford Guitar Robert Lockwood, Jr. Vocals, Guitar Robert Palmer ? Rod Carey Bass (Electric), Bass (Acoustic) Ronnie Earl Guitar, Producer Sal Mormando Assistant Snooky Pryor Vocals, Harmonica Sonny Landreth Slide Guitar Steve Drown Engineer Steve James Guitar, Vocals, Mandolin Steve McCray Drums Sugar Ray Norcia Harmonica Susan Tedeschi ? Suzanne Dyer Assistant T-Bone Wolk Bass, Banjo, Mandolin Tab Benoit Guitar (Acoustic) Taj Mahal ? Tony Braunagel ? Tony Daigle Assistant, Engineer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith Vocals, Drums