Listening To Little Walter.

A new CD arrived here a couple of days ago called The Best Of Little Walter. It was Little Walter’s first album and was originally released in 1958, a collection of ten tracks that were hits on the American R & B charts in the 1950s plus two B-Sides. Rolling Stone magazine placed this record at number 198 on its list of the 500 greatest albums ever made. I think Rolling Stone might have placed it that high because of a guilty conscience, due to the fact that most white Americans ignored blues music until it was sold back to them by British blues bands in the 1960s. I have played it four times now and it grows on me with every listen.

As is often the case with me discovering new music, it was Van Morrison who pointed me in the direction of Little Walter. I remember many years ago reading an interview with Van where he recounted a story about meeting Little Walter in London in 1964. Van’s band Them had just arrived in London, and Walter was on his first trip to Europe. They were all staying at the Aaland Hotel in London. In return for Van buying Walter some Chinese food he taught Van some of his harmonica techniques. I was reminded of all this five years ago when Van recorded Walter’s song Mean Old World on his Roll With The Punches album. If (like me until a few days ago) you don’t know a lot about Little Walter, I’ll just tell you a little about him that I learned from Wikipedia. 

He was born Marion Walter Jacobs on May 1, 1930, in Louisiana. He was a blues musician, singer, and songwriter, whose revolutionary approach to the harmonica had a strong impact on succeeding generations. His virtuosity and musical innovations fundamentally altered many listeners' expectations of what was possible on blues harmonica. He was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, the first and, to date, only artist to be inducted specifically as a harmonica player. He arrived in Chicago in 1946 and joined Muddy Waters band in 1948. He left Muddy Waters in 1952 for his own career, but still appeared on most Muddy Waters records during the 1950s. 

His found fame recording as a solo artist with the instrumental Juke in 1952 which reached number 1 on the R & B charts. Walter was an alcoholic with a nasty temper which often led to fights and minor run ins with the law. In February 1968 he was involved in a fight while playing at a night club in Chicago and died the following morning. He was buried in an unmarked grave, until some fans had a marker designed and installed in 1991. 

So, to the album. The black and white photo on the cover shows Walter playing a Hohner 64 chromatic harmonica. The first track My Babe was written by Willie Dixon who also played bass and produced this album. I first heard of Willie Dixon in 1964 as the writer of Little Red Rooster by The Stones. Sad Hours is a slow instrumental with guitar and wailing harmonica. You’re So Fine is an upbeat R & B number typical of the music that inspired young bands of the 60s. Last Night is soulful by comparison. The great American writer and social commentator Studs Terkel said, ‘Perhaps, the essence of Little Walter comes through most clearly in the slow blues, “Last Night.” There is a moaning and a crying and a shouting here that makes it plain, this man’s harp is his voice – much like Armstrong’s trumpet speaks for him . . . Little Walter and his harmonica are of one piece’.

Blues With A Feeling was originally written by Rabon Tarrant, but Walter rewrote it and claimed it as his own. It is now regarded as a blues standard which has inspired many musicians to play the harmonica. Can’t Hold Out Much Longer features Muddy Waters on guitar. Juke is a very catchy and probably Walter’s signature tune I would imagine. I wonder if this is the tune he taught Van to play? Mean Old World which I mentioned earlier is next, and I have shared a video below of Walter playing this song live with Hound Dog Taylor if you want to see it. It was originally recorded by T Bone Walker, another song that Walter took for himself. Off The Wall is another great instrumental displaying Walter’s virtuosity. You Better Watch Yourself sounds quite threatening, which might hint at Walter’s dark side. One of my favourite tracks is Blue Lights, a very atmospheric instrumental. The album ends with the upbeat Tell Me Mama. I have enjoyed getting into this album the last two days. I’m not an expert on blues music at all, so it has been quite educational for me listening to and learning about the great Little Walter.

Muddy Waters, Lttle Walter & Bo Diddly.