I don’t think I’ve given the harmonica a fair chance on this blog.
Way back in week 38 we listened to a song that had one, but it was synthesized. I made some witty remark about how bad synthesized harmonicas usually sound.
Then in week 598 we listened to a Bob Dylan song that included harmonica. Except that it was a cover version, and the cover version had no harmonica. I made some witty remark about how I liked it better that way.
The only time I seem to have mentioned the harmonica in a positive light was in week 407, and even then I had to mention that it reminded me of the harmonica from the end credits of Sesame Street. It seems I have a hard time getting anywhere near this instrument without adding a witty remark.
Despite my bias, the harmonica has a proud history in modern music, from its roots in blues to its appearance in the protest songs of the 1960s. It’s even appeared in some chart-topping hits over the years, like the chorus of The Beatles’ first number one song and the solo in Billy Joel’s iconic “Piano Man” (but if we’re honest, the fact that Joel went with “Piano Man” instead of “Harmonica Man” says something about his confidence in the harmonica’s ability to engage an audience).
With a new year on the horizon, it seems like a good time for me to turn over a new leaf and give this strange little instrument a try.
So let’s go back to New Year’s Day 1973, when the harmonica was perhaps at its peak in popular music. The previous year, Neil Young used one in his number one song “Heart of Gold”. November 1973 would see the release of the aforementioned “Piano Man”.
But on January 1, 1973, a largely forgotten blues rock legend from Louisiana named Tony Joe White (who, admit it, looks exactly the way you expected a harmonica player to look) released the album “Homemade Ice Cream”.
Its title track, harmonica and all, is our last song of the year for 2025.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. The diminished chords give it an easygoing flavour
2. All joking aside, he’s a really good harmonica player. I don’t know any terms to describe the things he does; there’s probably insider jargon for some of the flourishes he adds to his playing…all I know is that it’s really good.
3. Although it’s instrumental, you can hear Tony Joe humming along at certain points. And at 1:40, after a particularly good harmonica solo, he seems to give a quiet, approving, “yeah!”
Recommended listening activity:
Taking a deep breath* as you prepare for the new year.
*But don’t take the deep breath while you have a harmonica in your mouth, because that would sound ridiculous.
Sorry, just needed to sneak in one more witty remark before 2025 is over.