JAMES HARMAN
Mo' Na'Kins Please (Cannonball)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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James Harman is one lucky man. Not only in his 30+ years as a bluesman has he had the privilege of sharing the stage with Big Joe Turner, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and John Lee Hooker, but he's also managed to blow some of the best blues harp this side of Jerry Portnoy, Paul de Lay or Magic Dick (yes, of J. Geils fame). Fans of high energy blues harp are fortunate that Cannonball Records have released 14 tracks on Mo' Na'Kins Please. These 14 previously unreleased tracks are from the same sessions that produced the W.C Handy Award-winning Extra Napkins: Strictly the Blues, Vol 1. from 1984-87. "Dirty Work at the Crossroads" does justice to Gatemouth's classic and stands the test of time. Harman's own "Annalee" and "Too Much Family" are great uptempo blues rockers, but "Icepick Boogie," dedicated to B.B. King and Little Milton, shows Harman and his band in fine, rollicking form. Thanks to Cannonball Records, we're treated to 'nother helping of some down-home, greasy blues on Mo' Na'Kins Please. I just wish Harman included some of his "inspirinment," Fred Burrell's BBQ sauce!

Track List:

Mo' Na'Kins Please #2 * Annalee * Too Much Family * Icepick's Pawnshop Blues * Icepick Boogie * (Feel Like) Messin' Up * Chumpman Blues * Shim Sham Shimmy * Don't You Lie to Me * The Falcon's Nest * Dirty Work at the Crossroads * The Goat * Jake-Head Boogie * Mo' Na'Kins Please #1

© 2000 - Eric Steiner