Me and the Blues

I heard my first blues song many many years ago as I was a little child. Although I could not understand the words sung I remembered it was sort of combination of moaning and singing which goes deeply into your soul. Nowadays I could not remember what song I heard, but the impression is still there. Over the years I heard a lot of different music, went with a lot of musical fashion, but there was always the fascination of the blues.

One of the most remarkable instruments of the Blues is the blues harp. This simple instruments combines great sound and strong expression with a very light weight and a small size. So one can carry along a blues harp almost everywhere. Prepared this way, you play everywhere you like. But even if the blues harp is considered a childs' instrument - if not a childs' first instrument - it is actually very difficult to play. Learn more about the blues harp on the harp pages.

If you like to hear some great Blues played with harp and soul, try to get a copy of ths CD's listed below.

Some CD recommendations

The idea of making an album together came to us during the course of the Frankfurt Music Trade Fair 1994, proving cunclusively that this hectic and rather tedious event actually does have something to do with music. By tzhe time we got around to recording it, the legendary heat wave of that summer was in full blast, and our brains were fried to a crispy frazzle as the sweat ran down the studio walls. This may be normal in New Orleans or Dakar, but it ain't normal in Hamburg!

Depsite (or maybe because of) the extreme climatic conditions, we managed to get some astoundingly usable material down on tape, and most of it is included here for your delectation. We jope you enjoy.

Slow Roll, Chris Jones & Steve Baker, Acoustic Records 319.1070.242

Have Mercy was founded in London in 1974, and after passing through various different permutations reached its present form in autumn 1976 in Hamburg. Then as now we were dedicated to high-energy good time blues and jugband music, played on acoustic instruments and featuring a great deal of harmonicas and vocals. After releasing one album and building a considerable following, Have Mercy split up at the end of 1978 and everyone went their own ways. Have Mercy was more than just a band, though; it was a way of life and a whole basic approach to playing music. All the ex band members have brought this approach to everything they have done since. Probably the easiest way to explain it would be to say "You always give everything you've got." No half measures.

The realisation that after so many years we still had terrific common bond was probably the main thing which brought Have Mercy back together again. We have a quality together which is rare and in some way valuable: we can make people feel good. This is only a small contribution to creating a better world but it's certainly better than making people feel bad, and it's the only thing we know how to do. We hope to be seeing you there!

Have Mercy, CrossCut Records CCD 11 039