Release Date: 04 December 2015
Release Notes:
Big Mama Thornton is responsible for this album. I played one of her tracks on my radio show, heard a nice harmonica solo and checked the liner notes to see who it was. It was Big Mama! It was the first time I recall hearing a woman playing blues harp and it set the wheels turning in my head. I started wondering if there were other women who played the harmonica and why they are virtually unknown. I began searching. Eventually I found others, then more. I was inspired to create a website. As I was discussing it with a friend, he mispronounced harmonica as “hermonica”. “That’s it!” I shouted. “That’s the name for the website!”
So hermonicas.com was born and became what Adam Gussow called “the definitive site on women harmonica players.” We discovered and contacted almost 200 players around the world. There was some discussion on putting an album together. As far as we know, it had never been done before. A label-owning friend suggested I try Ruf Records and (bless his heart) Tom Ruf agreed to back the project.
It has taken a few years and numerous obstacles to overcome, (working with 30-plus artists can get very complicated) but finally the album is finished and is about to become a unique part of music history; the very first women’s blues harmonica compilation album ever made!
I hope this album will shed some light on what has been a black hole in the blues universe. It proves that as with other instruments, women are the equal of men on the harmonica. Perhaps this will help them get the attention that has passed them by in the past. I am delighted to have been a part of this project.
Norman Davis Producer/host: The Juke Joint (Facebook) and Midnight Flyer (midnightflyerblues.com)
Tracklist
CD 1
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001
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Harmonica Girl
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Paula Rangell
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00:04:25
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002
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Roadmaster
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Roxy Perry
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00:04:16
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003
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Heavy Water
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Stacy Jones Band
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00:05:45
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004
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Down Home Shakedown
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Big Mama Thornton
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00:03:33
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005
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32-20 Blues
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Lynnann Hyde
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00:04:45
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006
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Down To The Hollow
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Trina Hamlin
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00:04:26
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007
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Stop! Wait A Minute
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Tracy K
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00:03:33
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008
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One More Lie
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Teresa "T-Bird" Lynne
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00:05:08
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009
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Naughty Girl
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Octavia
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00:04:39
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010
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Why You So Mean To Me
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Kat Baloun
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00:04:50
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011
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Ain't Easy
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Beth Kohnen
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00:03:20
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012
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Stuck On You
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Jane Gillman
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00:02:48
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013
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Mechanical Beast
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Zola Moon
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00:04:07
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014
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Please Call Daddy
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Mattie Phifer
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00:05:17
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015
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Sadder Than Sad
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Dorothy Jane "DJ" Gosper
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00:08:51
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CD 2
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001
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Cash Is King
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Jenny Kerr
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00:03:35
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002
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Blues Got Me
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Cheryl Arena
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00:06:25
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003
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Lookin' Good
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Annie Raines
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00:07:33
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004
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He's Gone
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Marion Turner
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00:03:18
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005
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Meet Me Where They Play The Blues
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Terry Leonino
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00:03:58
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006
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Crazy Maisie
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Dana Dixon
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00:04:28
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007
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Everbody's Dancing
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Beata Kossowska
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00:03:02
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008
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Take The Lead
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Jill Fromewick
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00:03:26
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009
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Never Leave Me Home
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Diana Redlin
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00:03:07
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010
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Summertime
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Christelle Berthon
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00:04:26
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011
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Hit The Road
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Judy Rudin
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00:04:22
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012
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Doctor C
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Cecilia Loforti
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00:04:02
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013
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Rikers Island
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Maria Coyote
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00:03:35
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014
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Fast Food Mama
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Jackie Merritt
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00:02:50
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015
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Bring It On Home (To Me)
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Big Nancy
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00:03:29
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016
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Rhonda Alla Blue
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Rhonda Rucker
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00:03:13
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