Watermelon Slim Week: Day 2
I’ve declared it Watermelon Slim Week here at COAF, and today is the release date for his new album. Oh, glory, the day has finally arrived! Watermelon Slim & The Workers’ The Wheel Man is in stores and you can be among the first read my review. You can either read the review and then go buy the record, or you can go buy the record and compare your thoughts with mine. Either is an acceptable approach. In fact, you could do both. Then you could give your extra copy of the CD to a friend. We all have friends in need of musical makeovers.
I mention while discussing some of the different Wheel Man songs that Slim plays slide guitar and harp, and both quite well. It’s rare for an artist to be the principle songwriter, lead vocalist, and play two lead instruments. I guess that’s in keeping with Slim’s blue collar, overachieving nature. As I’ve mentioned before, he’s a Vietnam Vet, a genius certified by MENSA, holds multiple college degrees, drove truck, taught, worked as a journalist, and is now one of the top bluesmen on the circuit.
There are lots of musicians who play more than one instrument, but I can’t think of many who are equally famous for more than one. I’m sure there are bluesmen who’ve played guitar and harp, but they often seem to focus primarily on one. Robert Johnson started out on harp, but became an icon when he learned guitar. B.B. King and Buddy Guy are amazing blues guitarists, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson II were trailblazing harp players.
I suppose it makes sense that Watermelon Slim would be a blues renaissance man. Only he and Howlin’ Wolf spring quickly to mind with regards to bluesmen who’ve mastered the guitar and the harmonica. If you want to hear a sample of his slide work, check out “Black Water.” “Rattlesnake” is a great choice if you want to hear him play his harp. Both of these songs are among the highlights of the new album.
Filed under: Bloggin' the Blues, Watermelon Slim
