Weekend Listomania: Special "The Happy (Mouth) Organ" Edition

[I first posted a version of this one in 2008(!), back when the world and this blog were barely removed from diaper-wearing. As is my wont, I've done some rewriting and added/switched a couple of entries, just so you don't find me unduly indolent. Enjoy. -- S.S.]

Well, it's Friday and you know what that means. Yes, my Asian ambulance chaser Hop-Sing and I are off to beautiful Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where we're going to have a sleep-away party with Arizona Governor-in-Her-Own-Mind Kari Lake while we attempt to find the Israeli antiquities the Former Guy seems to have misplaced.

In any case, posting by moi will necessarily be somewhat fitful for a few days as a result.

But until then, as always, here's a fun project for you all to contemplate:

BEST HARMONICA SOLO ON A POST-ELVIS POP OR ROCK RECORD!!!!!

By "best," we mean either in a blues or non-blues idiom, just to keep it totally wide open. And by "solo" we mean anything of any length, even if it's just a riff.

Totally arbitrary rule: Don't even try to nominate something by that fat guy from Blues Traveller. The Hendrix of the Blues Harp my ass....

Okay, that said, here's my totally top of my head Top Fifteen:

15. The Prostitutes -- Down Below

A great New York City rock band in the tradition of the Velvets and the Heartbreakers, and some of the most fabulously blues-wailing harp (courtesy of NYC fixture Jon Paris) on a sort of Doors-Meet-the- Smithereens song you'll ever hear.

14. The Pretenders -- Middle of the Road

Chrissie Hynde -- first she growls, then she makes her harp sound like a stray cat in heat. Can we just admit she's the greatest female rocker who ever was or will be and be done with it already?

13. The Weasels -- Coral Reef

My old garage band chum Glenn Leeds waxes mournful on the opening harp intro. (I'm doing the attempted Robin Trower guitar later in the song, but that's a story for another time).

12. Jimmy Reed -- Honest I Do

The very definition of sly concision. (Hey -- I made a couplet!!!!)

11. The Broadcasters -- Down in the Trenches

One of the great lost singles of the 80s (produced by Wayne Kramer of the MC5, incidentally). These guys should have been superstars, no question about it. BTW, I have a video of me singing "Route 66" and "Gloria" at a party with three of them; get me hammered some time and I might even show it to you.

10. Procol Harum -- Your Own Choice

That solo at the end is about as gorgeously lyrical as can be, and it's played (uncredited) by the great Larry Adler. And if you don't know who he is, hang your head in shame and then go read his bio.

9. Bruce Chanel -- Hey Baby

That's Delbert McClinton playing the harmonica stuff. I seem to recall it was a huge influence on a certain four-piece band from the UK.

8. The Beatles -- I Should Have Known Better

Uh...a case in point.

7. J. Geils Band -- Whammer Jammer

The aptly named Magic Dick. 'Nuff said.

6. Stevie Wonder -- For Once In My Life

As brilliantly structured and performed a solo as you'll ever hear on any instrument.

5. A tie --

The Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger) -- Stop Breaking Down

-- and --

The Rolling Stones (Brian Jones) -- Good Times Bad Times

Amplified Chicago blues harp in the former, acoustic country blues harp in the latter, both brilliant.

4. Bob Dylan -- I Want You

Short, melodic, and it frames the song perfectly, front and back. Anybody who says Dylan's a crappy harp player really isn't listening....

3. XTC -- Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead

Blues harp on a revisionist folk rock song. Andy Partridge is god, obviously.

2. Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Run Through the Jungle

John Fogerty channels Howlin Wolf. It doesn't get any spookier, song OR harp part.

And the number one, no question about it, all time coolest harmonica solo on a hit record is --

1. Slim Harpo -- Baby Scratch My Back

Hands down, the down and dirtiest blues performance ever to crack Top 40 radio.

Alrighty now -- what would YOUR choices be?

And have a great weekend, everybody!!!