Time: 36:22
Size: 83.3 MB
Styles: Chicago blues, Harmonica blues
Year: 1972/1995
Art: Front
[3:02] 1. Big Walter's Boogie
[3:48] 2. Hard Headed Woman
[0:37] 3. John Henry
[2:09] 4. Hound Dog
[1:11] 5. Interview With Walter Horton
[6:33] 6. They Call Me Big Walter
[2:30] 7. Looka Here
[3:27] 8. Shakey's Edmonton Blues
[3:12] 9. Sugar Mama
[3:41] 10. Joe Chicago
[5:31] 11. Worried Worried
[0:35] 12. Turkey In The Straw
Big Walter Horton was one of the key architects of modern blues harmonica. Blues legend Willie Dixon referred to him as "the best harmonica player I ever heard." Along with Little Walter Jacobs and Sonny Boy Williamson II, he is considered to be one of the most influential harpists ever. He was capable of both intense power and fragile delicacy, often in the same song. He was endlessly melodically adventurous, and always unpredictable.
Walter Horton was born in Horn Lake, MS on April 6, 1917, but his mother soon moved to Memphis where Walter grew up. A child prodigy, he taught himself how to play the harmonica at the age of five. He later learned more about his instrument by working with pioneering harp players Will Shade of the Memphis Jug Band and Hammie Nixon, who recorded with Delta bluesman Sleepy John Estes. Horton became one of the most in-demand young harp men in Memphis, playing with future Chicago blues greats like Eddie Taylor, Floyd Jones and Johnny Shines. Shines recalled that Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) used to come to Horton for lessons, though Williamson was the older man. Even the brilliant Little Walter Jacobs acknowledged that he "ran" with Big Walter in Memphis during the 1940s, though he would never admit learning from Horton. Big Walter moved to Chicago in the late 1940s, but often returned home to Memphis.
Hot Cottage, based out of Edmonton, Alberta Canada has been in existence since 1970. It is an extremely versatile group that is at home playing everything from delta style to big band blues; from swing to slow blues and from blues samba to barn-burning boogie. The group plays both re-arranged and self-written pieces, with something for everyone. It is no wonder Hot Cottage appeals to a wide age group.
Hot Cottage began its roots as a three piece group, influenced by such blues greats as Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Albert King, B.B. King, Otis Rush, Memphis Slim to name only a few. They also began integrating the punchy sounds of the British blues explosion during the sixties. The Cream, John Mayall, Peter Green, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and a host of others all had an influence on them. The group is noted for their original compositions as well as their ability to present totally reworked versions of pieces written by other artists.
In 1972, Willie Dixon and the Chicago Allstars toured through western Canada, with Big Walter (Shakey) Horton on harmonica. Thanks to Holger Peterson, who would go on to form Stony Plain Records and become a legend in his own right, Hot Cottage teamed up with Walter Horton to record a 45 rpm record “Joe Chicago”. Later that year, Holger brought Walter back to town to lay down tracks for a full LP, which was first released by London Records as: “Walter Shakey Horton with Hot Cottage”. Shakey Horton has since passed away, but has been written up in blues anthologies for his important influence and innovation in blues history. This album has been released in Canada, the U.S., Britain and Europe and continues to be re-released. The most recent re-release was through Stony Plain Records in Canada.
Bass – Brian Koehli; Drums – Lyndsey Umrysh; Guitar – Steve Boddington; Piano – Bob Derkash; Vocals – Nancy Nash.
Recorded at Parkland studios, Edmonton, Canada. April, Sept. 72. Remixed at Wally Heider recording studio 'D', San Francisco
Walter Horton was born in Horn Lake, MS on April 6, 1917, but his mother soon moved to Memphis where Walter grew up. A child prodigy, he taught himself how to play the harmonica at the age of five. He later learned more about his instrument by working with pioneering harp players Will Shade of the Memphis Jug Band and Hammie Nixon, who recorded with Delta bluesman Sleepy John Estes. Horton became one of the most in-demand young harp men in Memphis, playing with future Chicago blues greats like Eddie Taylor, Floyd Jones and Johnny Shines. Shines recalled that Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) used to come to Horton for lessons, though Williamson was the older man. Even the brilliant Little Walter Jacobs acknowledged that he "ran" with Big Walter in Memphis during the 1940s, though he would never admit learning from Horton. Big Walter moved to Chicago in the late 1940s, but often returned home to Memphis.
Hot Cottage, based out of Edmonton, Alberta Canada has been in existence since 1970. It is an extremely versatile group that is at home playing everything from delta style to big band blues; from swing to slow blues and from blues samba to barn-burning boogie. The group plays both re-arranged and self-written pieces, with something for everyone. It is no wonder Hot Cottage appeals to a wide age group.
Hot Cottage began its roots as a three piece group, influenced by such blues greats as Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Albert King, B.B. King, Otis Rush, Memphis Slim to name only a few. They also began integrating the punchy sounds of the British blues explosion during the sixties. The Cream, John Mayall, Peter Green, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and a host of others all had an influence on them. The group is noted for their original compositions as well as their ability to present totally reworked versions of pieces written by other artists.
In 1972, Willie Dixon and the Chicago Allstars toured through western Canada, with Big Walter (Shakey) Horton on harmonica. Thanks to Holger Peterson, who would go on to form Stony Plain Records and become a legend in his own right, Hot Cottage teamed up with Walter Horton to record a 45 rpm record “Joe Chicago”. Later that year, Holger brought Walter back to town to lay down tracks for a full LP, which was first released by London Records as: “Walter Shakey Horton with Hot Cottage”. Shakey Horton has since passed away, but has been written up in blues anthologies for his important influence and innovation in blues history. This album has been released in Canada, the U.S., Britain and Europe and continues to be re-released. The most recent re-release was through Stony Plain Records in Canada.
Bass – Brian Koehli; Drums – Lyndsey Umrysh; Guitar – Steve Boddington; Piano – Bob Derkash; Vocals – Nancy Nash.
Recorded at Parkland studios, Edmonton, Canada. April, Sept. 72. Remixed at Wally Heider recording studio 'D', San Francisco
Walter 'Shakey' Horton With Hot Cottage mc
Walter 'Shakey' Horton With Hot Cottage zippy