Various Artists Blues Harp Women (2 CD)

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.
"A successful compilation, which underlines that it is in which is often regarded as a male domain World of blues not only excellent female guitarists à la Bonnie Raitt, but just a lot of great ones Blues Harp Women." - (Good Times, February / March 2016)
"The 31 ladies that producer Norman Davis gathers here not only blow their instrument passionately, they can also sing expressively, and the guitar accompaniment, sometimes acoustic, sometimes electric, is usually at its finest." - (Stereoplay, February 2016)

Selections: 

Disk 1 of 2 (CD)
1. Harmonica Girl (Rangell, Paula)
2. Roadmaster (Perry, Roxy)
3. Heavy Water (Stacy Jones Band)
4. Down Home Shakedown (Thornton, Big Mama)
5. 32-20 Blues (Hyde, Lynnann)
6. Down To The Hollow (Hamlin, Trina)
7. Stop! Wait A Minute (Tracy K)
8. One More Lie (Lynne, Teresa T-Bird)
9. Naughty Girl (Octavia)
10. Why You So Mean To Me (Baloun, Kat)
11. Ain't Easy (Kohnen, Beth)
12. Stuck On You (Gillman, Jane)
13. Mechanical Beast (Moon, Zola)
14. Please Call Daddy (Phifer, Mattie)
15. Sadder Than Sad (Gosper, Dorothy Jane DJ)
Disk 2 of 2 (CD)
1. Cash Is King (Kerr, Jenny)
2. Blues Got Me (Arena, Cheryl)
3. Lookin' Good (Raines, Annie)
4. He's Gone (Turner, Marion)
5. Meet Me Where They Play The Blues (Leonino, Terry)
6. Crazy Maisie (Dixon, Dana)
7. Everbody's Dancing (Kossowska, Beata)
8. Take The Lead (Fromewick, Jill)
9. Never Leave Me Home (Redlin, Diana)
10. Summertime (Berthon, Christelle)
11. Hit The Road (Rudin, Judy)
12. Doctor C (Doctor C)
13. Rikers Island (Coyote, Maria)
14. Fast Food Mama (Merritt, Jackie)
15. Bring It On Home (To Me) (Big Nancy)
16. Rhonda Alla Blue (Rucker, Rhonda)