Superharps

• Artist: James Cotton/Billy Branch/Charlie Musselwhite/Sugar Ray Norcia
• Rating:
• Release Date: October 26, 1999
• Total Time: 63:51
• Genre: Blues

Review

Four great blues harmonica players (James Cotton, Billy Branch, Charlie Musselwhite, and Sugar Ray Norcia) are featured in various combinations on this spirited disc, backed by a four-piece rhythm section (with guitarist Kid Bangham and pianist Anthony Geraci). Cotton and Norcia have solo pieces, seven numbers feature two harmonicas, and the lengthy low-down blues "Harp to Harp" has all four of the harmonica players taking turns soloing. Much of the material is jazz-oriented, including "The Hucklebuck," "TD's Boogie Woogie," and "Route 66," and the majority of the selections are instrumentals. Each of the harmonica players sounds inspired and the results are consistently exciting and swinging. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
I Put My Baby Out	Sugar Ray Norcia	Sugar Ray Norcia, Billy Branch, James Cotton	(4:34)
The Hucklebuck	Andy Gibson, Roy Alfred	James Cotton	(5:30)
Blues, Why Do You Worry Me?	Charlie Musselwhite	James Cotton, Sugar Ray Norcia, Charlie Musselwhite	(8:29)
Life Will Be Better	Sugar Ray Norcia	James Cotton, Sugar Ray Norcia, Charlie Musselwhite	(5:03)
Mean Little Mama	Billy Branch	Sugar Ray Norcia, James Cotton, Billy Branch	(3:18)
T.D.'s Boogie Woogie	Tommy Dorsey	James Cotton, Billy Branch	(4:35)
If I Should Have Bad Luck	Charlie Musselwhite	Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton	(5:26)
I'm Gonna Steal Your Baby	Sugar Ray Norcia	Sugar Ray Norcia, James Cotton	(4:23)
Route 66	Bobby Troup	James Cotton, Sugar Ray Norcia, Billy Branch	(5:14)
You're So Fine	Little Walter	Billy Branch, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton	(5:08)
Harp to Harp	Michael Ward, Per Hanson, Kid Bangham, Anthony Geraci	Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Branch, James Cotton, Sugar Ray Norcia	(11:37)

Credits

Billy Branch (Vocals), Kid Bangham (Guitar (Electric)), Michael Ward (Bass), Sugar Ray Norcia (Performer), Michael Ward (Bass (Acoustic)), Charlie Musselwhite (Performer), Anilda Carrasquillo (Design), Kid Bangham (Guitar), Billy Branch (Performer), James Cotton (Vocals), Sugar Ray Norcia (Harmonica), Robert Woods (Executive Producer), Charlie Musselwhite (Vocals), Steve Drown (Engineer), Thoms Macko (Lettering), Lincoln Clapp (Mixing), Elaine Martone (Production Supervisor), Anthony Geraci (Piano), Randy Labbe (Producer), Thoms Macko (Illustrations), Anilda Carrasquillo (Art Direction), Sugar Ray Norcia (Vocals), Charlie Musselwhite (Harmonica), Kevin Keithley (Assistant Engineer), Caleb Mulkerin (Assistant Engineer), Billy Branch (Harmonica), James Cotton (Harmonica), Per Hanson (Drums), David Maxwell (Piano), Cub Koda (Liner Notes), Lincoln Clapp (Mixing Engineer), Matt Dionne (Photography), John Etnier (Mastering)