Songs I Love, Part XI: “Shake Your Hips” Slim Harpo

Of another Slim Harpo song, no less an authority than Mick Jagger had this to say: “What’s the point in listening to us doing “I’m a King Bee” when you can hear Slim Harpo do it?”

True.

As it is for “Shake Your Hips,” which most rock & rollers know from Exile On Main Street. It’s time to set you right, kiddies.

Slim Harpo is one of the lesser known mid 20th century bluesmen, and one of the more interesting. Because, well, his life wasn’t that interesting. No selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads. No prison terms. No famous liquor infused incidents. He did grow up Negro in the Huey Long south, but, well, other than that, nothing out of the ordinary.

Let’s hear his original rendition of “Shake Your Hips,” then we’ll talk more. (Alas, I’ve never seen any footage of Slim Harpo live. If you know of some, do tell.)

He always showed up for his gigs. He never appeared to have any drinking related episodes. He was pretty fair businessman, managing himself for the most part. He worked construction and as a longshoreman, mostly near his home in Baton Rouge, where he was born in January, 1924. (Unless it was up the road in Lobdell in February, 1924) He lived in New Orleans for awhile.

He met his wife in 1949 while helping to build a church. They stayed married until his sudden death of a heart attack in 1970. She traveled with him on the road.

Harpo — born James Moore — didn’t become a professional musician until the 50s. At first, he called himself Harmonica Slim before switching to the more resonant and appropriate Slim Harpo. He had a few hits during the Top 40 era: most notably “Rainin’ In My Heart” and “Baby Scratch My Back.”

His voice was unique, slithery but smooth and diffuse. His tunes are laid back in the way that many from Louisisana are. It’s the nature of the beast, the combination of heat, humidity and home cookin’.

Anyway, now you’ll have an answer if somebody asks, “Whattaya know/ About Slim Harpo?”