The Harmonica on the Temptations "Ball of Confusion"

[marv2]

I just listened to "Ball of Confusion" after a very long time and I was wondering......who's playing the harmonica on it? Anyone know?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9poCAuYT-s&feature=kp

[milven]

When the song first came out and was being played a lot on the radio, I remember a NYC dee-jay saying that it was Stevie Wonder

[ralpht]

Could very well have been Mike Campbell. He did a lot of harp work with Norman.

[marv2]

Thanks Ralph and Milven . Whoever it was........he was tearing it up!!!

[Methuselah2]

In this SDF link, search for:
ball of confusion

It specifies Mike Campbell on harmonica:

http://soulfuldetroit.com/archives/1157/2895.html?1054389084

[marv2]

Thanks Methuselah and Ralph what an incredible memory you have !!

[thomas96]

I don't remember the source but I remember it being Stevie Wonder. And I recall my source being good enough to convince me even still [[against Ray and Ralph's memories sorry) that it is him. Maybe not, and this would be news to me, but I guess it doesn't really sound like his style. Wow. Thanks Marv for bringing this up. Now I'm not really sure who it is, but still leaning towards Stevie. Hopefully I can remember the source of that info, whether it was actually legitimate or not.

[splanky]

I've thought since the first time I heard Ball Of Confusion that the harmonica on it was
definitely NOT Stevie Wonder. I've been a fan of not only Stevie's music but particularly
his harmonica evolution from the time he was Little Stevie through his teen years and into
his adulthood. I really dug his appreciation of blues harpists styles and was quite impressed
with his graduation from diatonic to chromatic harmonica on which I believe he's the only
real peer of the jazz musician Toots Thielman [[sic- I can't spell his name right now). Stevie
has always broken many of the accepted "rules" of harmonica playing and his kissing into
his harp on Girl Blue knocked me the fonk out. Anyway, I've always thought the harmonica
on Ball was either Ted Lucas or Joe Messina. Meth says it's Mike Campbell, okay, maybe it is
but that link is too cluttered for me to find a confirmation right now...

[ralpht]

How about I call Mike Campbell and ask him.

[marv2]

How about I call Mike Campbell and ask him.

Ralph, that would be awesome!

[ralpht]

I called Mike but he was out. I left a message.

[marv2]

I called Mike but he was out. I left a message.

Thank you Ralph. I'm now getting more and more anxious to hear who did the harmonica work on that recording.

[ralpht]

Just got off the phone with Mike. Confirmed. It was he that played on the record. He told me that the song was in a strange key not really suited for the harmonica, but he pulled it off.

I am happy to tell you guys that Mike has agreed to come on the forum to talk with us. He has a wealth of Motown, Babbitt, etc etc stories that are great. Stay tuned. I'm putting his thread on the main forum.

[marv2]

Just got off the phone with Mike. Confirmed. It was he that played on the record. He told me that the song was in a strange key not really suited for the harmonica, but he pulled it off.

I am happy to tell you guys that Mike has agreed to come on the forum to talk with us. He has a wealth of Motown, Babbitt, etc etc stories that are great. Stay tuned. I'm putting his thread on the main forum.

Excellent! Also tell him that his harmonica piece on that song is ICONIC! Thank you Ralph, I look forward to Mike joining us.

Marv

[ralpht]

You tell him, Marv. I just set up his thread on the main forum.

[midnightman]

I didn't think that was Stevie. His harmonica playing is so unique, you'd know if it was him. So even I knew it wasn't Stevie.

[splanky]

Just got off the phone with Mike. Confirmed. It was he that played on the record. He told me that the song was in a strange key not really suited for the harmonica, but he pulled it off.

I am happy to tell you guys that Mike has agreed to come on the forum to talk with us. He has a wealth of Motown, Babbitt, etc etc stories that are great. Stay tuned. I'm putting his thread on the main forum.

Thanks, Ralph, I'll look forward to that. Dang, I still miss Babbitt. Good idea to put Mike's
thread on the main forum,too. For obvious reasons:)....

midnightman, Stevie played harmonica like it was a soprano sax. I'd love to see a written or
even youtube topic focus on just his playing...

[ralpht]

WE all miss Babbitt, Splank. Mike has some great Babbitt stories.

[bobkayli]

I'm writing a university dissertation on Ball of Confusion and looking to compile a musician list for the song. From The Complete Motown Singles 1970 essays, I see there was a 'horns and added instrumentation' recording session on April 14, 1970.
Would anybody have information on who played that date? Scanning the Motown forum site I believe Michael Campbell played Harmonica and Ray Monette played guitar.
Who would have played the horns?
I've found the musicians from the early recording sessions from April 6-13, 1970 but nothing on this last one.
I'm also guessing that due to the improvised nature of the first sessions, Paul Riser would not have arranged the song.
Thanks for any assistance that can be given.