![]() It is fairly large at 14 inches in length. Although, it has some problems (with some reeds sticking), it was worth the $15.00 I paid for it, as a new one is $350. I don’t have a bass harmonica, but I do have an old Chromatica that I picked up used. Used in harmonica orchestras, the chord harmonica joins the likes of the bass harmonica and the Chromatica – which is a specialty instrument that allows for glissando effects. Since it is a store display, I call it my "Merchant" Marine Band Harmonica. The author with an even larger model - a Hohner store display from the 1960s. If there were such an animal, it would have been considerably larger than the 23 inch Hohner Chord Harmonica 267/384. I have read of a 72 chord harmonica, but I have never seen a picture of this mythical beast. These full-sized 48 chord harmonicas may be the largest harps still in production, although larger models may have been available in the past. Suzuki also makes a full sized 48 chord harmonica for under $1,000. I believe I paid about $50.00 for it a number of years ago – which is much cheaper than the nearly two grand that one would need for the Hohner model. The Swan Compact Chord 48 is much smaller at 13 inches in length and only has four single reeds for each chord. While I have a chord harmonica, it is a cheaper version made in China by Swan. Most retailers, however, only charge around $1700.00 for this model. The Hohner Chord harmonica is extremely expensive listing at $2,469.99 new. On the lower set, the blow has minor chords and the draw chords are a combination of augmented and diminished chords. The top row or deck has major chords in the blow position and 7th chords in the draw position. Like the bass harmonica, it is hinged in order to give the options of more notes, and hence, 48 chords (with 4 sets of double reeds per chord). Hohner Chord Harmonicas are huge with a length of 23 inches. It was obvious that two jaw harps were used, but the video indicates that John Entwhistle played a bass harmonica while Townshend is playing a Hohner chord Harmonica. Seeing this video makes it all clearer as the instrumentation now makes sense. I was always intrigued by the harmonica sound on this song as I never could figure out how Townshend got the sound he did – until now. I did get “Crocodile Rock” late in 1972 as well, but purchased it at H.L. I bought both of these records at Gimbles that same year. The Who’s next single, “The Relay” (another non LP release), and Pete Townshend’s “Who Came First” LP were released on the Track label distributed by MCA. ![]() If I am correct, Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock/Elderberry Wine” single was the first single on MCA – I bought that one as well. The Bruswick label was not included as MCA had sold this trademark to Jackie Wilson's manager, Nat Tarnopol. That year, the Music Corporation of America consolidated all of its labels (Decca, Coral, Kapp, Uni, Vocalian, and MCA Special Products) into one label: MCA Records. It also was the last record by The Who to be released on Decca Records in America. ![]() I’m not sure what motivated me to buy this single, but I had penchant for getting 45s that were not slated to be released on albums – and “Join Together” would not appear on an LP until the compilation album “Join Together” (later named as “Rarities Volume II”) was issued 10 years later. While National Record Mart was just outside Gimbels’ entrance in Eastland’s “Underground Mall,” Gimbles often had singles before NRM and I would often buy them there without hearing them first. I remember buying this single at Gimbles’ record department in the Eastland Shopping center in North Versailles, PA. ![]()
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