Tuesday 28 June 2011

STAR BLUES on 26th June 2011 at 22:00

My regular trips to look for new items for STAR BLUES uncovered two discs of tracks used by Burlesque performers; this art form relies on the great r&b and rock-n-roll music made in the late ‘Forties and early ‘Fifties. Hence you get Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, Louis Jordan, Ike Turner, Link Wray and Dale Hawkins at their very best. Last night on STAR BLUES we took a very generous helping the included the delicious Big Jay McNeely’s “Big Fat Mamas Are Back In Style”.

Johnny Nicholas and JP Soars brought their new projects and we included a sublime Larry Davis song (The Years Go Passing By) from 1968 believed to be done for a label setup by B B King: Virgo. King was the inspiration for the 1001 Blues feature: we played his version of “Three O’Clock Blues” a couple of weeks ago and I saw him reprise the tune in his Glastonbury set, our feature looked at the original issue by Lowell Fulson done with his brother Martin that came out on Down Town in 1948.

Lucinda Williams’ current work is outside the scope of STAR BLUES but her earliest recordings made for Smithsonian Folkways were very much on the nose and her interpretation of “Pure Religion” made it into our gospel tent. Big Joe Turner with Pete Johnson’s rippling 88s set out the stall for the piano blues spot ably aided and abetted by Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Lewis Boogie”.

Our blues chain feature will start again later in the year and I’m planning to publish a book of the music used in the “1001 Blues” feature to expand on the blog – you’ll need to be doing some STAR BLUES with me on Sundays to find out some more. I hope you’ll be along this upcoming Sunday to see how much blues and tomfoolery one man can carry in a white tee-shirt – until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you


Track Artist Album
2202 Wrong Woman Ana Popovic [1-2]Blind For Love - Ana Popovic{- -}
2206 Mama Bring Your Clothes Home Phillip Walker [1-2]Going Back Home - Phillip Walker{- -}
2211 Twenty Five Lies Guitar Slim [1-10]The Story Of My Life - Guitar Slim{- -}
2219 Overseas Blues Little Whitt & Big Bo [1-5]Moody Swamp Blues - Little Whitt & Big Bo{- -}
2226 Nadine (Is It You?) Chuck Berry [1-13]His Best Volume 2 - Chuck Berry{- -}
2230 Three O'clock Blues Lowell Fulson [1-1]Three O'clock Blues - Lowell Fulson{- -}
2236 Hey Hey Johnny Nicholas & Jimmie Vaughan [1-1]Fiuture Blues - Johnny Nicholas{- -}
2244 Thrill On The Hill Snooks Eaglin [1-9]Soul's Edge - Snooks Eaglin{- -}
2247 T-Town Twist Roy Milton & His Solid Senders [2-6]The Very Best Of Burlesque - Various Artists{- -}
2250 Rumble Link Wray & The Wraymen [1-22]The Very Best Of Burlesque - Various Artists{- -}
2253 Big Fat Mamas Are Back In Style Bull Moose Jackson & His Buffalo Bearcats [2-21]The Very Best Of Burlesque - Various Artists{- -}
2255 Ubangi Stomp Warren Smith [1-18]The Very Best Of Sun Rock'n'roll - Various Artists{- -}
2301 More Bees With Honey J P Soars [1-1]More Bees With Honey - J P Soars{- -}
2305 If I Was Your Guitar Pura Fe [1-3]A Blues Night In North Carolina - Pura Fe{- -}
2310 Mama Didn't Raise No Fools Sugar Pie Desanto [1-6]Go Go Power • The Complete Chess Singles 1961-1966 - Sugar Pie Desanto{- -}
2314 I'll Take You There Staple Singers [2-4]This Time It's For Real - Various Artists{- -}
2318 W.P.A. Blues Casey Bill Weldon [1-20]Story Of The Blues - Various Artists{- -}
2322 M And O Blues Willie Brown [1-4]Pure Vintage Blues Vol. 3 : Future Blues - Various Artists{- -}
2327 Dynaflow Blues Johnny Shines Blues Band [3-7]Chicago / The Blues / Today! - Various Artists{- -}
2328 Roll 'Em Pete Big Joe Turner & Pete Johnson [4-14]History Of Rhythm And Blues Part One - Various Artists{- -}
2331 Lewis Boogie Jerry Lee Lewis [1-4]Best Of - Jerry Lee Lewis{- -}
2334 Hacksaw Rag/Cincinnati Flow Rag Toby Walker [1-12]Live At The Bottleneck - Toby Walker{- -}
2342 You're Gonna Need Pure Religion Lucinda Williams [1-13]Ramblin' - Lucinda Williams{- -}
2349 Dallas Woman Bob Kirkpatrick [1-8]Drive Across Texas - Bob Kirkpatrick{- -}
2353 Rock Me Baby B. B. King [1-24]The Vintage Years - B. B. King{- -}

Sunday 19 June 2011

STAR BLUES on 19th June 2011 at 22:00

With new releases from Seasick Steve, Blind Boys of Alabama. Watermelon Slim and a new project bearing Rory Gallagher's name all add up to another bumper fun-size edition of STAR BLUES.

It is ten years since John Lee Hooker died (21st June 2001) and it was fitting we chose "The Healer" album's title track in our 1001 Blues feature. The misinformation on the web was corrected thanks to the discography I wrote in 2006 and the Charles Shaar Murray biography.

The 1978 sessions Rory Gallagher did with Elliott Mazer in San Francisco were discarded by the artist at the time and circumstances ganged up on him to stop him going back to the project The booklet tells the tale from Elliott's view point and that of Rory Gallagher by way of observing first hand the scuffles between the siblings. Donal is now in full control of Rory's legacy so that Elliott Mazer had now a last chance to deliver the album as envisaged at the outset.

As for Gospel, that Blind Boys of Alabama album is a set of country duets and we had one last night together with a lovely interpretation of a Robert Wilkins classic by Tom Feldmann. Keyboard brightness came from Dr John at the behest of birthday girl (Lady Blue on 18th) and from Kenny Blues Boss Wayne just showing off on his Electro-Fi album out about now.

Watermelon Slim's last project was outside our purview bu his brand new one teams him with (james) Super Chikan (johnson) for some raw blues. Will Scott is on at Glastonbury which lead me to a shameless plug for "The FreeWheelin Gary Blue" a show on 14th July to preview music you can hear at this years Cambridge Folk Festival. (BTW in case its slipped by you, Robert Cray is one of the headline acts!!!)

Our chain got broken with no sensible link back to Keb' Mo's "Riley King" track on 12th June without duplicating an artist I'd already included. You can sleep easily because the Chain will be back... While I sort that out I'll say thanks for another kind invite over to yours and to tell you to take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you. Hope you can come along next Sunday (26th) at ten pm (BST).

SONG

ARTIST

#

ALBUM

ALBUM-ARTIST

LABEL

I Can Do Better By Myself

Lucky Peterson

2

Every Second A Fool Is Born

Lucky Peterson

Unkn.

The Search Is Over

Deitra Farr

9

The Search Is Over

Deitra Farr

JSP Records

I Ain't Never

Jimmie Vaughan

1

Plays More Blues, Ballads And Favourites

Jimmie VaughanLou Ann Barton

PROPER

Goin' Down The Road Again

Sue Foley

1

Change

Sue Foley

Ruf

Hoodoo Lady

Dave Kelly

6

When The Blues Comes To Call

Dave Kelly

HYPERTENSION

Good Liquor

Toby Walker

4

Live At The Bottleneck

Toby Walker

Powerhouse Records

Natural Born Lover

Fats Domino

16

The Imperial Singles Vol. 4, 1959-1961

Fats Domino

ACE

The Healer

John Lee Hooker

3

The Best Of Friends

John Lee Hooker

Blue Label / SPV

Last Rest Stop

Will Scott

7

Keystone Crossing

Will Scott

weather-tone

I Don't Wear No Sunglasses

Watermelon Slim And Super Chikan

2

Okiesippi Blues

Watermelon Slim And Super Chikan

Northern Blues

Confessin' The Blues

Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers

11

Almighty Dollar

Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers

DELTAGROOVE

Big Dogs Runnin This Town

Victor Wainwright And The Wildroots

1

Lit Up

Victor Wainwright And The Wildroots

WildRoots Records

Rue The Day

Rory Gallagher

1

Notes From San Francisco

Rory Gallagher

Eagle Rock Entertainment

If My Baby Quit Me

Woody & The BluePackers

2

Porch

Woody & The BluePackers

BIG DEAL RECORDS

Back In The Dog House

Seasick Steve

4

Now Hear This! The Word Magzine July 2011

Various Artists

Development Hell Ltd

U Lie 2 Much

Dr. John

11

Television

Dr. John

MCA

Searching For My Baby

Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne

1

An Old Rock On A Roll

Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne

Electro-Fi

Let's Straighten It Out

Marion James

4

Essence

Marion James

cdb

Take The High Road

Blind Boys Of Alabama, The

8

Now Hear This! The Word Magzine July 2011

Various Artists

Development Hell Ltd

Stand Your Test In Judgement

Tom Feldmann & The Get-Rites

7

Tribute

Tom Feldmann & The Get-Rites

MAGNOLIA

Reconsider Baby

Lowell Fulson

14

The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years

Various Artists

Rhythm and Blues Records

You Know Yeah!

Pee Wee Crayton

9

The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years

Various Artists

Rhythm and Blues Records

STAR BLUES on 12th June 2011 at 22:00

A showcase for Chicago style blues.

Monday 6 June 2011

STAR BLUES on 5th June 2011 at 2200

I can't remember it being like this before. The whole world of blues has a new album out for the Summer 2011. We had an even dozen on last nights STAR BLUES - and there are new ones from Seasick Steve, Ruthie Foster, Blind Boys of Alabama and Rory Gallagher due any time now.

The playlist below shows the quality and depth of fare out there at the moment. Candi Staton is a formidable talent and her finest recordings for Rick Hall at FAME studios are now reissued by Ace, Jimmie Vaughan and Rod Piazza go head-to-head with product in the shops next month and with pride of place for us. All being well they'll be back on STAR BLUES really soon. Terry Hancks is known for tenor-sax and his association with Elvin Bishop, he is also a pretty decent vox, he (like Rod Piazza) has a new project for Delta Groove. One of our favourite players, Tommy Castro, is at the helm for a themed album around the Legendary Blues Revue on Alligator and we chose the Janiva Magness version of Five Royales' "Think" from that set.

Our links started with Canned Heat aided and abetted by John Lee Hooker who in turn palled up with Robert Cray at the other end of the affair.

Out special "1001 Blues" looked to the mastery of Lonnie Johnson who showed B B King, Django Reinhard and Charlie Christian a thing or two - a stunning piece of solo playing from 1937 (just before he took the single stringing style of guitar solos into the electric era).

STAR BLUES is proud to celebrate the heritage and legacy of over 100 of blues, last night we got chance to revel in the quality of the current crop of new releases from the biggest names in our music. There's a peek back to the classic Chess and Chicago scene next Sunday at 10pm, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.



Num

Track

Artist

Album


001

Let's Work Together (Bonus)

Canned Heat

[1-13]Friends In The Can - Canned Heat{- -}


002

Little Wheel

Canned Heat

[1-11]Friends In The Can - Canned Heat{- -}


003

Neverland

Guitar Shorty

[1-8]Bare Knuckle - Guitar Shorty{- -}


004

Fishin' In The Dark

Ben Prestage

[1-12]One Crow Murder - Ben Prestage{- -}

New

005

Brother To A Stone

Mc & Knight & Bogdal

[1-9]Zombie Nation - McKnight & Bogdal{- -}

New

006

Cut Like A Knife

Ruff Kutt Blues Band

[1-1]Mill Block Blues - Ruff Kutt Blues BandAnson FunderburghAndrew 'Jr. Boy' JonesHash Brown{- -}


007

Swing Out Rhythm

Lonnie Johnson

[3-17]The Original Guitar Wizard - Lonnie Johnson{- -}


008

Never Found A Smoking Gun

Johnny Rawls

[1-5]No Boundaries - Johnny Rawls{- -}


009

New Home

Eric Bibb

[1-3]Troubadour Live - Eric Bibb{- -}

New

010

Mr And Mrs Untrue

Candi Staton

[1-16]Evidence: The Complete Fame Masters - Candi Staton{- -}

New

246

I'm Gonna Keep On Driving

Terry Hanck

[1-2]Here It Comes - Terry Hanck{- -}

New

301

Same Train

Grady Champion

[1-5]Dreamin' - Grady Champion{- -}


306

Between Midnight and Day

Corey Harris

[1-1]Between Midnight And Day - Corey Harris{- -}

New

307

Think

Janiva Magness

[1-9]Tommy Castro Presents The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue -- Live! - Tommy Castro{- -}

New

312

Hey Mattie (take 4)

Lazy Lester

[1-12]Rides Again - Lazy Lester{- -}

New

316

No Use Knocking

Jimmie Vaughan

[1-2]Plays More Blues Ballads And Favourites - Jimmie VaughanLou Ann Barton{- -}


320

Ezekiel Saw The Wheel

Dixie Hummingbirds

[3-11]Gospel - The Ultimate Collection - Various Artists{- -}


327

P L K Special

Jimmy Yancey

[2-11]The Best Of Boogie Woogie - Various Artists{- -}

New

330

I'm Ready

Fats Domino

[1-1]The Imperial Singles Vol. 4 1959-1961 - Fats Domino{- -}

New

335

Hey Hey

Johnny Nicholas & Jimmie Vaughan

[1-1]Fiuture Blues - Johnny Nicholas{- -}

New

338

What Makes You So Tough

Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers

[1-2]Almighty Dollar - Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers{- -}


346

Mean Old Train

Papa Lightfoot

[3-24]Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Atlanta - Various Artists{- -}

New

349

Oh Baby Don't You Weep

Luther Ingram

[1-12]Dj Andy Smith's Jam Up Twist – Andy Smith {- -}


352

Matchbox

Carl Perkins

[1-23]Love Em Do - Various Artists{- -}


354

Baby Lee

John Lee Hooker

[1-9]The Best Of Friends - John Lee Hooker{- -}