STAR BLUES on 11th December 2011 at 22:00

Hubert Sumlin was in our thoughts last night with some examples of his solo sides as well as his work for Howlin' Wolf. There's a lovely contrast in how he took on the solo in "Hidden Charms" for Chester and the down home playing with Annie Raines for the Telarc project over thirty years after. Sumlin was regarded as a son to the Wolf and it could be argued that neither was at their best when apart. The Rolling Stones sprung for funeral expenses so there was a sense of giving back to such a well-loved guitarist.

Dobie Gray was another to pass over this week and I've earmarked "Driftaway" for the next show: it's not that bluesy but it has a cracking solo and the song marks a time and place for many blues lovers. Johnny Winter is back with a new project designed to poke blues purists in the eye - it got a good review in Living Blues magazine so it ain't half bad. We've had ten years since JLW and Otis Grand cemented their Guitar Brothers relationship and the wily John Stedman will reissue that album to coincide with Joe's upcoming debut for Alligator: "Hellfire".

Christmas came with the smooth styling of Johnny Moore and from Albert Collins' ferocious workout "Thaw Out". I mispronounced Louis Armstrong (should have said "Lewis") but his "Cool Yule" couldn't be beat at any time of year. Gorgeous.  Our distaff side had some big hitters too: Sister Rosetta Tharpe (gospel) and Jessie Mae Hemphill to name but two. The Pilgrim Travelers joined the good sister in the gospel tent and we effortlessly slid back to the Thirties golden age for boogie woogie with Messrs Smith and Davenport.

The young Lonnie Brooks recorded as Guitar Junior and his "Crawl" ensured we fulfilled our assignment in Pip-ology homework. Then in a trice it was gone. Next week we'll run through the STAR BLUES awards and then in two weeks on Christmas Day (when other blues shows sleep) it'll be "WHEN GARY MET PJ". I hope you can bring your fine self around to my place at 10pm (GMT) Sundays, looking forward to it until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Rude Women	Joe Louis Walker & Otis Grand	7	Guitar Brothers	Joe Louis WalkerOtis Grand	JSP Records
Done Somebody Wrong	Johnny Winter & Warren Haynes	3	Roots	Johnny Winter	Megaforce
Your Lies	Lucky Peterson	2	Triple Play	Lucky Peterson	Alligator Records
Hidden Charms	Howlin' Wolf	3	Complete Recordings 1951-1969	Howlin' Wolf	CHARLY
Got The Blues	Hubert Sumlin	1	Heart & Soul	Hubert Sumlin
Jinx Blues	Alvin Youngblood Hart	4	Down In The Alley	Alvin Youngblood Hart	Memphis International
Hound Dog	Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, Kansas City Bell & orchestra	12	The Johnny Otis Story Volume 1 Volume 1: 1945-57 Midnight At The Barrelhouse V A	Johnny Otis & His Orchestra	ACE
There It Is	Darrell Nulisch	3	The Whole Truth	Darrell Nulisch	SEVERN
Cool Yule	Louis Armstrong	14	Mark Lamarr's Rhythm And Blues Christmas	Various Artists	ACROBAT
Merry Christmas Baby	Mari Jones & Johnny Moore Orchestra	4	Rhythm & Blues Christmas	Various Artists	ACE
Thaw Out	Albert Collins	13	Blues Guitar Box	Various Artists	SEQUEL
The Red Rooster	Howlin' Wolf	17	Complete Recordings 1951-1969	Howlin' Wolf	CHARLY
Blue Shadows	Hubert Sumlin	8	Healing Feeling	Hubert Sumlin	BLACK TOP
This Is Hip	John Lee Hooker	2	Masterworks Sampler Vol. 1	Various Artists	CHARLY
Black Cat Bone	Jessie Mae Hemphill	1	She-Wolf	Jessie Mae Hemphill	High Water Music
Up Above My Head	Sister Rosetta Tharpe	15	Gospel Greats	Various Artists	PLANET
Straight Street	Pilgrim Travellers	6	The Sound Of The City - Los Angeles	Various Artists	Emi Records Ltd
Pinetop's Boogie Woogie	Clarence 'Pinetop' Smith	2	The Best Of Boogie Woogie	Various Artists	DOCUMENTS
Cow Cow Blues	Cow Cow Davenport	7	History Of Rhythm And Blues Part One	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
Come Back Baby	Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin	9	Legends	Various Artists	TELARC
Rock Me Baby	Hubert SumlinAnnie Raines	4	A Taste Of Blues Harmonica	Various Artists	TELARC
Cadillac Jack	Andre Williams	2	The Sound Of The City - Chicago	Various Artists	Emi Records Ltd
Back Door Santa	Clarence Carter	1	The Original Soul Christmas	Various Artists	RHINO
Short Dress Woman	Carey Bell w. Lurrie Bell	6	Second Nature	Carey BellLurrie Bell	Alligator
The Crawl	Guitar Junior	4	Masterworks Sampler Vol. 1	Various Artists	CHARLY

Created: 12/12/2011 09:00:03