Monday 27 February 2012

STAR BLUES on 26th February 2012 at 22:00

Neither Louisiana Red nor Joe Thompson held much sway outside fans of our music - there's a curious Law that says the more influential you are the less you'll be appreciated at the time. We had chance to celebrate both on this STAR BLUES through their deaths in the last day are so. Joe was described as the most historically important American traditional performers still working in the 21st Century: his familial roots go back as far as the American Civil War. Born in North Caroline he learned fiddle at age five and gigged ever since - playing dance music, pure and simple with subtlety amply replace with joyous enthusiasm. He had an album out on Rounder in the 90s and he joined the Carolina Chocolate Drops for a live concert they released on cd last year. Two tracks seemed barely enough to say a proper farewell.

Iverson Minter's mother died when he was two and his father was attacked by the Ku Klux Klan. He learned at the knee of John Lee Hooker, Elmore James and Muddy Waters - truth be told he could outplay them and for party pieces he'd imitate them. When he got to Detroit he signed with Hooker's label owner - Joe Von Battle - and recorded seven songs in JVB's basement. Minter called himself Rocky Fuller at the time. He became Louisiana Red thereafter and he seemed equally at home as a solo slide master or with a small robust combo of like minded musicians. We sampled just about every facet of his work from the first track I ever heard by him ("Valerie") to his most recent project. His gifts have been bouyed by collaborations with David Maxwell and Little Victor - the latest three projects all got great reviews and two gongs to show for them. He was a fan as well as a musician, with some lovely stories from fellow players about his words of kindness along the way.

We also event to the new project from Otis Taylor which has split the critics on the percentage blues quotient - we love it at STAR BLUES, Taylor has again pushed at the edges of our music while keeping the tradtitional African American core. The New Heritage Orchestra is also trying interesting arrangements on old themes - in a package which features "Beady-Eyes" Smith on drums. (The apple didn't fall far from that tree: exemplary drum skills indeed). Catherine Russell has a lovely voice, obviously schooled in the ways of jazz and we stretched our purview to welcome her into our fold (they can't touch you for stretching a purview, I checked). Other new albums concentrated on being fine retrospective surveys of Paul Kelly and George Jackson - both out through Ace.

Our birthday book had Irma Thomas and the redoubtable Johnny Winter who both added to the celebrations started last week with Paul Jones. Some of my Facebook friends have been talking about Sonny Rhodes, LC Green and Eddie Cusic, reason enough for me to play them last night. Who knows for next week, I'll be here if you'll be there: until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

Track.Title Track.ArtistSort Index Album.Title Album.ArtistSort Label
I Wanna Get Your Boogie Sonny Rhodes 9 A Good Day To Play The Blues Sonny Rhodes STONY PLAIN
Share What You Got Keep What You Need Robert Cray 12 Bad Influence Robert Cray DEMON
Blues Power Albert King 2 The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 Various Artists STAX
Catfish Blues Heritage Blues Orchestra 4 And Still I Rise Heritage Blues Orchestra MRI
Bad Company Deitra Farr 2 The Search Is Over Deitra Farr JSP Records
GoinĂ¢€™ Down to the River Blues L.C. Green 13 Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Detroit Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
I Walk the Water Eddie Cusic 11 Leland Mississippi Blues Eddie Cusic WOLF
Dona Carolina Chocolate Drops feat Joe Thompson 11 Dona Got A Ramblig Mind Carolina Chocolate Drops MUSIC MAKER
John Henry Carolina Chocolate Drops feat. Joe Thompson 4 Carolina Chocolate Drops With Joe Thompson Carolina Chocolate Drops, TheJoe Thompson
Come on Baby Now Rocky Fuller 21 Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954) Various Artists BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Valerie Louisiana Red 4 Pretty Woman Louisiana Red ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Get It While You Can Johnny Rawls 8 Red Cadillac Johnny Rawls DEEP SOUTH SOUL
Only Your Love Paul Kelly 6 Hot Runnin' Soul Paul Kelly Kent
Bright Lights, Big City Johnny Winter & Susan Tedeschi 7 Roots Johnny Winter Megaforce
Steel Guitar Blues Michael Messer 8 King Guitar Michael Messer CATFISH
Ride on Red, Ride on Louisiana Red 4 Back To The Black Bayou Louisiana Red Ruf
I'm Getting Tired Louisiana Red & Little Victor's Juke Joint 9 Memphis Mojo Louisiana Red & Little Victor's Juke Joint Ruf
First Degree Louisiana Red w. Lefty Dizz 1 In The Tradition Various Artists BLUES ALLIANCE
Move on Up a Little Higher Marie Knight 14 In The Tradition Various Artists BLUES ALLIANCE
Wake Up and Live Catherine Russell 3 Strictly Romancin' Catherine Russell World Village
Share My Name Cary Morin 6 Sing It Louder Cary Morin MUSIC MAKER
Don't Mess With My Man Irma Thomas 3 Jockomo Jockomo Various Artists MUSIC CLUB
Greedy Over You George Jackson 3 Don't Count Me Out: Fame Recordings Vol.1 George Jackson Kent
Yell Your Name Otis Taylor 2 Contraband Blues Otis Taylor TELARC
Tipitina Tuts Washington 12 Jockomo Jockomo Various Artists MUSIC CLUB

Monday 20 February 2012

STAR BLUES on 19th February 2012 at 22:00

We don't do many interviews on STAR BLUES. Paul Jones has a birthday this week so we marked the celebration by repeating our conversation that we did on Christmas Day. Many folks asked for us to do the show again as they'd missed it first time around midst turkey and trimmings.

As he is my counterpart on BBC Radio2 he doesn't get much chance to talk about his own life and work, especially what he does at the helm of his very popular weekly show. While he gets some flak about having an easy time with the resources of Auntie Beeb behind him he still only gets 58 minutes to represent the blues scene in the UK - that's not much time to touch a wide range of styles or delve back into the archives. We talked about his move from Thursday mid evening to Monday early slot and how it raised his profile and audience. By implication that can't be anything else but good news for the rest of us who love blues.

He's been a working musician for about fifty years and is one of a dwindling generation on hand in the 60s to be in support bands when promoters would only pay to ship over the headline acts (like John Lee Hooker etc). All of which gives him a nice fund of road stories to give colour to the personalities who did so much to establish a platform for our music here. Someone should pick up the task of documenting all this stuff while we still have the chance.

There's a strong faith that has kept him young at heart with a genuine enthusiasm for the next generation of players and an appetite for a full diary this year and onwards. His role as ambassador for blues in Britain is worn with some humility but is almost completely overlooked in the mainstream despite a recent clutch of awards. A real nice guy and a pleasure.

Next Sunday we resume the usual tomfoolery at 10pm (GMT) I hope you'll want to come along, white tee shirt and all - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Monday 13 February 2012

STAR BLUES on 12th February 2012 at 22:00


Never one to shirk from a challenge, I rolled up the sleeves of my white tee-shirt to combine the highlights of the show that never was, with a highly talented birthday bunch, with late new additions from two long-standing favourites: Eric Bibb and Lady Bianca. Don't shout it too loudly but I think we got away with it.

Otis Grand, Otis Clay, Pink Anderson, Big John Wrencher, Little Johnny Taylor and Magic Sam had birth anniversary greetings from the full range of colours in the STAR BLUES pallette. Big John Wrencher's go at the Little Walter song was recorded at the Sunday market held in Chicago's Maxwell Street until 1994. His August 1964 live street corner performance was ably supported by stinging guitar from Robert Nighthawk. The track was available because it had been captured for a documentary film.

You'd find it hard to credit almost sixty years have intervened since Little Johnny Watson brought his wild guitar to the studio for the first time on his third session as a leading man. There can be few other players able to shred his axe as thoroughly or distinctively as Johnny Watson. Fans of guitar had further pleasures from Johnnie Bassett and Fred McDowell in differing styles.

Lady Bianca has a unique style when she leads from the front on her chosen instrument (piano), she was at the top of her game for the track we chose from her brand new project. Eric Bibb's new one features fiddle on a number of songs and his angelic voice added subtle shades to a song written by Harrison Kennedy. Ace Records has issued the second volume of Johnny Otis sides and we had no hesitation in marking his recent death with the landmark "Cold Shot" track taken from his 1969 album of same name. With Lady B in the piano slot, we went to Candye Kane for some 1999 recordings done live in Belgium - we also have a special prayer for her now she has a recurrence of her cancer. She has a big heart and balls enough to take on a Bessie Smith classic too.

Next week Paul Jones will celebrate his 70th birthday and so STAR BLUES will repeat the conversation I had with him on Christmas Day. He and I chewed the fat about the Blues Band, his role at the head of the British blues scene and some titbits of gossip. Until then at 10pm (GMT) on Sunday take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you


Track.Title Track.ArtistSort Index Album.Title Album.ArtistSort Label
Three Time Loser Otis Grand 1 Hipster Blues Otis Grand BLISS STREET
Heatin' Me Up David Dee 20 Goin' Fishin' David Dee ICHIBAN
Money Back Guarantee Johnnie Bassett 4 Party My Blues Away Johnnie Bassett CANNONBALL
Crawling King Snake Doors, The 8 L.A. Woman [40th Anniversary] Doors, The Rhino Records
Crawling King Snake John Lee Hooker 11 The Roots Of The Doors Various Artists SNAPPER MUSIC
Space Guitar Young John Watson 10 The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years Various Artists Rhythm and Blues Records
Bad to Worse Grainne Duffy 4 Out Of The Dark Grainne Duffy CDCG
Oh What A Dream Ruth Brown 3 Miss Rhythm - Greatest Hits And More Ruth Brown SEQUEL
I Cant Make It Alone Otis Clay 4 Hi Masters Otis Clay HI
Part Time Love Little Johnnie Taylor 21 Birth Of Soul Vol. 1 Various Artists Kent (U.K.)
Cold Shot the Johnny Otis Show 14 Johnny Otis Story, Vol.2 Johnny Otis ACE
I'm Tough (Tough As I Want To Be) Phillip Walker 1 The Best Of Phillip Walker Phillip Walker HIGH TONE
Can't Hold Out Much Longer Big John Wrencher 2 And This Is Maxwell Street Various Artists CATFISH
All Your Love Magic Sam 14 Chicago Boss Guitars Various Artists FLYRIGHT
Every Day In The Week Blues Pink Anderson & Simmie Dooley 3 Heavy Hitters Vol. 1 Various Artists PIGMEAT RECORDS
Could Be Me Could Be You Eric Bibb 6 Deeper in the Well Eric Bibb HARMONICA MUNDI
Wished I Was In Heaven Sitting Down Mississippi Fred McDowell 3 The First Recordings Mississippi Fred McDowell Rounder
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning Rev. Robert B. Jones Snr. 10 The Time Of The Preacher Rev. Robert B. Jones Snr. ROJO
Stealin' Lady Bianca 5 Servin' Notice Lady Bianca MAGIC-O
Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer Candye Kane & Sue Palmer 2 One Night In Belgium Candye Kane & Sue Palmer
Ode To Fess Henry Butler 12 Homeland Henry Butler BASIN STREET RECORDS
Rocking Boogie Party Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne 12 An Old Rock On A Roll Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne
Created: 13/02/2012 22:08:54

Monday 6 February 2012

STAR BLUES on 5th February 2012?

Sorry I missed you last night at such short notice: one day I'll tame the weather, my shoulder injury, a crazy dog and an automobile.

I had it in mind to play a few things to mark African-American month (February in US, "Black History month in UK): so tracks lined up from Ann Rabson, Samuel James, Johnie Bassett and Rev, Robert Jones. A couple of recent releases excited enough interest for me to return to "Hellfire" by Joe Louis Walker and also Philipp Fankhausers new one "Try My Love".

The Doors "final" album came out 40 years ago, its now available as a double disk set with unreleased versions and songs, their go at "Crawling Kingsnake" puts the emphasis on organ rather than vox/guitar and was very interesting, we wanted it as a back to back with John Lee Hooker's version of Tony Hollins song. Some digging around has found us a copy of Grainne Duffy's first album and its another goodun - she is really a major talent in her own right (much much more than just a Bonnie Raitt clone).

Johnny Guitar Watson and Jesse Thomas were on my birthday hitlist and Henry Butler was due to pay tribute to Professor Longhair. We like Ruthie Foster's new album, especially the haunting version of "Titanic" - just one of three brand new projects making a STAR BLUES debut, the others from Little Freddie King and Joel daSilva.

We'll hope for a better outcome next Sunday at 10pm (GMT) in the meantime, here's what we missed.....


Heatin' Me Up David Dee 20 Goin' Fishin' David Dee [1] ICHIBAN
Love Song (Ode To George) Ann Rabson 10 The Best Of M.C. Records Various Artists M.C. RECORDS
The Titanic Ruthie Foster w. Blind Boys Of Alabama 13 Let it Burn Ruthie Foster Blue Corn Music
Honky Tonk Blues Roy Gaines 9 I Got The T-Bone Walker Blues Roy Gaines Groove Note
Money Back Guarantee Johnnie Bassett 4 Party My Blues Away Johnnie Bassett CANNONBALL
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning Rev. Robert B. Jones Snr. 10 The Time Of The Preacher Rev. Robert B. Jones Snr. ROJO
Jack Of Diamonds Jesse Thomas 24 Complete Recorded Works 1948-1958 Jesse Thomas DOCUMENT
Bad to Worse Grainne Duffy 4 Out of the Dark Grainne Duffy CDCG
Ode To Fess Henry Butler 12 Homeland Henry Butler BASIN STREET RECORDS
Tired Man Albert Collins 10 The Ice Axe Man Cometh (Collection 1978-86) Albert Collins MUSIC CLUB
Justice Blues Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown 25 The R'n'b Years 1951: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1951 Various Artists BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Crawling King Snake John Lee Hooker 11 The Roots Of The Doors Various Artists SNAPPER MUSIC
Joe Fletcher's Blues Samuel James 2 For Rosa, Maeve And Noreen Samuel James Northern Blues
Oh What A Dream Ruth Brown 3 Miss Rhythm - Greatest Hits And More Ruth Brown SEQUEL
I'm Gonna Move You Out And Get Somebody Else T-Bone Walker 14 The Complete Capitol/Black And White Recordings T-Bone Walker Capitol
Space Guitar Young John Watson 10 The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years Various Artists Rhythm and Blues Records
Honeydripper Jools Holland 10 Finding The Keys Jools Holland RHINO
Jealous Kinda Fella Philipp Fankhauser 3 Try My Love Philipp Fankhauser FUNK HOUSE BLUES
For Don Joel Dasilva And The Midnight Howl 10 Joel Dasilva And The Midnight Howl Joel Dasilva And The Midnight Howl N/A
Crawling King Snake Doors, The 8 L.A. Woman [40th Anniversary] Doors, The Rhino Records