STAR BLUES on 27th May 2012 at 22:00

Considering our normal emphasis on the song rather than showing off, there was an unusual focus on the six-stringed instrument on STAR BLUES last night. Our excuse - not that we needed one - is that the anniversary of Aaron "T Bone" Walker's birthday happens today (28th May). I have often said that "electric blues guitar doesn't get better than T-Bone Walker" and it was a real treat to amply back up those claims with more than a handful of gems from the first part of his career. Our survey went as far as his debut in 1929 "Wichita Falls Blues"; there have been several theories on that session given Walker's tender years that he was no where to be found - such nonsense clearly ignores the lyric which refers to Mr TBone, the interview TBone gave to Record Collector magazine late in 1947  and the 1988 confirmation by the pianist on the song. If you care to google that interview you'll also learn that he played golf and kept horses!!

Our 1001 blues featured the first recording of "Call It Stormy Monday (and Tuesday's Just As Bad")" from 1947 which TBone cut for the Black and White label and why it has that awkward title. Pretty much anything he did up to and including the 1958 recordings for Atlantic can be safely investigated as models of cool, precise, urbane genius. You won't hear a single note more than needed, nor a single note less. He was immaculately dressed in white suit and tie, yet he played guitar from behind his head while doing the splits. Plenty of photos there for all you googlers.

The real icing on our comestible was the arrival of the new project from LIl Ed and his Blues Imperials, "Jump Start". The expected strong guitar dexterity has this time been matched with top-notch vocals - Bruce Iglauer knows a thing or two, his faith in the boys is repaid here on this their 8th album for him. We jiggled a bit here and tweaked a bit there to squeeze in two tracks to press home our advantage with such an early preview of this major artist release. Our other new offering came from Henrik Freischlader who picked up guitar after hearing Gary Moore. If I told you Joe Bonamassa was on one track, you'd be wrong to categorise the whole project thus (he has a go at several styles).

You could say the whole nine yards of blues axe-wifery was on full display in the rest of STAR BLUES. Rev Robert Wilkins died 25 years ago, he was covered by the Rolling Stones ("Prodigal Son" was on Beggars Banquet) and there's but one cd of his pivotal 1930s recordings available on Yazoo. He was a skilled and graceful player, we caught him live at the Newport Folk Festival for the Vanguard label.  Robert Cray brought something from his overlooked "Twenty" album that was pushed to one side through his criticism of US policy on fighting wars for oil. Treat for guitar fans though. Eugene Hideaway Bridges started out as the lead player for Memphis Big Joe Turners Blues Caravan (who I saw support BBKing in 1995/6), he has a lovely fluid tone that complements his Sam Cooke style vocals. That debut album "Born to Be Blue" is being re promoted and is well worth a listen. Dunno what Deborah Coleman is up to these days, we miss her round these parts so we had to be content with her version of the Johnny Morrisette song "Brick".

As for harp fans we had James Cotton (and cracking support from Charlie Haden and Joe Louis Walker) as well as a brilliantly controlled version of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Bye Bye Bird" from the barely 20 year old Brandon Bailey. Gospel from Marion Williams (who we should really do more of) and piano from Pinetop Smith and we were heading down the home straight at full pelt. There is so much good blues out there at the moment my two hours can hardly even hint at it - ferrgunnesssake I'm getting less time to keep up the tomfoolery quotient every week. I'll bring more of the good stuff next Sunday at ten, 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
Little Boy Blues	Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges	2	Born To Be Blue	Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges	WESTSIDE
The Hustlen Is On	T-Bone Walker	11	Inventor Of The Electric Guitar Blues	T-Bone Walker	MR. R&B
Fadin' Away	Robert Cray	4	Twenty	Robert Cray	SANCTUARY
Sad Letter	James CottonJoe Louis Walker	11	Deep In The Blues	James CottonJoe Louis Walker	VERVE
Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee	Sticks McGhee	1	The Atlantic Story	Various Artists	Atlantic
Don't You Let Nobody Turn You Round	Reverend Robert Wilkins	9	Blues With A Feeling	Various Artists	VANGUARD
Stormy Monday	T-Bone Walker	3	1947 : Chronological Recordings	T-Bone Walker	CLASSICS
Prospect Lane	Seasick Steve	5	I Started Out With Nothin And I've Still Got Most Of It Left	Seasick Steve	Warner Bros. Records
You Burnt Me	Lil Ed & Blues Imperials	4	jump start	Lil Ed & Blues Imperials	Alligator
Sound The Bell	Johnny Winter	1	Genuine House Rockin'Music	Various Artists	Alligator
Come To Mama	Koko Taylor	2	Genuine House Rockin' Music Vols 1-3	Various Artists	Alligator
Come On My Love	Henrik Freischlader	3	Still Frame Replay	Henrik Freischlader	Cable Car Records
Brick	Deborah Coleman	5	I Can't Lose	Deborah Coleman	BLIND PIG RECORDS
Glamour Girl	T-Bone Walker	11	The Blues	T-Bone Walker	FREMEAUX ET ASSOCIES
Aint Nobody Here But Us Chickens	Louis Jordan	11	Reet Petite And Gone	Louis Jordan	INDIGO
Race Horse	Tiny Davis	17	I'm a Bad Bad Girl	Various Artists	INDIGO
Packin' Up	Marion Williams	9	Screamin' Gospel Holy Rollers Vol. 2	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
Burnin' Hell	John Lee Hooker	8	Boogie Chillen	John Lee Hooker	INDIGO
Bye Bye Bird	Brandon O. Bailey	8	Memphis Grooves	Brandon O. Bailey	APO
Wichita Falls Blues	T-Bone Walker	2	The Blues	Various Artists	Fremeaux
Pinetop's boogie woogie	Pinetop Smith	6	History of Rhythm & Blues	Various Artists
Musical mechanical electrical man	Lil Ed & Blues Imperials	2	jump start	Lil Ed & Blues Imperials	Alligator
Free Single and disengaged	huey piano Smith	6	Ace Story, vol 4	Various Artists	ace
before the next teardrop falls	big john hamilton	19	souther soul shake	various artists	charly
Two Bones And A Pick	T-Bone Walker	12	T-Bone Blues	T-Bone Walker	SEQUEL

Created: 27/05/2012 23:52:15

STAR BLUES on 20th May 2012 at 22:00

Despite considerable soccer success from Chelsea and Manchester City, the colour we looked for last night was WHITE, as in colour of tee shirt. Our competition to win a pair of Delta Groove cds - from RJ Mischo and the Mannish Boys - was really that straight forward on a night we promised to go without a safety net.

The birthday book fell open at the page showing Big Boy Henry and Jaybird Coleman, both well-known to blues scholars but not so elsewhere. Coleman was one of the first, if not the first, harp star: his "Coffee Grindin'" was done for Columbia in Atlanta in 1930; Henry's a capella "Nina Mae" was cut for the Music Maker label shortly before his death.

Sad news that T-Model Ford is unwell and back in hospital, we at STAR BLUES sent our best wishes and played his Fat Possum version of "Sail On". Ironing Board Sam is one more artist well beneath the radar on most other blues shows: their loss our gain. The big names came along too: Freddie King  and Etta James, brand new projects from Eddie Martin and Mud Morganfield; more harp genius from Walter Horton, Jimmy Reed and Sam Myers (plus Bob Corritore with Mud). We didn't really do a 1001 blues feature other than to notice Tony Blackburn's chart run down was clearly intended to include Wynonie Harris' "Good Morning Judge" not the other song of the same name  by 10cc.

The Allman Brothers live album came out in July 1971, six weeks later the band was in NYC for a small gig also broadcast on radio, six weeks later Duane was dead. That final show is now out on cd for the first time legally and Duane's head was in a different place compared to the earlier gig: the solos are more measured with little less bite but achingly more fluid. Piano from our man at the Ironing Board, Amos Milburn and Roosevelt Sykes / gospel from the Zion Travellers, what more can anyone want from a blues show

I'm going to do my darnedest to try to fit even more into those two hours next Sunday at 10pm (BST), 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
Pack It Up	Freddie King	16	Ultimate Collection	Freddie King	HIP-O
Guitar Man	Sherman Robertson	1	Going Back Home	Sherman Robertson	AUDIOQUEST
Catfishing	Mud Morganfield	4	Son Of The Seventh Son	Mud Morganfield	SEVERN
Why does everything happen to me	mannish boys	2-10	double dynamite	mannish boys	delta groove
Make it Good	RJ Mischo	3	Make it Good	RJ Mischo	Delta Groove Productions
Can't Shake It	Etta James	8	Who's Blue? Rare Chess Recordings From The 60S And 70S	Etta James	Kent
Good Morning Judge	Wynonie Harris	14	The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
Blues After Hours	Arthur Gunter	7	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Nashville	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Sail on	t-model ford	11	not that same old blues 2	various artists	fat possum
Little Rockin Chair	Lonnie Johnson	12	The Originator of modern guitar blues	Lonnie Johnson	BLUES BOY
A Hundred Pounds Of Clay	Arthur Alexander	7	You Better Move On	Arthur Alexander	MCA
Drop Down Baby	Vaan ShawEddie Shaw	7	Morning Rain	Vaan ShawEddie Shaw	WOLF
Statesboro Blues	Allman Brothers Band, The	1	A & R Studios	Allman Brothers Band, The	LEFTFIELD MEDIA
Let It Slide	Eddie Martin & His Big Blues Band	4	Looking Forward Looking Back	Eddie Martin & His Big Blues Band	BUEBLOOD
nina mae	big boy henry	7	beaufort blues	big boy henry	music maker
Coffee Grinder Blues	Jaybird Coleman	11	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Atlanta	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Christine	Big Walter Horton	8	Sweet And Tough - The Blues From Chicago	Various Artists	MUSIC CLUB
I hate to see	Ironing Board Sam w. tim duffy	31	going up	Ironing Board Sam	music maker
A And M Blues	Amos Milburn	31	Chicken Shack Boogie Man	Amos Milburn	PROPER
Drivin' Wheel	Roosevelt Sykes	23	Bluesville - Original Blues Classics Sampler	Various Artists	ORIGINAL BLUES CLASSICS
beautiful city	zion travellers	2-5	gospel celebrities & celestial lights	Various Artists	fantastic voyage
my love is here to stay	sammy myers	21	ace story vol. 4	various artists	ace
Take Out Some Insurance	Jimmy Reed	17	You Don't Have To Go	Jimmy Reed	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
goin down (to memphis tennessee)	Cherry Lee Mewis	2	Heard It Here First	Cherry Lee Mewis	CLM

Created: 20/05/2012 23:59:14

STAR BLUES on 13th May 2012 at 22:00

In the same STAR BLUES I disqualified myself from the running list for a blues Oscar and I stated a strong claim for a knighthood. The BMAs were awarded last week and we played some winners last night (the Howlin Wolf project on Rhino won reissue album prize, and Charlie Musselwhite and Ruthie Foster won gongs in Traditional Blues (Male and Female) categories. I pointed out that just like the film Oscars it was more about high profile sales than artistic merit with most BMA winners also being suitable to win in a rock category. Bang goes me getting one for radio/broadcast. Like I care.

My forthcoming knighthood was however all but secured by playing Price Phillip singing 'Keep On Talking" from the vaults of the Fame studios as discovered by Kent label. (It might not be the father of our heir to the throne but good enough surely?)

Late breaking news two hours before STAR BLUES was that legendary bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn had died in Tokyo not long after completing two shows there. Though a well known figure after his pipe-smoking laidback cameo appearances in two Blues Brothers films, he was oh so much more than that - the self taught player had his own style that first came to notice as part of Booker T & the MGs and we had two of their instrumentals to showcase his work: "Soul Limbo" and "Time Is Tight". His work with drummer Al Jackson made them the non-pariel engine room for soul/rock/blues in my humble pie. "Born under a Bad Sign" is the title track to the most essential blues album of all time by Albert King - the session is no more than Booker T & MGs plus Albert King. We honoured Duck Dunn by its inclusion as show closer last night on STAR BLUES

Other shock and sadness was the death on Sunday 6th of Michael Burks: a big man with a big guitar sound and warn soulful voice He was just 54 and had just finished work on as fourth album for Alligator, due July. His nickname was "Iron Man" earned from the punishing schedule of live work he took on and the length and quality of his gigs. The essence of his greatness was being able to combine a marvellously fluid solo style with the core of blues, he was never a rock guitarist in disguise. I thought he was the first since Luther Allison to own that corner of blues - I wrote a feature on him for Blues & Rhythm magazine in 1999 which I think was the first UK piece, I can't believe he's gone.........................

Taj Mahal has been celebrating his 70th birthday for a while now, the day is coming up this week and we looked back to his 1971 live recording at the Fillmore East of one of his own songs "Mailbox Blue". The great songster troubadour is alive and well and being practised by Guy Davis, who remarkably turned 60 on Saturday 12th. He is a genuinely nice man with an engaging style of singing and playing; we let him prove it last night on "Madison and the Pigs".

Big Joe Turner's 100th anniversary was a bit swamped last year by the similar milestone reached by Robert Johnson; hopefully his fans will feel the balance was somewhat redressed yesterday on STAR BLUES now he would have been 101.

A slew of new releases has just arrived: RJ Mischo, The Mannish Boys and Mud Morganfield - the latter features a gloriously imperious vocal from Muddy Waters' oldest son, lovely harp and production by Bob Corritore. I also had new projects from Eddie Martin and Maharaja Blues, reissues from the Fame Studios, the King R&B and Mississippi Ace labels. STAR BLUES just ran out of time but there's a good starting lineup for next weeks STAR BLUES. We'll try and squeeze in another quart into our pint pot at 10-pm (BST) Sunday next, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

W.C. Handy Sang The Blues	Roy Gaines	6	New Frontier Lover	Roy Gaines	SEVERN
Ya Ya	Sonny Rhodes	7	Disciple Of The Blues	Sonny Rhodes	Wild Dog
Soul Limbo	Booker T & The M.G's	1	Stax Gold	Various Artists	STAX
time is tight	Booker T & The M.G's	7	Stax Gold	various artists	stax
I Asked For Water	Howlin' Wolf	3	Howlin' Wolf / The Wolf Is At Your Door: The Singles 1951-1960	Howlin' Wolf	Jasmine
Clarksdale Getaway	Charlie Musselwhite	11	The Well	Charlie Musselwhite	Alligator
(You Keep Me) Movin' On	Ruthie Foster	3	Live At Antones	Ruthie Foster	Blue Corn
goin up the country and paint my mailbox blue	Taj Mahal	4	The Real Thing	Taj Mahal	Blue Label / SPV
Just Blues	Carl Marshall	1	Going Back to the Blues	Carl Marshall
Shake Rattle & Roll	Big Joe Turner	11	greatest hits	Big Joe Turner	SEQUEL
Blues in The Night	Big Joe Turner	3	I dont Dig It	Big Joe Turner	MR R&B
Put The Hammer Down	Gary Primich With Omar Dykes	2	Just A Little Bit More [Disc 1]	Gary Primich With Omar Dykes	Old Pal
Talk To Me Baby	Michael Burks	3	From The Inside Out	Michael Burks	VENT RECORDS
Hit The Ground Running	Michael Burks	1	Make It Rain	Michael Burks	Alligator
changed man	michael burks	12	iron man - best of	michael burks	alligator
Willie Mae Blues	Billy Boy Arnold	7	Billy Boy Arnold Sings: Big Bill Broonzy	Billy Boy Arnold	Electro-Fi
keep on talkin	prince phillip	9	hall of fame	various artists	kent
you dont know me thomas	Reverend Crum	1	screamin Gospel Holy Rollers (Vol 1)	Various Artists	VEETONE
somethings gotta hold on me	soul seekers	18	screamin Gospel Holy Rollers (Vol 2)	Various Artists	VEETONE
short dress woman	mud morganfield	1	seventh son	mud morganfield	severn
Mean old world	Mannish Boys, The	2	Double Dynamite	Mannish Boys, The
Up to the Brim	R J Mischo	9	Make it good	R J Mischo	DELTA GROOVE
Madison And The Pigs	Guy Davis	8	Stomp Down Rider	Guy Davis	RED HOUSE
Born Under A Bad Sign	Albert King	7	King of The Blues Guitar	Albert King	ATLANTIC

Created: 13/05/2012 23:54:32

STAR BLUES on 6th May 2012 at 22:00

Billy Boy, Big Bill, Brad, Barbara, BB, Bop and Buzz. Nothing like a bit of alliteration to cleanse the soul, that's what I say. The Big Red Book of Radio Rules says that you shouldn't start a show with new tracks the audience don't know - I think the Mighty Mark Peters has my copy. The Phantom Blues Band started out as  Taj Mahal's musicians of choice and their third disc maintains their high standards despite changing label; the Royal Southern Brotherhood has Mike Zito with members of two dynasties: Devon Allman and Cyril Neville. The expected onslaught of high intensity playing is leavened with thoughtful atmospheric skills at that far end of our purview. Brad Hatfield is another with a new project and you shouldn't confuse this Cincinatti singer and harp player with the guy of the same name from Boston who writes film scores. Peter Karp and Sue Foley get together again for their second album as a two-piece, while Barbara Lynn's recordings for Jamie in the early 1960s are collected on a brand new disc.

The fresh items continued with a lovingly compiled survey of the work of Gary Primich who died in 2007 just as he was hitting his artistic stride - the two discs dip into his back catalogue as well as some unreleased tracks courtesy of his son's archive. Steve Hooker is an interesting guy who links bop to buzz with a love of rockabilly and soul, he sent us a sampler of albums on his label we chose a slide instrumental that rocked out quite nicely. His survey starts with Howlin' Wilf (known these days as James Hunter) and we went to Wilf's "Cry Wilf" album before we got out hands on "Leather Soul".

Ray Charles, BB King, Lighnin' Hopkins and Robert Johnson need no further comment from me, the word legend is enough. The Squadron Leader - my dad - loved Nina Simone's voice so it was a treat to include her version of "Nobody Knows You"  and other blues ladies such as Irma Thomas, Bettye LaVette and Lavern Baker weren't far behind. Our rock god, Neil Jones, received the album from Hat Fitz and Cara but thought it would suit us instead: top man. BTW what sort of name is that, I'm pretty sure the vicar would never christen anyone Cara?

All of which leaves us with two tracks from the new album by Billy Boy Arnold. His warm voice is perfect for the songs of Big Bill Broonzy, there's neither a note wasted nor too many and he has top-notch support from the likes of Eric Noden and Billy Flynn. They capture the essence of Broonzy without copying him, this project on Electro-Fi cannot be praised highly enough. Until next Sunday at ten pm, take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Track.Title	Track.ArtistSort	Index	Album.Title	Album.ArtistSort	Label	Released
A Good Time With The Blues	Phantom Blues Band	2	Inside Out	Phantom Blues Band	REDEYE Records	2012
A Brand New Man	James Armstrong	10	Blues at the Border	James Armstrong	CATFOOD	2012
Witness to My Misery	Brad Hatfield	1	Uphill From anywhere	Brad Hatfield	N/A	2012
Feelin' Bad	Ray Charles	5	The Genius Sings Blues	Ray Charles	Atlantic	20091108
You'll Lose a Good Thing	Barbara Lynn	7	You'll Lose a Good Thing	Barbara Lynn	JAMIE	1963
Girl in the Valley a.K.A. Water Coast Blues	Billy Boy Arnold	3	Billy Boy Arnold Sings: Big Bill Broonzy	Billy Boy Arnold	Electro-Fi
More Than I Bargained For	Peter Karp and Sue Foley	7	Beyond The Crossroads	Peter Karp and Sue Foley	Blind Pig
Mellow Down Easy	Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays	10	Cry Wilf!	Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays	BIG BEAT	200610
Cool Driver	Johnny Shines	21	Rough Treatment - The J.O.B. Records Story	Various Artists	WESTSIDE
Black Cat Bone	Lightnin Hopkins	1-8	The Blues Box	Various artists	UNION SQUARE
Terraplane Blues	Robert Johnson	2-3	The Blues Box	Various artists	UNION SQUARE
Left My Heart In Memphis	Royal Southern Brotherhood	3	RSB	Royal Southern Brotherhood	Ruf
Fine Old Foxy Self (King LP 635)	James Brown	11	R&B Humdingers Volume 12	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records	2012
Cornbread Row	Big Al Downing	1	Southern Soul Shake!: SSS Soul Survey & Music City Soul	Various Artists	CHARLY
Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go	Bettye LaVette & Hank Ballard	12	Southern Soul Shake!: SSS Soul Survey & Music City Soul	Various Artists	CHARLY
Nobody Knows You When Your Down & Out	Nina Simone	19	Songs To Sing: The Best Of Nina Simone	Nina Simone	Music Club Deluxe	2006
Walkin' Dr Bill Aka Gotta Find My Baby	B.B. King	21	Theme Time Radio Hour - Series 2	Various Artists	ACE	2009
First Class Love	Little Johnny Taylor	7	The Galaxy Years	Little Johnny Taylor	ACE	20100410
Soul On Fire	Lavern Baker	21	The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records	2010
Didn't it Rain	Norfolk Travellers	13	Gospel Box	Various Artists	Red Box	2009
Soul Of A Man	Irma ThomasCorey Harris	11	After The Rain	Irma Thomas	Rounder	2006
Keyto the Highway	Billy Boy Arnold	4	Billy Boy Arnold Sings: Big Bill Broonzy	Billy Boy Arnold	Electro-Fi
Wiley Ways	Hat Fitz And Cara	8	Wiley Ways	Hat Fitz And Cara	N/A	2012
Steel Sedan	Steve Hooker	10	Leather Soul - vol one	Various Artists	oosoul
Boogie Woogie Baby	Gary Primich	4	Just a little more	Gary Primich	old pal

Created: 06/05/2012 23:54:27