Sunday 3 June 2012

STAR BLUES on 3rd June 2012 at 22:00

In which our intrepid hero, self confessed luckiest man in radio, is on his way to the Jubilee jamboree when his DeLaurean took STAR BLUES back to 1952. He had no choice but to go to the wireless with just the tracks recorded before that date. He could fix the flux capacitor later, perhaps the Mighty Mark Peters as a boy could leap into the future to get the sonic screwdriver lent to the rock god Neil Jones?

Meantime he had the feeling that shellac and spinach weren't really the subjects of songs by Bull Moose Jackson and Julia Lee. No doubt what drummer Jump Jackson and ace guitar star Pee Wee Crayton meant, must  have known the weather would be on everyone's mind. Champion Jack Dupree was hoping for better as we slipped off air. We had both Sonny Boy Williamsons in short order, the first with Big Joe Williams in 1937 with "Schoolgirl" and a second in thinly-disguised support on Elmore James' "Broom", his recording debut. In 1952, Atlantic, Specialty and Chess were upcoming independent record labels with several stars among their rosters: we chose hits off Muddy Waters, Professor Longhair and Jimmy Liggins to showcase the depth of talent already on offer.

Theo Bilbo was a US senator with a racist stance which stated superiority of White over Black; he died in 1947 and Andrew Tibbs marked his passing with a side for Aristocrat - shortly to become Chess Records - it was their first big seller. Bukka White was a big influence on BB King as well as being a distant cousin, the infectious "Jitterbig Swing" was propelled by an insistent washboard. Ernest Lawlers recorded with Rev. Robert Wilkins in 1935 before meeting and marrying Lizzie Douglas, better  known as Memphis Minnie. They cut "Black Rat Swing" in 1941, first issued as "Little Son Joe" then as "Mr Memphis Minnie". It would have been Minnie's birthday on 3rd June: Big Bill Broonzy thought she played guitar like a man, he himself was no slouch as he stopped by to tell us on STAR BLUES.

We tend to forget 1952 was pre-television here in Britain and anything known about blues would have been as an afterthought  to jazz-buffs gleaned from visiting GIs. The first acknowledged European tour by a genuine blues artist was Broonzy late in 1951. It caused a stir at the time because Bill was a dapper, well educated man who wore a suit - he was expected to be a share cropper straight from the cotton fields in dungarees (an image he hated). Chris Barber, Lonnie Donegan, Ken Colyer and others were just starting out on their passion in 1952. The playlist last night couldn't have happened in 1952, there was no way to get or even know about these artists then.

It was a treat to be with you for two hours on STAR BLUES, you were great company as always - especially as we did something a bit different for the Queen's Jubilee weekend. There's a really rich seam of great blues going back over 100 years and we only scratched the surface last night. Who knows what next Sunday will bring, I hope we can be  together again to find out at 10pm. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you



Big Ten Inch Record Bull Moose Jackson 1 The R'n'b Hits Of 1952 Various Artists INDIGO
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl Sonny Boy Williamson 15 Highlights From: The History Of Rhythm And Blues 1925-1942 Various Artists RHYTHM & BLUES
Dust My Broom Elmore James 24 The R'n'b Hits Of 1951 Various Artists INDIGO
Bukka's Jitterbug Swing Bukka White 16 The Slide Guitar Various Artists COLUMBIA
Rainy Day Blues Jump Jackson Band 5 Specialty Story Various Artists Specialty
When It Rains It Pours Pee Wee Crayton 3 The R'n'b Hits Of 1951 Various Artists INDIGO
Dealing With The Devil Brownie McGhee 20 The Complete Brownie McGhee Brownie McGhee COLUMBIA
Bilbo Is Dead Andrew Tibbs 2 Chess Blues Various Artists CHESS
Cold In Hand Blues Bessie Smith 8 Blues Queen. The Definitive Collection Bessie Smith Phoenix Records
I Didn't Like It The First Time Julia Lee 9 The R'n'b Hits Of 1949 Various Artists INDIGO
Boogie-Woogie Count Basie As Jones-Smith Inc 2 History Of Rhythm And Blues Part One Various Artists Rhythm and Blues Records
Lollipop Mama Wynonie Harris 23 The R'n'b Hits Of 1948 Various Artists INDIGO
Midnight Special Tiny Grimes 4 Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974: Volume 1, 1947-1952 Various Artists Atlantic / Wea
I Feel Like Going Home Muddy Waters 8 Chess Blues Various Artists CHESS
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Stick McGhee 16 Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974: Volume 1, 1947-1952 Various Artists Atlantic / Wea
Lovin' Blues Bobby 'Blue' Bland 22 The R'n'b Hits Of 1952 Various Artists INDIGO
Tonky Boogie Forrest Sykes 12 Chess Blues Various Artists CHESS
Cadillac Boogie Jimmy Liggins & His Drops Of Joy 11 Specialty Story Various Artists Specialty
Mardi Gras In New Orleans Professor Longhair 11 Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974: Volume 1, 1947-1952 Various Artists Atlantic / Wea
Every Night About This Time Fats Domino 45 The R'n'b Hits Of 1950 Various Artists INDIGO
Black Rat Swing Little Son Joe 89 Roots 'N Blues : Retrospective 1925-1950 Various Artists SONY
Traveling Riverside Blues Robert Johnson 1 Beauty Of The Blues Various Artists COLUMBIA
Cross Cut Saw Blues Tony Hollins 83 Roots 'N Blues : Retrospective 1925-1950 Various Artists SONY
It's Nobody's Fault But Mine Blind Willie Johnson 10 Great Blues Artists:String Dazzlers Various Artists COLUMBIA
C And A Blues Big Bill Broonzy 69 Roots 'N Blues : Retrospective 1925-1950 Various Artists SONY
My Sportin' Man Mamie Smith 27 Roots 'N Blues : Retrospective 1925-1950 Various Artists SONY
Moonshine Man Blues Peter Cleighton 16 News And The Blues : Telling It Like It Is Various Artists COLUMBIA
Hurry Down Sunshine Champion Jack Dupree 19 Legends Of The Blues Volume Two Various Artists COLUMBIA
Created: 03/06/2012 21:30:53

No comments:

Post a Comment