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 |
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