So we've jiggled, we've tweaked, we've rustled and we've jostled the regular features (PIANO, GOSPEL and so on) to give us a free run at such a marvellous treasure trove of blues. Not that our first segment has been down-graded.
Ann Rabson didn't have that photogenic glamour of her contemporaries Bonnie Raitt or Rory Block but she was easily their equal in terms of ability and influence. Her first axe was guitar but she was best known for her piano gifts - played for over 25 years with Saffire! the Uppity Blues Women. Their final project together has a fabulous photo of Ann in the middle of a full throated hearty laugh while Andrea and Gaye beam widely - no doubt cooking up some delicious mischief over their coffee. She was universally loved and she loved everyone right back with great generosity of both time and spirit. Her final project was a two hander piece with Bob Margolin called "Not Alone" which captured two seasoned players just enjoying each others company. Ann's death on 30th January has left a huge hole in the blues community which will take some filling.
We also took time to wish two other artists well in their recovery from very serious health issues: Finis Tasby and Eddie C. Campbell (who is in Germany while the care he needs is Stateside). Jody Williams' birthday was yesterday and we'll celebrate that next Sunday as the time thief caught me again. It was the anniversary of Johnny Guitar Watson's birth too - he was Jimi Hendrix before Jimi Hendrix with guitar showmanship and a wild extravagant approach to plying reverb to his Fender guitar on the 1954 piece "Space Cowboy". His "Three hours past midnight" had a memorable solo that Frank Zappa later claimed as a life changing event. Watson enjoyed success in the 70's as a disco icon but he'd already been one of the 50's best singers, writers and guitarists. Bobby Robinson at Fire and Fury knew how to record his stars at high volume, he had success with Elmore James and Jimmy Spruill just listen to any of their sides cut during that era. One of our internet correspondents tipped us a wink on a couple of singles Eddie Burns did for the Harvey label and showed why he's regarded as one of Detroit's finest.
Not that everything was about high octane guitar last night, we had Ernestine Allen with Cliff "King" Solomon and we had Ruth Brown bring powerful vocals; Essex' own Jackson Sloan is a name to watch for mining the same R&B vein with exceptional arrangements and delivery, he kindly sent us a two-track EP ahead of his up-coming album on Shellac. Mike Sanchez found some tapes on his shelf that came from 2004 sessions with Imelda May. (At that time she was over from Ireland, not yet the household name she deservedly now is). Agreement was reached to put out the songs on Mike's own Doopin' imprint. In my (less than) humble the 14 tracks are the best either has done. (Did I also mention two hidden bonus bands?)
Before air-time we boldly claimed to raise the bar on what passes for guitar playing these days. Did we do it? Dave Kelly with Sonny Black acted as one on the "Slide Guitar Rag" and there was sweet and graceful tones off Tommy Emmanuel and Martin Taylor as "The Colonel and The Governor" to preview next month's tour and album. Then in a trice it was time to pack up and head for home; you made me very welcome with your kind invitation round your place, I'm available next Sunday at 10pm for another bundle of trivia, tomfoolery and vinyl blues. 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 |
Damn Right I've Got The Blues | Buddy Guy | 1 | Damn Right I've Got The Blues | Buddy Guy | SILVERTONE |
Pride & Joy | Otis Rush | 9 | Any Place I'm Going | Otis Rush | HOUSE OF BLUES |
Border Town Blues | Mannish Boys, feat. Finis Tasby | 1 | Big Plans | Mannish Boys, The | Delta Groove Prod |
everything's gonna be alright | Eddie C. Campbell | 6 | everything's gonna be alright | Eddie C. Campbell | icehouse |
you know i know | jackson sloan | 1 | you know i know | jackson sloan | shellac |
Slide Guitar Rag | Dave Kelly w. Sonny Black | 17 | We Had It All | Dave Kelly - Family And Friends | HYPERTENSION |
lets get drunk and truck | ann rabson w. bob margolin | 2 | not alone | ann rabson w. bob margolin | vizztone |
since you been gone | saffire the uppity blues women | 6 | havin' the last word | saffire the uppity blues women | alligator |
music makin' mama | ann rabson | 1 | music makin mama | ann rabson | alligator |
Lovin' Jim | Little Mickey Champion | 1 | Bam-A-Lam: the R&b Recordings 1950-1962 | Mickey Champion | ACE |
Every Night In The Week | Mike Sanchez And His Band | 7 | Almost Grown | Mike Sanchez And His Band feat. Imelda May | DOOPIN |
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feeel To Be Free | Tommy Emmanuel w. Martin Taylor | 1 | The Colonel And The Govenor | Tommy Emmanuel w. Martin Taylor | BLUE MOON |
Oh Pretty Woman | Albert King | 3 | King Of The Blues Guitar | Albert King | Atlantic |
Don't You Know You're Wrong | Earl King | 19 | Earl's Pearls | Earl King | WESTSIDE |
Hard Grind | Jimmy Spruill | 9 | The Fire And Fury Of Bobby Robinson | Various Artists | RPM |
space guitar | johnny guitar watson | 19 | gangster of love | johnny guitar watson | charly |
three hours past midnight | johnny guitar watson | 11 | mojo working | various artists | ace |
Square Dance Boogie | Cliff 'King' Solomon | 30 | Okeh R'n'b Story 1949-1957 | Various Artists | COLUMBIA |
Daddy Daddy | Ruth Brown | 2 | Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974: Volume 2, 1952-1954 | Various Artists | Atlantic / Wea |
Spike Driver's Blues | Mississippi John Hurt | 18 | The Greatest Songsters (1927-1929) | Various Artists | DOCUMENT |
Dark And Stormy Night | Tampa Red | 37 | Bluebird Recordings | Tampa Red | RCA |
this may be the last time | staple singers | 2-25 | gospel celebrities | various artists | fantastic voyage |
i'm in the mood | john lee hooker | 2-1 | Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Detroit | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
Orange Driver | Eddie Burns | 1 | The Harvey Singles | Eddie Burns | HARVEY |
Down On Bending Knees | Johnny Copeland | 1 | An Introduction To Johnny Copeland | Johnny Copeland | FUEL 2000 |
Every Night About This Time | Magic Sam | 14 | West Side Guitar 1957-1966 | Magic Sam | FLYRIGHT |
Lovin' Touch | Lowell Fulson | 19 | New Breed R'n'b | Various Artists | Kent (U.K.) |
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