STAR BLUES on 2nd June 2013 at 22:00

Right now the focus of all that's good about the current blues scene is centred on Chicago. Earlier this year, there was sad news in the loss of Magic Slim and Jimmy Dawkins but since then we've marked Muddy Waters' centenary, celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Bob Koerster's Delmark label and next week we have a very strong lineup of blues stars at the 30th Chicago Blues Festival. All of which is at the risk of stating the obvious. If there is a way of measuring how "healthy" the current upswing in interest in blues is, we need to use what happens in Chicago as our first temperature sounding. (Don't ask where the thermometer goes, this is a family show).

The basic format of small electric combo lead with harp and/or guitar hasn't changed much in fifty years, the energy and power in this apparently simple straight forward approach is undeniable. The great and the good brought it in spades last night. Our focus was on the current work of the folks booked to appear at the festival - sprinkled with some Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, Little Mac and John Littlejohn from back awhile. Mac's piece is listed as 1980 but it sounds like an earlier work in homage to Sonny Boy's "Help Me".

Sam Charters did three albums in 1965/6 called "Chicago/The Blues/Today" and we dipped in to play an instrumental Otis Rush piece and a quartet recording lead by James Cotton (barely out of his 20s but a veteran with over a dozen years of solid blues recording behind him). He is riding really high at the moment with his latest "Cotton Mouth Man" cited as CD of the Month in the new issues of both Living Blues and Blues & Rhythm magazines. The harp playing from our hero is enough to cement his rep at #1 in league of world harp players.

Harvey Cockliss made a film in 1970 to go that bit further and actually show the blues club scene, we chose Mighty Joe Young whose warts-n-all fidelity let us in to a unique atmosphere of one of his gigs. Lurrie Bell and John Primer were similarly captured in rather clearer-fi last year for the award winning "(R)evolution Continues" double disc project. Sir Mack Rice will be on stage on Saturday with the Memphis Soul Revue - you've all heard his compositions "Mustang Sally" and "Minnie Skirt Minnie" - but it was a nice opportunity to hear him out front and centre for himself.

As far as I can tell I've never played anything by Cicero Blake though I'm glad to have found a couple of his early Sixties sides which certainly fit our format. You can be sure we'll get back to him before too long. I'm planning my annual treasure hunt round about now and his name is already on my list. Our two hours together flew past, many thanks for your kind invitation to your place, as for this upcoming Sunday I'm already stuffing my bag with more blues, trivia and tomfoolery than is legal, decent or sensible - 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
You're Humbuggin' Me	Eddy 'The Chief' Clearwater	1	Rock 'N' Roll City	Eddy 'The Chief' Clearwater	BULLSEYE BLUES
Last Four Nickels	Larry McCray	3	Delta Hurricane	Larry McCray	POINTBLANK
Call My Job	Michael Coleman	13	The Story Of Black And Blues :1976-1988	Various Artists	FREMEAUX ET ASSOCIES
Use What You Got	Eddie Taylor Jr.	6	So Called Friends	Eddie Taylor Jr.
Jimmy Burns 04 Stranded In Clarksdale	Jimmy Burns	4	Back To The Delta	Jimmy Burns	DELMARK
Stockyard Blues	Lurrie Bell	6	Chicago Blues - A Living History, The (R)Evolution Continues	Various Artists	Raisin' Records
Hard- Lovin' Mama	Shirley Johnson w. Johnny B. moore	7	Killer Diller	Shirley Johnson	DELMARK
You've Been A Good Ole Wagon	Grana Louise	7	Wild About That Thing - Ladies Sing The Blues	Various Artists	DELMARK
(I Got) All You Need	Koko Taylor	8	Wang Dang Doodle	Koko Taylor	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
You've Got To Help Me	Little Mac	28	Dave's Anthology Of Chicago Blues - Vol. 1	Various Artists
What In The World	John Littlejohn	14	Dave's Anthology Of Chicago Blues - Vol. 2	Various Artists
Nobody Wins 'Til The Game Is Over	Sir Mack Rice	7	Nobody Wins Stax Southern Soul 1968-1975 V A	Various Artists	Kent
don't do this to me	cicero blake	8	southern soul blues	various artists
Piece Of My Heart	Otis Clay	4	Songs Of Janis Joplin All Blues'd Up	Various Artists	SMITH & CO
Another Man Done Gone	Irma Thomas	7	After The Rain	Irma Thomas	Rounder
My Turn, My Time	Deitra Farr	12	Let It Go!	Deitra Farr	JSP Records
Yonder Wall	Billy Branch	2-6	Chicago Blues - A Living History, The (R)Evolution Continues	Various Artists	Raisin' Records
canary bird	john primer	1-4	Chicago Blues - A Living History, The (R)Evolution Continues	Various Artists	Raisin' Records
i can't be satisfied	muddy waters	2-23	let me tell you about the blues: chicago	various artists	fantastic voyage
sit and cry the blues	buddy guy	3-24	let me tell you about the blues: chicago	various artists	fantastic voyage
County Preacher	Jimmy Johnson	1	County Preacher	Jimmy Johnson	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
I Ain't the One	Bobby Rush	3	Down In Louisiana	Bobby Rush	DEEP Rush
West Helena Blues	Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet	2-5	Chicago / The Blues / Today!	Various Artists	ACE
everythings gonna turn out alright	otis rush	2-6	Chicago / The Blues / Today!	Various Artists	ACE
Why You Want To Hurt Me	Mighty Joe Young	12	19 Tracks From The Film 'Chicago Blues'	Various Artists	CASTLE
born loser	Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials	6	Jump Start	Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials	Alligator

Created: 02/06/2013 23:53:52