Sam was a canny operator and he'd have been unlikely to leave things to chance; I think Marion Keister heard something in the two earlier goes Elvis had done in the twelve months previous. They however didn't agree on a style of music with the best fit (Elvis always wanted to be a ballad singer). So he put the boy in the studio with a couple of seasoned players with instructions to do country, r&b and ballad songs. Sorry if my alternative story line is less romantic but just a theory.
We put the song in that reading into our STAR BLUES playlist with the best part if two hours worth of context as singles Elvis could have heard that year. A year that had (exactly to the day) Joe Turner with "Shake Rattle and Roll" at number 1. Our line-up included the bigger better known names of the time like B.B. King, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf as well as Tommy Ridgely, Willie Egans and Lula Reed.
For only the second time in the history of the show, i left the white tee-shirt at home - I wore black instead to mark the death on Friday of Bobby Womack. For many it was the end of that generation of true soul singers. Just a year ago, Bobby Bland died but Bobby Womack was on the bill at the Glastonbury festival. Dozens of obituaries and tributes tried to justify the attention he was getting by mentioning his association with dozens of rock names quite frankly not fit to tie his shoelaces. Robert Dwayne Womack (b. 4 March 1944) was a massive talent. Full stop. Awesome voice rooted in gospel from a whisper to a scream. Gifted song writer and distinctive guitarist. His earliest gospel sides for Sam Cooke's SAR label fit our programme and with a heavy heart we marked his death at the age of 70.
Just in was the latest dip into the seemingly endless treasure trove of Mark Lamarr's record collection. The splendid folks at Vee-Tone have it in the shelves on vinyl long player - it'll be ready for your listening delight next Sunday right here on Britain's Other Blues Show, STAR BLUES at 10pm Sunday. 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 |
I'm Ready | Muddy Waters | 20 | The R'n'b Hits Of 1954 | Various Artists | INDIGO |
Shake Rattle and Roll | Joe Turner | 15 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Hoy Hoy | Little Johnnie Jones | 17 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
The Things That I Used to Do | Guitar Slim | 9 | The R'n'b Hits Of 1954 | Various Artists | INDIGO |
It Should’ve Been Me | Ray Charles | 22 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Last Night | Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs) | 19 | The R'n'b Hits Of 1954 | Various Artists | INDIGO |
Eisenhower Blues | J. B. Lenoir | 14 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Bottle it Up and Go | Big John Greer | 12 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Jam Up | Tommy Ridgley | 7 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Cotton Crop Blues | James Cotton | 12 | The R'n'b Hits Of 1954 | Various Artists | INDIGO |
thats alright mama | elvis presley | 3 | king of rock'n'roll - 50s masters | elvis presley | rca |
i smell a rat | big mama thornton | 23 | r & b years:1954 | various artists | boulevard vintage |
Yield Not to Temptation | Womack Brothers | 28 | Sar Records Story 1959-1965 | Various Artists | ABKCO |
Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray | Womack Brothers | 29 | Sar Records Story 1959-1965 | Various Artists | ABKCO |
Somewhere There's a God | Womack Brothers | 30 | Sar Records Story 1959-1965 | Various Artists | ABKCO |
Space Guitar | Young John Watson | 29 | The R'n'b Hits Of 1954 | Various Artists | INDIGO |
You Upset Me Baby | B. B. King | 12 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show | Big Maybelle | 9 | The R'n'b Hits Of 1954 | Various Artists | INDIGO |
I’m Just Your Fool | Buddy Johnson | 5 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Kissing in the Dark | Memphis Minnie | 13 | The R'n'b Hits Of 1954 | Various Artists | INDIGO |
Watch Dog | Lula Reed | 15 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
East of the Sun | Jerry McCain | 26 | The R'n'b Hits Of 1954 | Various Artists | INDIGO |
It’s a Shame | Willie Egans | 25 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Rockin' Daddy | Howlin' Wolf | 28 | The R'n'b Hits Of 1954 | Various Artists | INDIGO |
Make My Dreams Come True | Elmore James | 5 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Blue Monday | Smiley Lewis | 4 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Good,good,whiskey | Amos Milburn | 14 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Work With Me Annie | Royals, The | 3 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Annie Had a Baby | Midnighters, The | 21 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
I Feel So Bad | Chuck Willis | 1 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Beggin’ My Baby | Little Milton | 13 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Midnight Hour | Clarence “gatemouth” Brown | 22 | The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |