Sunday 13 July 2014

STAR BLUES on 13th July 2014 at 22:00 - Texas Blues Artists plus DIALTONE label

A very special STAR BLUES this week with Mance Lipscomb, Lil Son Jackson, T-Bone Walker and Freddie King. we're concentrating on the Lone Star state with a dip into the splendid Dial-Tone label.


Texas Blues has a big sound and is best known for the skills of its guitar players. Of those we had several like Albert Collins and Freddie King (still can't decide who's better. Just keep putting the Iceman ahead because of those airplane runway sized collars Freddie wore in the Seventies). A couple of others made names through the West Coast blues scene but birthrights in Texas put them on our list: Lowell Fulson and Charles Brown.

Lest you think its about the six stringed axe, Big Walter Price joined Brown on the ivory ticklers team. Frank Frost flew a lone flag for the harp men. Sax genius Grady Gaines did what he did best and brother Roy was back in his Rock'n'Roll routes for "Isabella". I was asked beforehand not to forget Johnny Winter and he was very forceful in his two hander with fellow label star Lonnie Brooks from his Alligator days. Tutu Jones is a more modern player with tinges of soul in both voice and guitar; ZuZu Bollin was much under-rated and under-recorded (I've made a note to track down more of his stuff).

Rare and alternate versions of Pee Wee Crayton's early pieces he did for Modern are newly available through Ace and It was a treat to bring you something never previously issued. You could just about get a fag paper between his solo on the track and the finest T-Bone Walker tone, though I doubt you'd get two.

The pre-war giants were represented by Blind Lemon Jefferson (of course) and Texas Alexander; country blues from Black Ace and Lightnin' Hopkins (ofcourse), rounded out with the iconic "Cairo Blues" by Lil Son Jackson (who I think had a deceptive and memorable singing style as well as player).

The conundrum on the fierce guitar solo on Scremin' Jays "Whammee" from last week was answered by a listener as Mickey Baker (ofcourse).

The centrepiece for the show went down to Houston for a rich sample of items currently in the Dialtone catalogue. Eddie Stout has gradually built a formidable body of artist who still play blues in the good old fashioned way. Last years project from Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown is perhaps best known but the Birdlegg album is a little gen which has excited many in the know - expect more good things from both acts pretty soon. Ervin Charles plays keyboards and he boogied steadfastly for us. Hosea Hargrove's album has been sympathetically put together and it is good to see Ray reed with product on the shelves. His brother-in-law was guitarist Clarence Pierce who is featured in the new edition of Blues & Rhythm magazine (other blues magazines are available, a couple are worthwhile, most can usefully plug a draught under the bath at best). Clarence was part of the loose aggregation that recorded as the Texas Eastside Kings and there was some lovely understated soulful playing to remember him.

We did cheat with Big Mama Thornton who wasn't born in Texas; she did some great sides for Peacock out of Houston so we had no problem with her credentials.

Next Sunday STAR BLUES will remember the 1964 AFBF tour that reached Britain that week so you can be sure of Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf and Sleepy John Estes between 10 and midnight (BST). Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you


track.titletrack.artistsortindexalbum.titlealbum.artistsortlabel
Fake I.D.Albert Collins3Blues Guitar BoxVarious ArtistsSEQUEL
daylightTutu Jones1Staying PowerTutu JonesBULLSEYE BLUES
Why Don't You Eat Where You Slept Last NightZuzu Bollin17Let Me Tell You About The Blues: TexasVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Some Other Day, Some Other TimeFreddy King23King New Breed R'n'bVarious ArtistsKent (U.K.)
Talkin' WomanLowell Fulson18Uk Sue Label Story, Vol. 3: The Soul Of SueVarious ArtistsKent (U.K.)
austin boogiepee wee crayton6jumpin in los angelespee wee craytonace
Wound Up TightLonnie Brooks3Blues Guitar Box 2Various ArtistsSEQUEL
G. G. ShuffleGrady Gaines & Texas Upsetters8Blues Sax GreatsVarious ArtistsEASYDISC
Pack Fair And Square (Peacock 1666)Big Walter PriceThunderbirds1Rhythm Rockin' BluesVarious ArtistsGroove SOURCE
Just Like A Dog (Barking Up The Wrong Tree)Big Mama Thornton10Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties FemalesVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
5. Lucy Mae BluesRay Reed4Where The Trinity Runs FreeRay ReedDIALTONE
I'm In Love With You BabyHosea Hargrove12Tex Golden NuggetHosea HargroveDIALTONE
you hurt metexas eastside kings w. charles pierce5texas eastside kingstexas eastside kingsdialtone
Back To The ShimmyJewel Brown9Milton Hopkins & Jewel BrownMilton HopkinsJewel BrownDIALTONE
Jumpin' With ErvinErvin Charles5Greyhound BluesErvin CharlesDIALTONE
You Up Set My MindtBirdlegg7BirdleggBirdleggDIALTONE
You Better Heed My Warning (With Mickey Baker's Orchestra)Larry Dale9Groove Records StoryVarious Artistsone day
Isabella (Deluxe 6119)Roy Gaines21R&b Humdingers Volume 11Various ArtistsVee-Tone Records
Cairo BluesLil’ Son Jackson2Down Home Blues Classics Texas 1946-1954Various ArtistsBOULEVARD ENTERTAINMENT
Black Cat BluesLightnin' Hopkins1Texas BluesLightnin' HopkinsORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Trifling WomanBlack Ace9Texas BluesVarious ArtistsCATFISH
Long Tall Girl Got Stuck On MeMance Lipscomb7Blues RootsVarious ArtistsTOMATO
Penitentiary Moan BluesTexas Alexander14Crime And PunishmentVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
prison cell bluesblind lemon jefferson2-16crime and punishmentvarious artistsfantastic voyage
Feel Good BabeFrank Frost18Jelly Roll KingFrank FrostCHARLY
Worry BluesWillie Mabon2Willie's Blues - The Greatest Hits 1952 - 1957Willie MabonJasmine Records
Love's Like A RiverCharles Brown13The Ace Story - Volume 5Various ArtistsACE
Little Mae BelleWest Texas Slim25Down Home Blues Classics Texas 1946-1954Various ArtistsBOULEVARD ENTERTAINMENT
Mojo In My HandL. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson20Let's Have A Blues Ball!Various ArtistsACE
When The Rain Starts Fallin'Johnny Copeland8Texas PartyJohnny CopelandORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
T-Bone ShuffleT-Bone Walker1You're My Best Poker Hand: The Definitive CollectionT-Bone WalkerFantastic Voyage
Created: 13/07/2014 23:30:17
 

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