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.title | track.artistsort | index | album.title | album.artistsort | label |
Fake I.D. | Albert Collins | 3 | Blues Guitar Box | Various Artists | SEQUEL |
daylight | Tutu Jones | 1 | Staying Power | Tutu Jones | BULLSEYE BLUES |
Why Don't You Eat Where You Slept Last Night | Zuzu Bollin | 17 | Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Texas | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
Some Other Day, Some Other Time | Freddy King | 23 | King New Breed R'n'b | Various Artists | Kent (U.K.) |
Talkin' Woman | Lowell Fulson | 18 | Uk Sue Label Story, Vol. 3: The Soul Of Sue | Various Artists | Kent (U.K.) |
austin boogie | pee wee crayton | 6 | jumpin in los angeles | pee wee crayton | ace |
Wound Up Tight | Lonnie Brooks | 3 | Blues Guitar Box 2 | Various Artists | SEQUEL |
G. G. Shuffle | Grady Gaines & Texas Upsetters | 8 | Blues Sax Greats | Various Artists | EASYDISC |
Pack Fair And Square (Peacock 1666) | Big Walter PriceThunderbirds | 1 | Rhythm Rockin' Blues | Various Artists | Groove SOURCE |
Just Like A Dog (Barking Up The Wrong Tree) | Big Mama Thornton | 10 | Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
5. Lucy Mae Blues | Ray Reed | 4 | Where The Trinity Runs Free | Ray Reed | DIALTONE |
I'm In Love With You Baby | Hosea Hargrove | 12 | Tex Golden Nugget | Hosea Hargrove | DIALTONE |
you hurt me | texas eastside kings w. charles pierce | 5 | texas eastside kings | texas eastside kings | dialtone |
Back To The Shimmy | Jewel Brown | 9 | Milton Hopkins & Jewel Brown | Milton HopkinsJewel Brown | DIALTONE |
Jumpin' With Ervin | Ervin Charles | 5 | Greyhound Blues | Ervin Charles | DIALTONE |
You Up Set My Mindt | Birdlegg | 7 | Birdlegg | Birdlegg | DIALTONE |
You Better Heed My Warning (With Mickey Baker's Orchestra) | Larry Dale | 9 | Groove Records Story | Various Artists | one day |
Isabella (Deluxe 6119) | Roy Gaines | 21 | R&b Humdingers Volume 11 | Various Artists | Vee-Tone Records |
Cairo Blues | Lil’ Son Jackson | 2 | Down Home Blues Classics Texas 1946-1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD ENTERTAINMENT |
Black Cat Blues | Lightnin' Hopkins | 1 | Texas Blues | Lightnin' Hopkins | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION |
Trifling Woman | Black Ace | 9 | Texas Blues | Various Artists | CATFISH |
Long Tall Girl Got Stuck On Me | Mance Lipscomb | 7 | Blues Roots | Various Artists | TOMATO |
Penitentiary Moan Blues | Texas Alexander | 14 | Crime And Punishment | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
prison cell blues | blind lemon jefferson | 2-16 | crime and punishment | various artists | fantastic voyage |
Feel Good Babe | Frank Frost | 18 | Jelly Roll King | Frank Frost | CHARLY |
Worry Blues | Willie Mabon | 2 | Willie's Blues - The Greatest Hits 1952 - 1957 | Willie Mabon | Jasmine Records |
Love's Like A River | Charles Brown | 13 | The Ace Story - Volume 5 | Various Artists | ACE |
Little Mae Belle | West Texas Slim | 25 | Down Home Blues Classics Texas 1946-1954 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD ENTERTAINMENT |
Mojo In My Hand | L. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson | 20 | Let's Have A Blues Ball! | Various Artists | ACE |
When The Rain Starts Fallin' | Johnny Copeland | 8 | Texas Party | Johnny Copeland | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION |
T-Bone Shuffle | T-Bone Walker | 1 | You're My Best Poker Hand: The Definitive Collection | T-Bone Walker | Fantastic Voyage |
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