Sunday 25 January 2015

STAR BLUES on 25th January 2015 at 22:00 - without essential blues artist Smokey Hogg

.. who was a surprise inclusion - alongside the usual suspects - to a budget 2-cd set called "Essential Blues"

track.title track.artistsort index album.title album.artistsort label
Days Of Old Otis Grand 13 Nothing Else Matters Otis Grand SEQUEL
Crosscut Saw Albert King 12 Ultimate Collection Albert King RHINO
She Hit Me From The Blind Side Johnny B. Moore 3 Rockin' In The Same Old Boat Johnny B. Moore DELMARK
Loaded Down Matthew 'Boogie Jake' Jacobs 1-1 Mr Joe's Jambalaya // Loaded Down With The Blues Various Artists CHARLY
Dalel03 I'm Tired Larry Dale 3 Complete Larry Dale Larry Dale  
Saturday Night Dady Little Esther 22 The R'n'b Hits Of 1952 Various Artists INDIGO
ruler of my heart irma thomas 2-11 Mr Joe's Jambalaya // Loaded Down With The Blues Various Artists CHARLY
she moves me Muddy Waters 1 genesis - roots of rock'n'roll various CHESS
I Can't Hold Out Elmore James 5 Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
sweet black angel robert nighthawk 12 genesis - roots of rock'n'roll various CHESS
romance without finance big bill broonzy 8 genesis - roots of rock'n'roll various CHESS
My Jug And I Persuasions 116 25 Years Various Artists Rounder
I Woke Up Screaming Bland, Bobby "Blue" 23 Where Southern Soul Began 1954-1962 Various Artists HISTORY OF SOUL
Hard To Handle Otis Redding 1 100 Hits Legends - Otis Reading Otis Redding DEMON
You And Me Together Vernon Garrett 13 New Breed R'n'b Various Artists Kent (U.K.)
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Big Maybelle 4 I Put A Spell On You: The Okeh Story Various Artists One Day Music
Black Boy Roebuck 'Pop' Staples 25 The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 Various Artists STAX
Going Down Freddie King 18 Old Grey Whistle Test Blues Various Artists Wm UK
(Night Time Is) The Right Time Smokey Wilson 11 Round Like An Apple: Big Town Sessions 1977-1978 Smokey Wilson ACE
Walking Blues Butterfield Blues Band, The 1 Butterfield Blues Band / East West Butterfield Blues Band, The ELEKTRA
somethings got a hold of me Etta James 2-6 Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
i just want to make love to you Etta James 1-3 Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Tough Mary Etta James 3-10 Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Work Baby Work Larry Darnell 21 Okeh R'n'b Story 1949-1957 Various Artists COLUMBIA
Square Dance Boogie Cliff 'King' Solomon 30 Okeh R'n'b Story 1949-1957 Various Artists COLUMBIA
Saturday Night Fish Fry Louis Jordan 1 Jiving Jamboree Various Artists ACE
Black Cat Bone Jessie Mae Hemphill 19 Lucky Lucky Man Henry Gray Blind Pig
One Dime Blues Etta Baker 36 25 Years Various Artists Rounder
Too Many Men Ruth Brown 25 Teardrops From My Eyes : Introduction To Ruth Brown Ruth Brown PROPER
Let's Jump Tonight Chuck Willis 12 Okeh R'n'b Story 1949-1957 Various Artists COLUMBIA
Too Many Tears Roy Lee Johnson 22 Where Southern Soul Began 1954-1962 Various Artists HISTORY OF SOUL
East St. Louis Baby Robert Boyd (Aka Professor Longhair) 22 Roll 'Em Pete : 25 Years Of Piano Blues And Boogie Various Artists INDIGO
The Way I Feel Detroit Jr. 12 The Way I Feel Various Artists FLYRIGHT
Too Many Woman Blues Willie Lane 14 Down Home Blues Classics Various Artists BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Say You're Leaving Fenton Robinson 17 The Way I Feel Various Artists FLYRIGHT
Created: 25/01/2015 23:24:58

Sunday 18 January 2015

STAR BLUES on 18th January 2015 at 22:00 Senior blues players like Henry Gray (90), Eddy Clearwater (80) with birthdays

... Vernon Garrett is 82, Barabara Lynn 73,  as well as marking tomorrow for Willie Big-Eye Smith, Janis Joplin. Smith started out as a harp player but got a powerful reputation in the traps for Muddy Waters on down. In his latter days he returned to his first love, some times with his son Kenny on drums. There is a well-realised live set he recorded with Roger Hurricane Wilson which proved to be his final release and a nice way to celebrate one of the very best. Janis arguably never fulfilled her potential though she wore her blues influences just as proudly as the rock ones.

Barbara Lynn deserves to be far better known: strong vocals and confident guitar standing front and centre. Garrett was featured in some depth in the pages of living Blues during 2014 and his sweet-voiced singles were reviewed; he sings gospel nowadays. We had a 1964 single recorded with his wife.

Henry Gray is still an active blues player; he looks fairly unassuming, he has learnt to play loud and creates a joyous noise (a hard won career in Howlin' Wolf's band would no doubt be a factor). Friends and blues artists held birthday concerts for him (including a date at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix) - there will have been no stopping his participation. He has a road band called Short Fuse and there's a clutch of live albums showing their collective gifts in support of him.

Eddie Clearwater's birthday presents included a number 1 blues album for "Soul Funky" showing him as good today as he's always been. For comparison we also went back to his first studio work issued as "Little Eddie" and very firmly in the Chuck Berry mold.

Our show started with three female stars, I can't recall the last time we did that. Deborah Coleman brought along a sturdy version of Johnny Morrisette's "Brick", and we included his own song "Damper" off a brand new 10-inch vinyl record looking back over the SAR record imprint set up by Sam Cooke and JW Alexander. The whole thing has been lovingly created by those splendid folks at Vee-Tone Records. Of-course it had a gospel track from the Soul Stirrers and we completed the loop by having "Little Bluebird" from Johnnie Taylor's classic album from 1967.

In a trice we bade our farewells with Henry Gray's masterpiece instrumental. Never fear I'm planning some more for the next visit round your place; if you'll have us we can come Sunday night at 10pm (GMT) 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
Brick Deborah Coleman 5 I Can't Lose Deborah Coleman BLIND PIG RECORDS
Spoonful Etta James 20 Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
mercedes benz janis joplin 2-13 essential janis joplin sony
Look Don't Touch Hubert Sumlin 16 Up Jumped The Blues Various Artists MUSIC CLUB
Floodin' In California Carl Weathersby 8 Come To Papa Carl Weathersby Evidence Music
Finger Snappin' Boogie Henry Gray 12 Lucky Lucky Man Henry Gray Blind Pig
I Declare That Ain’t Right Henry Gray 22 Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
08. Henry Gray - How Can You Do It (Sunland 105) Henry Gray 8 45's Collection Prt 037 Various Artists
Blood Hound Blues Victoria Spivey 10 Moaning The Blues Victoria Spivey ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Downsville Blues TomcAt Courtney 6 Downsville Blues TomcAt Courtney Blue Witch Records
Ride And Roll Sonny Terry 14 Groove Records Story Various Artists One Day Music
Gotta Go (Upside Your Head)- Buddy & Ella Johnson 2-8 Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour - Best Of The Second Series Various Artists CHROME DREAMS
rockin' good way vernon and jewel 14 connoisseurs only Various Artists kent
Jump Children Fats & Dave 17 Cosimo Matassa Story Various Artists Proper Box
Big Bottom Blues Duke Robillard 12 New Blues For Modern Man Duke Robillard SHANACHIE
eyesight to the blind willie big eye smith and roger hurricane wilson 1 live blues smith and wilson smith and wilson
Hypnotized Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater 2 Soul Funky Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater CLEAR
I Was Gone Eddie Clearwater 21 Solid Stroll Vol. 4 Various Artists LUCKY Gal
I Don't Know Why Eddie Clearwater 63 Sweet Home Chicago Various Artists INDIGO
listen to the angels sing soul stirrers 5 Sar - thats where its at Various Artists vee-tone
damper Johnnie Morisette 2 Sar - thats where its at Various Artists vee-tone
Little Bluebird Johnnie Taylor 11 Wanted One Soul Singer Johnnie Taylor Atlantic
Blues, Blues, Blues Ralph Willis 1 Shake That Thing!: East Coast Blues 1935-1953, Various Artists JSP Records
I Got A Letter Ralph Willis 14 Jumping At Jubilee Various Artists SEQUEL
You'll Lose A Good Thing Barbara Lynn 7 You'll Lose A Good Thing Barbara Lynn JAMIE
I Got The Blues For You Al Collins 5 Shuckin' Stuff Various Artists WESTSIDE
All Around The World James Booker 2 Keep It Rollin' - Blues Piano Collection Various Artists Rounder
Corrine Corrina Blues James 'Boodle-It' Wiggins 12 Pure Vintage Blues Vol. 3 : Future Blues Various Artists EMPRESS
The Monkey On My Back Ray Agee 9 Bay Area Blues Blasters Various Artists El Cerrito
Strange Woman Carey Bell 1 Brought Up The Hard Way Carey Bell JSP
Say What You Mean Phil Guy 3 Get Up And Go Johnny Rawls JSP Records
Gray's Bounce Henry Gray 15 Swamp Blues Various Artists ACE
Created: 18/01/2015 23:43:15


Sunday 11 January 2015

STAR BLUES for Charlie, Charley and Charles. We also said a farewell to Popsy Dixon (Holmes Brothers)


With three million on the streets in Paris the least we could do was to have a playlist made from fifteen artists christened thus. One of the songs to mark Popsy Dixon's death seemed to fit the mood, especially from a band with such a gentle and joyful outlook. That cover of Nick Lowe's song was a little outside our normal envelope and he Candye Kane composition came from a place that looks for similarities rather than trying seek out differences. Plenty of regular blues fare as well, and all being well we're back at 10pm (GMT) next Sunday round your place with as much trivia, tomfoolery and vinyl blues as one man can carry. 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
We Got To Stop This Killin' Big Jack Johnson 8 Blues Revue Sampler (Apr / May 2003 Various Artists BLUES REVUE
Harpin' On A Riff Charlie Musselwhite 1 Harpin' On A Riff Charlie Musselwhite MUSIC CLUB
Automobile Charlie Sayles 3 Hip Guy Charlie Sayles JSP Records
Movin' Out Movin' In Charles Caldwell 7 Remember Me Charles Caldwell FAT POSSUM
Jesus And Mohammed Candye KaneBob Brozman 10 Guitar'd And Feathered Candye Kane Ruf
The Crawl Guitar Jr. 24 On Bended Knee - The Birth Of Swamp Pop Various Artists GREAT Voices Of The Century
Nobody But You Rob Robinson 22 Diggin' Gold - A Galaxy Of West Coast Blues Various Artists ACE
Yield Not To Temptation Bobby 'Blue' Bland 17 The Voice : Duke Recordings 1959-69 Bobby 'Blue' Bland ACE
Crossover Eddy 'The Chief' Clearwater 8 Prime Chops. Blind Pig Sampler Vol. 2 Various Artists BLIND PIG RECORDS
Another Man Done Gone Vera Hall 1 Blues Love Songs Various Artists OUTCASTE
A Spoonful Blues Charley Patton 4 The Rough Guide To Blues Legends: Charley Patton Charley Patton ROUGH GUIDES
Cow Cow Blues Charles 'Cow Cow' Davenport 4 The Best Of Boogie Woogie Various Artists DOCUMENTS
Dearborn Street Breakdown Charles Avery 18 The Best Of Boogie Woogie Various Artists DOCUMENTS
Slave To Love Charles Walker 21 Where Southern Soul Began 1954-1962 Various Artists HISTORY OF SOUL
Come By Here Hightower Brothers 6 Screamin' Gospel Holy Rollers Vol. 2 Various Artists Vee-Tone Records
Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down Holmes Brothers, The 5 Speaking In Tongues Holmes Brothers, The Alligator
Fair Weather Friend Holmes Brothers, The 9 Feed My Soul Holmes Brothers, The Alligator
The Final Round Holmes Brothers, The 13 Righteous! Rounder Heritage Essential Collectio Holmes Brothers, The Rounder
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding? Holmes Brothers, The 3 State Of Grace Holmes Brothers, The Alligator
if you come to louisiana Larry Garner 8 Blues For Sale Larry Garner Dixiefrog
mean ol frisco Larry Johnson 2 Blues For Harlem Larry Johnson ARMADILLO
New Old Lady Little Charlie & The Nightcats 7 Free Blues Various Artists Alligator
Walkin Charlie Lucas 15 New York City Blues Yesterday Vol. 4 Various Artists  
No Ridin' Blues Charley Booker 3 The Traveling Record Man: Historic Down South Recording Trips Various Artists ACE
Kissing Bug Boogie Charles Crown Prince Waterford 22 1946-1950 Crown Prince Waterford BLUES CLASSICS
Trouble Blues Charles Brown 7 Let The Good Times Roll - The Aladdin Story Various Artists One Day Music
Real lovin mama Floyd Dixon 2-1 Complete Aladdin Recordings Floyd Dixon Capitol
Alabama Blues Charles Spand 25 20th Century Blues Various Artists CATFISH
Heavy Suitcase Blues Charley Taylor 16 Broke Black And Blue Various Artists PROPER
Jealous Hearted Blues Charlie Lincoln 12 Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Atlanta Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Created: 11/01/2015 23:55:26

Sunday 4 January 2015

STAR BLUES on 4th January 2015 at 22:00 celebrating blues from Memphis

Elvis Presley - born 80 years ago this week - started his recording career there, our dip into the city's music showed so much more from Gus Cannon to Albert king by way of James Cotton ....

track.titletrack.artistsortindexalbum.titlealbum.artistsortlabel
We're Gonna Make ItB. B. KingIrma Thomas10Blues SummitB. B. KingMCA
WOMAN ACROSS THE RIVERLITTLE MILTON21NOBODY WINSVARIOUS ARTISTSKENT
Pinetop's Boogie WoogiePinetop Perkins7Sun Records - Ultimate Blues CollectionVarious ArtistsVARESE
I'M LONESOME BABYIKE TURNER1-9SUN BLUES YEARS 1950-1958VARIOUS ARTISTSCHARLY
Beer Drinkin' WomanMemphis Slim11Beer Drinkin' WomanMemphis SlimORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
you don't love mewillie cobbs8memphis 60various artistsBGP
Mr. Highway ManHowlin' Wolf6The Sun Blues Box Sampler - Blues, R&b And Gospel Music In Memphis 1950 - 1958Various Artistsbear family / b&r magazine
Little Fine Healthy ThingBilly 'The Kid' Emerson6950 Golden Years : Sun Record CompanyVarious ArtistsFABULOUS
Poor Boy A Long Way From HomeGus Cannon10Memphis MastersVarious ArtistsYAZOO
Streamline TrainRed Nelson15Thirties BluesVarious ArtistsORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Truckin' Little WomanWillie Nix9Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' RollVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Blues, Stay Away From MeWade Walton10The Bluesville Years. Vol 9: Down The Country WayVarious ArtistsPRESTIGE
The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly HairSleepy John Estes17Let Me Tell You About The Blues: MemphisVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
WHITEWASH STATION BLUESMEMPHIS JUG BAND2-10IT CAME FROM MEMPHISVARIOUS ARTISTSBARBICAN
Boogie In The ParkJoe Hill Louis7Let Me Tell You About The Blues: MemphisVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
GO BACK TO YOUR USED TO BEJESSIE MAE HEMPHILL1-14IT CAME FROM MEMPHISVARIOUS ARTISTSBARBICAN
Mojo In My HandL. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson1Mojo In My HandL. C. 'Good Rockin'' RobinsonArhoolie Records
No One Woman`s ManWild Child Butler8The Devil Made Me Do ItWild Child ButlerBLUE HORIZON
Search Me LordBrother Joe May25Good NewsVarious ArtistsPROPER
When The Gate Swings OpenHeavenly Gospel Singers16Good NewsVarious ArtistsPROPER
Two Piano BoogieFreddie Burns2-3Rockin' MemphisVarious ArtistsProper Box
COOL DOWN MAMALOST JOHN HUNTER1-1Rockin' MemphisVarious ArtistsProper Box
STEP IT UP AND GOHARMONICA FRANK2-7Rockin' MemphisVarious ArtistsProper Box
Laundromat BluesAlbert King1King Of The Blues GuitarAlbert KingAtlantic
Sweet Home ChicagoLuther Tucker1920th AnniversaryVarious ArtistsANTONES
FEELIN GOODJUNIOR PARKER3-3Let Me Tell You About The Blues: MemphisVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Tiger ManRufus Thomas11The Influences Behind The Rolling StonesVarious ArtistsHoodoo Records
STRAIGHTEN UP BABYJAMES COTTON1-14Sun Records - Ultimate Blues CollectionVarious ArtistsVARESE
THAT'S NO WAY TO GET ALONGROBERT WILKINS10MEMPHIS BLUESVARIOUS ARTISTSINDIGO
Billy Lyons And StackoleeFurry Lewis3Memphis MastersVarious ArtistsYAZOO
EAGLE ROCKJunior Wells2Junior Wails - Complete Singles As & BsJunior WellsJasmine
Dr. Ross BoogieDr. Ross14Let Me Tell You About The Blues: MemphisVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Created: 04/01/2015 23:53:33