STAR BLUES on 28th June 2015 at 22:00 (BST) Willie Dixon was born 100 years ago: twenty of his songs

barely do justice to the influence of his gifts. According to his autobiography there are 521 songs in his canon; that doesn't take into account the dozens of sessions he played proper stand-up bass on, countless times acting as producer. He worked for both Chess and Cobra labels (among others), and he had two of his own.

In a colourful life he started out singing gospel and was a useful boxer, winning a Golden Gloves title. When Led Zeppelin included his 1962 song for Muddy Waters called "You Need Love" into a track on their iconic second album, he sued, got an out of court settlement and the song writing credits amended on all subsequent versions of the Zep album. If that wasn't enough, the money was used to help set up the "Blues Heaven Foundation" charity (now administered by his family). It's probably better left to the listener to fire up a search engine to get more detail. Pretty sure the legal niceties are the reason the movie hasn't been commissioned (the plot is terrific).

His "Signifying Monkey" was a big sheet music seller before the Big Three cut a record of it and we went to his final solo album called "Hidden Charms" stuffed full of his own songs on silvertone. (The following project "Ginger Ale Afternoon" was a soundtrack).
We inadvertently chose a poor copy of Charles Clark's version of "Hidden Charms" - the fidelity probably through the radio may not have been great: sorry (sourcing old vinyl does that sometimes).

I was away from the bridge for just two weekends and look what happens: the blues died. Well it did if you read Uncut magazine. Patent nonsense easily rebuffed when you consider Mavis Staples had just done a terrific set from the stage of Glastonbury. I also have a handsome heap of brand new albums for airplay audition arrived while I was away. Classical music didn't die when Beethoven died.. Sure BB King was a gifted musician who continues to influence so many other players, his real loss is that of a humanitarian of grace, patience and understated wisdom. Celebrate what he did and what we have now. I struggle each week trimming my playlist into a two hour slot: the blues will be dead when I can't find enough good stuff (not while I have so much).

We paid tribute to Big Time Sarah and Wendell Holmes who died this month; Wendell's passing is particularly poignant given band-mate Popsy Dixon's recent death and the lovely cover feature in the newest Living Blues magazine. His version of "Beast of Burden" showed off a smoky voice and textured guitar and organ.

If you want to write off our music, you should probably note our next planned holiday is 15th November. Before then - Sunday in fact - I'm plotting more trivia, tomfoolery and good old-faashioned blues, be good to have you along. 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	duration	writercredit
one bourbon one scotch one beer	John Lee Hooker	4-20	chess blues	Various Artists	mca	[ 2 mins 50 secs ]	John Lee Hooker
Iou Blues	Bobby 'Blue' Bland	17	Ace's Wild!	Johnny Ace	Fantastic Voyage	[ 3 mins 12 secs ]	Bobby 'Blue' Bland
Overworked and Underpaid	Selwyn Birchwood	7	Don't Call No Ambulance	Selwyn Birchwood	Alligator	[ 4 mins 6 secs ]	Selwyn Birchwood
turn me round	mavis staples	9	we'll never turn back	mavis staples	anti
just about to lose your clown	breezy rodio	3	so close to it	breezy rodio	wind chill	[ 2 mins 32 secs ]	mcRae
Beast of Burden	Wendell Holmes	7	Paint It Blue : Songs Of The Rolling Stones	Various Artists	Ruf	[ 4 mins 46 secs ]	Wendell Holmes
Long Tall Daddy	Big Time Sarah	1	Wild About That Thing - Ladies Sing The Blues	Various Artists	DELMARK	[ 4 mins 55 secs ]	Big Time Sarah
Statesboro Blues	Guy Davis	13	Juba Dance	Guy Davis (Featuring Fabrizio Poggi)	Dixiefrog	[ 3 mins 56 secs ]	Guy Davis
big meat shakin on the bone	Toby Walker	1	hand picked	Toby Walker	band in the hand	[ 2 mins 44 secs ]	Toby Walker
signifying monkey	big three trio	3-13	bullet records story	various artists	spv		willie dixon
i live the life	willie dixon	6	hidden charms	willie dixon	silvertone	[ 3 mins 13 secs ]	willie dixon
Black Angel Blues	Robert Nighthawk	2	Weak Brain Narrow Mind	Willie Dixon	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION	[ 3 mins 3 secs ]	willie dixon
Seventh Son	Willie Mabon	19	The R&b Years 1955 Vol.2	Various Artists	BOULEVARD ENTERTAINMENT	[ 2 mins 52 secs ]	Willie dixon
Broken Hearted Blues	Buddy Guy	17	Deep Feeling	Various Artists	Fantatsic Voyage	[ 3 mins 12 secs ]	willie dixon
Young Fashioned Ways	Muddy Waters	8	Messin' With The Man	Muddy Waters	Essential Music and Marketing Ltd	[ 3 mins 0 secs ]	willie dixon
Hidden Charms	Charles Clark With The Willie Dixon Band	29	Goin' Down To Eli's (The Cobra And Abco Rhythm And Blues Anthology 1956-1958)	Various Artists	WESTSIDE	[ 0 mins 0 secs ]	Willie Dixon
When the Lights Go Out	Jimmy Witherspoon	3	Weak Brain Narrow Mind	Willie Dixon	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION	[ 2 mins 51 secs ]	willie dixon
29 Ways	Willie Dixon	16	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage	[ 2 mins 11 secs ]	Willie Dixon
Shake for Me	Howlin' Wolf	24	The Back Door Man	Howlin' Wolf	Essential Music and Marketing Ltd	[ 2 mins 13 secs ]	willie dixon
forty four	Howlin' Wolf	4	The Back Door Man	Howlin' Wolf	Essential Music and Marketing Ltd	[ 2 mins 13 secs ]
Do Me Right	Lowell Fulson	6	Complete Chess Recordings	Lowell Fulson	MCA/CHESS	[ 2 mins 30 secs ]	willie dixon
You Know My Love	Otis Rush	8	Weak Brain Narrow Mind	Willie Dixon	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION	[ 2 mins 40 secs ]	willie dixon
Too Many Cooks	Jesse Fortune	10	The Way I Feel	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT	[ 2 mins 55 secs ]	willie dixon
Crazy Mixed Up World	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	21	Blues With A Feeling	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	ROOTS	[ 2 mins 20 secs ]	willie dixon
Pretty Thing	Bo Diddley	7	Jungle Music	Bo Diddley	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION	[ 2 mins 0 secs ]	willie dixon
Whatever I Am You Made Me	Koko Taylor	9	Koko Taylor	Koko Taylor	MCA / CHESS	[ 2 mins 40 secs ]	willie dixon
Third Degree	Eddie Boyd	6	Weak Brain Narrow Mind	Willie Dixon	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION	[ 3 mins 15 secs ]	willie dixon
Violent Love	Big Three Trio, The	2	Tribute To Willie Dixon	Various Artists	CHARLY	[ 0 mins 0 secs ]	willie dixon
pain in my heart	willie dixon	3	Tribute To Willie Dixon	Various Artists	CHARLY	[ 3 mins 0 secs ]	willie dixon
Mellow Down Easy	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	11	Weak Brain Narrow Mind	Willie Dixon	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION	[ 2 mins 41 secs ]	willie dixon

Created: 29/06/2015 13:26:44