Sunday 27 December 2015

STAR BLUES AWARDS SHOW on 27th December 2015 at 22:00 - marking the many highlights of our blues year

... and exactly one week ago I was snuggling down in a hotel in York, missing everyone but at least I was warm dry and fed. Tonight I see the good folks up there are flooded out and the city centre is cut off, what a difference a few days makes.

The annual awards process on STAR BLUES is our way of marking the ways blues has made our year special - we arbitrarily divide it into four categories:

ARTIST. Jontavious Willis has a rare combination of voice and guitar that rocked me on my heels the first time I heard it. His playing has the same attack I heard in Muddy's Plantation recordings and the phrasing in his singing seems to come from a much older man. His gifts are still evolving, he respects and appreciates what has gone before without artifice.

ALBUM. The high performance style of blues was typical of the James Cotton Band live, Slam Allen played guitar for him for eight years and he is now front and centre for a project in the same vein. "Feel These Blues" is the third album under his own name and it delivers in spades from first to last. The form is often badly played by axe migrants from rock: twenty hard years on the Chitlin circuit ensure Slam Allen can rise above that.

LABEL. With well regarded, and much played, albums from Mississippi Heat, Omar Coleman and Jimmy Burns the Delmark imprint this year enabled and inspired the artists on its roster. That it has done the same thing since 1953 is remarkable. Its canon of work is also treated with loving care and forms an ongoing reissue programme which recently put out JB Hutto's "Hawk Squat".

REISSUE. In an ever competitive arena, the Ace label clearly goes that bit further with its well-tended output. Their "By the Bayou" and Ric/Ron projects mark a historical document not previously attempted; recent anthologies on Wynonie Harris and Tampa Red are everything a fan could want and more: top notch research, rarities, memorobilia and session details. Their ethical treatment of royalties further sets them apart from many others.

track.titletrack.artistsortindexalbum.titlealbum.artistsortlabeldurationwritercredit
V8 FordEugene Hideaway Bridges6Hold on a Little Bit LongerEugene Hideaway Bridges [ 3 mins 51 secs ]Eugene Hideaway Bridges
hustle is onT-Bone Walker3Get the Blues Off MeT-Bone WalkerJasmine[ 0 mins 0 secs ]T-Bone Walker
DimplesD.C. Bellamy8Water to WineD.C. BellamyRooster Blues Records[ 4 mins 43 secs ]D.C. Bellamy
alley cat bluesmississippi heat2warning shotmississippi heatdelmark  
Big Money ProblemJimmy Burns1It Ain't RightJimmy BurnsDELMARK[ 3 mins 27 secs ]Jimmy Burns
Born and RaisedOmar Coleman10Born & RaisedOmar ColemanDELMARK[ 4 mins 5 secs ]Omar Coleman
Too Much PrideJ. B Hutto3Hawk SquatJ. B HuttoDELMARK[ 3 mins 54 secs ]J. B Hutto
Jump Jack, Jump!Wynona Carr5Ain't Gonna Hush: the Queens of Rhythm & BluesVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage[ 2 mins 17 secs ]Wynona Carr
Tough LoverEtta James17Ain't Gonna Hush: the Queens of Rhythm & BluesVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage[ 2 mins 12 secs ]Etta James
The Madison ShuffleBuster Brown4I'm Going But I'll Be BackBuster BrownJasmine[ 0 mins 0 secs ]Buster Brown
Lookin' for My BabyLittle Milton6Chicago Blues and Soul Via Memphis and St. Louis, His Early Years 1953 - 1962Little MiltonJasmine Records[ 2 mins 53 secs ]Little Milton
Ain't it the Truth NowEddie Bo9Baby I'm WiseEddie BoACE[ 2 mins 18 secs ]Eddie Bo
Lollipop MamaWynonie Harris10Don't You Want to Rock? The Acetate MastersWynonie HarrisACE[ 2 mins 48 secs ]Wynonie Harris
So Crazy About You, BabyTampa Red5Dynamite! the Unsung King of the BluesTampa RedACE[ 3 mins 3 secs ]Tampa Red
Too ProudMighty Sam McClain2Give it Up to LoveMighty Sam McClainAUDIOQUEST[ 4 mins 38 secs ]Mighty Sam McClain
YOU UPSET ME BABYB B KING1-2BLUES IN TRANSITIONB B KINGJASMINE  
Outskirts of LoveShemekia Copeland1Outskirts of LoveShemekia CopelandAlligator Records[ 4 mins 5 secs ]Shemekia Copeland
MISSISSIPPIEddie Cotton10One at a TimeEddie CottonDEChamp[ 4 mins 42 secs ]Eddie Cotton
Pick a Bale of CottonEric Bibb And Jean-Jacques Milteau9Lead Belly's GoldEric Bibb And Jean-Jacques Milteau [ 2 mins 56 secs ]Eric Bibb And Jean-Jacques Milteau
Have You Ever Loved a WomanGuy Davis10Kokomo KiddGuy Davis [ 4 mins 8 secs ]Guy Davis
When the Blues Come AroundSlam Allen9Feel These BluesSlam AllenAMERICAN SHOWPLACE[ 3 mins 55 secs ]Slam Allen
The Blues is BackSlam Allen4Feel These BluesSlam AllenamericN SHOWPLACE[ 3 mins 27 secs ]Slam Allen
Ain't No Tellin'Brownie McGhee3The Complete Brownie McgheeBrownie McGheeCOLUMBIA[ 2 mins 53 secs ]Brownie McGhee
Big Bill BluesDuke Robillard2The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke RobillardDuke RobillardVizztone[ 3 mins 35 secs ]Duke Robillard
Crow JaneJontavious Willis2Jontavious WillisJontavious Willis [ 3 mins 8 secs ]Jontavious Willis
LUCY MAEJontavious Willis1Jontavious WillisJontavious Willis [ 3 mins 22 secs ]Jontavious Willis
Created: 27/12/2015 23:56:04



Sunday 13 December 2015

STAR BLUES on 13th December 2015 at 22:00 - fully tooled up for two hours vinyl blues

Everything on tonight's show started life as an album or single on vinyl. Made in the good old fashioned way.

track.titletrack.artistsortindexalbum.titlealbum.artistsortlabeldurationwritercredit
BrickAlbert Collins5FrostbiteAlbert CollinsAlligator[ 4 mins 38 secs ]Albert Collins
Come on (Part 1)Earl King1The Sound of the City - New OrleansVarious ArtistsEmi Records Ltd[ 2 mins 33 secs ]Earl King
Harpin' on a RiffCharlie Musselwhite1Harpin' on a RiffCharlie MusselwhiteMUSIC CLUB[ 3 mins 33 secs ]Charlie Musselwhite
Down Home BluesZ. Z. Hill8The Last Soul CompanyVarious ArtistsMalaco Records[ 5 mins 3 secs ]Z. Z. Hill
SecurityIrma Thomas7Hard to Handle: Black America Sings Otis ReddingVarious ArtistsACE[ 2 mins 16 secs ]Irma Thomas
Walking to JerusalemMahalia Jackson8A Soul Chronolgy Vol. 2 - This Old Soul of MineVarious ArtistsHISTORY OF SOUL[ 3 mins 5 secs ]Mahalia Jackson
I Put My Trust In TheeMarie Knight16A Soul Chronolgy Vol. 3 - Save a Seat for MeVarious ArtistsHISTORY OF SOUL[ 2 mins 10 secs ]Marie Knight
Turn the Lamp Down LowMuddy Waters50Baby Please Don't GoMuddy WatersINDIGO[ 0 mins 0 secs ]Muddy Waters
Trace of YouJimmy Rogers19Complete Chess RecordingsJimmy RogersMCA/CHESS[ 2 mins 34 secs ]Jimmy Rogers
come on in my housejunior wells14junior's wailsjunior wellsjasmine
Louisiana HopPete 'Guitar' Lewis9Jivin' Jamboree 3Various ArtistsACE[ 2 mins 33 secs ]Pete 'Guitar' Lewis
Scratchin' (Vim 521)Wild Jimmy Spruill8Slabs of Humdingers Vol. 2Various Artistsvee-tone[ 0 mins 0 secs ]Wild Jimmy Spruill
Fishin' PoleTom Archia3The Aristocrat of the BluesVarious ArtistsMCA/CHESS[ 0 mins 0 secs ]Tom Archia
Still in the DarkBig Joe Turner2Shouting the BluesVarious ArtistsSpecialty[ 2 mins 48 secs ]Big Joe Turner
waterproof eyestiny topsy8just a little bittiny topsy and lula reedace
Death Ray BoogiePete Johnson17History of Rhythm and Blues Part OneVarious ArtistsRhythm and Blues Records[ 3 mins 0 secs ]Pete Johnson
All My Whole LifeMagic Sam7Double Trouble the Cobra Records StoryVarious ArtistsOne Day Music[ 2 mins 10 secs ]Magic Sam
The Way You DoJimmy Nolen13I'll Go Crazy: Federal Records StoryVarious ArtistsOne Day Music[ 2 mins 24 secs ]Jimmy Nolen
Talk To MeLittle Willie John9A Soul Chronolgy Vol. 4 - Yes IndeedVarious ArtistsHISTORY OF SOUL[ 2 mins 41 secs ]Little Willie John
Talkin' 'Bout YouRay Charles5A Soul Chronolgy Vol. 4 - Yes IndeedVarious ArtistsHISTORY OF SOUL[ 2 mins 47 secs ]Ray Charles
There's Gonna Be TroubleSugar Pie Desanto19Go Go Power • the Complete Chess Singles 1961-1966Sugar Pie DesantoKent[ 2 mins 55 secs ]Sugar Pie Desanto
Everythings AlrightFrank Frost2Jelly Roll KingFrank FrostCHARLY[ 2 mins 42 secs ]Frank Frost
Jumpin' BluesWalter Horton1Mouth Harp MeastroWalter HortonACE[ 2 mins 17 secs ]Walter Horton
long tall mamabig bill broonzy2good time tonightbig bill broonzysony legacy
Big Fat Mama BluesTommy Johnson6Dust My Broom - Mississippi BluesVarious ArtistsINDIGO[ 0 mins 0 secs ]Tommy Johnson
Terraplane BluesRobert Johnson14Contracted to the DevilRobert JohnsonSONY / LEGACY[ 3 mins 0 secs ]Robert Johnson
crawlin' kingsnakeTony hollins20Dust My Broom - Mississippi BluesVarious ArtistsINDIGO[ 0 mins 0 secs ]Tommy Johnson
Down Home BluesJoe Liggins21Shuffle Boogie KingJoe LigginsPROPER[ 0 mins 0 secs ]Joe Liggins
Love is Like RainWynonie Harris1Don't You Want to Rock? The Acetate MastersWynonie HarrisACE[ 2 mins 56 secs ]Wynonie Harris
hit git and splityoung jessie15jivin jamboreevarious artistsace
flat foot samt v slim24jivin jamboreevarious artistsace
central ave bluespee wee crayton4blues after hourspee wee craytonindigo
dust my broomElmore James And His Broomdusters1-1The Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956Elmore James And His BroomdustersACE[ 2 mins 52 secs ]Elmore James And His Broomdusters
steadyjerry mccain2completejerry mccain
Created: 14/12/2015 18:49:52

Monday 7 December 2015

STAR BLUES on 6th December 2015 at 22:00

Buddy Guy's current project supplied it's title track to our opening salvo on STAR BLUES - the album is by a large country mile his finest in well over a decade.

track.titletrack.artistsortindexalbum.titlealbum.artistsortlabeldurationwritercredit
Born to Play GuitarBuddy Guy1Born to Play GuitarBuddy GuySILVERTONE[ 4 mins 56 secs ]Buddy Guy
woke up this morningQuintus McCormick11Still Called the BluesQuintus McCormickDELMARK[ 5 mins 18 secs ]Quintus McCormick
35 Years OldJoe Louis Walker11Everybody Wants a PieceJoe Louis WalkerPROVOGUE[ 4 mins 8 secs ]Joe Louis Walker
Keep Our Business to YourselfRip Lee Pryor7Nobody But MeRip Lee Pryor [ 3 mins 36 secs ]Rip Lee Pryor
oh redSteve Guyger9radio bluesSteve GuygerSEVERN[ 2 mins 43 secs ]Steve Guyger
devil's handsjohnny copeland7honky tonkinjohnny copelandbullseye blues  
You Better StopAndrew Brown7The Way I FeelVarious ArtistsFLYRIGHT[ 2 mins 59 secs ]Andrew Brown
Cold Beer Good TimePreston Shannon11All in TimePreston ShannonBULLSEYE BLUES[ 0 mins 0 secs ]Preston Shannon
blues is alrightlittle milton1greatest hitslittle miltonma;aco  
i wish i knew how it would be to e freesolomon burke1-1back to the rivervarious artistskent  
a touch of the bluesbobby bland1-5back to the rivervarious artistskent  
sometimes a man sheds too many tearsjohnny adams2-20back to the rivervarious artistskent  
Cadillac BabyMike Sanchez1Women and CadillacsMike SanchezDOOPIN[ 3 mins 9 secs ]Mike Sanchez
I'm My Own Worst EnemyCandye Kane7Guitar'd and FeatheredCandye KaneRuf[ 2 mins 58 secs ]Candye Kane
So Many WaysVaretta Dillard27Jump Blues Jamaica Way: Jamaican Sound System Classics Vol. 3Various ArtistsFantastic Voyage[ 2 mins 47 secs ]Varetta Dillard
nobody knowssnooks eaglin7rural blues vol. 1 and 2various artistsbgo  
what have i done wronglittle henry13rhythm n bluesin by the bayou: vocal groupsvarious artistsac  
something inside meslim harpo26rural blues vol. 1 and 2various artistsbgo  
This Heart of MineTwo Gospel Keys25As Good as it GetsVarious ArtistsDISKY[ 2 mins 39 secs ]Two Gospel Keys
keep your lamp trimmed and burningfred mcdowell and johnny young1315 down home gospel classicsvarious artistsarhoolie  
I'm a Red Hot MamaVictoria Spivey7The Prestige/Bluesville StoryVarious ArtistsNOT NOW[ 3 mins 32 secs ]Victoria Spivey
In My Girlish DaysMemphis Minnie16A Soul Chronolgy Vol. 1 - Wade in the WaterVarious ArtistsHISTORY OF SOUL[ 2 mins 35 secs ]Memphis Minnie
Rock itLil Armstrong13The Best of Boogie WoogieVarious ArtistsDOCUMENTS[ 2 mins 17 secs ]Lil Armstrong
Strange Lovin' BluesSara Martin21The Roots of the DoorsVarious ArtistsSNAPPER MUSIC[ 2 mins 58 secs ]Sara Martin
Bullet BoogieCecil Gant20Let Me Tell You About the Blues: NashvilleVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage[ 2 mins 25 secs ]Cecil Gant
You Think I'm Your Good ThingBee Houston11American Masters Vol. 2 : Urban BluesVarious ArtistsArhoolie Records[ 2 mins 59 secs ]Bee Houston
poor black mattier.l. burnside14American Masters Vol. 1 : rural BluesVarious ArtistsArhoolie Records[ 2 mins 59 secs ] 
Fattening Frogs for SnakesSonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)2Chess Blues Classics 1957-1964Various ArtistsMCA/CHESS[ 2 mins 22 secs ]Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)
skid row bluesjackie paine18south texas rhythm and soul revue 2Various Artistskent[ 0 mins 0 secs ] 
Throwin' My Money AwayRosco Gordon24Bootin' - The Best of the Rpm YearsRosco GordonACE[ 3 mins 22 secs ]Rosco Gordon
everyday i have the bluesb. b. king1-3blues in transitionb. b. kingjasmine  
Created: 14/12/2015 18:57:54