My tenth year of blues on commercial radio got off to a fine start on Sunday's STAR BLUES with UK first plays from six (yes count 'em) new albums. The real peach is the one from Dave Riley and Bob Corritore, if you thought they don't make them like that any more - they do, and here's proof. We also had a rare - previously unissued - Ike Turner track that nestles at the end of the upcoming album by the Mr. Groove outfit.
STAR BLUES celebrated the legendary gospel artist Marie Knight and big-voiced Chicago bluesman Jesse Fortune who died during the week. Jesse never recorded under his own name anywhere near as often as his gifts deserved and we played his version of "Too Many Cooks" that later inspired Robert Cray. Marie started her career in gospel with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, her rich contralto voice in counterpoint duet on a thrilling "Up Above My Head" recorded in 1947 with the Sammy Price Trio - no other radio station on the planet was playing such uplifting music at 20 past 11 on Sunday. She later sang secular music, her "Come Tomorrow" was covered to commercial and financial success by Manfred Mann. Her last recordings were on a project to celebrate Sister Rosetta and a full album of versions of Rev. Gary Davis' compositions.
Fans of electric blues-rock guitar were sated with Aynsley Lister and Mike Zito and the traditionalists got a 1947 offering from Lightnin' Hopkins. Big Maceo and Amos Milburn worked their magic over those eighty-eights and the show was done far too soon. As I wrapped up the show heading off home for thirty nine winks, Nat in Australia was just starting her housework; I am the Mighty Mark Peters with her breakfast, though just an imitation of our very own brown-eyed handsome man I'm sure.
More blues, news, reviews and tomfoolery at ten next Sunday on FM and online at http://www.star107.co.uk/ - I hope we can be together, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Gary Blue.
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