Monday 23 May 2011

STAR BLUES on 22nd May 2011 at 22:00

Robert Allen Zimmerman will be 70 on Tuesday and because he records as Bob Dylan and he has a deep love of blues, our STAR BLUES show last night took him as the theme. We went to some of his recordings in his own voice and those of artists doing interpretations - and we took a healthy smattering from the playlists of his "Theme Time Radio" show (TTRH) originally on XMRadio between May2006 and April2009.

We started our show off with Muddy Waters' "Blow Wind Blow" just as he did for TTRH show number 1 on the weather. It also gave us the link back to Sonny Boy Williamson who closed 15th May show with Muddy's band in tow. Muddy had an Indian Summer career from 1976 onwards thanks to Johnny Winter, whose version of "Highway 61 revisited" was at the other end last night. (see how this stuff is immaculately planned weeks in advance (ahem, ahem))

Big surprise was the jazzy piano of Nina Simone from 1971 with "Just Like A Woman", covered inn the same year by another African-American woman, Roberta Flack. The irony was that Dylan wrote the song for Otis Redding who didn't fancy it. Our gospel offering was a song Bob wrote during his conversion to Christianity in a beautiful version by the Fairfield Four. The regular piano spot dipped into the New Orleans corner of TTRH for Professor Longhair and Fats Domino. More Dylan covers included the Solomon Burke triumphant go at "Maggies Farm" and a gorgeously sensual reading of "Lay Lady Lay" by Maria Muldaur whose voice has really improved with age, like cask-aged whisky.

Others have given fulsome tribute in celebration of Bob Dylan and two hours seemed barely enough to convey how he has influenced this author and changed the way folks listen to the radio by refusing to label the music he chose. Thanks Mr. Z. I've been invited back for some more eclectic fandangling on Bank Holiday Monday as well as STAR BLUES as normal on Sunday. I hope you can come along. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

Blow Wind Blow

Muddy Waters

14

Radio Bob: 16 Brilliant Tracks From Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour

Various Artists

Someday Baby

Bob Dylan

4

Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8

Bob Dylan

Maggie's Farm

Solomon Burke

4

How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan

Various

Pledging My Time

Duke Robillard

5

Blues On Blonde On Blonde

Various Artists

Everything Is Broken

R.L Burnside

4

Tangled Up In Blues

Various Artists

Just Like A Woman

Nina Simone

16

How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan

Various

Corrina Corrina

Bo Carter

9

The Early Blues Roots Of Bob Dylan

Various Artists

Corrina, Corrina

Bob Dylan

11

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

36-22-36

Bland, Bobby "Blue"

1

Theme Time Radio Hour - Season 3

Various Artists

Homework

Otis Rush

8

Theme Time Radio Hour

Various Artists

Mona

Bo Diddley

24

Theme Time Radio Hour

Various Artists

Pouring Water On A Drowning Man

James Carr

23

Theme Time Radio Hour

Various Artists

Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again

North Mississippi Allstars

5

Uncut: Happy Birthday Bob

Various Artists

Walkin' With Frankie

Frankie Lee Sims

7

Theme Time Radio Hour - Series 2

Various Artists

Soul On Fire

Lavern Baker

4

Radio Bob: Vol 2

Various Artists

In The Night

Professor Longhair

14

Theme Time Radio Hour - Season 3

Various Artists

Dignity

Bob Dylan

3

Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8

Bob Dylan

Don't You Lie To Me

Fats Domino

10

Theme Time Radio Hour - Season 3

Various Artists

John The Revelator

Blind Willie Johnson

8

Radio Bob: 16 Brilliant Tracks From Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour

Various Artists

Are You Ready (Album Version)

Fairfield Four, The

4

Gotta Serve Somebody - The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan

Various Artists

Not Dark Yet

Bob Dylan

7

Time Out Of Mind/Love And Theft

Bob Dylan

Walkin' Dr Bill Aka Gotta Find My Baby

B.B. King

21

Theme Time Radio Hour - Series 2

Various Artists

Lay Baby Lay

Maria Muldaur

2

Heart Of Mine : Love Songs Of Bob Dylan

Maria Muldaur

Like A Rolling Stone

Bob Dylan

9

Bootleg Series - Vols. 1 To 3

Bob Dylan

Highway 61 Revisited

Johnny Winter

7

Second Winter (Deluxe Edition)

Johnny Winter

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