Monday 25 July 2011

STAR BLUES on 24th July 2011 at 22:00

Our "1001 Blues" feature has been running for well over six months now so we took the opportunity last night to add a bit more research to the original tales and play the first 26 again as Volume One. With any liuck I'll write them up as a free book if you send me your email address to gary.blue@star107.co.uk

So we had Etta James and Howlin Wolf, Lead Belly and Little Richard to name but four. The full tracklisting is shown here, and I'll be back next Sunday at ten pm, suitably adorned in white upper body garment with as much tomfoolery and blues as I can get away with. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

1-01 - That's Alright - Jimmy Rogers (2:47)

1-02 - I Wish You Would - Billy Boy Arnold (2:41)

1-03 - Blue Guitar - Earl Hooker (2:47)

1-04 - Chica Boo - Lloyd Glenn (2:24)

1-05 - Things I Used To Do - Guitar Slim (3:01)

1-06 - Steady - Jerry McCain (2:09)

1-07 - Searchin' The Desert For The Blues - Blind Willie McTell (0:00)

1-08 - I'm Gonna Murder My Baby - Pat Hare (2:56)

1-09 - Born Under A Bad Sign - Albert King (2:48)

1-10 - 29 Ways - Wille Dixon (2:11)

1-11 - Down Home Blues - Z. Z. Hill (5:15)

1-12 - I've Got Ford Movements In My Hips - Cleo Gibson (3:30)

1-13 - Ain't Got Nobody - Hound Dog Taylor (3:31)

2-01 - 'bout A Spoonful - Mance Lipscomb (3:27)

2-02 - Maybelline - Chuck Berry (0:00)

2-03 - Across The Board - Hubert Sumlin (4:16)

2-04 - I'd Rather Go Blind - Chicken Shack (3:15)

2-05 - Alabama Bound - Lead Belly (0:00)

2-06 - Terraplane Blues - Robert Johnson (3:01)

2-07 - At Last - Etta James (3:01)

2-08 - Corrina Corrina - Bo Carter (0:00)

2-09 - You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond - Blind Willie Johnson (3:14)

2-10 - Swing Out Rhythm - Lonnie Johnson (2:38)

2-11 - The Healer - John Lee Hooker (5:40)

2-12 - Three O'clock Blues - Lowell Fulson (3:10)

2-13 - The Girl Can't Help It - Little Richard (2:32)

Monday 18 July 2011

STAR BLUES on 17th July 2011 at 22:00

The husband-wife team of Susan Tedeschi and Derek trucks have a joint project called "Revelation" and we gazumped Paul Jones with a track last night on STAR BLUES (he has them tonight). Ruthie Foster has a new live album out that shows what an engaging woman she is with a really responsive audience getting a treat. The Five Royales is a vocal group known in the worlds of blues, R&B and rock'n'roll - the Steve Cropper album called "dedicated" should by rights ensure the name gets far better known. He's enlisted the likes of BB King, Brian May (!!!), Steve Winwood, Bettye LaVette and Lucinda Williams in his quest, all thirteen tracks are little gems. John Bailey is a new name to me and his backing band play neatly and tidily with no flash or unnecessary hubris, the results are an album played by artists that love the genre.

Michael Roach has a very graceful guitar style and we balanced that with muscular Stevie Ray Vaughan in cameo mode for sax legend AC Reed. Meade Lux Lewis covered Jimmy Yancey but didn't quite get the off kilter signature ending. The Original Gospel Harmottes set up over in the gospel tent with a young sounding Dorothy Love Coates out front and centre.

Our 1001 blues feature is when we get chance to talk about some of the stories behind the blues or to mention songs or artists that sometimes slip under the radar first time round. We've had so many tales so far that we're well into the second volume now; last night it included the story of the dreadful fire at the Rhythm Blues Club in Natchez on 23rd April 1940 when over 200 people perished. You can review all of volume one on a special STAR BLUES next week (24th July).

I hope you be able to come along at 10pm (BST) next Sunday, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

1

Midnight Rambler

Larry McCray

10

Paint It Blue : Songs Of The Rolling Stones

2

High Cost Of Living

Chris Beard

2

Born To Play The Blues

3

I'm Sorry

Lynwood Slim (Aka Richard Duran)

11

Last Call

4

I Don't Want To Do Wrong

Carol FranClarence Hollimon

11

See There

5

I'm Ready

Grady Champion

2

Back In Mississippi Live At The 930 Blues Cafe

6

I'm Shakin'

Little Willie John

2

King New Breed R'n'b

7

The Natchez Burning

Howlin' Wolf

10

Complete Recordings 1951-1969

8

Midnight Ramble Tonight

H-Bomb Ferguson

21

Mule Milk And Fire Water

9

Bound For Glory

Tedeschi Trucks Band

4

Revelator

10

You're The Boss

Lavern BakerJimmy Ricks

10

The Leiber & Stoller Story Volume 2; On The Horizon 1956 - 1965

11

Miami Strut

A. C. Reed

4

Solos, Sessions & Encores

12

Rock Me Mama

Buddy Guy, Junior Wells & Junior Mance

6

Buddy And The Juniors

13

High And Dry

John Bailey

2

One With The Blues

14

Messin' Up

Steve CropperSharon Jones

9

Dedicated: A Salute To The 5 Royales

15

Ridin' Home

leslie Lewis

14

Blues From The 50S

16

Georgia Jelly Roll

Guy Davis

1

Call Down The Thunder

17

Yesterday Is Gone

Jimmy McCracklin

15

Bluesville - Original Blues Classics Sampler

18

Yancey Special

Meade Lux Lewis

13

Boogie Woogie

19

Cypress Grove

Michael Roach

8

Cypress Grove

20

I'm Sealed

Original Gospel Harmonettes Feat. D. L. Coates, The

22

Good News

21

Stone Love

Ruthie Foster

1

Ruthie Foster Live At Antone's

22

Danger Zone

Johnny AdamsDuke Robiilard

14

It's Hard But Fair

Tuesday 12 July 2011

STAR BLUES on 10th July at 22:00

Plenty of blues guitarists on STAR BLUES last week from Robert Cray (who is headlining the Cambridge Folk Festival) to Memphis Minnie who was paid the ultimate compliment by Big Bill Broonzy when he said "she played just like a man". Don't forget those were non-PC times. Steve Grills new project is very much in homage to the variety of players in the heritage of our music, he did a Pee Wee Crayton song for us. Cream of the crop was Otis Taylor, Alvin Youngblood Hart and Guy Davis with a distinctive version of "Hey Joe" arranged for banjo. (Yes really)

Albeit a week later than the 40th anniversary ballyhoo, we did the Doors' "Roadhouse Blues" - Jim Morrison's demise has been endlessly discussed elsewhere and there's no extra mileage with further speculation here as to him dying in the bath or being moved there from a club. Another live legend from the same era is still with us: Geno Washington and he covered Wilson Pickett on our playlist. The Ikettes and then Junior Parker were at their respective peaks for some vintage sides.

Alligator label boss celebrated his birthday while we were on air and so the venerable duo Cephas and Wiggins dipped into their Alligator album for him. Rory Blocks 3rd tribute album looks to Mississippi Fred McDowell and his song "Woke Up this Morning" dwelt with her in our gospel tent and piano-men Aaron Moore and Mitch Woods raised flags for Chicago and New Orleans respectively. Barrelhouse maestro Champion Jack Dupree lived in Halifax for a while, his 1940 recording of "Junkers Blues" ushered in the second volume of our serialised feature "You Me and 1001 Blues". All 26 tracks played in volume 1 will be on a special show on 24th July. There's more blues before then next Sunday, brand new white tee shirt is primed, pressed and poised. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you


Num

Track

Artist

1

He Don't Know

Robert Cray

2

Roadhouse Blues

Doors

3

Three Time Loser

Geno Washington

4

Bam-A-Lam

Mickey Champion

5

Jumpin' Baby

Lone Wolf

6

Stack And The Devil

Cephas & Wiggins

7

Junker Blues

Champion Jack Dupree

8

What's The Matter With The Mill

Memphis Minnie

9

My Rooster Stopped Crowin'

Spikedrivers

10

Telephone Is Ringing

Steve Grills

11

Can't Sit Down 'Cos I Feel So Good

Ikettes

12

Sweet Home Chicago

Junior Parker

13

Blowing The Blues

George Harmonica Smith

14

Long Grey Mare

Fleetwood Mac

15

Going Home

Sean Costello

16

Broken Hearted Man

Little Buster & Soul Brothers

17

Can You Stand The Test Of Love

Knut Reiersrud/Mighty Sam Mc & Clain

18

Woke Up This Morning

Rory Block

19

Hey Joe

Otis Taylor

20

Talk Memphis

Chris Smither

21

Crescent City Flyer

Mitch Woods

22

Boot 'Em Up

Aaron Moore

23

The Love You Save

Tracy Nelson

24

Forty Days And Forty Nights

Johnny Dyer

25

Move On Down The Road

Billy Boy Arnold

26

Shake 'Em Up

Slim Green


Monday 4 July 2011

STAR BLUES on 3rd July 2011 at 22:00

Two hours is just not enough to do proper justice to the number of new projects as well as the full heritage of blues. Mike Zito's "Greyhound" is a decent followup to his award winning "Pearl River" and those lovable rogues, the Cadillac Kings", are back with a boppin' vinyl 45 single the like of which we've not had for many a year. Susan Wylde is classically trained and her new album is her first foray into our music; Paul Wassif started in a punk band and has moved on via Beth Orton and Bert Jansch to a lovely guitar based sound that attracted both Bert J and Eric Clapton to sit in on acoustic axes. What with another handful of burlesque, a return visit to Tracy Nelson and to Seasick Steve and a live recording by Candye Kane and Sue Palmer, we were really up against it last night.

My blues excavations turned up a Charles Brown project that had Bonnie Raitt's shimmering slide guitar, and an anthology of Vietnam War songs that yielded Big Amos Patton on harp produced by the legendary Willie Mitchell. Though the conflict has moved onto another country the sentiments are eerily appropriate even now. Tom Principato's new album gave us a tasty sampling of him in a jazzy frame of mind, elsewhere he's helped by Sonny Landreth. In the Alligator back catalogue I found Johnny Heartsman, John Jackson and a poignant set of live recordings made by Johnny Jones and Billy Boy Arnold: both men on great form at an unrehearsed 1963 gig doing a set of old blues numbers to less than fifty people. The booklet notes reckon these to be Jones' final recordings.

Our "1001 Blues" feature was about the 1956 film starring Jayne Mansfield: "the Girl Can't Help It" with music from Fats Domino, the Platters, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and our main-man Little Richard. The corny plotline wouldn't win prizes with an ending you could see coming a mile off but the soundtrack and on-screen performances have never been bettered. STAR BLUES on 24th July will be an updated telling of all the tales so far, together with a free e-book. I'm also on Thursday 14th July: I'm Freewheelin' with a look at this years Cambridge Folk Festival - as well as the usual tomfoolery in a white tee shirt on Sunday nights. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Num Track Artist Album
2202 Red House Jimi Hendrix [3]:Blues - Jimi Hendrix
2206 The Gift Joe Louis Walker [4]The Gift - Joe Louis Walker
2212 Got To Find My Baby Johnny Heartsman [6]Touch - Johnny Heartsman
2213 I'm Tore Up Billy Gayles [13]The Very Best Of Burlesque - Various Artists
2216 Mojo In My Hand L. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson [20]Let's Have A Blues Ball! - Various Artists
2219 Every Little Bit Hurts Charles Brown feat Bonnie Raitt [7]Someone To Love - Charles Brown
2229 Eight Ball Jack Cadillac Kings, The [2]Betty Lou - Cadillac Kings, The
2233 The Girl Can't Help It Little Richard [8]The E.P. Collection - Little Richard
2237 Girl Friend Blues Crown Prince Charlie Waterford [1]1946-1950 - Crown Prince Waterford
2245 Southbound Train Paul Wassif feat. Eric Clapton w. Bert Jansch [11]Looking Up Feeling Down - Paul Wassif
2251 Motel Blues Mike Zito [6]Greyhound - Mike Zito
2255 Bukka's Jitterbug Swing Bukka White [7]Hard Times And Heartaches - Various Artists
2302 This Time I Know Featuring Theodis Ealey Theodis Ealey [10]Tommy Castro Presents The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue -- Live! - Tommy Castro
2306 In The Light Susan Wylde [7]In The Light - Susan Wylde
2309 Walkin' With Mr Lee Lee Allen & His Band [12]The Very Best Of Burlesque - Various Artists
2315 Shoot My Baby Tracy Nelson [3]Victim Of The Blues - Tracy Nelson
2318 Red Cadillac & Black Moustache Steve Howell [3]Since I Saw You Last - Steve Howell
2329 Going To Vietnam Big Amos [5]A Soldier's Sad Story: Vietnam Through The Eyes Of Black America 1966-73 - Various Artists
2330 I Hear My Black Name Ringing Johnny Jones [9]With Billy Boy Arnold - Johnny Jones
2334 Dragnet For Jesus Sue Palmer & Candye Kane [2]One Night In Belgium - Sue Palmer & Candye Kane
2343 45 Jump Eugene Hideaway Bridges [10]Rock And A Hard Place - Eugene Hideaway Bridges
2346 Chesterfield John Jackson [4]Front Porch Blues - John Jackson
2349 Travelin' Alone Eric Clapton [1]Clapton - Eric Clapton
2354 Days Gone Seasick Steve [11]You Can´t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks - Seasick Steve