Monday 31 October 2011

STAR BLUES on 30th October 2011 at 22:00

Visitors to Star Towers are ushered reverently into the expanse of the reception area, now set aside as the training ground for our very own Slender Man (Mighty Mark Peters) assault on the 2012 Strictly crown. The well thumbed copy of "783 ways to tie a cumaband" on his desk was a giveaway.  Mind you, he will shortly have to compete for Lady Blue's affections with the devilishly (some say quirkily) handsome countenance of our Breakfast host Ryan Taylor after I reported back last night following a rare sighting (as we usually operate at opposite ends of daylight).

Our birthday book let us dwell on the gifts of Hadda Brooks as well as the drummer who played on the theme to the Flintstones: Earl Palmer. She was the first African American woman to host her own entertainment tv show in 1957 (a short step from there to Oprah?) and Earl Palmer started out as a tap dancer before the work we showcased last night from Amos Milburn, Shirley and Lee and Fats Domino - among thousands of others. His life is chronicled in a fascinating biography called BACKBEAT that you should consider asking Santa for if you've been good this year. The other celebrant was Peter Green, one of just two players who's beautiful playing has ever moved me to tears (if you're interested the other is Johnny Shines). we mused upon the question on the path Peter Green's life and career would have taken if his close friend Duster Bennett hadn't fallen asleep at the wheel of his van in 1976?

Further questions came to mind regarding Andrew Brown, his track was something he did for Bruce Iglauer's Living Chicago Blues project - somehow Andrew wasn't subsequently signed to Alligator in his own right. Not through lack of ability thats for sure. Our 1001 Blues was similarly inconclusive with me not finding out the true story behind "Garbage Man Blues" - the 1964 mandolin recording by Will Hatcher was suitably splendid however. That instrument deserves fuller exposure on Star Blues - so should the zydeco stylings of great artists like C J Chenier - he covered a Boozoo Chavis piece off his new project "You Cant sit Down" (bit like Mark in his cumaband). Johnny Taylor followed Sam Cooke in the Soul Stirrers and we had a look at his application for employment at Stax where he declared his study of Metaphysics. With a closing flourish from OV Wright - who  influenced the singing of Robert Cray - we were done. Two hours just aint enough sometimes.

Provided Mark doesn't find out about this blog, I'll be back with a sudge more tomfoolery next Sunday at ten (GMT don't forget) - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you


Palace Of The King
John Mayall
4
In The Palace Of The King
John Mayall
EAGLE
Paper In My Shoe
C.J. Chenier
9
Can't Sit Down
C.J. Chenier
World Village
My Mind Is Working Overtime
William Clarke
6
The Hard Way
William Clarke
Alligator
You Can't Do That
Dave Myers
3
You Can't Do That
Dave Myers
BLACK TOP
Cold BlackMare
Whispering Smith
11
Swamp Blues
Various Artists
ACE
Little Bluebird
Johnnie Taylor
11
Wanted One Soul Singer
Johnnie Taylor
Atlantic
Garbage Man Blues
Will Hatcher
7
Mandolin Blues
Various Artists
Shout
Two Years
Andrew Brown
3
"Living Chicago Blues
Vol. 4"
Various Artists
Need Your Love So Bad
Fleetwood Mac
8
Blue Horizon Story Vol. 1
Various Artists
CBS
Jumpin' At Shadows
Fleetwood Mac
9
Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues
Various Artists
INDIGO
Love That Burns
Fleetwood Mac
21
Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues
Various Artists
INDIGO
Torn Down
Vaan ShawEddie Shaw
2
Morning Rain
Vaan ShawEddie Shaw
WOLF
Don't Stop By The Creek
Johnny Copeland
5
Honky Tonkin
Johnny Copeland
BULLSEYE
Louis Collins
Chris Thomas King
9
Antebellum Postcards
Chris Thomas King
21ST CENTURY
Sugar Mama
Blues Burglars
2
Harmonica Man
Paul Lamb
CASTLE
Brook's Boogie
Hadda Brooks
18
The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957. Vol2
Various Artists
Blue Label / SPV
Rock All Night
Shirley & Lee
13
Backbeat
Earl Palmer
ACE
I'm Walkin'
Fats Domino
1
Radio Bob: Vol 2
Various Artists
UNCUT
Chicken Shack Boogie
Amos Milburn
1
Rock On
Various Artists
ACE
Loudella
Dave Thomas w. James Goodwin
4
Blues For Otis
Dave Thomas w. James Goodwin
blonde on blonde
Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend
Joanna Connor
14
Shout Sister Shout! (A Tribute To Sister Rosetta Tharpe)
Various Artists
MC RECORDS
Precious, Precious
O. V. Wright
5
Complete O. V. Wright - Vol. 1
O. V. Wright
HI

Monday 24 October 2011

STAR BLUES on 23rd October 2011 at 22:00

Don't call me Scrooge just yet but STAR BLUES had its first cd of Christmas music yesterday - you can be sure I'll have it in a safe place when December comes around. From Santa to sex and cars in one seamless leap when the subject matter for song comes from Chuck Berry. We made him leave his Ding a Ling alone but we did let him bring a couple of pretty decent blues to celebrate turning 85 this week. Toby Walker also sang about automobiles for a song covered elsewhere by Ry Cooder (among others).

It is an unbelievable 40 years since Duane Allman was killed and we had no hesitation in marking the anniversary with some examples of his slide wizardry. His radio appearance with Delaney and Bonnie filled our 1001 Blues spot because we found more than our quota of trivia (Producer Phil Ramone was the man behind the infamous Marilyn Monroe "Happy Birthday" performance, he has worked with Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra and Pavarotti) (See what I mean). On Thursday we noted the death (age 35) of John Alex Mason from cancer, yet his photos show him as a good looking blond healthy guy that could easily be a pro-footballer. He often played a guitar made from a cigar box while wailing on bass and drums. He had the balls to take on some old standards like Rolling and Tumbling and make them his own. The sadness is in what may well have been and just two albums to remember him by.

Neat little gem this week from Chick Willis - a real down homey piece that features his old pal Travis Haddix. I almost left it in my home cd player as its become one of my picks for 2011. Jo Ann Kelly is another much missed genius and Superbird will issue a rarities set in November, caveat emptor though because the album was out for a very brief spell on the Indigo label before being withdrawn. Worth checking out just for the two interviews she gives on the last pair of tracks.

Carl Sonny Leyland is a Brit who recorded a fine piano project in New Orleans and we paired him with Jimmy Yancey's "Buggle Call" in the piano feature. Not just me that can't spell. Lou Rawls was lead voice for the Chosen Few on our gospel spot and Catfish Keith gave us something from his new retrospective too join in.

Trivia by the smidge load, tomfoolery by the smudgeload and white tee shirt by the washing load - we did it this week and with your help we'll do it again next week. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you


Ya Ya
Sonny Rhodes
7
Disciple Of The Blues
Sonny Rhodes
Wild Dog
Quicksand
Guitar Slim
17
The Story Of My Life
Guitar Slim
SPV
My Fannie Mae
Chick WillisTravis Haddix
7
Let The Blues Speak For Itself
Chick WillisTravis Haddix
Benevolent Blues
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show
Joe Tex
7
Skinny Legs And All
Joe Tex
Kent (U.K.)
I'm Living With The Blues
Shakura S'aida
10
The Blueprint
Shakura S'aida
STONY PLAIN
Falling Down Blues
Furry Lewis
24
Robert Johnson And Old School Blues
Robert Johnson
UNION SQUARE
Come On In My Kitchen
Delaney & Bonnie
5
Duane Allman: An Anthology, Vol. 2
Duane Allman
POLYDOR
You Just Using Me
Quintus McCormick Blues Band
1
Put It On Me!
Quintus McCormick Blues Band
DELMARK
Worried Life Blues
Chuck Berry
23
From Ripley To Chicago
Various Artists
INSTANT
I Want To Be Your Driver
Chuck Berry
17
His Best Volume 2
Chuck Berry
MCA/CHESS
Crazy 'Bout an Automobile
Toby Walker
2
Shake Shake Mama
Toby Walker
ltw
P.A. Slim Is Back
Rick Estrin And The Nightcats
7
Twisted
Rick Estrin And The Nightcats
Alligator
West Helena Blues
George Harmonica Smith
2
Blowing The Blues
George Harmonica Smith
el segundo
You Hurt Me
Little Willie John
24
Mark Lamarr's Roc-King Up A Storm
Various Artists
WESTSIDE
Rolled And Tumbled
John-Alex Mason
5
Jook Joint Thunderclap
John-Alex Mason

Rolling Log Blues
Jo-Ann Kelly
6
Key To The Highway (Rare Recordings)
Jo-Ann Kelly
MOONCREST
All The Way
Keb' Mo'
3
The Reflection
Keb' Mo'
Yolabelle International
Shout For Albert
Carl 'Sonny' Leyland
14
Boogie And Blues
Carl 'Sonny' Leyland
SOLO ARTIST
Yance's Buggle Call
Jimmy Yancey
18
The Best Of Boogie Woogie
Various Artists
DOCUMENTS
No Room At The Hotel
Chosen Gospel Singers, TheLou Rawls
21
Specialty Story
Various Artists
Specialty
Soul Of A Man
Catfish Keith
10
Rolling Sea
Catfish Keith
FISHTAIL
Mean Old World
Eric ClaptonDuane Allman
15
Crossroads
Eric Clapton
POLYDOR
Waiting For A Train
Boz Scaggs
2
Duane Allman: An Anthology, Vol. 2
Duane Allman
POLYDOR
Statesboro Blues
Allman Brothers Band, The
6
Duane Allman Anthology
Duane Allman
POLYDOR

Monday 17 October 2011

STAR BLUES on 16th October 2011 at 22:00

Something for everyone I'd have thought on last night's STAR BLUES with a smidge of trivia and a smudge of tomfoolery. (OK yes and some finger  trouble in cd track selection off the wobbly web information).

Mojo Buford died on the 11th and he did three stints in Muddy Waters' band though the www can't agree on dates or who he replaced (and I left my notes out of reach). The reissue industry hasn't been kind to him either leaving his credit off the notes for the 1974 'Unk in Funk' album he cut with Muddy - a real shame for an acknowledged master of the blues harp form. We also went to one of his solo projects on JSP to luxuriate in his rich tones.

Our 1001 blues feature shone a spotlight on Robert Ward whose birthday was due on 15th, his early career included working with Wilson Pickett and the original version of 'Your Love Is Amazing' that featured his warm throaty vocal and his unique "watery" guitar sound he got from a very small Magnatone amplifier. Other players with distinctive characteristics included Pee Wee Crayton and Lazy Lester who was so inspirational to Kim Wilson and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Beth Hart is a fairly new name to me but she has massive nerve in taking on Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain" in a setting you wouldn't normally find her co-conspirator Joe Bonanmassa. Naked fingers not slide were the order of the day for John Littlejohn helping him cast off the Elmore James cliche he wore so often. Piano duties came from Johnnie Johnson and Bob Hall, though Jay McShann was not bit player for Pee Wee Crayton and nor was Pinetop Perkins rippling alongside Maria Muldaur.

The blues purists will want me to answer for starting with such a hoary old chestnut as the blues national anthem, if not that then why I took a trip to the Valleys to find Tom Jones in Burnin' Hell. The latter seemed appropriate given the Rugby World Cup mugging of the Welsh team and it is a bold interpretation of John Lee Hooker's brooding original piece.The Persuasions did a capella as only they could in answer to a claim I heard this week on how the Magnets were now number one in the genre(!!) - and Otis Taylor pushed at the edges of blues with his "Cowgirl".

Who knows where the 2 hours went, but it was great to have you along for the ride. More of the same in a brand new white tee-shirt at 10pm (BST) next Sunday. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you


The Blues Is Alright
Little Milton
1
Greatest Hits
Little Milton
MALACO
Doctor Brown
Fleetwood Mac
11
Best Of
Fleetwood Mac
COLUMBIA
The Sun Is Shining
Johnny Littlejohn
1
When Your Best Friend Turns Their Back On You
Johnny Littlejohn
JSP Records
Don't Explain
Beth Hart, Joe Bonamassa
5
Don't Explain
Beth Hart, Joe Bonamassa
PROVOGUE
Boogie Woogie Upstairs
Pee Wee Crayton
10
Essential
Pee Wee Crayton
INDIGO
You Got It
Etta James
18
Call My Name
Etta James
Kent
Your Love Is Amazing
Robert Ward
1
Twiggs County Soul Man
Robert Ward
BLACK TOP
She's Fine She's Mine
Jimmy Ricks & Rickateers
10
The Dominoes Meet The Ravens
Various Artists
SEQUEL
You Got To Pay Your Dues
Albert Washington w. Lonnie Mack
5
Blues & Soul Man
Albert WashingtonLonnie Mack
ACE
You Better Stop
Andrew Brown
7
The Way I Feel
Various Artists
FLYRIGHT
Sylvie
Bert Jansch
20
Angie: The Collection
Bert Jansch
Sanctuary Records Group Ltd
Crawlin' King Snake
Big Joe Williams
22
Roots Of Rock
Various Artists
ACROBAT
Soulful Dress
Sugar Pie Desanto
1
Go Go Power • The Complete Chess Singles 1961-1966
Sugar Pie Desanto
Kent
T. V. Mama
Freddie King
9
Stayin' Home With The Blues
Freddie King
SPECTRUM
Ain't No Cowgirl
Otis Taylor feat. Gary Moore
9
Clovis People Vol. 3
Otis Taylor
TELARC
Just To Be With You
Muddy Waters feat. Carey Bell
12
Funky Butt
Muddy Waters
CHARLY
Trouble No More
Muddy Waters feat Mojo Buford
14
Funky Butt
Muddy Waters
CHARLY
Big Leg Woman
Mojo Buford
9
State Of The Blues Harp
Mojo Buford
JSP Records
Slow Train
Johnnie Johnson
7
Blue Hand Johnnie
Johnnie Johnson
EVIDENCE
Death Ray Boogie
Bob Hall
15
Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues
Various Artists
INDIGO
Burning Hell
Tom Jones
5
Praise & Blame
Tom Jones
Seconds Out Productions LLC
Members Only
Persuasions
13
Rounder Revue
Various Artists
Rounder
Midnight Hours
Larry Dale With Mickey Baker's Orchestra
8
In The '50S: Hit, Git & Spit
Mickey Baker
Rev-Ola Bandstand
Late Late In The Evening
Lazy Lester
12
Lazy Lester
Lazy Lester
FLYRIGHT
Jack Of Diamonds
Jesse Thomas
24
Complete Recorded Works 1948-1958
Jesse Thomas
DOCUMENT
Decent Woman Blues
Maria MuldaurPinetop PerkinsSteve Freund
10
Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul
Maria Muldaur
Stony Plain Music