Monday 28 November 2011

STAR BLUES on 27th November 2011 at 22:00

With both Bill Wyman and the Blues Band playing locally in short order this week, it was always going to be  a tough ask to fit enough music into 118 minutes of live radio. Neither set out to be compared with the innovative originals.- those guys really know their stuff and celebrate the classic era of blues.

We didn't forget it would have been Jim Hendrix' birthday, we left it to our resident rock god to do the honours for us. Our birthday book was open at the pages for John Mayall, Robert Nighthawk and Brownie McGhee instead. Mayall is still active and his steadfastness has put a backbone into British blues; we went to the Crusade album with Mick Taylor last night (this project is often overshadowed by the pair of albums it followed). Brownie McGhee's career was inextricably linked with Sonny Terry even if their on-off friendship was rarely on. He was a tidy player with a warm inviting vocal style which contrasted with the raw country blues stylings of harp maestro Terry.

Robert Lee McCollum recorded as Robert Nighthawk and was a contemporary of Robert Johnson - Nighthawk survived the war and is a glimpse of how Johnson could have made the transition to electric blues. Nighthawk was influential to Elmore James, BB King and many others - he married one of Ike Turner's girlfriends and almost immediately recorded "Sweet Black Angel" a hit for Chess in 1948. It has a magnificent guitar line and is a model for blues as a celebration. His birthday was our 1001 Blues.

The two gospel tunes had Paul Jones and Rev. Blind Gary Davis and it don't get much better than Otis Spann or Leroy Carr on piano. With a further range of blues that included BigWalter Horton and Big Lucky Carter and Big Al Downing you'd think we were exclusively sizeist. Lee Shot Williams died last week and Jimmy Nelson died earlier in the month and the songs we used to mark their passings showed how much they're missed already. Can't believe Jimmy Norman didn't record more often.

The search for the Listener Blues Artist 2011 was officially launched yesterday - last year it was Robert Plant, its all up to you. The restriction is that it must be someone we've played on the show this year. Email, phone, Facebook or old fashioned letter will get your vote in, look forward to hearing from you.

All being well the whole shebang will be back on Sunday at 10pm (GMT), I'll be there if you will. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you



I Guess I Showed Her Robert Cray 2 Strong Persuader Robert Cray MERCURY
Down In The Bottom Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings 1 The Best Of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings REPERTOIRE
Natural Man J. B. Lenoir 9 J. B. Lenoir J. B. Lenoir ROOTS
I Got A Woman On The Mountain Top Big Lucky Carter 3 Lucky 13 Big Lucky Carter WESTSIDE
L And N Blues Memphis Willie B. 2 Hard Working Man Blues Memphis Willie B. ORIGINAL BLUES CLASSICS
Roughest Place In Town Johnny Fuller 21 Let Me Tell You About The Blues: West Coast Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean Ruth Brown 2 The Best Of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour Various Artists CHROME
Sweet Black Angel Robert Nighthawk 16 Chess Blues Various Artists CHESS
Need My Baby Walter Horton 17 Chicago Blues Harmonicas Various Artists FLYRIGHT
Need Your Love So Bad James Brown 3 Messing With The Blues James Brown POLYDOR
Here Comes The Night - Jimmy N Jimmy Norman 18 Jimmy Norman; Lee Shot Williams; Johnny Fuller and more Various Atists Gary-Blue
Ya Ya Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays 3 Cry Wilf! Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays BIG BEAT
Hadacol Boogie Jerry Lee LewisBuddy Guy 19 Last Man Standing Jerry Lee Lewis ARTISTS FIRST
Never Make A Move Too Soon B. B. King 4 King Of The Blues B. B. King MCA
The Years Go Passing By Larry Davis 22 Slow 'N' Moody, Black & Bluesy Various Artists Kent
Yes, I'm Loving You Big Al Downing 3 Uk Sue Label Story, Vol. 2: Sue's Rock 'N' Blues Various Artists ACE
Had You Told It Like It Was Albert King 5 King New Breed R'n'b Various Artists Kent (U.K.)
Oh Pretty Woman John Mayall's Blues BreakersMick Taylor 1 Crusade John Mayall DECCA
Back in Trouble Again Lee Shot Williams 1 Jimmy Norman; Lee Shot Williams; Johnny Fuller and more Various Atists Gary-Blue
Resting On Jesus Blues Band, The 12 Stepping Out Blues Band, The HYPERTENSION
Lord Stand By Me Rev. Blind Gary Davis 6 Gospel - The Ultimate Collection Various Artists RED Box
Can't Help Myself Sonny TerryBrownie McGhee 11 The Duo Sonny TerryBrownie McGhee BLUES ENCORE
Half Ain't Been Told Otis Spann 8 My Home Is In The Delta Otis Spann ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Naptown Blues Leroy Carr 7 Naptown Blues Leroy Carr ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Hypin' Woman Blues T-Bone Walker 12 The Complete Capitol/Black And White Recordings T-Bone Walker Capitol
Mandolin Rock Johnny YoungJohnny Young 14 Mandolin Blues Various Artists Shout
Created: 28/11/2011 08:34:49

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