More distinctive vocals from Lawrence Lebo who moves effortless from blues to jazz and back on her third EP which chides us "Don't Call Me Larry". She has a lovely sweet voice and a refreshingly sparse arrangement for her own songs with none of the usual showing off on guitar. She's also another (like Bob Corritore) who does a lot behind the scenes to keep the blues alive in all its forms. Gaye Agdebelola used to be in Saffire (the Uppity Blues Women) she was positively glorious on her coming-out album "Gaye Without Shame" demonstrating very nice slide guitar skill backed by Bob Margolin in his living room!
We kept a promise to return to the Chicago club date BB King did in 1966 for his "Blues Is King" album to play the previously unissued "Going Down Slow" remarkable for the force of B's vocal rather than his prowess with Lucille. Z. Z Hill would have also had a birthday, as would Little Buster - two of the finest soul blues singers that reinvigorated interest in our music in the African American communities.
Ranie Burnette was recorded by Fat Possum and he came from the school defined as "Mississippi Hill Country Blues" by RL Burnside. His album is worth looking for. Tommy McClennan cut over 40 sides for Bluebird between 1939 and 1942 -- all of them cleaned up and reissued by the Document label. Within in a trice we changed styles to get some Wicked Pickett and the talents of George Jackson (if you see his name as writer, singer or producer its as good as a guarantee).
Blues Matters! magazine appears every month like clockwork and usually focuses on the edge rock has with blues and beyond. Cover star is an impish Robert Cray with broad mischievous grin and nifty titfer. Lady Blue thinks he looks cute and quite sexy - I have the exact same hat and she thinks I look like a Brussels sprout and refuses to go out with me if I wear it. Go figure. We played his new single to announce he'll be in Cambridge at the Corn Exchange on 8th March next year. In the same magazine there's an article as a spirited defence of an ill-thought out attack on Bob 'the bear' Hite. So we added to the rebuttal by including a track from "Hooker 'n' Heat". Another tactic could have been a bottle of earwax cleaner and some F-sized speakers to showcase top-class Canned Heat. You choose.
Tom Jones is blessed with a remarkable set of pipes and he employs them on gospel pieces these days. he co-wrote "Traveling Shoes" with guitarist and producer Ethan Johns. Our weekly spot is a natural home when he's on this kind of form. Piano duties fell to Henri Herman of the Cadillac Kings whose live album is a terrific sample of a British band firing on all cylinders celebrating jumpin R&B. Toby Walker will be in Bury St Edmunds on 3rd November, his graceful playing on a Eugene Powell piece was delightful. Before we knew it the time was up and I hadn't had time to play Drink Small who will soon be playing with Ironing Board Sam - remind me next week at ten pm (BST) Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Track.Title | Track.ArtistSort | Index | Album.Title | Album.ArtistSort | Label |
Down Home Blues | Z. Z. Hill | 2 | Best Of | Z. Z. Hill | MALACO |
Goin' Down Slow | B. B. King | 1 | King Of The Blues | B. B. King | MCA |
Hungry Woman's Blues | Gaye Adegbalola | 3 | Gaye Without Shame | Gaye Adegbalola | Hot Toddy |
Lonely Nights | Clarence Edwards | 1 | Swampin' | Clarence Edwards | |
Whatever I Am You Made Me | Koko Taylor | 9 | Koko Taylor | Koko Taylor | MCA / CHESS |
What Kind Of Man Is This? | Bob Corritore, Koko Taylor, Bob Margolin, Little Frank Krakowski, Bob Stroger, Willie 'Big Eyes' Smi | 1 | Harmonica Blues | Bob Corritore | Delta Groove |
I Love A Lover Like You | Koko Taylor | 18 | Wang Dang Doodle | Koko Taylor | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION |
Blue As I Can Be | Tommy McClennan | 19 | Cross Cut Saw | Tommy McClennan | DOCUMENT |
Hungry Spell | Ranie Burnette | 7 | Hill Country Blues | Ranie Burnette | FAT POSSUM |
I Got My Eyes On You | John Lee HookerCanned Heat | 10 | Hooker 'N' Heat. The Best Of ... Plus | John Lee Hooker | SEE FOR MILES |
(Won't Be) Coming Home - Album Version | Robert Cray Band | 1 | Won't Be Coming Home - Robert Cray | Various Artists | |
I'm Crazy About My Baby | Jimmy Johnson | 4 | Tobacco Road | Jimmy Johnson | STORYVILLE |
I Got A Problem | Phillip Walker | 11 | Working Girl Blues | Phillip Walker | BLACK TOP |
What Can I Do (Somebody Tell Me) | Little BusterSoul Brothers, The | 1 | Right On Time | Little BusterSoul Brothers, The | BULLSEYE BLUES |
Three Time Loser | Wilson Pickett | 1 | Have Mercy! The Songs Of Don Covay | Various Artists | ACE |
Save Me | George Jackson | 10 | Let The Best Man Win | George Jackson | fame / kent |
Traveling Shoes | Tom Jones | 8 | Spirit In The Room | Tom Jones | ISLAND |
It's Not The First Time | Lawrence Lebo | 3 | Don't Call Her Larry, Vol Iii | Lawrence Lebo | Unsigned |
mean ol frisco | Cadillac Kings, The | 8 | Gonna Tell Your Momma | Cadillac Kings, The | 33 records |
hamar boogie | Cadillac Kings, The | 9 | Gonna Tell Your Momma | Cadillac Kings, The | 33 records |
Hacksaw Rag/Cincinnati Flow Rag | Toby Walker | 12 | Live At The Bottleneck | Toby Walker | Powerhouse Records |
Better Man | Eli Cook | 2 | Ace, Jack & King | Eli Cook |