Sunday 2 September 2012

STAR BLUES on 2nd September 2012 at 22:00

At one point Britain's Other Blues Show pushed the definition of blues further than St Trinian's knicker elastic last night, our reason was the nakedly visceral interpretation of Gnarls Barclay's "Crazy" by Bettye LaVette. By slowing the tempo and investing the lyrics with an uncompromising sense of madness and frustration Bettye has made it into a completely new masterpiece. She has no equals, nor has Sugar Blue with total mastery of the top range of his harp he has at long last taken his position as number 1 in the world's harp rankings.  With a driving band his double live album "Raw Sugar" finds him in his natural setting.

Frank Son Seals started out as a drummer for Albert King, he was an accomplished guitarist by 1979 at the session he did for Bruce Iglauer's Alligator at Curtis Mayfields studio in Chicago. We also returned to Michael Burks' final recordings for the thoughtful lyrics of "Take A Chance", still can't believe he is gone - just when he finally got into his stride. Larry Lampkin was clearing a garage at the age of 13 and found some old guitars, this Fort Worth player never looked back. Before the pair of reviews he got in Living Blues and Blues & Rhythm magazine, I'd not heard of him - glad I checked him out for his lovely fluid playing that never outstayed its welcome on his 3-minute compositions. Ron Wienstock writes for Living Blues, he also has a blog which this week was about Joe Weaver - so I shamelessly nicked his idea to play Joe's 1965 single on Fortune records.

In 2009 Willie Big Eyes Smith did some duo performances with Roger Hurricane Wilson; Roger has worked his socks off getting fan funding to ensure their live recordings got issued: job done and the results have achieved the difficult task of setting the ambiance and getting the fidelity of voice, acoustic guitar and harp. Willie was in great form on "Rub My Back". The Blues Broads gather together four marvellous ladies usually lead players in their own right: they did a lovely a capella gospel track for us last night from their live set on Delta Groove.

Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King are unplugged these days, two voices and two guitars between them - their offering last night also had a harp each from randy Chortkoff and Bob Corritore. we went back to 1945 for two tracks of the new Modern label survey on Ace records and we showed our Wild Streak more than once. Arthur Crudup and Johnny Ace brought songs from the lesser known drawer from respective sets just out on Fantastic Voyage. Similar surprise came from Rosetta Tharpe in secular mood on "Tall Skinny Papa", Little Richard out did James Brown on a version of a Don Covay song and Bea Baker drove her Lavendar Cadillac.

We had some great feedback on the acoustic/folk/country/delta blues show - so we will definitely do another one before too long. Kuala Lumpur was our twin at 11:11pm (06:11 for them) though I doubt I will really be a lasting substitute for their version of Vanessa Feltz. What I will do is be back at 10pm on Sunday, really hope you can be at your place to meet me. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you



Red Hot MamaSugar Blue1RawSugar Bluebeeble
Landlord At My DoorSon Seals9Deluxe EditionSon SealsAlligator
Bad Boy BluesHollywood Blue Flames, The8Deep In America / Larger Than Life, Vol. 2Hollywood Blue Flames, TheHollywood Fats Band, TheDELTAGROOVE
Don't You KnowJohnny Ace18Ace's Wild!Johnny AceFantastic Voyage
Soul GirlJeanne & The Darlings3We're The Soul Girls: Jeanne And The Darlings / The CharmelsJeanne And The Darlings / The CharmelsKent
$29 SpecialMichael Roach3The Blinds Of LifeMichael RoachSTELLA
CrazyBettye Lavette6thankful n thoughtfulBettye LavetteAnti
Black CadillacGreen, Joyce21Wild Streak Vol.1Various ArtistsVee-Tone Records
(Ev'ry Time I Hear) That Mellow SaxophoneRoy Montrell17Cosimo Matassa StoryVarious ArtistsProper Box
MercyLorrie And Larry Collins5Wild Streak Vol.1Various ArtistsVee-Tone Records
No Good Could Come of ThisSmokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois KingBob Corritore9Close to the BoneSmokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois KingDelta Groove Productions
Crazy About A WomanJesse Fuller9San Francisco Bay BluesJesse FullerORIGINAL BLUES CLASSICS
Take A Chance On Me, BabyMichael Burks2Show Of StrengthMichael BurksAlligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Running for Your LoveLarry Lampkin1When I Get HomeLarry LampkinKaint Kwit
I Want A Tall Skinny PapaSister Rosetta Tharpe5The Blues BoxVarious ArtistsMETRO
That's The BoogieThree Bits Of Rhythm18Modern Music: 1945Various ArtistsACE
I Want A Lavender CadillacBea Barker4I'm A Bad Bad GirlVarious ArtistsINDIGO
Gonna Be Some Changes MadeArthur "Big Boy" Crudup19My Baby Left Me The Definitive CollectionArthur "Big Boy" CrudupFantastic Voyage
Rub My BackWillie "Big Eyes" Smith And Roger "Hurricane" Wilson12Live Blues Protected By Smith & WilsonWillie "Big Eyes" Smith And Roger "Hurricane" WilsonBLUESTORM
Jesus, I'll Never ForgetDorothy Morrison9The Blues BroadsBlues Broads, TheDelta Groove Productions
Baby, I Love You SoJoe Weaver And The Don Juans8Rock OnVarious ArtistsACE
I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got MeLittle Richard5Have Mercy! The Songs Of Don CovayVarious ArtistsACE
Please, Please, Please (Spear 2)Buddy Sharpe & The Shakers20Wild Streak Vol. 2Various ArtistsVee-Tone Records
Play Boy BluesPearl Traylor With Howard McGhee & His Orchestra21Modern Music: 1945Various ArtistsACE
Created: 02/09/2012 23:44:32 

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