STAR BLUES on 25th November 2012 at 22:00

There's something a little hinckey when you think about a man of 69 front and centre of a rock band with a packed-out venue in the palm of his hands. Such was Mick Jagger's fate last night as the Stones marked their first half century on the crazy Ferris wheel of music. Even more strange when remembering Muddy Waters was 68 in 1981 when he invited a gleeful Jagger with Richards, Wood, Wyman and Stewart onto the stage at Buddy Guy's Checkerboard Lounge. You're never too old for blues but mainstream rock is another brussel sprout altogether.

I was talking about that Checkerboard gig because BBC4 had shown the newly remastered DVD in the middle of Saturday night. Muddy was awesome with slashing slide on "Country Boy" before the cameos started - his band had John Primer and Rich Kreher on guitars, Lovie Lee on Piano and an amazing display of harp dexterity from Mojo Buford. I've promised to get myself on Santa's good list next year if he'll slip the soundtrack under my pillow (it's too late to redeem myself for 2012). We had to make do with the 1971 version Muddy did live at Mr Kelly's for our 1001 Blues feature.

More guitar mastery from Lonnie Johnson (who did so much to shape B B King's sound), Ray Agee, Roy Gaines and Etta Baker on the playlist. Birthday boy Jimmy Johnson sang gospel for many a year and you can hear that fervour in his voice, his axe skills are pretty decent too. Jimmy Burns had brother Jimmy on hand to cover "Your Cash Aint Nothin But Trash". Otis Grand's new "Blues 65" project is a goodun cementing a nice partnership with Sugar Ray Norcia. At the age of 6 Gitlo Lee played with Sonny Boy Williamson and he now has a solid album out under his own brand, his old boss got things under way from "Down & Out Blues", the first album in the Pye R&B series eagerly devoured by blues fans on this side of the pond. Preston Shannon's celebration of "Cold Beer And Good Times" closed us off leaving us to ask why he isn't better known?

The John Lee Hooker song "Boogie Children" got a going over from the Playboys (with John Fred without Judy - disguised or otherwise). Nathan Abshire reworked Arthur Crudup's "Thats AlRight Mama", Phil Upchurch's hit "Can't Sit Down" was tastily updated by Willie Mitchell and the amazing bass voice of Jimmy Ricks was recorded in New York as part of Benny Goodman's Sextet. Otis Clay did our gospel duty and Eddie Boyd was on keys. In a show of such depth and variety, Mud Morganfield (Muddy's yoiunger son) is in Norwich tonight and was as majestic as his dad for a track from his latest album on Severn Records where he is part of that ol' magic called Bob Coritorre.

The BBC headline suggested some contestants had also lost their socks, but I bet it wasn't the same reason as me. I can't say anything else yet but I can point you in the direction of my next e-book, "Gary Blues Almanac 2013". Free. Send me your email details to gary.blue@star107.co.uk and when its done it will find its way direct to you. Please make a donation to www.musicmaker.org if you like it and can make use of it (no amount too small).

We'll look at what you can put on your Santa list next week at 10pm (GMT) until then take care of yourself and take care of those that take care of you.

Track.Title	Track.ArtistSort	Index	Album.Title	Album.ArtistSort	Label
Wake Up Baby	Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	8	Down And Out Blues / In Memorium	Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	BEAT GOES ON
Feelin Good	Janiva Magness	4	The Devil Is An Angel Too	Janiva Magness	Alligator
Go Ahead And Blame Me	Mud Morganfield	9	Son Of The Seventh Son	Mud Morganfield	SEVERN
Ain't Studdin' You Baby	Gitlo Lee	10	Comin Out the Hole	Gitlo Lee
You Can't Sit Down	Willie Mitchell	11	Memphis Rhythm King	Willie Mitchell	BACKBEAT
Go Ahead On	Guitar Red	23	Sun Records - Ultimate Blues Collection	Various Artists	VARESE
Rolling Log	Rory Block	10	The Very Best Of The Blues	Various Artists	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
country boy	muddy waters	2	my home is in the delta	muddy waters	blues encore
rockin all day	dennis gruenling	1	rockin all day	dennis gruenling	vizz tone
midnight lover man	Roy Brown	7	saturday night	roy brown	el toro
Oh Babe	Ravens, The	26	Birds Of A Feather	Ravens, The	PROPER
boogie children	playboys feat john fred	27	boppin on the bayou	various artists	ace
bopogie woogie feeling	tony casanova	22	wid streak	various	veetone
Those Days Are Gone	Otis Grand	12	Blues '65	Otis Grand	MAINgate
your cash aint nothing but trash	Eddie & Jimmy Burns	2	Snake Eyes	Eddie BurnsJimmy Burns	DELMARK
country preacher	jimmy johnson	1	country preacher	jimmy johnson	orbis blues
All of My Life	Roy Gaines	9	Rock-A-Billy: Boogie Woogie Blues Man	Roy Gaines
Love Is A Cold Shot	Ray Agee	23	Bay Area Blues Blasters	Various Artists	El Cerrito
thats all right	nathan abshire	12	bopping by the bayou	various artists	ace
Save A Seat For Me	Otis Clay	4	The Gospel Truth	Otis Clay	BLIND PIG RECORDS
Hard Headed Woman	Eddie Boyd	9	Chicago Piano	Various Artists	PAULA
Jackson’s Boogie	Little Willie Jackson	21	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: West Coast	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Railroad Bill	Etta Baker & Taj Mahal	5	Etta Baker With Taj Mahal	Etta BakerTaj Mahal	MUSIC MAKER
Racketeers Blues	Lonnie Johnson	16	The Original Guitar Wizard	Lonnie Johnson	PROPER
Walkin' These Blues Away	Eomot Rasun	2	Three Days Walkin'	Eomot Rasun	APO
cold beer good time	Preston Shannon	12	All In Time	Preston Shannon	BULLSEYE BLUES

Created: 25/11/2012 23:43:19