STAR BLUES on 30th December 2012 at 22:00

You'd think any blues radio show worth its salt would, on the last Sunday of the year, take the chance to kick off the sneakers and reflect on the last 12 months, basking in the finest the year had to offer.......

You'd think ...

.... well you would unless you're talking about Britain's Other Blues Show (different for a reason). 1952 instead. It gave us a baseline for our choices as well as being a great excuse to celebrate one of the best ever years for our music. The 1001 feature was "I Don't Know" by Willie Mabon who started his run at number 1 in the R&B charts on 27th December 1952. The song was covered by the Blues Brothers who somewhat overplayed the humour in the lyrics for the film, hopefully some royalties ended up with Mabon. He also wrote "Seventh Son" and you shouldn't overlook his easy voice and tidy piano skills. Also atop those charts were Ruth Brown and the Dominoes lead magnificently by Clyde McPhatter on what is now sometimes known as the first gospel number 1. Sam Cooke was barely out of his teens in the Soul Stirrers but gave an astonishingly confident mature performance on the years "It won't be very long". The Clovers, the Ravens and the Golden Gate Quartet each illustrated the power and beauty of the voice.

We also had the chance to showcase Hambone Willie Newbern  who wrote and recorded "Roll and Tumble" as one of just six sides he ever did (and those in just one two-day session). From the same anthology on Document we had the graceful playing of Mississippi John Hurt and the Orbis Blues collection was source of Victoria Spivey's "One Hour Mama" with no need for a one-minute papa. Perhaps she means crochet time-trials.

Guitar Pete Lewis was a formidable player and he stood front and centre for Johnny Otis' Orchestra and reminded us of the loss to the blues community this last January. Jelly Roll Morton, Professor Longhair and Jimmy Yancey celebrated piano skills in different ways and we heard the foundations of rock'n'roll in both Tiny's tracks. (Pretty sure "Train Kept Rollin'" was in the Blow Up film where Jeff Beck played lead for the Yardbirds and Jimmy Page on bass?)

Jimmy Forest's "Night Train" was covered by James Brown but the original is the one used for dancing. He closed the STAR BLUES book on 2012. I've a few surprises for the coming year including a centenary celebration for Muddy Waters.

You've made me most welcome at your place every Sunday - and on Christmas morning - it's been a real privilege, I couldn't have asked for better company. From my family to yours, have a healthy, happy and safe New Year - we hope you will get closer to the ones close to you - until Sunday at ten pm (GMT) take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Track_Title	Track_ArtistSort	Index	Album_Title	Album_ArtistSort	Label
good rockin' man	roy brown	1-2	1952 r&b years	various artists	boulevard vintage
boogie woogie woman	b. b. king	3-2	1952 hits	various artists	indigo
louisiana blues	muddy waters	23	The R'n'b Hits Of 1951	Various Artists	INDIGO
My Baby Stole Off	Howlin' Wolf	10	The Modern Records Story	Various Artists	ACE
One Hour Moan	Victoria Spivey	15	Moaning The Blues	Victoria Spivey	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Roll And Tumble Blues	Hambone Willie Newbern	24	The Greatest Songsters (1927-1929)	Various Artists	DOCUMENT
When It Rains It Pours	Pee Wee Crayton	3	The R'n'b Hits Of 1951	Various Artists	INDIGO
i don't know	willie mabon	1-15	history of rhythm and blues vol 3	various artists	rhythm and blues
Riverside Jump	Tiny Grimes	9	The R'n'b Years 1951: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1951	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
T-99 Blues	Jimmy Nelson	23	The R'n'b Hits Of 1951	Various Artists	INDIGO
Key To The Highway	John Lee Hooker	16	The R'n'b Hits Of 1952	Various Artists	INDIGO
Got The Blues Can't Be Satisfied	Mississippi John Hurt	14	The Greatest Songsters (1927-1929)	Various Artists	DOCUMENT
Georgia Rag	Blind Willie McTell	28	Definitive	Blind Willie McTell	CATFISH
train kept a rollin	tiny bradshaw	25	1952 r & b	various artists	boulevard vintage
Good Old Blues	Johnny Otis Orchestra Feat. Pete 'Guitar' Lewis	2	The Johnny Otis Story Volume 1 Volume 1: 1945-57 Midnight At The Barrelhouse V A	Johnny Otis & His Orchestra	ACE
Have Mercy Baby	Dominoes, The	23	The R'n'b Years 1952: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1952	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Glory Of Love	Five Keys, The	20	The R'n'b Hits Of 1951	Various Artists	INDIGO
It Won't Be Very Long	Soul Stirrers, The	13	The R'n'b Hits Of 1952	Various Artists	INDIGO
John The Revelator	Golden Gate Quartet, The	6	The Golden Gate Quartet - Our Story	Golden Gate Quartet, The	COLUMBIA
I Hate A Man Like You	Lizzie Miles With Jelly Roll Morton	8	Roll 'Em Pete : 25 Years Of Piano Blues And Boogie	Various Artists	INDIGO
mardi gras in new orleans	prof. longhair	4-4	history of rhythm and blues vol 2	varioous artists	rhythm and blues
Yancey Special	Jimmy Yancey	25	Roll 'Em Pete : 25 Years Of Piano Blues And Boogie	Various Artists	INDIGO
train kept a rolling	tiny bradshaw	25	r& b years 1952	various	boluevard vintage
5 10 15 hours	ruth brown	4	1952 hits	various	indigo
i'm gonna play honky tonk	marie adams	3	1952 hits	various	indigo
lawdy mis clawdy	lloyd price	20	r&B hits of 1952	various	boulevard vintage
cold cold feeling	t-bone walker	10	r&b hits 1952	various artists	boulevard vintage
one mint julep	the clovers	12	r&b hits 1952	various artists	boulevard vintage
rock me all night long	ravens	11	1952 hits	various	indigo
Night Train	Jimmy Forest	18	The R'n'b Years 1952: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1952	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE

Created: 30/12/2012 23:54:42