STAR BLUES on 9th December 2012 at 22:00

From time to time, we set a mainstream pop or rock act some homework revision and last night we challenged both Jeff Lynne and Paolo Nutini. The Move/ELO/Wilbury has chosen to have a go at Don Covay's "Mercy Mercy" for his second solo venture. His video has him mugging it up playing with his clones - far better the simpler more direct approach of Don's original in our humbles. The Scottish Italian was on Jools Holland's Hootenanny in 2009 and now part of the Christmas all-star cash-in project, in truth Paolo did a pretty decent cover of "Lovin' Machine" though not even he can stand in the same room as the lascivious version from the man who wrote it, Wynonie Harris.

The secret is out: our STAR BLUES extravaganza will become the first live blues show on Commercial FM radio to run in the UK on Christmas morning. No pressure then. I did get asked in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 but was far too shy - now I have relented under the combined entreaties of the Mighty Mark Peters and Deefer Duck. Be afraid, be very afraid around your transistor wireless apparatus come 25th December at 10:00 am. Preparations began in fine style last night on STAR BLUES with Big Joe Turner, Jesse Thomas, Amos Milburn and the fabulous tones of Louis Armstrong. Lady Blue was so taken with the Drifters' version of "White Christmas" that she played it four times in a row during our journey back from IronBridge on Saturday: Christmas has officially started - Lady Blue says so.

Finis Tasby has had a health scare this week, so as well as sending him much love and good wishes we played something he did for the Big Town label to showcase his vocal gifts. Junior Wells would have had a birthday (9th December 1934) and I dug out a very rare b-side on the Blue Rock label to mark the date. Strangely he'd left his harp at home, as did James Harman on the Lightnin Hopkins song "Jake Head Boogie". Dave Kelly and Paul Jones' gig at the Ram Jam Club was recorded for two live albums on SPV Blue and "Come On In My Kitchen" proved to be a real tour-de-force for Dave on vocals and slide guitar. Rory Block dabbled in the songbook of Son House and our sacred spot was filled by the Gospel Clefs with a rousing, organ fuelled, performance.

A quick reminder (which just tried to auto complete as a quack reminder, honest) that there is a free e-copy of "Gary Blues Almanac 2013" for you in exchange for a proper e-mail address that can receive a zip file. Just drop me the details to gary.blue@star107.co.uk if you like what you see, please give a small donation to the Music Maker organisation. The shortest two hours of the week passed by in a trice and I'm looking forward to more of the same, but different, next Sunday at 10pm for Britain's Other Blues show. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those who take care of you

Track.Title	Track.ArtistSort	Index	Album.Title	Album.ArtistSort	Label
Low Down And Dirty	Luther Allison	13	Reckless	Luther Allison	Ruf
Can't Stop Loving You	Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges	2	Jump The Joint	Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges	ARMADILLO
It Took A Long Time	Finis Tasby	2	Shattered Dreams - Funky Blues 1967-1978	Various Artists	BGP
Dime A Dozen	Rosco Gordon	6	Bootin' - The Best Of The Rpm Years	Rosco Gordon	ACE
She's Little And Low	Robert Lockwood Jr.	11	The Story Of Black And Blues :1976-1988	Various Artists	FREMEAUX ET ASSOCIES
Merry Christmas	Jesse Thomas	9	Lookin' For That Woman	Jesse Thomas	BLACK TOP
white christmas	drifters	2-5	rockin' around the christmas tree	various artists	crimson
zat you santa claus	louis armstrong	3-20	rockin' around the christmas tree	various artists	crimson
Mercy Mercy	Don Covay	5	Definitive	Don Covay	RAZOR & TIE
You're Tuff Enough	Jr. Wells	32	Lost And Found : Blue Rock Records	Various Artists	MERCURY
Jake-Head Boogie	James Harman	13	Mo' Na'kins Please!	James Harman	CANNONBALL
Married Woman's Boogie	Billy Wright	12	Jump 'N' Jive	Various Artists	METRO
let's rock	johnny otis	18	r&B humdingers	various artists	veetone
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show	Bobby Rush	5	The Last Soul Company	Various Artists	Malaco Records
too late to change	lafayette thomas	10	blues guitar blasters	various artists
hey baby	Long John HunterTom 'Bluesman' Hunter	1	One Foot In Texas	Long John HunterTom 'Bluesman' Hunter	DOC BLUES
Blind Arthur's Breakdown	Blind Blake	5	Essential	Blind Blake	CLASSIC BLUES
Dry Spell	Rory Block	5	Blues Walkin' Like A Man: A Tribute To Son House	Rory Block	Stony Plain Music
Merry Christmas Baby	Johnny Moore's Three Blazers - Vocal By Mari Jones	23	Be Cool	Johnny Moore's Three Blazers	ACE
christmas date boogie	big joe turner	2-20	rockin' around the christmas tree	various artists	crimson
lets make christmas merry baby	amos milburn	3-2	rockin' around the christmas tree	various artists	crimson
steal away to the lord	gospel clefs	1-26	gospel celebrities	various artists	fantastic voyage
Lovin' Machine	Wynonie Harris	48	Bloodshot Eyes	Wynonie Harris	INDIGO
I Ain't Mad At You, Pretty Baby	Gatemouth Moore	13	Jump 'N' Jive	Various Artists	METRO
Midnight Special	Lead Belly	24	20th Century Blues	Various Artists	CATFISH
Come On In My Kitchen	Paul Jones & Dave Kelly	3	Live At The Ram Jam Club	Paul Jones & Dave Kelly	SPV

 Magic Tricks  Giles Robson             10     Juke Shakin          Various artists