Monday 28 January 2013

STAR BLUES on 27th January 2013 at 22:00

Because STAR BLUES is proud to be different we are not just Britain's Other Blues show - we are now the home of "The Vinyl Hour".

After an enforced absence last week, it was so good to be able to get round to your place to share the new format. Not that its the only thing goin on? Precious Bryant and Chicago Bob Nelson died in the past week or so: we went to Bryant's fabulous fingered guitar styling on two different numbers while Bob was a fine harp player and singer.
We weren't in any hurry to update the obit section of next yerar's Gary Blue's Almanac but it is a neat reminder their music is still available. In the birthday lists, we marked both Etta James and Elmore James and sent out greetings to Bobby Bland and in advance to Charlie Musselwhite. The purists don't seem keen on him - perhaps he guest stars too easily and too thinly to keep within scope: he must have a great autobiography bursting to get out (as a boy he knew Elvis Presley and worked the clubs in Memphis). Johnnie Bassett was a dapper, gentle and a sublime player and the perfect way to launch in to the show this week.
Conventional wisdom is to keep your powder dry by holding back the new releases, no way when it involves a top-notch project from Sugar Ray Norcia. Little Walter was one of several genius blues artists in that vinyl forum, as were lee dorsey, Little Milton, Memphis Minnie, Tommy Brown and Jay McShann. I had both volumes of the reference books on "Blues & Gospel Records" on hand to double check on eligibility though in fairness we rarely needed either.
Incidentally, vol. one covering A-K is still in good shape despite constant use, yet its younger sibling on L-Z is a shambles: the binding just falls apart (really expected so much better at that price) Wouldn't be without them but they are intended to be used! We will have them next Sunday at 10pm - I'll be catching up on some of the new 2013 issues such as Mike Sanchez - Really hope you can be there right where you are 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
Meat On Them Bones Johnnie Bassett 7 The Gentleman Is Back Johnnie Bassett Sly Dog Records
Money Taking Mama Sugar Ray 11 My Life, My Friends, My Music Sugar Ray  
see see baby Jimmie Lee Robinson 4 remember me Jimmie Lee Robinson APO
Georgia Buck Precious Bryant 15 Fool Me Good Precious Bryant TERMINUS
YOU CAN HAVE MY HUSBAND Precious Bryant 8 TRUTH Precious Bryant TERMINUS
I'm Gonna Take What He's Got Etta James 24 Have Mercy! The Songs Of Don Covay Various Artists ACE
HAPPY HOME elmore james 9 lets Cut It elmore james ace
i pity the fool bobby bland 6 two steps from the blues bobby bland b g o
Harpin' On A Riff Charlie Musselwhite 1 Harpin' On A Riff Charlie Musselwhite MUSIC CLUB
Money Talk Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith 3 Born In Arkansas Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith Big Eyes
mojo hand Chicago Bob Nelson 5 tell me mama chicago bob nelson music maker
keep-a-driving chuck willis feat king curtis 3-2 wail man wail king curtis fantastic voyage
Blind Man Little Milton 3 Greatest Hits Little Milton MCA/CHESS
Hate To See You Go Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs) 14 His Best Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs) MCA/CHESS
Ya Ya Lee Dorsey 25 R&b Spotlight '61 Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
A Woman Named Trouble Little Sonny 23 The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 Various Artists STAX
Blood Done Signed My Name Radio Four, The 20 Screamin' Gospel Holy Rollers Vol. 2 Various Artists Vee-Tone Records
Has Anyone Seen My Man ? Memphis Minnie 34 Me And My Chauffeur Memphis Minnie PROPER
M And O Blues Willie Brown 4 Pure Vintage Blues Vol. 3 : Future Blues Various Artists EMPRESS
V8 Baby Tommy Brown 18 Jump 'N' Jive Various Artists METRO
vicks burg blues little brother montgomery 2-11 history of rhythm and blues vol 1 various artists rhyth and blues
you belong to me Earl Gaines 14 Lovin' Blues (The Starday King Years 1967-73) Earl Gaines WESTSIDE
Lazy Woman Blues Aka Lazy Women Saunders King 1 Cool Blues, Jumps & Shuffles Saunders King ACE
confessin the blues jay mcshann 23 best of history ofrhythm and blues various artists rhythm and blues
Have Mercy Baby Dominoes, The 2 The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years Various Artists Rhythm and Blues Records
Created: 28/01/2013 00:02:55

Monday 14 January 2013

STAR BLUES on 13th January 2013 at 22:00

Many apologies for not being able to bring you a fresh serving of live STAR BLUES last night. We had a rare chance to go back to 5th August last year instead for some tracks by the best known artists in our genre: BB King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and so on.

Look on this as a well-earned breather from my regular visits round your place - I hereby pledge to be back on Sunday at ten pm (GMT) with the good stuff. We are Britain's Other Blues Show for a very good reason. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you (I'll try to take better care of myself!!!)

Sunday 6 January 2013

STAR BLUES on 6th January 2013 at 22:00

First show of 2013 and a brand new album from Buddy Guy, recorded live at "Legends" in 2010 with three previously unissued tracks he cut during the sessions for "Living Proof". He does record his guitar at very high volume yet his unique pained intensity in his playing really doesn't need it. The set on Silvertone came out in the US just before Christmas but I've no idea when it will be on our shelves..?




Our other Major MacGuffin was the run through of STAR BLUES awards winners for 2012, There are 4 categories up for grabs and (dddrrruuummmmmmmmm roll......)



ARTIST of the year: Bob Corritore



He is a harp-player, writer, producer extraordinaire with two major projects under his belt (one with Tail Dragger, one with Mud Morganfield); he hosts a weekly blues radio show playing our sort of blues; he tours all year round including a recent trip to Europe; he produces weekly news letters on the blues. I doubt anyone else did as much to keep the blues going in 2012 than Bob.



LABEL of the year: Alligator



For the first 8 months of the year, the Living Blues radio charts were topped by a release from Bruce Iglauer's imprint. The fact the list included the best one Joe Louis Walker has done (same for Rick Estrin, Lil' Ed and so on). They marked themselves out - in my opinion at least - by the way they handled the sudden death of Michael Burks. He had just finished the sessions for a beautiful album which showcased all his gifts and the resulting project was a fitting tribute to the Iron Man. This year is already destined to be another belter with an album from James Cotton on the way.



REISSUE LABEL of the year: ACE



For the fourth year on the bounce - but with stiff opposition from Veetone and Fantastic Voyage (who more than deserve honourable mentions). Ace has a policy of making sure royalties are paid, customers get previously unissued bonus cuts, there are intelligent and informative booklet notes. These guys are collectors themselves and they know their customers are too.



ALBUM of the year: Billy Boy Arnold sings Big Bill Broonzy (Electro-Fi)



In a year with plenty of albums I enjoyed and gladly went back to, there were just three real contenders to these ears: this one, Ann Rabson/Bob Margolin's "Never Too Old" and the one by Lurrie Bell called "The Devil Has No Music". Billy Boy sings and plays at the top of his game here, the songs go way back into the mists of bluestime from the pen of one of the most skilled (and successful) writers Big Bill Broonzy. There's a great ambience to the sessions, the players aren't overly reverential nor is there room for needless noodling or grandstanding. The mainstream blues world won't care about this lovely album: Billy Boy ain't good lookin and he don't play too loud.



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The rest of our show was a journey into different styles as you'd expect. We had zydeco from CJ Chenier and classic female sounds of Lil Green. Jackson Sloan comes from Essex his work with Ray Gelato is gloriously unpretentious, and fun. Steve Hooker comes from the same neck of the woods and he inhabits the netherworld between blues, rock'n'roll, soul and rockabilly; one of his co-conspirators is James Hunter (remember "Kick It Around and backing Van Morrison) who also records as Howlin Wilf. A much under-rated singer if you ask me: he'll have a new album out real soon.



Super Chikan got us up and running with a manic run through of Freddie King's Thang and Eddie Burks was captured live in Rochester NY. John Primers efficient slide made the hairs on my neck stand up by covering "Canary Bird" on a 2 disc project on Chicago called "the (R) evolution continues". Expect some gongs going that way. Lurrie Bell was our nominal gospel choice with Hadda Brooks and Otis Spann holding down our piano spots.



All too soon our allotted 118 minutes were done and preparations start for next Sunday's show - I hope you'll share your company at ten pm next Sunday - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.


Track.TitleTrack.ArtistSortIndexAlbum.TitleAlbum.ArtistSortLabel
Freddy's ThangSuper Chikan1Sum' Mo ChikanSuper ChikanChikan Howse Records
Bad Luck WomanU.P. Wilson7The Good The Bad The BluesU.P. WilsonJSP
Walking BluesButterfield Blues Band, The1Butterfield Blues Band / East WestButterfield Blues Band, TheELEKTRA
Go Ahead And Blame MeMud Morganfield9Son Of The Seventh SonMud MorganfieldSEVERN
can't sit downC.J. Chenier1Can't Sit DownC.J. ChenierWorld Village
I Know It's Hard But It's Fair'5' Royales, The21It's Hard But It's Fair'5' Royales, TheACE
country boyBuddy Guy11live at legendsBuddy Guysilvertone
messin with the kidjunior wells feat. Buddy Guy1-3chicago the blues todayvarious artistsvanguard
Game OverHowlin' Wilf1Leather Soul Volme 1Various ArtistsOOSoul
(I Wanna) Play A Little WhileJ. B. Lenoir3Mojo Boogie - An Essential CollectionJ. B. LenoirFUEL 2000
I'm Packin' UpEarl King11ace story vol. 5various artistsace
(Every Time I Hear That) Mellow SaxophoneRoy Montrell18The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll YearsVarious ArtistsRhythm and Blues Records
Rock Your TownCarl Weathersby1Don't Lay The Blues On MeCarl WeathersbyEVIDENCE
Count On YouMichael Burks1Show Of StrengthMichael BurksAlligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Rocks Is My PillowEddie Burks6This Old RoadEddie Burksrising sun records
get your hands out my pocketOtis Spann1ChicagoOtis SpannTestament
Rockin' The BoogieHadda Brooks Trio8Modern Music: 1945Various ArtistsACE
Canary BirdJohn Primer4Chicago Blues - A Living History, The (R)Evolution ContinuesVarious ArtistsRaisin' Records
Cherry Tree BluesLil Green3Why Don't You Do RightLil GreenBLUES COLLECTION
Me And My Chauffeur BluesJo-Ann Kelly3Do It & MoreJo-Ann KellyManhaton Records
Jumpin' On The Kansas LineJackson Sloan1Saturday ClothesJackson SloanSHELLAC
Sweet Honey BeeBilly Boy Arnold1Billy Boy Arnold Sings: Big Bill BroonzyBilly Boy ArnoldElectro-Fi
Way Down In The HoleLurrie Bell9The Devil Ain't Got No MusicLurrie BellARIA
Midnight BoogieTampa Red10Keep Jumping : 1944-50Tampa RedWOLF
Created: 06/01/2013 23:48:12