Sunday 31 March 2013

STAR BLUES on 31st March 2013 at 22:00 (Muddy Waters special)

I expected to see more in the mainstream press on the imminent centenary of the birth of McKinley Morganfield (4th April 2013). For many years his birth year was shown as 1915 (a date given out in a Chess press release circa 1954) but even Wikipedia has caught up with the research and evidence proving the earlier actual date.

More than any other artist Muddy crystallised the way blues changed from a rural sound played solo and acoustic into an urban electric band sound - he was consummate master of both styles. In two short hours last night STAR BLUES played something from every stage in his long career - barely doing justice to his legacy. He also took a paternal role in developing young players, his band had several notable guitar, harp and piano men who all had decent careers as band leaders themselves. We played a few last night: Buddy Guy and James Cotton are still going strong with new projects; John Primer and Bob Margolin are still in great form and so on. The playlist speaks for itself.

In the mainstream reference books, the commentary skips directly from the two "Electric Mud" era projects to the Indian Summer success of the Blue Sky / Johnny Winter years. To take the same path you'd overlook the "Woodstock" album he did with Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield and a couple of Band members produced by the great Henry Glover. There was also a really nice two hander version of "Walkin Blues" Muddy did with Sammy Lawhorn as part of the "London Sessions". He'd found the same touch with Buddy Guy on "My Home Is In The Delta" from the pivotal "Folk Singer" album.

Muddy thought of Otis Spann as close family and there is a unique chemistry on all those sides that is audible - we had chance to play some other Otis Spann by dipping into the session he did for Sam Charters for "Chicago / The Blues / Today" set; the rare single Spann did in 1954 with BB King on guitar; the live gifts of the whole ensemble captured on vinyl and on film at the Newport Jazz festival in July 1960.

Those first sides done for John Lomax in 1941 on Stovall's Plantation almost didn't happen: when Muddy heard a white man was looking for him his first  thought was a man from the Revue after his whisky still and he could so easily have run away. Every blues fan needs to have head those cuts and the ones Muddy did between 1947 and 1950, the power of his slide playing is immutable. "Little Geneva" was about his then girl friend Geneva Wade who became Geneva Morganfield for a quarter of a century.

Much of the background information for STAR BLUES came from Robert Gordan's fabulous biography called "Can't Be Satisfied" and I believe Thursday sees a new edition to mark the Centenary. The discographical work by Phil Wight and Fred Rothwell published in issue#200  of Blues & Rhythm magazine was invaluable.

Those two hours were a real privilege, it was all done in a trice. Back for more next Sunday at 10pm (BST) - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Track.TitleTrack.ArtistSortIndexAlbum.TitleAlbum.ArtistSortLabel
My Love Strikes Like LightningMuddy Waters16His Best 1956 - 1964Muddy WatersMCA/CHESS
Blow Wind BlowMuddy Waters2Messin' With The ManMuddy WatersEssential Music and Marketing Ltd
why are people like thatmuddy waters1woodstock albummuddy waterschess
The Same ThingMuddy Waters19His Best 1956 - 1964Muddy WatersMCA/CHESS
Still A FoolMuddy Waters10His Best 1947 - 1955Muddy WatersMCA/CHESS
Walking Thru' The ParkJohnny WinterMuddy Water9Nothin' But The BluesJohnny WinterBEAT GOES ON
Little By LittleJunior Wells2Junior Wells 1957-1963Junior WellsChief
Little Boy BlueWalter Horton8Let Me Tell You About The Blues: MemphisVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Mellow Down EasyLittle Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)11His BestLittle Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)MCA/CHESS
Long Distance CallMuddy Waters4Blues Guitar BoxVarious ArtistsSEQUEL
Walkin' BluesMuddy Waters16Chicago - LondonMuddy WatersROOTS
Close To YouMuddy Waters15The Roots Of The DoorsVarious ArtistsSNAPPER MUSIC
Telephone BluesLittle George Smith2Harmonica Ace - The Modern MastersLittle George SmithACE
West Helena BluesJimmy Cotton Blues Quartet5Chicago / The Blues / Today!Various ArtistsACE
Sometime I WonderOtis Spann's South Side Piano14Chicago / The Blues / Today!Various ArtistsACE
Must Have Been The DevilOtis Spann15Best Of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour Volume 2Various ArtistsCHROME
I Feel So GoodMuddy Waters6Live At NewportMuddy WatersCHARLY
I's Be TroubledMuddy Waters3Complete Plantation RecordingsMuddy WatersMCA/CHESS
Little GenevaMuddy Waters8Rollin' StoneMuddy WatersCHESS
Gypsy WomanMuddy Waters1Rollin' StoneMuddy WatersCHESS
rolling stonemuddy waters4rollin' stonemuddy waterschess
I'm Gonna Murder My BabyPat Hare20Let Me Tell You About The Blues: MemphisVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
That's All RightJimmy Rogers3Chess Blues Classics 1947-1956Various ArtistsMCA/CHESS
my home is in the deltaMuddy Waters1My Home Is In The DeltaMuddy WatersBLUES ENCORE
got my mojo workingMuddy Waters9Rollin' StoneMuddy WatersCHESS
Created: 31/03/2013 23:58:16 



Sunday 24 March 2013

STAR BLUES on 24th March 2013 at 22:00

Virtually everything on tonight's show started life on 45 or 78 rpm vinyl - and it warmed the cockles of my heart (having started the show in the freezing studio).When your white tee-shirt looks like Jacqueline Bissett in "The Deep" you know it's cold in the studio. Who cares about those embarrassing bumps: we pride ourselves on being different, we are never happier than when playing the good stuff from the archives.
The man who plays piano on the theme to "Top Gear" - Allman Brothers' "Jessica" - is Chuck Leavell and his new project celebrates blues piano pioneers; and when you see his selection includes Charlie Spand and Barrelhouse Buck MacFarland you know this aint just another excuse for coffee table blues with his celeb mates. His "Back To The Woods" album was last night's late addition to the planned fare and it shows he's a good technician with a love for the form.

Those splendid chaps at Veetone have a new anthology due to hit the shops anytime soon: it marks 75 years since the Ace Cafe opened for the first time. It was an iconic meeting point on the way up north (or back home) for so many gigging musicians in the days when you had to ply your trade live sweaty and without overdubs. The cafe stayed open all night and became the place to be seen. The new disc surveys the music of the time and we chose Link Wray's "Rumble" for our own tribute.

The subjects in Blues Matters! magazine are often too rock-laden for STAR BLUES but the new issue has a neat feature on Lil Joe Washington, one of blues' most interesting and distinctive characters. He records for Eddie Stout's marvellous imprint called Dialtone, which also is home to a lovely project from Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown. The advert for that album has the whole back page in the new Blues & Rhythm magazine; an edition carrying good reviews of the Shelton Powe and Corey Harris albums. We like both on STAR BLUES.

We don't often celebrate the blues ladies doing R&B in the early Fifties so having Little Esther, Ruth Brown, Rosetta Perry and Margie Day was a huge treat last night. Perry only cut two discs, we had the first which enjoyed small commercial reward but her second in 1957 was done for BB King's short lived Blues Boy Kingdom label and disappeared as quickly as it came. Elton Anderson's "Train" was recorded for Eddie Shuler's Goldband outfit but he didn't fancy it, the licensed version put out by Johnny Vincent's Vin label did okay and Elton's subsequent work was out on Goldband. His song and that of Huey Piano Smith were part of the fifth volume looking at the output coming out of Ace Records in Jackson Mississippi. The booklet notes hint that more volumes may follow.

Roosevelt Sykes 1966 solo session was originally on an album called "In Europe", Delmark boss saw Skyes moving performance at the Ann Arbor festival and did the album - for some reason the cd reissue is called "Gold Mine". The performances found Skyes harking back to his earliest 1929 recordings. Johnny Temple and Blind Boy Fuller were also on hand for blues in that classic mould and Johnny Moore's beautifully sublime playing closed our show precisely on time last night. A word too about the guitar Moore used for these Modern recordings as shown in the booklet to "Be Cool": I'm in love!

Next Sunday we will mark 100 years since McKinley Morganfield was born (4th April 1913) so everything will be by Muddy or one of his great players (Little Walter, Otis Spann and so on). So that’s *TWO* vinyl hours on Easter Sunday at 10pm (BST). You don't forget to change those clocks 'you hear - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you



.
Track.TitleTrack.ArtistSortIndexAlbum.TitleAlbum.ArtistSortLabel
roll roll rolllonnie brooks, john hunter & phillip walker2-5blues & soul sessionsvarious artistsunion square
man of many wordsbuddy guy11blues and soul powervarious artistswsm
Serves Me Right To SufferJimmy Johnson11jimmy johnsonjimmy johnson
Can't Get Enough Of YouJewel Brown2Milton Hopkins & Jewel BrownMilton HopkinsJewel BrownDIALTONE
tipitinadr. john9gumbodr. johnatlantic
i got to go blueschuck leavell8back to the woodschuck leavellccr
Gold MineRoosevelt Sykes10Gold MineRoosevelt SykesDELMARK
diving duck bluesshelton powe4caroline blues and goispelshelton powemusic maker
Fulton BluesCorey Harris6Fulton BluesCorey HarrisNjumba
Mumblin' WordKoernerRayGlover20Blues Rags And HollersKoernerRayGloverRED HOUSE RECORDS
in christ there is no east or westMavis Staples4You Are Not AloneMavis StaplesAnti
ah poor little babyadam faith20ace cafe - 75 yearsvarious artistsveetone
the rumblelink wray26ace cafe - 75 yearsvarious artistsveetone
Someone Loves MeLil Joe Washington2Houston Guitar BluesLil Joe WashingtonDialtone Records
Wild About You (Baby)Elmore James And His Broomdusters16The Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956Elmore James And His BroomdustersACE
well i never get tiredjohnny fairchild1The Ace Story - Volume 5Various ArtistsACE
Roll On TrainElton Anderon6The Ace Story - Volume 5Various ArtistsACE
Aged And Mellow BluesLittle Esther11Blues And Soul SessionsVarious ArtistsUNION SQUARE MUSIC
Three O'clock BluesLowell Fulson4Blues Guitar PioneersVarious ArtistsBOULEVARD VINTAGE
Worry Worry WorryRosetta Perry8I'm A Bad Bad GirlVarious ArtistsINDIGO
Little Red RoosterMargie DayGriffin Brothers4The R'n'b Years 1951: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1951Various ArtistsBOULEVARD VINTAGE
Step It Up and GoHarmonica Frank7Rockin' MemphisVarious ArtistsProper Box
screamin and cryinBlind Boy Fuller2-2essentialBlind Boy Fullerclassic blues
back water bluesbessie smith5history of rhythm and blues - samplervarious artistsrhythm and blues
lead pencil bluesjohnny temple12history of rhythm and blues - samplervarious artistsrhythm and blues
If It Ain't One Thing It's AnotherHuey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns20The Ace Story - Volume 5Various ArtistsACE
Seventh Street BoogieIvory Joe Hunter1Blues At SunriseIvory Joe HunterINDIGO
rockin bluesruth brown5mama he treats your daughterruth brownindigo
Johnny's after hoursJohnny Moore's Three Blazers - Vocal By Mari Jones6Be CoolJohnny Moore's Three BlazersACE
Created: 24/03/2013 23:54:34



Sunday 17 March 2013

STAR BLUES on 17th March 2013 at 22:00

Last minute updates to the playlist - what's a boy to do? One of the newest releases represents a wing of a movement  to bring new interest to the genre: the Spin Doctors who return to "their blues roots" - their album reminds me a little of the North Mississippi Allstars take on roots Americana. Joe Bonamassa is the best known blues name in the mainstream music press and he is just about to release a two-disc acoustic live set recorded in Vienna. It'll be out on cd, dvd, blu-ray and so on. His unplugged side lets us sample his deft technique. I really hope both Joe and those cheeky Doctors can raise the profiles of the right artists who eat sleep live love and work in our genre.

Lady Blue was rather taken by Big Bill Morganfield when he came to Norwich a few years back - she said he was "sex on a stick". I never had the luck to see Muddy Waters but the mojo didn't fall far from the tree. Big Bill's brother Larry "Mud" Morganfield is being courted by the rock press at the moment - don't forget Big Bill. Two Morganfields: all's right with the world as far as I'm concerned.

Robert Randolph got famous by supporting Eric Clapton - except you and I knew about him first for his fabulous Sacred Steel work. He's returned to the form on his new project "Slide Brothers" and - if that wasn't enough already - he's enlisted the Blind Boys of Alabama and Shemekia Copeland. Sweet playing from Aubrey Ghent on our choice "No Cheap seats in Heven".

In the wacky wonderful world of blues, Otis Taylor is a Marmite sort  of guy: he takes the form about as far as anyone dares and strips it back in the same way James Brown did to soul music almost fifty years ago. I like what he does but it ain't easy listening. With two newly unexpected gems from Manny's Blues and Big Papa, our first hour was a real rollercoaster ride of rippling robust ripe freshness.

The vinyl hour took us to places usually ignored on commercial radio with familar names and unissued tracks. We had Eddie Taylor's first session for Vee-Jay and Johnny Shines' work he did for Chess - while on the subject his sides with Walter Horton are as good blues as you'll ever hear. Barbecue Bob and Lonnie Johnson we in the list and I have no excuse for having left it so long since we last heard from them in our two hours. Willie Brown only cut six titles for Paramount in 1930, his "M&O Blues" exists in just three collections according tothe ever reliable Wikipedia reference. His fame came from playing with Charley Patton, Son House and Robert Johnson, indeed his name is mentioned in the lyrics to "Crossroads Blues".

Wynonie Harris and Eddie Vinson had great big voices and both stood front and centre of some powerful orchestras in those years at the birth of rock'n'roll (which largely repackaged their chutzpah and energy). Big Walter Price came from a similiar vintage and he adapted his style just enough to rip through "Git To Gettin'" for us. Albert Washington and Luther Allison both sold well with blues and soul audiences; Luther's track was originally done for Motown.

We had a blast on STAR BLUES and we fully intend to do the same next Sunday at 10pm (GMT) - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Track.TitleTrack.ArtistSortIndexAlbum.TitleAlbum.ArtistSortLabel
Ya YaSonny Rhodes7Disciple Of The BluesSonny RhodesWild Dog
if the river was whiskeyspin doctors2if the river was whiskeyspin doctorsruf
early in the morningb. b. king feat van morrison1friends at 80b. b. kingmca
lost my horseotis taylor2my world is goneotis taylortelarc
I Can FlyEmanuele Fizzotti8Manny's BluesEmanuele Fizzotti
Wait Till Yo Daddy Getz HomeBig Papa & The TCB10Six Pack Of CoolBig Papa & The TCBCDBaby
me and my babyWillie Kent11Make Room For The BluesWillie KentDELMARK
Teach Me How To Boogie Like YouLady Bianca7All By MyselfLady BiancaMAGIC-O RECORDS
ball pein hammerjoe bonamassa1-5acoustic evening in viennajoe bonamassaprovogue
Part Time LoveDavid Dee24Goin' Fishin'David DeeICHIBAN
Money's Gettin' CheaperBig Bill Morganfield3Blues With A MoodBig Bill Morganfield101 Distribution
no cheap seats in heavenslide brothers11slide brothersslide brothersconcord
Raggedy And DirtyLuther Allison2The Motown Years 1972-1976Luther AllisonGORDY
bad boyEddie Taylor1Bad BoyEddie TaylorCHARLY
Get To GittenWalter, Big3South Texas Rhythm 'N' Blues RevueVarious ArtistsKent
Let Me Walk With YouEddie Kirk23King New Breed R&b Volume 2Various ArtistsKent
I'm The ManAlbert Washington19New Breed R&b With Added PopcornVarious ArtistsKent
Ain't Nothin' Shakin'Amos Milburn18Chronological Amos Milburn 1950-1951Amos MilburnCLASSICS
Wynonie's BoogieWynonie Harris3Mr. Blues Is Coming To TownWynonie HarrisMR. R&B
Queen Bee BluesEddie Vinson4The R'n'b Years 1950: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1950Various ArtistsBOULEVARD VINTAGE
Joliet BluesJohnny Shines21Chess BluesVarious ArtistsCHESS
he's a jelly roll bakerLonnie Johnson17he's a jelly roll bakerLonnie Johnsonbmg
M And O BluesWillie Brown4Pure Vintage Blues Vol. 3 : Future BluesVarious ArtistsEMPRESS
She Shook Her GinBarbecue Bob7Let Me Tell You About The Blues: AtlantaVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Wildcat TamerTarheel Slim (Aka Alden Bunn)33Rock The JointVarious ArtistsPULSE
well goodbye babyfrankie lee sims7ace story vol. 5various artistsace
That Kind Of Lovin'Otis Clay20Hall Of Fame Volume 2Various ArtistsKent
She Put The Hurt On MePrince La La25Birth Of Soul Vol. 3Various ArtistsKent (U.K.)
Created: 18/03/2013 00:08:36


Sunday 10 March 2013

STAR BLUES on 10th March 2013 at 22:00

Mike Leadbitter turned 21 on 12th March 1963 and, along with his friend Simon Napier, published the worlds first English language blues magazine. BLUES UNLIMITED. A third friend John Broven wrote reviews and a feature on "record man" Jay Miller and the standard was set pretty high from the outset. Their knowledge and passion for the subject is clear, though how on earth they researched it all is a wonder I can't fathom. Records would often need to be imported with the delay that brings; and what to buy: their only clues were to trust a label or artist name they knew in the hope there'd be more of the same?




The first print run was 200, 16 pages of typed A4, no photos or adverts, selling at 1/6 - today you can expect to pay a lot more for a copy from your friendly e-auction site. That it sprang from their Blues Appreciation Society is evident in a drive toward the authentic source with a battle line already drawn up with Cyril Davies and his cohorts on the other side.



As a part time reviewer of blues myself I know the challenges of saying something meaningful in the context of other work: I have lots of books and the wobbly web to equally assist and bamboozle me, Mike Leadbitter, Simon Napier and John Broven had no such help. We can then forgive their boyish enthusiasm for some things we - with hind-sight - judge differently: the Smokey Hogg album being one of the best on the Crown label and the organ-led Muddy Waters single with whistling as one for discerning collectors are two subjective opinions in point.



Our STAR BLUES playlist stayed pretty faithfully to the content of the magazine, though I wish I'd had some other bits and pieces to hand (like something from Bull City Red and a decent Vee-Jay record from the Staple Singers). With every track starting life at 45 or 78 rpm you could say we did two vinyl hours. Plenty of highlights in the bunch that I hope will have prompted some nice recollections of a time where music enjoyment was a physical thing and the anticipation and thrill of the chase were half the pleasure. A time Bill Wyman recalled as making a trek half way across London just to see a John Lee Hooker album that someone's mate's girlfriend's brother owned. There's a smell to be had when opening a new record and trying to imagine what the artist looked like and guessing who else played on the record. I only hope I did it justice last night.



I'm planning a few more of these vinyl festivals, including one over Easter to celebrate the centenary of Muddy Waters birth - until next week take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Track.TitleTrack.ArtistSortIndexAlbum.TitleAlbum.ArtistSortLabel
(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter MeanRuth Brown2The Best Of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio HourVarious ArtistsCHROME
when the welfare turns its backfreddie king19texas sensationfreddie kingcharly
trouble up the roadjackie brenston feat. ike turner4trouble up the roadike turnersecret records
i get evilalbert king3more big bluesalbert kingace
nothing new 9same old thing)fats domino8imperial singles vol. 5fats dominoace
the dogrufus thomas2-8complete stax singles, vol. 1various artistsstax
you don't miss your waterwilliam bell1-16complete stax singles, vol. 1various artistsstax
pretty girsl everywhereeugene church14golden age of american rock'n'rollvarious artistsace
that's the way love isbobby bland7call on mebobby blandmca
When My Left Eye JumpsBuddy Guy5Mojo Presents: The Roots Of HendrixVarious ArtistsMOJO MAGAZINE
Broke and HungryHop Wilson & His Buddies1Bayou Blues Blasters: Goldband BluesVarious ArtistsACE
I'm A Mojo ManLonesome Sundown11Excello HitsVarious ArtistsACE
I'm Warning You BabyLightning Slim3Louisiana Swamp BluesVarious ArtistsFLYRIGHT
Rooster BluesLightnin' Slim16Excello HitsVarious ArtistsACE
feelin goodLittle Junior Parker4Ride With Me, Baby: The Singles 1952-1961Little Junior ParkerFantastic Voyage
Fussin’ And Fightin’ BluesLittle Junior Parker5Ride With Me, Baby: The Singles 1952-1961Little Junior ParkerFantastic Voyage
Little School GirlSmokey Hogg3Mojo Working : Best Of Ace BluesVarious ArtistsACE
Give Me Back That Wig (Wig Wearing Woman)Lightnin' Hopkins10Jake Head BoogieLightnin' HopkinsACE
House Rent BoogieJohn Lee Hooker3Ace 30: Blues And R'n'bVarious ArtistsACE
Keep What You GotHowlin' Wolf7Howling Wolf Sings The BluesHowlin' WolfACE
Blues Before SunriseElmore James8Blues After HoursElmore JamesACE
Too CloseStaple Singers, The14God's Wonderful WorldStaple Singers, TheNEON
Little Brown BirdMuddy Waters138The Complete Muddy Waters 1947-1967Muddy WatersCHARLY
no no noclarence garlow1goldbandvarious artistsace
Sugar BeeCrochet, Cleveland27The Golden Age Of American Rock 'N' Roll - Volume 7Various ArtistsACE
Let Me Hold Your HandBig Chenier2Bayou Blues Blasters: Goldband BluesVarious ArtistsACE
Green OnionsBooker T & The M.G's15The Atlantic StoryVarious ArtistsAtlantic
Nadine (Is It You?)Chuck Berry13His Best Volume 2Chuck BerryMCA/CHESS
bad case of loveB. B. King1more bluesb b kingACE
Soul TwistKing Curtis & Knoble Knights35The Fire And Fury StoryVarious ArtistsCHARLY
Created: 10/03/2013 23:56:10





Sunday 3 March 2013

STAR BLUES on 3rd March 2013 at 22:00

Five years since Jeff Healey died and there's a 3-cd set of previously unreleased live recordings that showcases his unique playing style. The new triple set we played is approved by Jeff's family and estate and you should perhaps know that other albums bearing his name may not be. He was a skilled musician in both jazz and blues and used his extensive personal collection of 78's to host a very popular radio show. He was supposed to play live seated with the guitar across his lap but he refused to sit still and he put on some energetic performances (the deluxe package has the matching three concerts).


Gary Clark Jr. was in my living room this morning (albeit on the tube and Auntie Beeb). Gary at 29 has had a busy ol' time with appearances for Barack Obama, with Clapton at the Crossroads festival, on the soundtrack to Max Payne 3 video game and as an actor in "Honeydripper" with Danny Glover. The current issue of Living Blues magazine has him on the cover and the producers of Sunday breakfast tv for BBC1 have played fast and loose with the booking policy to get him on screen yesterday (3rd March). A big label like Warner Bros will be a help of-course and there is substance to the man to back up the hype. To my ears he ploughs the same furrow as Ben Harper, Prince and Lenny Kravitz with a brief detour to blues every now and again. Just one of the baker's dozen tracks on "Blak and Blu" fits our format on STAR BLUES so you'll need to keep an ear out to check if he's the real deal or just the King's New Clothes...



Teeny Tucker has flirted around the edge of a breakthrough for a while now (her dad is Tommy Tucker), she works with the very gifted guitarist (and photographer extraordinaire) Robert Hughes - so this new album may well do it for her. At times she reminds me of Koko Taylor at her best - but that ain't no bad thing and she has the beginnings of a graininess in the texture of her voice that will only improve with age. Mark Robinson stared the show with a cut from the brand new project called "Have Axe, Will Groove" and we returned to the new ones from Corey Harris and Bobby Rush. Neither man is easily pigeon-holed and Rush's 77 years fall away with pep and brio in his writing singing and playing.



If our first hour could be done fast and loud, our vinyl hour knocked it into a cocked hat for sheer class. Just imagine the youthful Ian Kilminster lying in bed listening to Young John Watson's 1951 single for Federal and all of a sudden "Motorhead Baby" takes on a new meaning. Jimmy Rogers classic side from the same year had Little Walter on guitar (which was his first instrument) - the session players all went on to be part of Muddy Waters band. Lil Johnson and Tommy Ridgely brought piano dexterity on their vinyl outings to go with Henry Butler's electric piano rendition of "Great Balls Of Fire".



I've just bought "Blue Smoke: The Recorded Journey of Big Bill Broonzy" and felt we don't get enough of one of the biggest influences in Twentieth century music. His "House Rent Stomp" was cut in Paris in September 1950 as part of a two day session which created almost two dozen titles for Vogue. The picking is nimble and it was such a pity the promoters wanted him to look like he'd come straight from the cotton fields. After all this was the first authentic African-American blues man to tour Europe? Truth is Bill was a smart-dressed educated man more used to wearing suits. I knew of the depth of Broonzy's own recorded canon, but the discography in the back of this lovely book shows how many other sides he did with his contemporaries. Genius is too light a word here.



Next Sunday is our chance to mark the 50th anniversary of the first English language blues magazine: "Blues Unlimited", we'll have quite a number of tracks from the albums and singles, features and discographies that could be found within those 18 typed and duplicated pages. Be really neat if you could save me a spot round your place next Sunday at 10pm - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you


Track.TitleTrack.ArtistSortIndexAlbum.TitleAlbum.ArtistSortLabel
Cool Rockin' DaddyMark Robinson4Have Axe - Will GrooveMark Robinsonblind chihuahua
Money's Gettin' CheaperDuke Robillard12Stomp! The Blues TonightDuke RobillardStony Plain Music
From The StartJesse Dee6On My Mind / In My HeartJesse DeeAlligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Going Up The CountryCanned Heat2The Very Best Of Canned HeatCanned HeatEMI
i'm tore up - liveJeff Healey Band, The1-1as the years go passing byJeff Healey Band, Theiankustic
Down in LouisianaBobby Rush1Down in LouisianaBobby RushDEEP Rush
i doeddie c. campbell1spider eatinmg steweddie c. campbelldelmark
Death Don't Have No MercyTeeny Tucker12Voodoo To Do YouTeeny TuckerN/A
Next Door Neighbor BluesGary Clark Jr.13Blak And BluGary Clark Jr.WARNER BROTHERS
Maggie Walker BluesCorey Harris13Fulton BluesCorey Harris
Lonesome RoadSister Rosetta Tharpe18As Good As It GetsVarious ArtistsDISKY
jesus hits like an atom bombpilgrim travellers2-3as good as it getsvarious artistsdisky
great balls of fireHenry Butler7The Game Has Just BegunHenry ButlerBASIN STREET RECORDS
Money, Marbles And ChalkJimmy Rogers8Complete Chess RecordingsJimmy RogersMCA/CHESS
Motorhead BabyYoung John Watson13Let Me Tell You About The Blues: West CoastVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Jay WalkingUpsetters feat. Grady Gaines50The Fire And Fury StoryVarious ArtistsCHARLY
When It Rains It PoursBilly 'The Kid' Emerson22Let Me Tell You About The Blues: MemphisVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
When I'm Gone (She Treats Me Mean and Evil)Joe Hill Louis12Rockin' MemphisVarious ArtistsProper Box
Cool Kind LoverJesse Thomas22Complete Recorded Works 1948-1958Jesse ThomasDOCUMENT
House Rent StompBig Bill Broonzy8House Rent StompBig Bill BroonzyBLUES ENCORE
Lonesome Shack BluesMemphis Minnie39Me And My ChauffeurMemphis MinniePROPER
Confessin' The BluesJay McShann23Highlights From: The History Of Rhythm And Blues 1925-1942Various ArtistsRHYTHM & BLUES
In The Same Old WayTommy Ridgley14Jockomo JockomoVarious ArtistsMUSIC CLUB
House Rent ScuffleLil Johnson13Roll 'Em Pete : 25 Years Of Piano Blues And BoogieVarious ArtistsINDIGO
Cornbread RowBig Al Downing1Southern Soul Shake!: Sss Soul Survey & Music City SoulVarious ArtistsCHARLY
Family RulesGuitar Jr.7On Bended Knee - The Birth Of Swamp PopVarious ArtistsGREAT Voices Of The Century
11:45 swinghoward mcghee orchestra22modern - the first yearvarious artistsace
love is my businessbobby woods10ace story vol 5various artistsace
Created: 03/03/2013 23:54:13