STAR BLUES on 24th November 2013 at 22:00

In a few days John Mayall will be 80 and his "Beano" album just won a lifetime award. His Bluesbreakers outfit brought us music from Memphis Slim, Sonny Boy Wiliamson, Magic Sam, JB Lenoir and more. It is difficult to get very far looking him up in reference works without running into one or other of the bunch of notorious gunslingers he had in his band. While we had one apiece from Eric, Peter and Mick it was his heroes who interested STAR BLUES last night. So it was we had fine piano work from Clarence Lofton and Big Maceo; as well as more familiar souls such as Ray Charles and Robert Johnson.

The music we chose reflected John's own selections he lists on his website - echoing his enthusiasm for the originators of our music in whatever style. Given his knowledge of Freddy King's work for Federal (and how those guitarists plunged into cover versions of same) we were slightly taken aback by John's mention of the 1970s Freddy King reading of Don Nix's 'Going Down' - we went with it anyway. The 'Crusade' album was credited to Mayall without Bluesbreakers and he wrote a moving tribute song to JB Lenior who'd just died - we concur with his dismay at how sparsely the death had been noted anywhere.

By all accounts he was a hard task master and is said to travel in a car up the motorways while his band mates hunkered down with the gear in a transit van. His longevity in the business and his nurturing of others talents paid off for them and he has been the conduit to the baseline of blues for so many - it's pointless in debating his management style. STAR radio's rock god Neil Jones caught up with John on the way to [pick up that award for the Beano album, and the wily old campaigner nimbly dodged Neil's questions on his famous acolytes: he confirmed his perennial love for playing live and I think there's a star studded bash planned for his birthday.

In other blues, we had a cut from Dave Riley's third project with Bob Corritore showing the wizard has done it again. There's a simple approach with tight four man instrumentation rooted in Chicago blues. I almost played the wryly humourous song about the BP oil spill which may not really be suitable for young ears. You have to hear it. Eddie Taylor was a prolific sideman for John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed but he was no slouch as band leader for his own singles - fantastic challenge awaits someone in compiling a definitive box set of Eddie's work.We found Little Richard as an accompanist to Christine Kittrell and Julia Lee was elegantly playful with her boyfriends.

There's not much known about the fine Detroit singer Lena Hall who cut just two sides under her own name, she was helped by Washboard Sam and we had one of hers on the show. I've been on FB off and on and seen a thread asking for more information about her; I couldn't help with a full identification but I knew I had that single in my collection. That was about it until 10pm this upcomng Sunday; as we lurch into December we'll start putting together some lists to suggest to Santa on the off chance you get onto his "nice" list (or even if you join me over on the "naughty" one). 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
the stumble	john mayalls bluesbreakers	3	a hard road	john mayalls bluesbreakers	decca
Stroll Out West	Eddie Taylor	10	Bad Boy	Eddie Taylor	CHARLY
Come On, Pts. 1 & 2	Earl King	3	Come On: The Complete Imperial Recordings	Earl King	Okra-Tone Records
Long Distance Call	Muddy Waters	20	Reborn And Remastered	Muddy Waters	ROUGH GUIDES
Home In Chicago	Dave Riley And Bob Corritore	6	Hush Your Fuss!	Dave Riley And Bob Corritore	Vizztone
every night of the week	christine kitrell	2-20	just about as good as it gets	little richard	smith & co
I'm A Mojo Man	Pee Wee Trahan	14	Boppin' By The Bayou - Volume 3 More Dynamite	Various Artists	ACE
Steppin' Out	Eric Clapton With John Mayall	11	Bluesbreakers Feat. Eric Clapton	John MayallEric Clapton	DERAM
Checkin' Up on My Baby	John Mayall	12	Crusade	John Mayall	DECCA
when i am drinking	JB Lenoir	22	rhythm rockin' blues	various artists	groovesound
Streamline Train	'cripple' Clarence Lofton w. Red Nelson	6	The Best Of Boogie Woogie	Various Artists	DOCUMENTS
worried life blues	Big Maceo	3-22	history of rhythm and blues	Various Artists	rythm and blues
Hell Hound on My Trail	Robert Johnson	5	Contracted To The Devil	Robert Johnson	SONY / LEGACY
Going Down	Freddie King	18	Old Grey Whistle Test Blues	Various Artists - Old Grey Whistle Test Blues	Wm UK
What'd I Say	Ray Charles	12	Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974: Volume 4, 1957-1960	Various Artists	Atlantic / Wea
Don't Start Me Talkin'	Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	11	The R'n'b Hits Of 1955	Various Artists	CASTLE
Snatch and Grab it	Julie Lee & Her Boyfriends	20	The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
V-8 Baby	Tommy Brown	9	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Atlanta	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Need Your Love So Bad	Little Willie John	3	The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
five long years	lena hall	3-24	let me tell about the blues	various artists	fantastic voyage
You Don't Have To Go	Jimmy Reed	12	The Anthology	Jimmy Reed	NOT NOW
I'm a Rattlesnakin' Daddy	Blind Boy Fuller	4	The Essential	Blind Boy Fuller	ALLEGRO
this maybe the last time	staple singles	19	sound of the city: chicago	various artists	emi
Since I Met You Baby	Ivory Joe Hunter	22	The R&b Years - 1956 (Vol. 2)	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
in the night	prof. longhair	2-7	mardi gras in new orleans	prof. longhair	jasmine
Shout for Joy	Albert Ammons	1	Boogie Woogie	Various Artists	OBJECT
Red Cherries	Floyd Dixon	48	Complete Aladdin Recordings	Floyd Dixon	Capitol
She's My Baby	Peppermint Harris	4	Sittin' In With ...	Peppermint Harris	MAINSTREAM

Created: 24/11/2013 23:43:12