Sunday 12 January 2014

STAR BLUES on 12th January 2014 at 22:00

..in which a man wearing a white tee-shirt played music from three of the finest purveyors of electric blues guitar; and although none were related they were all named Walker. We played a few things you'd hear elsewhere and a whole lot more you wouldn't.

We started off in a soulful frame of mind with the still young-sounding Paul Rodgers relishing being in tandem with the finest session players at Royal Studios in South Memphis - and not a guitar solo to be heard. He went to an Otis redding b-side while Robert Cray took on a William Bell song for the closing track on his sophomore album in 1980.

When the list of blues master guitarists is routinely compiled by folks who come to the blues genre, the name of Lowell Fulson is usually either left off or is waaaay down the list. Somewhat unfairly in my humble and we brought the classic "Shattered Dreams" he did for Kent in evidence. Over in Detroit Eddie Burns more than held his end down on the flip side of an early single he did on Harvey.

Our flurry oif activity on 5th January meant we inadvertently overlooked what would have been the 70th birthday of Jo Ann Kelly, one of the few genuinely innovative British Blues artists. To address our failing we put in two of her performances (one of which with Woody Mann was pretty darn rare).The only voice to follow her was that of Sister Rosetta Tharpe with a gospel piece.

Earl Palmer was a great drummer and his autobiography called "Backbeat" is a fascinating read of a working musician of the highest calibre - the same year Ace Records compiled a collection of singles where he sat in the traps; we chose the little known Little Eddy Lang and the sublimely supple Roy Montrell.

There's an ancient statute in Olde Anglishe Lawe which decrees that playing a song from Bo Diddley must always be coupled with one from Chuck Berry. It must be true because Mark Lamarr said it's in the Magna Carta. My serf, goods and chattels were safe for a while longer because we complied with due diligence.

Our three Walkers were Joe Louis who burst through at the same time as Cray but wasn't as pretty (allegedly); Phillip was always kitted out in sharp immaculate suit and imbued with sharp immaculate guitar lines, then there's T-Bone who set the bar for everyone. Electric blues guitar never got better. Period.


Rarely heard Professor Longhair, Johnny Fuller, TV Slim and Jesse Fortune were a privilege to play on British commercial radio. With Big Maceo at the piano, Big Maybelle and Jesse Fuller it was time to turn in for the night. You were fabulous company and I was Gary Blue. Until we get back together round your place on Sunday at 10pm (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
any ole way paul rodgers 7 royal sessions paul rodgers 429 records
Share What You Got Keep What You Need Robert Cray 12 Bad Influence Robert Cray DEMON
Shattered Dreams Lowell Fulson 8 Blues Around Midnight Various Artists ACE
I believe Elmore James 1-1 The Complete Meteor: Blues, R&b, & Gospel Recordings Various Artists ACE
Mean and Evil Eddie Burns 4 The Harvey Singles Eddie Burns HARVEY
I'm Beggin' With Tears Little Eddy Lang 11 Backbeat Earl Palmer ACE
Since You've Been Gone Joe Louis Walker 5 Blue Soul Joe Louis Walker DEMON
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Stick McGhee 19 The R'n'b Years 1951: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1951 Various Artists BOULEVARD VINTAGE
(Ev'ry Time I Hear) That Mellow Saxophone Roy Montrell 3 Backbeat Earl Palmer ACE
Who Do You Love Bo Diddley 2 The R&b Years - 1956 (Vol. 2) Various Artists BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Confessin' the Blues Chuck Berry 9 His Best Volume 2 Chuck Berry MCA/CHESS
soul fixin' man Luther Allison 10 Bad Love Luther Allison Ruf
get your business straight Magic Slim & The Teardrops 3 blue magic Magic Slim & The Teardrops BLIND PIG RECORDS
rollin' log Jo ann Kelly w. Woody Mann 16 been here and gone various artists catfish
walkin' blues jo ann kelly 7 blues and gospel - rare and unreleased jo ann kelly blues matters!
i can hear the angels sister rosetta tharpe 1-20 gospel celebrities various artists fantastic voyage
someday you'll have these blues phillip walker 11 best of phillip walker phillip walker hightone
Please Come Back Pee Wee Crayton 15 Essential Pee Wee Crayton INDIGO
blues won't let me take my rest henry gray 14 let's have a blues ball various artists ace
Curly Haired Baby Professor Longhair 2 Mardi Gras In New Orleans: Complete Recordings 1949-1962 Professor Longhair Jasmine Records (UK)
Texas Stomp Big Maceo 9 The Best Of Boogie Woogie Various Artists DOCUMENTS
Vacation Blues T-Bone Walker 22 The Complete Capitol/Black And White Recordings T-Bone Walker Capitol
Rootin' Ground Hog Big Joe Williams 9 Throw A Boogie Woogie Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka John Lee Williamson) BLUEBIRD
One More Mile to Go James Cotton 4 The Bluesville Years. Vol 2: Feeling Down On Various Artists PRESTIGE
Have A Good Time Shakey Horton 2 Double Trouble The Cobra Records Story Various Artists One Day Music
hard times johnny fuller 2-9 dust my rhythm and blues various artists ace
Good Things Jesse Fortune 5 The Way I Feel Various Artists FLYRIGHT
Blues, Early Early Big Maybelle 28 Wail Man Wail! King Curtis Fantastic Voyage
You Can't Love Me T. V. Slim 11 The Way I Feel Various Artists FLYRIGHT
Bad Luck Lightnin' Slim 2 Rollin' Stone Lightnin' Slim FLYRIGHT
You Can't Keep a Good Man Down Jesse Fuller 19 All That Blues Various Artists ORIGINAL BLUES CLASSICS
Created: 12/01/2014 23:39:13 

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