We went to the number 1 hit by Canned Heat to mark the only chart topper in our genre as well as a number of radio favourites in Britain during the early Sixties. Our choice of perfect single of all time came as no surprise to regular listeners: Little Johnny Taylor had it all: killer arrangement, cutting guitar, anguished vocal, sharp lyrics in just four perfect minutes. The irony is the song was only ever considered as the "B" side of the single during pre-release planning.
The ancient medieval lore enforcing a Chuck Berry for every Bo Diddley was observed and the Lowell Luson single was later covered by Robert Cray who was on hand for one of his earliest commercial chart ticklers. At one point our playlist resembled the lineup of Ready Steady Go with John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed; Muddy and the Wolf also on hand. Bobby Parker's riff was borrowed in numerous places by folks like the Beatles, we had his original as an example of a classic single.
Our scope hereabouts includes both JoAnn Kelly and Duster Bennett and we were prompted by a chat on Facebook to mark the date of Duster's fatal car accident after playing support to Memphis Slim in 1976. Scant chance to see him through YouTube which is a shame for a uniquely intense player. Ripley's Eric Clapton had a birthday and while he lives on Neil's side of the fence we dug out a rare session performance on a single King Curtis did for Atlantic.
Next Sunday we'll be back at 10pm (BST) to bring you some of the very finest projects out in 2014 thus far. If you're a fan of the British live R&B scene you'll want to be listening right to the end to STAR BLUES this upcoming seven days hence. 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 |
Lights Out | Jerry Byrne | 16 | Rock On | Various Artists | ACE |
Rock Me | Muddy Waters | 15 | Messin' With The Man | Muddy Waters | Essential Music and Marketing Ltd |
Tell Mama | Etta James | 10 | The Fame Studio Story 1961-1973 Home Of The Muscle Shoals Sound | Various Artists | Kent |
You Can't Judge a Book By the Cover | Bo Diddley | 16 | Jungle Music | Bo Diddley | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION |
Boogie In The Dark | Jimmy Reed | 4 | The Anthology | Jimmy Reed | NOT NOW |
Tollin' Bells | Lowell Fulson | 13 | Trouble, Trouble: The Definitive Early Years Collection | Lowell Fulson | Fantastic Voyage |
Blue Guitar | Earl Hooker | 7 | Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
Going Up the Country | Canned Heat | 2 | The Very Best Of Canned Heat | Canned Heat | EMI |
worried mind | Duster Bennett | 7 | Bright Lights Big City | Duster Bennett | INDIGO |
Jumpin' at Shadows | Duster Bennett | 8 | Bright Lights Big City | Duster Bennett | INDIGO |
Strange Things Happen | Lazy Lester | 9 | Lazy Lester | Lazy Lester | FLYRIGHT |
T-Model Boogie | Rosco Gordon | 3 | I Pity The Fool - The Duke Records Story | Various Artists | one day |
Will My Man Be Home Tonight | Lillian Offitt | 1 | Age / Chief Blues Story | Various Artists | FUEL 2000 |
as the years go passing by | fenton robinson | 5 | I Pity The Fool - The Duke Records Story | Various Artists | one day |
Teasin’ | King Curtis With Delaney Bramlett, Eric Clapton & Friends | 13 | Eric Clapton | Eric Clapton | POLYDOR |
The Welfare (Turns It'sback on You) | Freddie King | 19 | Texas Sensation | Freddie King | CHARLY |
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark | Robert Cray | 1 | Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark | Robert Cray | HIGH TONE |
Angels In Houston | Larry Davis | 13 | I Pity The Fool - The Duke Records Story | Various Artists | one day |
I Smell Trouble | Bobby 'Blue' Bland | 23 | It's My Life, Baby: The Singles - As & Bs, 1951-1960 | Bobby 'Blue' Bland | Jasmine |
Fussin' and Fightin' Blues | Junior Parker | 19 | Feelin' Good | Junior Parker | Hoodoo Records |
Number Nine Train | Tarheel Slim (Aka Alden Bunn) | 7 | The Fire And Fury Of Bobby Robinson | Various Artists | RPM |
Strange Kinda Feeling | Elmore James | 13 | Gaz's Rockin' Blues | Various Artists | ACE |
Watch Your Step | Bobby Parker | 25 | R&b Spotlight '61 | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
spoonful | Howlin' Wolf | 19 | back door man | Howlin' Wolf | complete blues |
Boom Boom | John Lee Hooker | 17 | Boom Boom | John Lee Hooker | CHARLY |
baby lets play house | arthur gunter | 1-4 | history og rhythm and blues vol. 3 | various artists | rhythm and blues |
Part Time Love | Little Johnny Taylor | 3 | The Galaxy Years | Little Johnny Taylor | ACE |
Stop For The Red Light | Harold Burrage | 13 | Double Trouble The Cobra Records Story | Various Artists | One Day Music |
ain't that a shame | fats domino | 2-12 | history of rhythm and blues | various artists | rhythm and blues |
i hear you knockin | smiley lewis | 2-13 | history of rhythm and blues | various artists | rhythm and blues |
brown eyed handsome man | chuck berry | 2-24 | history of rhythm and blues | various artists | rhythm and blues |
Every Dog’s Got His Day | Johnny Copeland | 11 | Slow 'N' Moody, Black & Bluesy | Various Artists | Kent |
Hony Tonk | Bill Doggett | Various Artists |