Sunday 16 March 2014

STAR BLUES on 16th March 2014 at 22:00 with oodles more vinyl

Just ahead of the new Big Mama Thornton biography by Michael Speorke we had two of her hits on STAR BLUES and our current commitment to vinyl during March continues. Willie Mae Thornton was a hugely influential artist on Peacock in the Fifties and Arhoolie in the Sixties. She had the extreme misfortune to have had not one but two definitive versions of songs remade in the mainstream by inferior copies (Elvis with "Hound Dog" and Janis Joplin with "Ball and Chain". We dipped into two other examples of her craft and the new book is much anticipated.

The Vee-Tone outfit is based in Scotland and they have a limited edition vinyl collection of top-notch gospel. The selection is the work of Doubting Thomas Lamarr which guarantees a no holds barred take on the genre to be bathed in at high volume. He lovingly annotates the set and if you need an excuse to upgrade your hi-fi kit this is it. It's the third time he's put out a Gospel project for Vee-Tone, add in a  clutch of rare rock'n'roll discs with stuff you can't get elsewhere and you're darned near the definition of essential in my book.

A fair chunk of the remainder on our list was cut in the pre-war yeas and I shamelessly went to one of the supporting pieces Scrapper Blackwell did for Leroy Carr: he was one of the first players I came to when discovering the blues genre. Trixie Smith had just one extended sequence of sides to her name, her voice reached out across the ages for us. We tickled the trivia spot by noting hers was the first recorded instance of the phrase "rock'n'roll" on another of her hits. Blind Willie Johnson was one of the greats at a time when that word still meant something, not blessed with a wide vocal range he compensated with shimmering slide playing. Like his namesake (though not related) the circumstances of his death are told several different ways and no-one will know for sure. Romeo Nelson's piece was on the bawdy side and recounted in that half spoken mode used on "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie".

Electric blues guitar badges were worn by Guitar Slim and Left Hand Frank , and Ike Turner was on hand to illustrate how much he contributed during rock'n'roll's most formative era. Whatever his reputation or truth thereof, he changed what we all hear in several genres. I put in some Big Bill Broonzy because I came across his masterful "Guitar Shuffle" embedded in a legal drama soundtrack on one of the satellite channels. Elton Anderson was one of the lesser known stars on Johnny Vincent's Ace label and Whispering Smith was part of a double album project called "Swamp Blues" with a band which had Henry Gray on piano. This week I heard a 1983 version of a Louis Jordan song, and while I track down a copy for airplay we were tempted with Jordan's original "Woman".

We don't play nearly enough R&B sax heroes, something I must put my mind to but hopefully Red's closer will whet your appetite. You were magnificent company and I'm humbled by the feedback we've had in both Russia and Ukraine at a time they've got more than enough other stuff to deal with. Next weeks show is being planned already and will be unleashed at 10pm next Sunday -0 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
linda lu left hand frank 14 living chicago blues various artists alligator
Bad Luck Blues Guitar Slim 4 Things I Used To Do Guitar slim BLUES ENCORE
Egg or the Hen Koko Taylor 10 Wang Dang Doodle Koko Taylor ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
This is My Story Gene & Eunice 6 Aladdin Story Various Artists EMI
Bradshaw Boogie Tiny Bradshaw 5 Jivin' Jamboree 3 Various Artists ACE
little bitty pretty one thurston harris 27 Aladdin Story Various Artists EMI
baseball Boogie mabel scott 3 Jivin' Jamboree 3 Various Artists ACE
Looking the World Over Whispering Smith 1 Swamp Blues Various Artists ACE
Roll on Train Elton Anderon 6 The Ace Story - Volume 5 Various Artists ACE
Guitar Shuffle Big Bill Broonzy 4 House Rent Stomp Big Bill Broonzy BLUES ENCORE
Alabama Women Blues Leroy Carr With Scrapper Blackwell 21 Heavy Hitters Vol. 1 Various Artists PIGMEAT RECORDS
They Call Me Big Mama Big Mama Thornton 4 Jiving Jamboree Various Artists ACE
Mischevious Boogie Big Mama Thornton 4 They Called Me Big Mama Big Mama Thornton Proper Introduction
Ain't That Just Like a Woman Louis Jordan 18 The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952 Various Artists Rhythm and Blues Records
Drown in My Own Tears - Lacy Gibson Lacy Gibson 1 Living Chicago Blues, Vol. 3 Various Artists Alligator
loosely ike turner 1-25 flair: dust my blues various artists ace
I'm Gonna Move Cross the River Brownie McGhee 6 Let Me Tell You About The Blues: New York Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Freight Train Blues Trixie Smith 14 That's Blues Various Artists THAT'S BLUES
Walkin' the Blues Champion Jack Dupree 19 Blues For Everybody Champion Jack Dupree CHARLY
Getin' Dirty Just Shakin' That Thing Romeo Nelson 13 Pure Vintage Blues Vol. 3 : Future Blues Various Artists EMPRESS
Devil is a Busy Man Sunnyland Slim 12 Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954) Various Artists BOULEVARD VINTAGE
God Don't Never Change Blind Willie Johnson 3 The Slide Guitar:Bottles,Knives & Steel Various Artists Blue Label / SPV
hop skip and jump blind boys of alabama 3 hop skip and jump various artists vee-tone
buryin ground nightingales 9 hop skip and jump various artists vee-tone
Dry Land Blues Furry Lewis 8 Beale Street Blues Frank StokesFurry Lewis ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Slow Mama Slow Sam Collins 15 Let Me Tell You About The Blues: New York Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Chickasaw Special Noah Lewis 19 Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Purple Wail Red Prysock 4 The Very Best Of Burlesque Various Artists Not Now Music
Created: 16/03/2014 23:27:37

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