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 |
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