Muddy Waters had no hesitation in selecting Jimmy Rogers as his favourite guitar player for a dream band lineup and "Luedella" showed why. Eddie Taylor got a rep for his work with John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed but he had a unique and distinctive sound but scandalously few chances to record as a band leader in those days.Morris Pejoe is similarly less well known but we put him in top notch company last night.
Etta James and Koko Taylor cut some big hits for Chess and Little Milton had chart honours on each of his labels where he hung his hat (we chose his version of a Chick Willis piece). Snooky Pryor was just one of the harp masters on offer (his son is a current resident on our usual weekly playlist). Big Walter - my own fave - was a star on the Sunnyland session, Little Walter's career was all too short but long on influence and we subscribed to Charles Shaar Murray's view on the work of Jimmy Reed.
The greatest record ever made a t Chess studios in Chicago happened on 5th August 1955; it had Sonny Boy Williamson on vocals and harp and the Muddy Waters band in support. You may have another choice but (to borrow a phrase from Ian Siegal) you'd be wrong. Pretty close was Paul Jones' show winner "Smokestack Lightnin" though it was shaded as there are few times when you can claim Muddy as a backing band.
The generation of guitarists coming straight after Muddy based themselves in the clubs over on the West Side, they were brash, cocky and had an attitude. They did the business: Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and for many the greatest of them all Magic Sam. For the most part the music spoke for itself last night on STAR BLUES but on the way home I started to think of the list of folks we just didn't get time for: Carey Bell, Jimmy Dawkins, Hound Dog Taylor etc etc. More than enough to dip back in later on this year.
Next week (8th June) I'm on my annual vinyl pilgrimage in pastures northern, so there's no STAR BLUES show - but if you'll be there I'll be here again on 15th June at 10pm (BST). 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 |
| Keep on Lovin' the Blues | John Primer | 9 | All Original | John Primer | BLUES House |
| Hey Hey Baby | Lurrie Bell | 1 | Blues In My Soul | Lurrie Bell | DELMARK |
| I Do | Eddie C. Campbell | 1 | Spider Eating Preacher | Eddie C. Campbell | DELMARK |
| Luedella | Jimmy Rogers | 2 | Complete Chess Recordings | Jimmy Rogers | MCA/CHESS |
| gary stomp | john brim | 11 | Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954) | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
| Gonna Buy Me a Telephone | Morris Pejoe | 12 | Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954) | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
| 29 Ways | Koko Taylor | 16 | Wang Dang Doodle | Koko Taylor | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION |
| looking for my baby | jody williams | 1 | chicago - blues yesterday vol 9 | various | n/a |
| I Feel So Bad | Little Milton | 7 | Greatest Hits | Little Milton | MCA/CHESS |
| First Time I Met the Blues | Buddy Guy | 1-29 | chicago bound | various artists | fantastic voyage |
| Chicago Is Just That Way | Eddie Boyd | 14 | The Blues Is Here To Stay | Eddie Boyd | Jasmine Records |
| sometimes i wonder | otis spann | 1-14 | Chicago / The Blues / Today! | Various Artists | ACE |
| messin with the kid | junior wells | 1-3 | Chicago / The Blues / Today! | Various Artists | ACE |
| Big Boss Man | Jimmy Reed | 6 | The Anthology | Jimmy Reed | NOT NOW |
| Mama Talk to Your Daughter | Magic Slim & The Teardrops | 1 | Chicago Blues Session Volume 3 | Magic Slim & The Teardrops | WOLF |
| Ride 'em on Down | Eddie Taylor | 3-16 | Let Me Tell You About The Blues; Chicago - The Evolution Of Chicago Blues 1925-1958 | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
| Rock Me | Muddy Waters | 5 | Chicago Blues - Chess Masters | Various Artists | CHESS |
| I Just Want to Make Love to You | Etta James | 1-3 | chicago bound | Various Artists | fantastic voyage |
| Easy Baby | Magic Sam | 8 | West Side Guitar 1957-1966 | Magic Sam | FLYRIGHT |
| Three Times a Fool | Otis Rush | 10 | Chicago Boss Guitars | Various Artists | FLYRIGHT |
| cant be satisfied | muddy waters | 2-14 | chicago bound | various artists | fantastic voyage |
| 40 cups of coffee | danny overbea | 2-16 | chicago bound | various artists | fantastic voyage |
| So Much Trouble | Tampa Red | 3-15 | Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954) | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
| Boogy Fool | Snooky Pryor | 3 | Chicago Blues Harmonicas | Various Artists | FLYRIGHT |
| south bound train | Big Bill Broonzy | 3-5 | Let Me Tell You About The Blues; Chicago - The Evolution Of Chicago Blues 1925-1958 | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
| Willie Mae Blues | Billy Boy Arnold | 7 | Billy Boy Arnold Sings: Big Bill Broonzy | Billy Boy Arnold | Electro-Fi |
| Last Night | Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs) | 10 | His Best | Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs) | MCA/CHESS |
| Highway 61 | Sunnyland Slim Feat. Walter Horton | 19 | Chicago Blues Harmonicas | Various Artists | FLYRIGHT |
| Smokestack Lightnin' Don't Start Me Talkin' | Howlin' Wolf Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller) | 14 13 | Chess Blues Classics 1947-1956 | Various Artists | MCA/CHESS |
| Dynamite | earl hooker | 3-27 | chicago bound | Various Artists | fantastic voyage |
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