Milton Campbell had a long and successful career on some of the biggest record labels: Sun, Checker, Stax, Malaco and Telarc. With a warm, throaty vocal style he was equally at home on soulful blues ballads as on the rockier arrangements he was forced towards on his later work. That guitar was edgy and unflustered, a lack of flash keeping him out of lists of 500 guitarists that ain't worth a hill-o-beans anyway. His 80th year was due on Sunday 7th.
Elsewhere in our first hour we caught up with some new stuff from Lucky Peterson at that edge of the genre and a heartfelt project from Mud Morganfield going to his father's records (Kim Wilson tidily supple in accompaniment). Speaking of blues harp: I just got the latest issue of Living Blues magazine and it has fulsome coverage of blues harp and its current practitioners. We include something from one of the featured names, Omar Coleman. Mem Shannon and Memphis Gold made welcome returns to our listing and it would be a treat to get them both back into the studio before the year is out.
Pretty decent opening salvo to seamlessly segue from the STAR ROCK show: Otis Grand and Earl Green swinging like a pub sign in a Force-8 and then his producer Joe Louis Walker with the opener to his early solo piece called "The Gift". I've been known as a shameless hussy for a while now, willing to steal ideas from anywhere. STAR BLUES this time out reprised the Albinia Jones track that Liza Tarbuck had on her BBC Radio2 show. Not sure she's yet done Russell Jacquet, if it;s in her portfolio next week you know where she heard it. (If I told you she's already done Stick Horse Hammond there's a good chance he'll get another outing for us sooner or later).
Our couple of hours round at your place just flew past, you made me feel most welcome. Next Sunday night at 10pm (BST) we'll have music from the runners, riders and winners of Living Blues Awards - 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 |
Things Are Getting Harder To Do | Otis Grand | 1 | He Knows The Blues | Otis Grand | SEQUEL |
one time around | Joe Louis Walker | 6 | The Gift | Joe Louis Walker | HIGH TONE |
still a fool | mud morganfield and kim wilson | 5 | for pops | mud morganfield and kim wilson | - |
biscuit boogie | memphis gold | 2 | pickin in high cotton | memphis gold | - |
Mojo Hand | Omar Coleman | 8 | Louisiana Swamp Stomp | Various Artists | honeybee |
Annie Mae's Cafe | Little Milton | 11 | The Last Soul Company | Various Artists | Malaco Records |
she's a burglar | Freddie King | 5 | staying home with the blues | various artists | spectrum |
get your business straight | shawn holt and teardrops | 6 | daddy told me | shawn holt and teardrops | blind pig |
you move me | Robert Cray | 1 | in my soul | Robert Cray | PROVOGUE |
Doing The Best That I Can | Mem Shannon | 12 | Memphis In The Morning | Mem Shannon | SHANACHIE |
feeling they call the blues | lucky peterson | 2 | travellin man | lucky peterson | jsp |
rooster blues | Robert 'Bilbo' Walker | 3 | Rock The Night | Robert 'Bilbo' Walker | ROOSTER BLUES |
Bring It On Home | Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller) | 8 | Led Astray | Various Artists | CONNOISSEUR COLLECTION |
Mr. Lucky | John Lee Hooker | 1 | The Original Mr. Lucky | John Lee Hooker | BLUES ENCORE |
Worried Man Blues | Big Joe Williams | 1 | Baby Please Don't Go | Big Joe Williams | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION |
No No Blues | Curley Weaver | 20 | Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Atlanta | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
Hey Little Boy | Albinia Jones | 26 | I'm A Bad Bad Girl | Various Artists | INDIGO |
Have You Ever Loved A Woman | Freddie King | 14 | Here 'Tis | Various Artists | CONNOISSEUR |
Blind Man | Little Milton | 3 | Stand By Me | Little Milton | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION |
Shake Walkin' | Mickey Baker | 9 | In The '50S: Hit, Git & Spit | Mickey Baker | Rev-Ola Bandstand |
Cross Bones | Russell Jacquet | 12 | The R'n'b Years 1949: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1949 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
Vicksburg Blues | Little Brother Montgomery | 11 | History Of Rhythm And Blues Part One | Various Artists | Rhythm and Blues Records |
mama oh mama | luke jones | 1-3 | no more doggi' - rpm story vol. 1 | various artists | ace |
Larry Birdsong | Three Times Seven | 15 | Champion Records The Singles Collection | Various Artists | SPV |
red hot rockin' blues | jesse james | 23 | backbeat | various artists | ace |
Lonesome Highway Blues | Lazy Lester | 20 | I'm A Lover Not A Fighter | Lazy Lester | ACE |
The Welfare (Turns It'sback On You) | Freddie King | 19 | Texas Sensation | Freddie King | CHARLY |
Beggin' My Baby | Little Milton | 22 | Rockin' Memphis | Various Artists | Proper Box |
chicago jump | jimmy lee robinson | 2 | bandera blues and gospel | various artists | ace |