Sunday 28 December 2014

STAR BLUES on 28th December 2014 at 22:00 - Exclusive news of 6th annual award winners


The SB awards

The STAR BLUES radio show is known internationally as “Britain’s Other Blues Show” and the awards should characterise each year in hindsight. Our focus is on the traditional blues styles and our winners fit right along. It’s not an exact science and the choices reflect what we’ve played and our feedback shows what was enjoyed most.


We can’t promise the winners a fancy trophy or a red carpet, just a mention here in the blog and our annual Almanac.

STAR BLUES 2014 Awards
Artist of the Year
GRADY CHAMPION
Grady has been there or thereabouts for a while now since his debut in 1999 and this year he made a breakthrough with his own imprint DeChamp Records. His first artists did the business for him with impressive outings: J J Thames and Eddie Cotton. Grady is also a bold new signing to a revitalised Malaco stable for his best album yet, “Bootleg Whiskey”.


Album of the Year
“NOBODY BUT ME” – Rip Lee Pryor (Electro-Fi Records)
This debut album skilfully exposes the elements of blues as it has always been played with no-nonsense harp and  vocals.  The songs have no room for pointless grandstanding.

Label of the Year
CATFOOD
Bob Trenchard’s label is based in El Paso, Tx and has become the watch word for stylish soul-blues: this year has been their strongest yet. Barbara Carr, James Armstrong, Johnny Rawls and Otis Clay are making the best music of their careers, thanks to the care and craft of this unique imprint.



Reissue Label of the Year





ACE RECORDS
The Ace imprint added to an already impressive series of Bayou rarities as well as starting programmes for complete singles outputs of Fame, RPM, Modern, Ric and Ron. Most of the albums are put out on vinyl as well as compact. We again mark their achievements in setting high standards in production, annotation and artwork. That the compilers are obviously fans is shown in the addition of bonus cuts or alternate takes to the releases.

Special Award for vinyl excellence





VEE-TONE RECORDS
The small Scottish imprint has steadily built a sequence of records compiled from rhythm and blues and rock’n’roll singles. Almost all have been overlooked since first issue by everyone part from the estimable compiler Mark Lamarr. Though the sets are usually available in compact disc format, the limited edition platters made from 180g vinyl are the real treasures. Irreverent sleeve notes and label shots make for a top-notch package which deserves to be heard as well as collected. David Gillespie and his team deserve the highest praise

The year also marked the centenaries of Ivory Joe Hunter, Homesick James, Eddie Boyd, Camille Howard, John Lee Williamson and Pee Wee Crayton among others. With some poignancy, Alberta Adam's passing on Christmas day  was at 97 making her a direct contemporary of such greats. Known as "Queen of Detroit Blues" our two selections showed her at opposite ends of her long career with an undiminished spirit. News came through that James Wheeler died the same day, noted for his work with Otis Clay he did two fine projects for Delmark. Curley Bridges was similarly under-exposed in terms of album product, we dipped into the one he did for Electro-Fi.

track.title track.artistsort index album.title album.artistsort label
sugaree Johnny Winter 6 Let Me In Johnny Winter POINTBLANK
Looking For My Baby James Wheeler 13 Ready! Plus One James Wheeler DELMARK
Pay To Play Eddie Cotton 3 Here I Come Eddie Cotton DEChamp
Come Back Baby Linsey Alexander 4 Come Back Baby Linsey Alexander DELMARK
Rock 'N' Roll Mama Camille Howard 7 Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
on my way up James Kinds and the oasis 1 on my way up James Kinds cloud
Messin' Around With The Blues Alberta Adams 17 I'm A Bad Bad Girl Various Artists INDIGO
hopin' it will be alright Alberta Adams 12 detroit is my home alberta adams east lawn music
My Girl Ivy (Atco 6084) Jimmy Witherspoon 14 Slabs Of Humdingers Vol. 2 Various Artists vee-tone
Guide Me Soul Finders Of Newark 17 Screaming Gospel Holy Rollers Various Artists vee-tone
big joe moe singin' sammy ward 6 motown rythm and blues 59-62 various artists vee-tone
mohawk 2 slabs of humdingers various artists vee-tone record
sittin' here wonderin; 3 slabs of humdingers various artists vee-tone record
set a date Homesick James 1 set a date homesick james colt
Jivin' The Blues John Lee 'Sonny Boy Williamson 20 History Of Rhythm And Blues Part One Various Artists Rhythm and Blues Records
pitch a boogie woogie Rip Lee Pryor 7 Nobody But Me Rip Lee Pryor electro-fi
Keep Our Business To Yourself Rip Lee Pryor 7 Nobody But Me Rip Lee Pryor electro-fi
Texas hop Pee Wee Clayton 1 essential pee wee crayton indigo
jumoin at the dew drop Ivory Joe Hunter 1-23 essential Ivory Joe Hunter indigo
Hard Time Getting Started '52 Eddie Boyd 2 The Blues Is Here To Stay Eddie Boyd Jasmine Records
I Ain't Drunk Lonnie The Cat 7 Speak Easy - The Rpm Records Story Volume 2 1954-57 Various Artists Ace Records
thats alright slim harpo 2 Bluesin' By The Bayou Various Artists ACE
If Anybody Ask You Lonesome Sundown 4 Bluesin' By The Bayou - Rough 'N' Tough Various Artists ACE
She Wants What She Can't Have Terry Woodford 2 The Complete Fame Singles Volume 1 Various Artists ACE
Momma Didn't Raise No Fool Otis Clay 2 Soul Brothers Otis Clay & Johnny Rawls Catfood
Saturday Night Women James Armstrong 8 Guitar Angels James Armstrong Catfood
My Girl Josephine Curley Bridges 10 Mr Rock'n'soul Curley Bridges Electro-Fi
souled out JJ Thames 1 Tell You What I Know Jj Thames CDBaby
Beg Borrow and Steal Grady Champion 1 Bootleg Whiskey Grady Champion Malaco Records
Created: 28/12/2014 23:49:31

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