STAR BLUES on 18th January 2015 at 22:00 Senior blues players like Henry Gray (90), Eddy Clearwater (80) with birthdays

... Vernon Garrett is 82, Barabara Lynn 73,  as well as marking tomorrow for Willie Big-Eye Smith, Janis Joplin. Smith started out as a harp player but got a powerful reputation in the traps for Muddy Waters on down. In his latter days he returned to his first love, some times with his son Kenny on drums. There is a well-realised live set he recorded with Roger Hurricane Wilson which proved to be his final release and a nice way to celebrate one of the very best. Janis arguably never fulfilled her potential though she wore her blues influences just as proudly as the rock ones.

Barbara Lynn deserves to be far better known: strong vocals and confident guitar standing front and centre. Garrett was featured in some depth in the pages of living Blues during 2014 and his sweet-voiced singles were reviewed; he sings gospel nowadays. We had a 1964 single recorded with his wife.

Henry Gray is still an active blues player; he looks fairly unassuming, he has learnt to play loud and creates a joyous noise (a hard won career in Howlin' Wolf's band would no doubt be a factor). Friends and blues artists held birthday concerts for him (including a date at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix) - there will have been no stopping his participation. He has a road band called Short Fuse and there's a clutch of live albums showing their collective gifts in support of him.

Eddie Clearwater's birthday presents included a number 1 blues album for "Soul Funky" showing him as good today as he's always been. For comparison we also went back to his first studio work issued as "Little Eddie" and very firmly in the Chuck Berry mold.

Our show started with three female stars, I can't recall the last time we did that. Deborah Coleman brought along a sturdy version of Johnny Morrisette's "Brick", and we included his own song "Damper" off a brand new 10-inch vinyl record looking back over the SAR record imprint set up by Sam Cooke and JW Alexander. The whole thing has been lovingly created by those splendid folks at Vee-Tone Records. Of-course it had a gospel track from the Soul Stirrers and we completed the loop by having "Little Bluebird" from Johnnie Taylor's classic album from 1967.

In a trice we bade our farewells with Henry Gray's masterpiece instrumental. Never fear I'm planning some more for the next visit round your place; if you'll have us we can come Sunday night at 10pm (GMT) 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
Brick	Deborah Coleman	5	I Can't Lose	Deborah Coleman	BLIND PIG RECORDS
Spoonful	Etta James	20	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
mercedes benz	janis joplin	2-13	essential	janis joplin	sony
Look Don't Touch	Hubert Sumlin	16	Up Jumped The Blues	Various Artists	MUSIC CLUB
Floodin' In California	Carl Weathersby	8	Come To Papa	Carl Weathersby	Evidence Music
Finger Snappin' Boogie	Henry Gray	12	Lucky Lucky Man	Henry Gray	Blind Pig
I Declare That Ain’t Right	Henry Gray	22	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
08. Henry Gray - How Can You Do It (Sunland 105)	Henry Gray	8	45's Collection Prt 037	Various Artists
Blood Hound Blues	Victoria Spivey	10	Moaning The Blues	Victoria Spivey	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Downsville Blues	TomcAt Courtney	6	Downsville Blues	TomcAt Courtney	Blue Witch Records
Ride And Roll	Sonny Terry	14	Groove Records Story	Various Artists	One Day Music
Gotta Go (Upside Your Head)-	Buddy & Ella Johnson	2-8	Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour - Best Of The Second Series	Various Artists	CHROME DREAMS
rockin' good way	vernon and jewel	14	connoisseurs only	Various Artists	kent
Jump Children	Fats & Dave	17	Cosimo Matassa Story	Various Artists	Proper Box
Big Bottom Blues	Duke Robillard	12	New Blues For Modern Man	Duke Robillard	SHANACHIE
eyesight to the blind	willie big eye smith and roger hurricane wilson	1	live blues	smith and wilson	smith and wilson
Hypnotized	Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater	2	Soul Funky	Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater	CLEAR
I Was Gone	Eddie Clearwater	21	Solid Stroll Vol. 4	Various Artists	LUCKY Gal
I Don't Know Why	Eddie Clearwater	63	Sweet Home Chicago	Various Artists	INDIGO
listen to the angels sing	soul stirrers	5	Sar - thats where its at	Various Artists	vee-tone
damper	Johnnie Morisette	2	Sar - thats where its at	Various Artists	vee-tone
Little Bluebird	Johnnie Taylor	11	Wanted One Soul Singer	Johnnie Taylor	Atlantic
Blues, Blues, Blues	Ralph Willis	1	Shake That Thing!: East Coast Blues 1935-1953,	Various Artists	JSP Records
I Got A Letter	Ralph Willis	14	Jumping At Jubilee	Various Artists	SEQUEL
You'll Lose A Good Thing	Barbara Lynn	7	You'll Lose A Good Thing	Barbara Lynn	JAMIE
I Got The Blues For You	Al Collins	5	Shuckin' Stuff	Various Artists	WESTSIDE
All Around The World	James Booker	2	Keep It Rollin' - Blues Piano Collection	Various Artists	Rounder
Corrine Corrina Blues	James 'Boodle-It' Wiggins	12	Pure Vintage Blues Vol. 3 : Future Blues	Various Artists	EMPRESS
The Monkey On My Back	Ray Agee	9	Bay Area Blues Blasters	Various Artists	El Cerrito
Strange Woman	Carey Bell	1	Brought Up The Hard Way	Carey Bell	JSP
Say What You Mean	Phil Guy	3	Get Up And Go	Johnny Rawls	JSP Records
Gray's Bounce	Henry Gray	15	Swamp Blues	Various Artists	ACE

Created: 18/01/2015 23:43:15