Easy choice for gospel spot too - not that we ever need to apologise for Sister RT. Nor for the Soul Stirrers, one of the most potent examples of the simplicity of the human voice. Professor Harold Boggs added a vintage feel to the then recent Eric Clapton composition.
Our first segment also dallied among the JSP stable for some pretty robust modern blues that John Stedman did so well, especially when working with artists of the calibre of Johnnie Rawls (who was in top form for Deitra Farr). Harp fans were well served by Mojo Buford, Harmonica Shah and Eomot RaSun. All three deserve wider exposure, the last named has just that one album and it had supporting cast such as Jimmy D Lane, Bob Stroger and Sam Carr (a stellar top-trumps hand in anyone's game).
The Johnnie Taylor selection was a direct steal of an idea off Facebook, it came as a birthday surprise reminder of my first introduction to his great voice. OV Wright was one of Robert Cray's biggest influences; he only left us with few sides and he had Michael Toles on guitar for his blues run-through for us. Hank Ballard has a current survey of his Midnighters singles out on Jasmine, there was a joyful swing to his singing and it set up our introduction of a classic by Calvin Boze.
The earliest blues stars were the women who came from the vaudeville / music hall / gospel traditions: the Document imprint issued two volumes as a survey of what they called Territory singers and we took one apiece from those projects. Tampa Red was sometimes billed as the Guitar Wizard and Ace has just put out a twofer survey of his post-war RCA victor sides. Though that blessed kazoo still parps intrusively on one or two songs, the guitar playing more than makes up for it. Our pair had sidemen such as Walter Horton and Little Johnnie Jones anchored by Odie Payne and Ransom Knowling in the engine room.
Recently we've put the spotlight on blues players rarely heard on Blues radio in Britain; we continued this week with Andrew Brown, Guitar Crusher and Calvin Frazier. You can be sure there'll be more in upcoming shows. Sunday at 10pm (BST) round your place will reveal who's next - 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 | duration | writercredit |
One Eyed Man | Tre | 12 | Too Hot For Me | Various Artists | JSP Records | [ 0 mins 0 secs ] | Tre |
feels like rain | buddy guy | 6 | baddest of buddy guy | buddy guy | silvertone | [ 4 mins 15 secs ] | hiatt |
The search is over | Deitra Farr | 9 | The Search Is Over | Deitra Farr | JSP Records | [ 3 mins 31 secs ] | Deitra Farr |
Last Night | Eomot Rasun | 3 | Three Days Walkin' | Eomot Rasun | APO | [ 4 mins 13 secs ] | Eomot Rasun |
When the Blues Comes Knockin' | Frank Bey | 2 | Blues In The Pocket | Frank Bey | [ 3 mins 50 secs ] | Frank Bey | |
groundhog blues | Mojo Buford | 2 | State Of The Blues Harp | Mojo Buford | JSP Records | [ 3 mins 40 secs ] | Mojo Buford |
Baby, Scratch My Back | Harmonica Shah | 8 | Tell It To Your Landlord | Harmonica Shah | Electro-Fi | [ 3 mins 59 secs ] | Harmonica Shah |
Part Time Love | Johnnie Taylor | 7 | Raw Blues | Johnnie Taylor | FANTASY/STAX | [ 0 mins 0 secs ] | Johnnie Taylor |
evalene | tampa red | 1-1 | guitar wizard | tampa red | ace | ||
new deal blues | tampa red | 2-1 | guitar wizard | tampa red | ace | ||
Clearin' House Blues | Hattie Burleson | 8 | Territory Singers - Vol2 : 1928-1930 | Various Artists | DOCUMENT | [ 2 mins 45 secs ] | Hattie Burleson |
Rock Away | Sadie McKinney | 14 | Territory Singers Vol. 1 - 1922-1928 | Various Artists | DOCUMENT | [ 0 mins 0 secs ] | Sadie McKinney |
didn't it rain | sister rosetta tharp[e w. marie knight | 10 | complete works in chronological order vol. 3 | sister rosetta tharpe | document | [ 2 mins 56 secs ] | trad. |
Today I Sing The Blues | O. V. Wright | 26 | Complete O. V. Wright - Vol. 1 | O. V. Wright | HI | [ 0 mins 0 secs ] | O. V. Wright |
The Continental Walk | Hank BallardMidnighters | 12 | Let's Go Again | Hank BallardMidnighters | Jasmine | [ 0 mins 0 secs ] | Hank BallardMidnighters |
I Got To Know | Guitar Crusher | 1 | Blast From The Past | Guitar Crusher | [ 2 mins 23 secs ] | Guitar Crusher | |
(You Made Me) Suffer | Andrew Brown | 16 | Andrew Brown - Big Brown's Blues 1 (Black Magic 9039-2A) | Andrew Brown | [ 3 mins 43 secs ] | Andrew Brown | |
Three Different Woman | Buster Bennett | 26 | The R'n'b Years 1948: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1948 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE | [ 2 mins 44 secs ] | Buster Bennett |
good time sue | Calvin Boze | 2 | 50's rhythm and blues | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE | [ 2 mins 23 secs ] | Calvin Boze |
Across The Bay Blues | L. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson | 4 | Mojo In My Hand | L. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson | Arhoolie Records | [ 3 mins 48 secs ] | L. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson |
Bottle Up And Go | K.C. Douglas | 14 | The Prestige/Bluesville Story | Various Artists | NOT NOW | [ 4 mins 6 secs ] | K.C. Douglas |
Maxwell Street Blues | Papa Charlie Jackson | 5 | 20th Century Blues | Various Artists | CATFISH | [ 2 mins 45 secs ] | Papa Charlie Jackson |
Lord Give Me Strength | Harold Boggs | 1 | Dave's Gospel Sampler | Various Artists | [ 2 mins 40 secs ] | Harold Boggs | |
Jesus Gave Me Water | Soul Stirrers, The | 1 | It's Spelt Specialty | Various Artists | Specialty | [ 0 mins 0 secs ] | Soul Stirrers, The |
Love Is A Gamble | Ray Agee | 13 | Ray Agee - West Coast Blues 3 (1952-1957) Fg 972062 | Ray Agee | [ 2 mins 29 secs ] | Ray Agee | |
lily mae | calvin frazier | 5 | Blues from big town | Various Artists | Chess | [ 2 mins 30 secs ] | frazier |
Leave Me Alone | Big Blues Carson | 18 | East Toledo Blues | Various Artists | [ 2 mins 12 secs ] | Big Blues Carson | |
robinson's rock | Iceman Robinson | 10 | I've Never Been Loved | Iceman Robinson | FEDORA | [ 4 mins 51 secs ] | Iceman Robinson |