STAR BLUES

STAR BLUES on 22nd Januaray 2012 at 22:00

2012-01-23T00:27:00.001-08:00

Somehow it didn't seem right to wear white last night, the sombre, respectful setting called for a black tee-shirt instead. Though neither death was unexpected, losing Johnny Otis and Etta James within two days of each other still seemed damn cruel. We did our best last night to pay tribute to both with a number of tracks from their canons.

Some folks will know of Johnny Otis and his importance to our music for nearly seventy years: writer singer, drummer, producer, band-leader, author, sculptor with his own orange juice company. He discovered the Robins and Little Richard as well as Etta James, he arranged and played on Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" and wrote "Every Beat of My Heart" that was a hit for Gladys Knight; his "Willie and the Hand Jive" inspired Eric Clapton (and gave him a hit with a cover in 1974). One of Johnny's books depicted the race riots in Los Angeles, another was a cookbook. He was a white Greek that grew up in a black neighbourhood: hence his musical roots and influences.I can't adequately describe his reach, I hope our music last night went some way towards righting that wrong.

Our review of Etta James music included a telling of the tale of her first encounter with Johnny Otis where she sang her audition from the bathroom because of the better acoustics provided by the tiled surfaces. As a 14 year old the subject matter in "Roll With Me Henry" was a cause for concern in securing airplay: the change of song title to "The Wallflower" eased those worries but there was still an outstanding claim to settle with Hank Ballard who owned the melody... None of this stopped Etta and her two school friends astride the R&B charts for 19 weeks. As it dipped from the listings, her followup "Good Rockin Daddy" easily followed it to the highest heights. She grew up on the road from there on in and struggled with handling her money and her addictive nature meant she struggled with drugs too. In 1959 she signed to Chess and had some early success with them by putting a measure of gospel into her voice and arrangements - her most notable triumph was the live album "Etta Rocks this House". Encouraged by the successes, Chess let her go off to Muscle Shoals for a set of sessions which yielded (arguably) the finest music made for Chess outside Chicago. Bearing how young she was and how popular Otis Redding was, how many other soul singers would creep into Redding's backyard and put one over on him with "Security"? Exactly!!

Her demons stayed a mite longer though her 1973 album "Etta James" got a Grammy nomination, that had previously eluded her. At this time in her career she was encouraged to work the songbooks of Randy Newman and his ilk.We loved her go at "You Can Leave Your Hat On" - she really gave it the Full Monty. She did sing in a number of different genres but there wasn't a time you could say she gave it less than that - what ever she sang, she owned it.

The rest of STAR BLUES had another track from "Hellfire" by Joe Louis Walker and two more off that marvellous gospel anthology on VEETONE called "Screamin Gospel Holy Roller". If you like harp players you'd have noticed Arthur Williams helping Big Bad Smittty and savoured Little Walter, Paul Butterfield's Blues Band and the consummate skills of Big Walter Horton with an Otis Rush b-side. Bookend the whole package with guitar wizardry by Bernie Marsden, John Jackson and Snooks Eaglin and we're done for another STAR BLUES.

Presenting and producing the show is a privilege I value highly, I hope the invite round to your place last night did some small justice to Etta and Johnny - as for next week we'll try to bring back the white tee-shirt and the tomfoolery with blues by the armful. 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	Released
Steppin In	Bernie Marsden	13	Green And Blues	Bernie Marsden	ESSENTIAL
There's Something On Your Mind	B. B. KingEtta James	6	Blues Summit	B. B. King	MCA	1993
Sit Down Baby	Otis Rush	2	Good'uns : The Classic Cobra Sides	Otis Rush	BLUESIDE
Still A Fool	Big Bad Smitty	5	Mean Disposttion	Big Bad Smitty	BLACK MAGIC	1991
Mystery Train	Butterfield Blues Band, The	9	Butterfield Blues Band / East West	Butterfield Blues Band, The	ELEKTRA	1966
You Can Leave Your Hat On	Etta James	18	Something's Got A Hold On Me	Etta James	CHARLY
Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry)	Etta JamesPeaches, The	13	Uk Sue Label Story, Vol. 2: Sue's Rock 'N' Blues	Various Artists	ACE
Good Rockin' Daddy	Etta James	5	Miss Etta James - The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings	Etta James	ACE
Baby What You Want Me To Do	Etta James	10	Something's Got A Hold On Me	Etta James	CHARLY
Tell Mama	Etta James	10	The Fame Studio Story 1961-1973 Home Of The Muscle Shoals Sound	Various Artists	Kent
Security	Etta James	16	Something's Got A Hold On Me	Etta James	CHARLY
Black Girls	Joe Louis Walker	1	Hellfire	Joe Louis Walker	Alligator	20120131
Further On Up The Road	Bobby 'Blue' Bland	13	The Sound Of The City - Memphis	Various Artists	Emi Records Ltd
Stella Mae	John Lee Hooker	4	Complete Folk Blues	John Lee Hooker	MCA
He Won't Deny Me	Swan Silvertones, The	14	Screamin' Gospel Holy Rollers Vol. 2	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
The Storm is Passing Over	Marie Knight	11	Screamin' Gospel Holy Rollers Vol. 2	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
Willie And The Hand Jive	Johnny Otis Show	3	Here 'Tis	Various Artists	CONNOISSEUR
Harlem Nocturne	Johnny Otis, His Drums & His Orchestra	3	The Johnny Otis Story Volume 1 Volume 1: 1945-57 Midnight At The Barrelhouse V A	Johnny Otis & His Orchestra	ACE
Double Crossing Blues	Johnny Otis Quintet & The Robins (vocal Little Esther)	11	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: West Coast	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
I Gotta Guy	Johnny Otis & His Orchestra, Vocal By Esther Jones	11	Blues Belles With Attitude	Various Artists	ACE
Every Beat Of My Heart	Royals, The	14	The Johnny Otis Story Volume 1 Volume 1: 1945-57 Midnight At The Barrelhouse V A	Johnny Otis & His Orchestra	ACE
Ma (He's Making Eyes At Me)	Johnny Otis and his orchestra, Marie Adams & the Three Tons Of Joy	24	The Johnny Otis Story Volume 1 Volume 1: 1945-57 Midnight At The Barrelhouse V A	Johnny Otis & His Orchestra	ACE
Just Your Fool	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	20	His Best	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	MCA/CHESS
Steel Mill Blues	John Jackson	5	Front Porch Blues	John Jackson	Alligator
Country Boy In New Orleans	Snooks Eaglin	7	American Masters Vol. 1 : Country Blues	Various Artists	Arhoolie Records

Created: 23/01/2012 08:24:59

STAR BLUES on 15th Jan 2012 at 22:00

2012-01-16T05:39:00.000-08:00

Its not just in the annals of cult tv show "Supernatural" you know - the tussle between the Devils Music and Screamin' Gospel raged hard last night on STAR BLUES. We didn't ask you to take sides, nor could we acclaim a Victor but we had some great music along the way.

First up Doubting Thomas Lamarr - his mum calls him Mark - has put together two anthologies of Screamin' Gospel and Holy Rollers for the VEE-TONE label. The source material comes from places like the Specialty catalogue and is late Fifties / Sixties vintage, it doesn't get better than this. We had two choice cuts last night, one from each disc - over in the sacred corner.

The Devils Music was a documentary series put out by the BBC in 1976 and 1979, compered by Alexis Korner and his magnificent sideburns. we took all six tracks from episode four of series two as a way of remembering the groups then playing Chicago blues - these guys in the Aces for example were the first choice for supporting Muddy Waters, Junior Wells and so on. (Freddie Below looking the epitome of cool behind the traps). Sonny Blake and Good Rockin' Charles were featured too and neither are much remembered these days which is a shame given their performances here. Fenton Robinson was a stylish player and Alexis put two songs into his tv show - so we did the same last night.

With some measure of coincidence, possibly caught betwixt andbetween, Joe Louis Walker (its pronounced Lewis not Looey) has a new project for Alligator called "Hellfire" - it wont be in the shops until 31st Jan but we had it last night. I've already seen it reviewed on Tinternet as "the first great album of 2012" and we definitely like it because Joe's singing better than he has for a long while, he's come up with some good songs and plays with confident aggression throughout. Its a very strong set indeed but he needs to fend off eleven more months of competition to scoop our STAR BLUES award. Don't forget James Armstrong and Bobby Womack are due to hatch anytime soon...

Birthday boy Rev Robert Wilkins would have been 116 on 16th January and he helped out the Rolling Stones twice during their heyday: first his 'No Way to get along' heavily inspired 'Prodigal Son' from the Beggars Banquet album and his 'Rolling Stone' song is the first time that phrase appeared on record - ever!

Calvin Leavy proved life can imitate art with his 1970 hit 'Cummins Prison Farm', he subsequently got put inside there twenty years later and died 18 months before his parole was due. Cary Morin is a Native American now signed to Music Maker, he has a distinctive singing and playing style that will see him return to our playlists.

Our piano blues remembered Omar Sharriff (born Dave Alexander) who less than a year ago was feted on Martin Luther King day as the last link to the golden age of boogie-woogie and his return to his childhood home in Marshall Texas. He died last Sunday 8th aged 73 and we played his piece "The Raven" with his atmospheric playing that reminds me of an Edgar Alan Poe novel.

Your company was - as always - magnificent, I was Gary Blue and I will be plotting more mayhem and tomfoolery for next Sunday at ten (GMT) in a white tee-shirt. 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
Cuts Like A Knife	Jw Jones	14	Underground Plus!	Luther Allison et al	Ruf
Voodoo Woman	Koko Taylor W. Mighty Joe Young	9	Deluxe Edition	Koko Taylor	Alligator
Cummins Prison Farm	Calvin Leavy	25	Southern Soul Showcase	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
Rolling Log	Rory Block	10	The Very Best Of The Blues	Various Artists	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Crying Won't Make Me Stay	R. L. Burnside	12	Mississippi Hill Country Blues	R. L. Burnside	FAT POSSUM
Josephine	H-Bomb Ferguson	12	Sing My Blues Tonight - Ace (Ms.) Blues Masters Vol.1	Various Artists	WESTSIDE
She Fooled Me	Billy Boy Arnold	1	The Devil's Music	Various Artists	INDIGO
You Don't Know What Love Is	Fenton Robinson	19	The Devil's Music	Various Artists	INDIGO
Bring It On Home	Sonny Blake	10	The Devil's Music	Various Artists	INDIGO
Don't Start Me Talkin'	Good Rockin' Charles	18	The Devil's Music	Various Artists	INDIGO
Take A Little Walk With Me	Aces, The	15	The Devil's Music	Various Artists	INDIGO
That's No Way To Get Along	Robert Wilkins	20	The Blues Roots Of The Rolling Stones	Various Artists	complete blues
W.P.A. Blues	Casey Bill Weldon	20	Story Of The Blues	Various Artists	Columbia Legacy
Acute Blues Syndrome	Travis Haddix	3	Blues From Staghorn Street	Travis Haddix	WALDOXY
I Won't Do That	Joe Louis Walker	7	Hellfire	Joe Louis Walker	Alligator
Custard Pie Blues	Sonny Terry	22	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: New York	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Cool Calm And Collected	King Karl	3	It's Your Voodoo Working: The Best Of Excello	Various Artists	universal music operations
By and By	Rev Gatemouth Moore	7	Screamin' Gospel and Holy Rollers	Various Artists	VEE-TONE
Jonah	Fabulous Davis Sisters	3	Screamin' Gospel and Holy Rollers	Various Artists	VEE-TONE
Sing It Louder	Cary Morin	2	Sing It Louder	Cary Morin	MUSIC MAKER
The Raven	Omar Sharriff	10	American Masters Vol. 2 : Urban Blues	Various Artists	Arhoolie Records
Half Past The Blues	Vernon Garrett	2	Half Past The Blues	Vernon Garrett
Somebody Loan Me A Dime	Fenton Robinson	17	The Devil's Music	Various Artists	INDIGO

Created: 16/01/2012 13:15:51

STAR BLUES on 8th January 2012 at 22:00

2012-01-09T00:27:00.001-08:00

What better way than to start our first show of 2012 than with a declaration of intent: "DJ Play My Blues" - some of our blues purists have some reason to disagree already!

My 2012 crystal ball blog mentioned Brandon O Bailey who is remarkably gifted as a harp player - as well as beatboxing. So you'll need to have some degree of latitude in your definition to hear the potential of this young man barely 20 years old. He reinterprets Sonny Boy's "Bye Bye Bird" with some aplomb but his album sees him rework bits of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and some Ray Charles as well. Hugh Laurie is also too mannered and processed to be an authentic blues man (they say) but his love for New Orleans music is encyclopedic and we were able to include Kevin Breit's lovely Dobro work on the version of Jimmie Rodgers "Waiting on a Train" Hugh did for the bonus track to his hit album of 2011.

Other artists from that blog forecast also had outings last night: Jackson Sloan and Giles Robson, unless I'm very much mistaken you've taken them to your hearts already. Birthday boys Kim Wilson and Eddie Clearwater celebrated in fine style; while Tampa Red was our 1001 bluesman - we'll pass over his kazoo exploits that I believe he used to show off how well he could play the guitar. Our other anniversary was 77 years since Elvis Presley was born and his peerless work for Sun put him on our radar.

The new issue of Living Blues magazine arrived during my break and we had tracks from the two featured albums in their review section: Little Joe Ayers and Earnest Guitar Roy. Another triumph for topicality was when we noticed Flo Rida at the top of the UK singles chart that heavily samples Etta James "Somethings Gotta Hold Of Me". I even ran down the top two singles chart to show what a versatile broadcaster I can be (LOL). Cornell Dupree died last year but we only just got our copy of his final recordings, it was an honour to showcase this sublimely cool guitarist (best known for his session work with the likes of Aretha Franklin).

A handful of gospel and a piano blues from the eleven year old Sugar Chile Robinson and it was all over in a trice, I'm already planning the next salvo of STAR BLUES, you were great company last night - I was Gary Blues. Until next Sunday at 10pm (GMT) take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

D.J. Play My Blues	Buddy Guy	18	Can't Quit The Blues	Buddy Guy	SONY
Ain't It A Pity	Jimmy D. Lane	4	It's Time	Jimmy D. Lane	APO
Hook Line And Sinker	Kim Wilson	8	Lookin' For Trouble	Kim Wilson	M.C.
Dues Paid In Full	Ruthie Foster	8	The Truth According To Ruthie Foster	Ruthie Foster	Blue Corn Music
Honey Bee	Muddy Waters	21	Reborn And Remastered	Muddy Waters	ROUGH GUIDES
Somebody's Gotta Give	Earnest "Guitar" Roy	7	Going Down To Clarksdale	Earnest "Guitar" Roy	jp
Don't You Lie To Me	Tampa Red	16	Highlights From: The History Of Rhythm And Blues 1925-1942	Various Artists	RHYTHM & BLUES
Baby Let's Play House	Elvis Presley	14	King Of Rock'n'roll : Complete 50's Masters	Elvis Presley	RCA
Waiting For A Train	Hugh Laurie	18	Let Them Talk	Hugh Laurie	Warnere
Bye Bye Bird	Brandon O. Bailey	8	Memphis Grooves	Brandon O. Bailey
Grandma's Hands	Cornell Dupree	5	I'm Alright	Cornell Dupree	DIALTONE
Keep Your Hands Off Her	Little Joe Ayers	8	Backatchya	Little Joe Ayers	DEVIL DOWN
Tore Up	Duke Robillard	1	Exalted Lover	Duke Robillard	rounder
Repo Man	Lucky Peterson	4	Triple Play	Lucky Peterson	Alligator Records
Something's Got A Hold On Me	Etta James	11	Chess Blues	Various Artists	CHESS
Hooked Hogtied And Collared	Paul Kelly	11	Best Of	Paul Kelly	WARNER BROS.
Jumpin' On The Kansas Line	Jackson Sloan	1	Saturday Clothes	Jackson Sloan	SHELLAC
Gotta Gimme What'cha Got	Julia Lee	24	Snatch And Grab It - Essential Julia Lee (Vol. 1)	Julia Lee	INDIGO
Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket	Roy Milton & His Solid Senders	12	Specialty Story	Various Artists	Specialty
M. R. Boogie	Jay McShann	23	Hot Biscuits - Essential	Jay McShann	INDIGO
Numbers Boogie	Sugar Chile Robinson	4	The R'n'b Years 1949: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1949	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Twenty Gallons Of Muddy Water	Dirty Aces, The	2	Crooked Heart Of Mine	Dirty Aces, The	MOVIN' MUSIC
Keep Me Every Day	Mahalia Jackson	9	Gospel - The Ultimate Collection	Various Artists	RED Box
What He's Done for Me - The Famous Davis Sisters	Famous Davis Sisters, The	1	Screaming Gospel Holy Rollers Vol 2	Various Artists	VEE-TONE
Motherless Children	Guy Davis	7	Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues	Various Artists	SHANACHIE
Gotta Boogie	John Lee Hooker	8	Gaz's Rockin' Blues	Various Artists	ACE
Lights Out	Jerry Byrne	16	Rock On	Various Artists	ACE
Midnight Groove	Eddy 'The Chief' Clearwater	9	Rock 'N' Roll City	Eddy 'The Chief' Clearwater	BULLSEYE BLUES

Created: 09/01/2012 08:25:49

STAR BLUES - a first look at 2012

2012-01-02T04:43:00.000-08:00

In an extremely rare event we missed a STAR BLUES on New Year's Night so for this blog we're gonna draw a line under the turning point of 2011 and have a squint into what 2012 may bring.

There's a bit to be hopeful about too! It's time to expose the myth that young African Americans are only interested in smoove R&B or caustic rap and hip hop- far from being "uncle Tom" or "outdated", blues is back on the agenda too. The three piece Homemade Jamz Band are all teenagers already with three full albums for Northern Blues. I've read that this band is a game changer and I won't argue with that assessment. Drummer Tara Perry "gets" it and their most recent album ("The Game" from 2010) is a very accomplished piece that got them award nominations, trophies won't be long in coming if they keep it up.

Marquise Knox is 20, comes from St. Louis, also has two albums in his canon, and is signed to the APO label. He learnt from the likes of Henry Townsend and Sam Lay and can play acoustic just as effectively as electric. His second project "Here I Am" came out in 2011 and got onto the shortlist at STAR BLUES for album of the year.

Brandon O. Bailey is just into his 20s and already has a distinctive style of blues harp playing -he literally creates every sound on his debut album "Memphis Groove", he obviously listens to other types of music as he is not afraid to bring other elements to this project. I've come to his album in the last week or so but the disc hasn't left my player yet.

The DELMARK label scooped our Label of the Year 2011 bangle for some delicious reissues and their strong roster of talent in the younger generation. A good example is Quintus McCormick, he hails from Chicago with a soulful voice and guitar tone just as at home being edgy as funky. His second album "Put It On Me" came out in 2011 last year and he has an enviable live reputation. Eddie Taylor was a star of Chicago blues scene from the Fifties forward, his daughter Demetria did her debut album for Delmark in 2011; her singing style has the power of Koko Taylor and her version of Luther Allison's "Cherry Red Wine" is a highpoint of that "Bad Girl" album. She's been honing her craft for a while and we hope her time has come. Albeit from a different vintage, more fresh names as far as STAR BLUES is concerned, Toronzo Cannon and James Kinds, are two more artists on Bob Koester's label who both had albums of the month in Blues & Rhythm magazine. You can check out "Leaving Mood" and "Love You from The Top" (respectively) with confidence!

Sharon Lewis got rave notices as part of the Women in Blues tribute to Koko and has signed to the Delmark imprint as well, her first for them "The Real Deal" has guest appearances from Dave Specter and Billy Branch (a measure of highly she is regarded). 2012 will start off with a series of Stateside gigs that we can hope will lead to something on this side of the pond?

Talk of which leads me seamlessly to mention a couple of guys flying the flag over here: Jackson Sloan and Giles Robson. Neither man has gone down the road of long loud needlessly flashy noodling: Jackson has a nice retro approach that Swings with a capital F, if memory serves he is based in my home county of Essex that said if you like Joe Williams or Big Joe Turner, Jackson is your man. Giles is a young harp man with an agile tone, he leads a tight band (the Dirty Aces). During 2011 we got their projects for the first time and we are looking forward to more soon. If they come your way, worth a look I reckon.

Everyone here at STAR BLUES wishes you a safe, happy and healthy year - we'll do our best to fill it with blues, starting this upcoming Sunday at 10pm (GMT). Me and the white tee shirt will be waiting, hope you can make it along. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

STAR BLUES on Christmas Day 2011 at 22:00

2011-12-26T03:37:00.000-08:00

According to their bass player Gary Fletcher, the Blues Band don't trouble the press and the press don't trouble the Blues Band; and if interviews or comments are required Dave Kelly or Tom McGuinness will oblige. So a rare opportunity to talk to the front man Paul Jones was our Christmas Day treat. I took some recording gizmos to the Maddermarket in Norwich and we sat down for a chat while the Blues Band set up for that night's gig.

We started by talking about the new album "Few Short Lines" and - as the project was intended to mark their 30th anniversary - the choice of guests: Linda Lewis and Southside Johnny having a chance to stretch out on some new songs and some less obvious cover versions. Paul is much more than their singer, he's a working musician that hosts Britain's flagship weekly blues radio show for BBC Radio2, something he's done for twenty five years. That's a heck of a feat for an unfashionable genre of music and it shows that Britain still has a very passionate love for blues. Over the years the show has had some fine sessions and Paul talked about some of his favourites: Eric Bibb, Robert Cray and Ruthie Foster At the start of 2011 he was given international recognition with a "Keeping The Blues Alive" award, as well as winning "Blues Broadcaster of the Year" and the Harmonica player trophy for a second time.

The year has had some sadness with a number of significant blues players passing over: Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Willie Big-Eyes Smith, Big Jackson Johnson, Eddie Kirkland and sadly too many more. Paul remembered the Legends tour from a few years ago and also talked about the talent coming through, his discovery of Giles Robson and his admiration of Joe Bonamassa, he admitted to listening to Stephen Dale Pettit in the car!

He and Brian Jones played together before Brian set off for London to form the Rolling Stones, Paul stayed behind as "Paul Peterson" singing pop covers in a dance band all the while learning invaluable lessons in stagecraft and musicianship from the trained jazz players in the same outfit. After that he went to join Manfred Mann and briefly put together a "Supergroup" for an album on Elektra that included Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Steve Winwood (Ginger Baker turned him down!!!). When punk rejuvenated the live music scene with an anyone can make a record attitude, Paul spoke to some old mates about some sporadic gigs using an anonymous name "the Blues Band" with a limited edition album to sell at gigs. They had to bootleg their own album when they ran into cash flow hurdles, the disc was a triumph and their gigs sold out.

Paul was candid about the influence his father had and how he juggles everything to fit in playing in four different groups as well as doing sessions, leading the British Harmonica League and an award winning weekly radio show. Early in 2012 the Blues Band back catalogue will be spruced up and reissued with as many rarities as he can find, and the Manfreds will celebrate 50 years since formation. You can expect something special.It was a pleasure to chew the fat with Paul, it was all over too quickly.

From everyone here at STAR BLUES, wishing you a safe, happy and healthy Christmas and New Year, Until our next live STAR BLUES on 8th January take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

STAR BLUES on 18th December 2011 at 22:00

2011-12-19T00:32:00.001-08:00

2011 was an eventful year for blues with the Robert Johnson Centenary in May and the passing on of so many influential blues artists - we marked as many as we could during our Awards night show. Now in a third year we recognise an artist and album of the year as well as a label and a reissue label. For a second time you've picked an artist too.

The choices weren't easy and you'll have you own; here's how it worked out last night on STAR BLUES with a few words on each.

ALBUM: "Let the Blues Speak for Itself" by Chick Willis (Benevolent Records)

There is a down-home relaxed feeling to the album, especially on the cuts he does with Travis Haddix. Songs are front and centre not instrumental dexterity, the project shows Chick in a fresh light given his reputation as the Stoop Down Man.

ARTIST: Willie Big-Eyes Smith

Almost a joint prize with Pinetop Perkins I have to say. They both won a Grammy together on their "Joined At The Hip" album but the revelation for many was the return to his first instrument - the harp - by Smith. He defined the rules for blues drummers everywhere and it must have given him immense pride to have his son Kenny in the traps on that album. Big grin on the cover photo and a gentle gentleman universally loved by everyone.

LABEL: Delmark

By far and away the label every artist wants to be discovered by at the moment with a real set of quality albums put out by folks doing their first or second projects: Sharon Lewis, Quintus McCormick, Toronzo Cannon and so on. Add to that a top notch reissue programme that includes things like Junior Wells' "Hoodoo Man Blues" with bonus unissued cuts. Hearty congrats to a worthy winner showing that our music has a solid future.

REISSUE LABEL: Ace

For the 3rd year running the compilers have come up trumps time and time again with sumptuous packaging stuffed with photos and memorabilia. The 3 disc set on Fame Studios is but a recent example as is the first anthology of an under-appreciated player: Barbara Lynn. Ace also put out a tasty issue of Lazy Lester and the list goes on. The reissue market is as ever crowded with folks looking at recordings over fifty years old but Ace soldiers on focusing on the music and going that bit further to ensure artists and families get their dues.

LISTENER ARTIST: Seasick Steve

Huge reactions at the festivals this Summer - including guesting John Paul Jones - made him a favourite with you in 2011. Its amazing to think of a down-to-earth guy with a homemade three string guitar drawing crowds in the tens of thousands and playing them raw blues. No argument from me when Steve topped your list.

Next week on STAR BLUES, my guest is rival blues-dj Paul Jones. We sat down together in conversation and left the tape recorder on. He talks about the Blues Band, his radio show and some hair raising tales of the Sixties. I hope you can come along, we';ll be pleased to have your company. Until then - from my family to yours - please have a safe, happy and healthy Christmas and 2012. Take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Christmas Date Boogie	Big Joe Turner	81	All The Classic Hits	Big Joe Turner	JSP Records
Please Come Home For Christmas	Johnny Winter	4	Hey Where's Your Brother?	Johnny Winter	POINTBLANK
Stay A Little Longer, Santa	Shemekia Copeland	13	Deluxe Edition	Shemekia Copeland	Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Put On A Buzz	Catfish Keith	6	Put On A Buzz	Catfish Keith	FISH TAIL
Frisco Blues	Bayless Rose	23	Broke Black And Blue	Various Artists	PROPER
Sweet Home Chicago	Honeyboy Edwards	23	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Love That Burns	Gary Moore	10	Blues For Greeny	Gary Moore	VIRGIN
Foggy Monday	Eddie Kirkland	6	Movin' On	Eddie Kirkland	JSP Records
Red, Black On Blues	Pura Fe	2	A Blues Night In North Carolina	Pura Fe	Dixiefrog
All My Love's In Vain	Big Head Blues Club Featuring Big Head Todd & The Monsters	9	100 Years Of Robert Johnson	Big Head Blues Club Featuring Big Head Todd & The Monsters
We're Gonna Boogie	Chick WillisTravis Haddix	9	Let The Blues Speak For Itself	Chick WillisTravis Haddix	Benevolent Blues
Two Trains Running	Marquise Knox	12	Here I Am	Marquise Knox	APO Records
Sadie	Quintus McCormick Blues Band	11	Put It On Me!	Quintus McCormick Blues Band	DELMARK
Leaving Mood	Toronzo Cannon	8	Leaving Mood	Toronzo Cannon	DELMARK
I Ain't Stranded - Buddy Guy	Buddy Guy	1	Hoodoo Man Blues	Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band	DELMARK
Christmas Boogie	Sugar Chile Robinson	18	Mark Lamarr's Rhythm And Blues Christmas	Various Artists	ACROBAT
Merry Xmas	Little Willie Littlefield	12	Rhythm & Blues Christmas	Various Artists	ACE
Dig That Crazy Santa Claus	Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers	19	Rhythm & Blues Christmas	Various Artists	ACE
Without A Woman	Kip Anderson	4	The Fame Studio Story 1961-1973 Home Of The Muscle Shoals Sound	Various Artists	Kent
Eyesight To The Blind	Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith	13	Joined At The Hip	Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith	TELARC
Plow My Mule	Memphis Gold	10	Pickin In High Cotton	Memphis Gold
You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks	Seasick Steve	2	You Can´t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks	Seasick Steve	Play It Again Sam
Woman Loves A Man That Can Play The Slide	Drink Small	5	Hallelujah Boogaloo	Drink Small	MUSIC MAKER
Can't Be Satisified	Toby Walker	11	Shake Shake Mama	Toby Walker	ltw
People Get Ready	Hans Theessink	16	Jedermann Remixed - The Soundtrack	Hans Theessink	BLUE GROOVE

Created: 19/12/2011 08:29:01

STAR BLUES on 11th December 2011 at 22:00

2011-12-12T01:03:00.001-08:00

Hubert Sumlin was in our thoughts last night with some examples of his solo sides as well as his work for Howlin' Wolf. There's a lovely contrast in how he took on the solo in "Hidden Charms" for Chester and the down home playing with Annie Raines for the Telarc project over thirty years after. Sumlin was regarded as a son to the Wolf and it could be argued that neither was at their best when apart. The Rolling Stones sprung for funeral expenses so there was a sense of giving back to such a well-loved guitarist.

Dobie Gray was another to pass over this week and I've earmarked "Driftaway" for the next show: it's not that bluesy but it has a cracking solo and the song marks a time and place for many blues lovers. Johnny Winter is back with a new project designed to poke blues purists in the eye - it got a good review in Living Blues magazine so it ain't half bad. We've had ten years since JLW and Otis Grand cemented their Guitar Brothers relationship and the wily John Stedman will reissue that album to coincide with Joe's upcoming debut for Alligator: "Hellfire".

Christmas came with the smooth styling of Johnny Moore and from Albert Collins' ferocious workout "Thaw Out". I mispronounced Louis Armstrong (should have said "Lewis") but his "Cool Yule" couldn't be beat at any time of year. Gorgeous. Our distaff side had some big hitters too: Sister Rosetta Tharpe (gospel) and Jessie Mae Hemphill to name but two. The Pilgrim Travelers joined the good sister in the gospel tent and we effortlessly slid back to the Thirties golden age for boogie woogie with Messrs Smith and Davenport.

The young Lonnie Brooks recorded as Guitar Junior and his "Crawl" ensured we fulfilled our assignment in Pip-ology homework. Then in a trice it was gone. Next week we'll run through the STAR BLUES awards and then in two weeks on Christmas Day (when other blues shows sleep) it'll be "WHEN GARY MET PJ". I hope you can bring your fine self around to my place at 10pm (GMT) Sundays, looking forward to it until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Rude Women	Joe Louis Walker & Otis Grand	7	Guitar Brothers	Joe Louis WalkerOtis Grand	JSP Records
Done Somebody Wrong	Johnny Winter & Warren Haynes	3	Roots	Johnny Winter	Megaforce
Your Lies	Lucky Peterson	2	Triple Play	Lucky Peterson	Alligator Records
Hidden Charms	Howlin' Wolf	3	Complete Recordings 1951-1969	Howlin' Wolf	CHARLY
Got The Blues	Hubert Sumlin	1	Heart & Soul	Hubert Sumlin
Jinx Blues	Alvin Youngblood Hart	4	Down In The Alley	Alvin Youngblood Hart	Memphis International
Hound Dog	Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, Kansas City Bell & orchestra	12	The Johnny Otis Story Volume 1 Volume 1: 1945-57 Midnight At The Barrelhouse V A	Johnny Otis & His Orchestra	ACE
There It Is	Darrell Nulisch	3	The Whole Truth	Darrell Nulisch	SEVERN
Cool Yule	Louis Armstrong	14	Mark Lamarr's Rhythm And Blues Christmas	Various Artists	ACROBAT
Merry Christmas Baby	Mari Jones & Johnny Moore Orchestra	4	Rhythm & Blues Christmas	Various Artists	ACE
Thaw Out	Albert Collins	13	Blues Guitar Box	Various Artists	SEQUEL
The Red Rooster	Howlin' Wolf	17	Complete Recordings 1951-1969	Howlin' Wolf	CHARLY
Blue Shadows	Hubert Sumlin	8	Healing Feeling	Hubert Sumlin	BLACK TOP
This Is Hip	John Lee Hooker	2	Masterworks Sampler Vol. 1	Various Artists	CHARLY
Black Cat Bone	Jessie Mae Hemphill	1	She-Wolf	Jessie Mae Hemphill	High Water Music
Up Above My Head	Sister Rosetta Tharpe	15	Gospel Greats	Various Artists	PLANET
Straight Street	Pilgrim Travellers	6	The Sound Of The City - Los Angeles	Various Artists	Emi Records Ltd
Pinetop's Boogie Woogie	Clarence 'Pinetop' Smith	2	The Best Of Boogie Woogie	Various Artists	DOCUMENTS
Cow Cow Blues	Cow Cow Davenport	7	History Of Rhythm And Blues Part One	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
Come Back Baby	Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin	9	Legends	Various Artists	TELARC
Rock Me Baby	Hubert SumlinAnnie Raines	4	A Taste Of Blues Harmonica	Various Artists	TELARC
Cadillac Jack	Andre Williams	2	The Sound Of The City - Chicago	Various Artists	Emi Records Ltd
Back Door Santa	Clarence Carter	1	The Original Soul Christmas	Various Artists	RHINO
Short Dress Woman	Carey Bell w. Lurrie Bell	6	Second Nature	Carey BellLurrie Bell	Alligator
The Crawl	Guitar Junior	4	Masterworks Sampler Vol. 1	Various Artists	CHARLY

Created: 12/12/2011 09:00:03

STAR BLUES on 4th December 2011 at 22:00

2011-12-05T00:25:00.001-08:00

Real sad news at the end of last night's STAR BLUES with confirmation that Hubert Sumlin had died. I did have "Smokestack Lightnin'" to hand but that somehow didn't seem enough. Never a flashy lead guitarist his work with Howlin' Wolf made Hubert a central figure in the way electric Chicago Blues sounded. When Wolf came to London in May 1970, the sessions included various members of the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton - with Eric being really embarrassed to be there asking "Why do you need me, you've got Hubert?".

We also lost Howard Tate on Friday to a battle with Leukemia a somewhat underrated singer who got famous though the covers Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and BB Kind did of his originals. He and Jerry Ragavoy worked well together and it was ironic that Tate has gone so soon after Ragavoy. Tates stuff isn't easy to come by but will repay the effort if you try.

Big birthday celebrations for Larry Davis (our 1001 blues), Pop Staples, Little Richard, Junior Wells and the second man calling himself Sonny Boy Williamson. In January Alligator will release Joe Louis Walkers debut for them called "HellFire", on his performance during the Blues Cruise its not hard to hear why Bruce Iglauer wanted JLW on board (pun!) Robert Ealey clearly enjoyed playing blues, why he wasn't better know is one of blues mysteries...

Mojo Magazine (there are others) has a cover mount disc from the latest breed of soul singers, each doing a cover of a track from the Rolling Stones' "Sticky Fingers" - we went to its Naomi Shelton cut for our gospel spot a Stax horn soundalike version of "You Gotta Move" by Gary Davis / Fred McDowell (perm any one from three). Sonny Thompson did piano on an unissued side from 1947 when he was with Miracle Records in Chicago. To round out the full flavours of blues we did the title track from Seasick Steve's chart album retrospective "Walking Man" - and "Scratch My Kat" With Cedell Davis. A new approach to "Barefootin" from Joe Medwick was all we had time for my white tee-shirt - hope we get another chance to chinwag, gossip, natter and peruse on 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
Crusin' for a Bluesin'	Ray Bailey	5	Cruisin' for a Bluesin'
Hottest Thing In Town	Andy Poxon Band, The	1	Red Roots
I Got My Eyes On You (Featuring Al Blake & Alex Schultz)	Big Pete	6	Choice Cuts
Nickels & Dimes	Fiona Boyes	1	Blues For Hard Times
Walkin' Man	Seasick Steve	2	...Songs For Elisabeth
John Henry	Pop Staples	22	Ultimate Staple Singers: A Family Affair
House Calls	Bob Kirkpatrick	9	Going Back To Texas
Texas Flood	Larry DavisFenton Robinson	5	Dave's Dukes
Midnight In The Barrelhouse	Johnny Otis Orchestra Feat. Pete "Guitar" Lewis	5	The Johnny Otis Story Volume 1 Volume 1: 1945-57 Midnight At The Barrelhouse V A
Nothing's Impossible	Solomon Burke	4	Nothing's Impossible
Stop	Howard Tate	25	The Pomus And Shuman Story
Ain't Nobody Home	Howard Tate	12	This Time It's For Real
Barefootin'	Joe Medwick	1	Voice of Americana: Joe Medwick
It's A Shame Featuring Joe Louis Walker	Joe Louis Walker	4	Tommy Castro Presents The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue -- Live!
All My Worries	Robert Ealey	7	Turn Out The Lights
Don't Start Me Talkin'	Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	11	The R'n'b Hits Of 1955
Slippin' And Slidin'	Little Richard	11	The E.P. Collection
Hoodoo Man	Junior Wells	15	Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954)
My Dog Can't Bark	Johnny Dyer	10	Rolling Fork Revisited
You Gonna Win	Mike Sanchez	5	Women And Cadillacs
Walking	Sonny Thompson	7	Jam Sonny Jam
You Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond	Hans Theessink	11	Jedermann Remixed - The Soundtrack
You Gotta move	Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens	5	Sticky Soul Fingers
Smokestack Lightnin	Howlin' Wolf	19	Smokestack Lightnin'
Keep On Snatchin It Back	Cedell Davis	1	All Men Are Liars
Barefootin'	Joe Medwick	1	Voice of Americana: Joe Medwick

Created: 05/12/2011 08:22:49

STAR BLUES on 27th November 2011 at 22:00

2011-11-28T00:37:00.001-08:00

With both Bill Wyman and the Blues Band playing locally in short order this week, it was always going to be a tough ask to fit enough music into 118 minutes of live radio. Neither set out to be compared with the innovative originals.- those guys really know their stuff and celebrate the classic era of blues.

We didn't forget it would have been Jim Hendrix' birthday, we left it to our resident rock god to do the honours for us. Our birthday book was open at the pages for John Mayall, Robert Nighthawk and Brownie McGhee instead. Mayall is still active and his steadfastness has put a backbone into British blues; we went to the Crusade album with Mick Taylor last night (this project is often overshadowed by the pair of albums it followed). Brownie McGhee's career was inextricably linked with Sonny Terry even if their on-off friendship was rarely on. He was a tidy player with a warm inviting vocal style which contrasted with the raw country blues stylings of harp maestro Terry.

Robert Lee McCollum recorded as Robert Nighthawk and was a contemporary of Robert Johnson - Nighthawk survived the war and is a glimpse of how Johnson could have made the transition to electric blues. Nighthawk was influential to Elmore James, BB King and many others - he married one of Ike Turner's girlfriends and almost immediately recorded "Sweet Black Angel" a hit for Chess in 1948. It has a magnificent guitar line and is a model for blues as a celebration. His birthday was our 1001 Blues.

The two gospel tunes had Paul Jones and Rev. Blind Gary Davis and it don't get much better than Otis Spann or Leroy Carr on piano. With a further range of blues that included BigWalter Horton and Big Lucky Carter and Big Al Downing you'd think we were exclusively sizeist. Lee Shot Williams died last week and Jimmy Nelson died earlier in the month and the songs we used to mark their passings showed how much they're missed already. Can't believe Jimmy Norman didn't record more often.

The search for the Listener Blues Artist 2011 was officially launched yesterday - last year it was Robert Plant, its all up to you. The restriction is that it must be someone we've played on the show this year. Email, phone, Facebook or old fashioned letter will get your vote in, look forward to hearing from you.

All being well the whole shebang will be back on Sunday at 10pm (GMT), I'll be there if you will. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

I Guess I Showed Her	Robert Cray	2	Strong Persuader	Robert Cray	MERCURY
Down In The Bottom	Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings	1	The Best Of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings	Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings	REPERTOIRE
Natural Man	J. B. Lenoir	9	J. B. Lenoir	J. B. Lenoir	ROOTS
I Got A Woman On The Mountain Top	Big Lucky Carter	3	Lucky 13	Big Lucky Carter	WESTSIDE
L And N Blues	Memphis Willie B.	2	Hard Working Man Blues	Memphis Willie B.	ORIGINAL BLUES CLASSICS
Roughest Place In Town	Johnny Fuller	21	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: West Coast	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean	Ruth Brown	2	The Best Of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour	Various Artists	CHROME
Sweet Black Angel	Robert Nighthawk	16	Chess Blues	Various Artists	CHESS
Need My Baby	Walter Horton	17	Chicago Blues Harmonicas	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
Need Your Love So Bad	James Brown	3	Messing With The Blues	James Brown	POLYDOR
Here Comes The Night - Jimmy N	Jimmy Norman	18	Jimmy Norman; Lee Shot Williams; Johnny Fuller and more	Various Atists	Gary-Blue
Ya Ya	Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays	3	Cry Wilf!	Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays	BIG BEAT
Hadacol Boogie	Jerry Lee LewisBuddy Guy	19	Last Man Standing	Jerry Lee Lewis	ARTISTS FIRST
Never Make A Move Too Soon	B. B. King	4	King Of The Blues	B. B. King	MCA
The Years Go Passing By	Larry Davis	22	Slow 'N' Moody, Black & Bluesy	Various Artists	Kent
Yes, I'm Loving You	Big Al Downing	3	Uk Sue Label Story, Vol. 2: Sue's Rock 'N' Blues	Various Artists	ACE
Had You Told It Like It Was	Albert King	5	King New Breed R'n'b	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
Oh Pretty Woman	John Mayall's Blues BreakersMick Taylor	1	Crusade	John Mayall	DECCA
Back in Trouble Again	Lee Shot Williams	1	Jimmy Norman; Lee Shot Williams; Johnny Fuller and more	Various Atists	Gary-Blue
Resting On Jesus	Blues Band, The	12	Stepping Out	Blues Band, The	HYPERTENSION
Lord Stand By Me	Rev. Blind Gary Davis	6	Gospel - The Ultimate Collection	Various Artists	RED Box
Can't Help Myself	Sonny TerryBrownie McGhee	11	The Duo	Sonny TerryBrownie McGhee	BLUES ENCORE
Half Ain't Been Told	Otis Spann	8	My Home Is In The Delta	Otis Spann	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Naptown Blues	Leroy Carr	7	Naptown Blues	Leroy Carr	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Hypin' Woman Blues	T-Bone Walker	12	The Complete Capitol/Black And White Recordings	T-Bone Walker	Capitol
Mandolin Rock	Johnny YoungJohnny Young	14	Mandolin Blues	Various Artists	Shout

Created: 28/11/2011 08:34:49

STAR BLUES on 20th November 2011 at 22:00

2011-11-21T00:30:00.001-08:00

Our birthday book was full last night with mentions for Mike Vernon, Duane Allman, Travis Haddix and three giants of the keys: Dr. John, Lloyd Glenn and Eddie Boyd. Producer Mike Vernon wove his magic for Jay Owens, TS McPhee and Eddie Boyd in three very different hues.

The Kent label has just issued a three disc survey of the goings on at the FAME studios and we did include that overdue performance by Aretha Franklin as well as a speaker scorching rendition of Hey Jude by Wilson Pickett. Guitar duties were handled by Duane Allman and in the latter case probably the only man capable of going toe to toe with the Wicked Pickett at that time.

At the other end of the guitar spectrum we had Johnny Moore, elegant and economical, with his wife on vocals: a gloriously polished performance of a song recorded for Modern but not issued at the time. The same fate befell Lloyd Glenn for his only session as band-leader for Chess in 1960 - and that was with Lowell Fulson on guitar!

Sharon Jones won't qualify as a blues artist anytime soon but her retro approach to soul will always find favour with a blues crowd. She will be a massive star and we are pleased to be playing her stuff from the outset. Same goes for the wonder-trio of Homemade Jamz band with a combined age not yet 40. Hobo Man is a self penned number and is a confident piece played and produced like it should be.

I'm game for some more next Sunday at 10pm - thanks for your kind invitation last night - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Cherry Red Wine	Luther Allison	5	25th Anniversary Collection	Various Artists	Alligator
Come On To My House	Jay Owens	1	The Blues Soul Of	Jay Owens	INDIGO
Upside Your Head	Omar Kent Dykes	2	Big Town Playboy	Omar Kent Dykes	Ruf
Longer & Stronger - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings	Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings	8	The World of Daptone Records Free Sampler	Various Artists - Daptone Records	Daptone
I Feel So Good	Paul Geremia	18	Love Murder And Mosquitoes	Paul Geremia	RED HOUSE
Hey Jude	Wilson Pickett W. Duane Allman	2	Fame Studio Story	Various Artists	KENT
It Ain't Fair	Aretha Franklin	2	Duane Allman: An Anthology, Vol. 2	Duane Allman	POLYDOR
Right Place, Wrong Time	Dr. John	1	The Very Best Of Dr. John	Dr. John	RHINO
Just A Little Bit	Rosco Gordon	13	The Story Of Vee-Jay	Various Artists	METRO
Jelly Roll Stroll	Jelly Roll Kings	11	Rockin' The Juke Joint Down	Jelly Roll Kings	Earwig Music
C C And O Blues	Pink Anderson	18	20th Century Blues	Various Artists	CATFISH
You're Gonna Wish I Had Stayed	Roy Gaines	10	Bluesman For Life	Roy Gaines	JSP
T. V. Mama	Taj Mahal	7	Maestro	Taj Mahal	Kan-du Records
We're Gonna Boogie	Chick Willis W. Travis Haddix	9	Let The Blues Speak For Itself	Chick WillisTravis Haddix	Benevolent Blues
Real Fine Daddy	Willie Headen	11	Blame It On The Blues Again	Willie Headen	ACE
The Shakedown	Lloyd Glenn	4	Chess Blues	Various Artists	CHESS
Third Degree	Eddie Boyd	11	The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions	Eddie Boyd	BLUE HORIZON
Someone To Love Me	T. S. McPhee	9	Blue Horizon Story Vol. 1	Various Artists	CBS
Oh, The Candyman	Lauren Sheehan	8	Rose City Ramble	Lauren Sheehan	INDEPENDENT
Two-Time Fool	Fabulous Thunderbirds, The	3	Painted On	Fabulous Thunderbirds, The	TONE COOL
Just A Closer Walk With Thee	Aubrey Ghent & Friends	1	15 Down Home Gospel Classics	Various Artists	Arhoolie Records
Lonesome Stranger	Johnny Moore's Three Blazers - Vocal By Mari Jones	21	Be Cool	Johnny Moore's Three Blazers	ACE
Gotta Go (Upside Your Head)-	Buddy And Ella Johnson	8	Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour - Best Of The Second Series	Various Artists	CHROME DREAMS
Hobo Man	Homemade Jamz Blues Band, The	8	I Got Blues For You	Homemade Jamz Blues Band, The	Northernblues

Created: 21/11/2011 13:48:43

STAR BLUES on 13th November 2011 ar 22:00

2011-11-14T16:06:00.001-08:00

These songs featured on STAR BLUES last night: with Hugh Laurie in the "House", the Dominoes lasting half our distance and Tim Hain playing the role of Willy Wonka.

You Don't Know What Love Is	Fenton Robinson
You Don't Know My Mind	Hugh Laurie
Mystery Train	Little Junoir Parker & His Blue Flames
Hypnotized	Eddy 'The Chief' Clearwater
Hustle Is Really On	Taj Mahal
D.J. Play My Blues	Buddy Guy
Louise	Howlin' Wolf
Crossroads	Cream
Death By Chocolate	Tim Hain
Sugar Sweet	Muddy Waters
Hideaway	Jeff Healey Band, The
The Hunter	Albert King
Good Rockin' Tonight	Wynonie Harris
24 Hours A Day	Earl Gaines
Sixty Minute Man	Dominoes, The
Chica Boo	Lloyd Glenn
Snatch And Grab It	Julie Lee & Her Boyfriends
Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash	Big John & The Buzzards
Aged & Mellow	Little Esther
Just Can't Stay	Willie Nix
The Sun Is Shining	Jimmy Reed
Ain't No Blues In Town	Sonny Rhodes
Beer Drinking Woman	Memphis Slim
Standing On The Highway	Isaac Freeman

STAR BLUES on 6th November 2011 at 22:00

2011-11-07T05:52:00.000-08:00

They did try to warn me, I didn't listen. The political correctness police got wind of Bullmoose Jackson being on last night's STAR BLUES. They in turn triggered a stern warning from those jolly nice efficient chaps that do Health and Safety for us. Their concern was about the overnight team and how they would cope with the expected flood of complaint calls, texts and emails.Not enough First aiders to minister to those of a nervous disposition apparently.

As it turned out I think I got away with it and none of the H&S clipboards exploded because Mr. Jackson's observation that "Big Fat Mama's Are Back in Style" shocked no-one in our audience who all knew they've never been out of favour. Other sizes and shapes are available and just as stylish.

We had a unique opportunity to squeeze our large frame of music into a size zero show with an unexpectedly generous amount of needle time too. Good job we had a clutch of new projects from Catfish Keith, Hans Theesink, Drink Small, Mighty Mo Rodgers and Fiona Boyes - with a retrospective of Barbara Lynn's 60's singles, another rarity from Jo Ann Kelly and a reissue with bonus tracks of Etta James; 'Losers Weepers'. There was time to play A and B sides from Barbara and Etta, with Ms. James making it as far as 'You Me and 1001 Blues'. Her candid autobiography 'Rage to Survive' tells how these LA sessions should have led to a renewed period of success for her and how her good fortune actually pushed her further to addiction.

Hans Theesink's been asked to score a new German film based on the 1911 British play 'Everyman'. This thought provoking disc isn't easy listening and it mixes in much more than blues to a tale of judgement and redemption. He starts the album with a version of Tom Waits' 'Down in the Hole' prerviouslyheard in several different versions as theme to "The Wire". His sublime voice understates the message but hits the mark. Our gospel spot looks ahead to Remembrance Day this Friday and notes how hard it is to buy a poppy - even if we don't believe I think its important we shouldn't forget and to show that our thoughts and prayers are with our young men and women we've sent to difficult and dangerous places to do difficult and dangerous things. Robert Ward's 'Comfort Table' put it better than me.

Hans does a version of Memphis Slim's 'Mother Earth' so I put the original into the show as the piano feature. Slim's 'Nobody Loves Me' became 'Everyday I have The Blues' for B B King in November 1964 for his Live at the Regal classic album. he closed our show. Until we can get together again take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

Eighteen Year Old Girl	J. B. Hutto & The New Hawks	12	Box Of Blues	Various Artists	Rounder
Time And Time Again	Long John Hunter	1	Swinging From The Rafters	Long John Hunter	Alligator
Why You Hurt Me So Bad	Vance Kelly	9	Jimmy Dawkins Presents: The Leric Story	Various Artists	DELMARK
St. Louis Blues	Isley Brothers, The	2	Shout! The Definitive Edition	Isley Brothers, The	Hoodoo Records
Walkin' With Mr Lee	Lee Allen & His Band	12	The Very Best Of Burlesque	Various Artists	Not Now Music
Cadillac Man	Jesters, The	12	It Came From Memphis	Various Artists	MANTERA
Cadillac Jack Says 'Bring The Fishtail Back'	Mighty Mo Rodgers	1	Cadillac Jack	Mighty Mo Rodgers	TIN DRUM MUSIC
Losers Weepers	Etta James	15	The Best Of Etta James	Etta James	SPECTRUM
Weepers	Etta James	6	Losers Weepers With Bonus Trucks	Etta James	Kent
On A Monday	Catfish Keith	1	Put On A Buzz	Catfish Keith	FISH TAIL
Walkin' The Dog	Jo Ann Kelly	19	Key To The Highway	Jo Ann Kelly	Sanctuary Records Group Ltd
I Cant Turn Back	Jackson Sloan	1	3 For The Floor	Jackson Sloan	SHELLAC
Big Fat Mamas Are Back In Style	Bull Moose Jackson & His Buffalo Bearcats	21	The Very Best Of Burlesque	Various Artists	Not Now Music
Time For My Lovin' To Be Done	Eddie Kirkland	6	Battle Of Hastings Street	Various Artists	ACE
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out	Bessie Smith	6	Roots Of Rock	Various Artists	ACROBAT
Way Down In The Hole	Hans Theessink	1	Jedermann Remixed - The Soundtrack	Hans Theessink	BLUE GROOVE
The Comfort Table	Robert Ward	15	Fear No Evil	Robert Ward	SILVERTONE
Jesus Gave Me Water	Soul Stirrers, The	9	The Sound Of The City - Chicago	Various Artists	Emi Records Ltd
Greenback	Drink Small	9	Hallelujah Boogaloo	Drink Small	MUSIC MAKER
Gonna Leave This Town	Professor Longhair	7	House Party New Orleans Style (Lost Sessions 1971-72)	Professor Longhair	Rounder Records
Dr Jive Jives	Buddy Johnson And His Orchestra	9	The Very Best Of Burlesque	Various Artists	Not Now Music
Satellite Baby	Roosevelt Sykes	15	The Very Best Of Burlesque	Various Artists	Not Now Music
Mother Earth	Memphis Slim	25	Theme Time Radio Hour	Various Artists	ACE
High Time	Fiona Boyes	5	Blues For Hard Times	Fiona Boyes	Vizztone
Watch The One (That Brings The Bad News)	Barbara Lynn	5	A Good Woman	Barbara Lynn	Kent
6. Club A Go-Go	Barbara Lynn	6	A Good Woman	Barbara Lynn	Kent
Keep Holdin' On Baby	Sandy Mack	4	Leaflets Vol 2	Various Artists	BLUES LEAF
You Were A Long Time Coming	Nappy Brown	2	Long Time Coming	Nappy Brown	BLIND PIG RECORDS
Everyday I Have The Blues	B. B. King	1	Blues Tunes	Various Artists	HIT

STAR BLUES on 30th October 2011 at 22:00

2011-10-31T06:20:00.001-07:00

Visitors to Star Towers are ushered reverently into the expanse of the reception area, now set aside as the training ground for our very own Slender Man (Mighty Mark Peters) assault on the 2012 Strictly crown. The well thumbed copy of "783 ways to tie a cumaband" on his desk was a giveaway. Mind you, he will shortly have to compete for Lady Blue's affections with the devilishly (some say quirkily) handsome countenance of our Breakfast host Ryan Taylor after I reported back last night following a rare sighting (as we usually operate at opposite ends of daylight).

Our birthday book let us dwell on the gifts of Hadda Brooks as well as the drummer who played on the theme to the Flintstones: Earl Palmer. She was the first African American woman to host her own entertainment tv show in 1957 (a short step from there to Oprah?) and Earl Palmer started out as a tap dancer before the work we showcased last night from Amos Milburn, Shirley and Lee and Fats Domino - among thousands of others. His life is chronicled in a fascinating biography called BACKBEAT that you should consider asking Santa for if you've been good this year. The other celebrant was Peter Green, one of just two players who's beautiful playing has ever moved me to tears (if you're interested the other is Johnny Shines). we mused upon the question on the path Peter Green's life and career would have taken if his close friend Duster Bennett hadn't fallen asleep at the wheel of his van in 1976?

Further questions came to mind regarding Andrew Brown, his track was something he did for Bruce Iglauer's Living Chicago Blues project - somehow Andrew wasn't subsequently signed to Alligator in his own right. Not through lack of ability thats for sure. Our 1001 Blues was similarly inconclusive with me not finding out the true story behind "Garbage Man Blues" - the 1964 mandolin recording by Will Hatcher was suitably splendid however. That instrument deserves fuller exposure on Star Blues - so should the zydeco stylings of great artists like C J Chenier - he covered a Boozoo Chavis piece off his new project "You Cant sit Down" (bit like Mark in his cumaband). Johnny Taylor followed Sam Cooke in the Soul Stirrers and we had a look at his application for employment at Stax where he declared his study of Metaphysics. With a closing flourish from OV Wright - who influenced the singing of Robert Cray - we were done. Two hours just aint enough sometimes.

Provided Mark doesn't find out about this blog, I'll be back with a sudge more tomfoolery next Sunday at ten (GMT don't forget) - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Palace Of The King	John Mayall	4	In The Palace Of The King	John Mayall	EAGLE
Paper In My Shoe	C.J. Chenier	9	Can't Sit Down	C.J. Chenier	World Village
My Mind Is Working Overtime	William Clarke	6	The Hard Way	William Clarke	Alligator
You Can't Do That	Dave Myers	3	You Can't Do That	Dave Myers	BLACK TOP
Cold BlackMare	Whispering Smith	11	Swamp Blues	Various Artists	ACE
Little Bluebird	Johnnie Taylor	11	Wanted One Soul Singer	Johnnie Taylor	Atlantic
Garbage Man Blues	Will Hatcher	7	Mandolin Blues	Various Artists	Shout
Two Years	Andrew Brown	3	"Living Chicago Blues	Vol. 4"	Various Artists
Need Your Love So Bad	Fleetwood Mac	8	Blue Horizon Story Vol. 1	Various Artists	CBS
Jumpin' At Shadows	Fleetwood Mac	9	Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues	Various Artists	INDIGO
Love That Burns	Fleetwood Mac	21	Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues	Various Artists	INDIGO
Torn Down	Vaan ShawEddie Shaw	2	Morning Rain	Vaan ShawEddie Shaw	WOLF
Don't Stop By The Creek	Johnny Copeland	5	Honky Tonkin	Johnny Copeland	BULLSEYE
Louis Collins	Chris Thomas King	9	Antebellum Postcards	Chris Thomas King	21ST CENTURY
Sugar Mama	Blues Burglars	2	Harmonica Man	Paul Lamb	CASTLE
Brook's Boogie	Hadda Brooks	18	The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957. Vol2	Various Artists	Blue Label / SPV
Rock All Night	Shirley & Lee	13	Backbeat	Earl Palmer	ACE
I'm Walkin'	Fats Domino	1	Radio Bob: Vol 2	Various Artists	UNCUT
Chicken Shack Boogie	Amos Milburn	1	Rock On	Various Artists	ACE
Loudella	Dave Thomas w. James Goodwin	4	Blues For Otis	Dave Thomas w. James Goodwin	blonde on blonde
Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend	Joanna Connor	14	Shout Sister Shout! (A Tribute To Sister Rosetta Tharpe)	Various Artists	MC RECORDS
Precious, Precious	O. V. Wright	5	Complete O. V. Wright - Vol. 1	O. V. Wright	HI

STAR BLUES on 23rd October 2011 at 22:00

2011-10-24T05:38:00.001-07:00

Don't call me Scrooge just yet but STAR BLUES had its first cd of Christmas music yesterday - you can be sure I'll have it in a safe place when December comes around. From Santa to sex and cars in one seamless leap when the subject matter for song comes from Chuck Berry. We made him leave his Ding a Ling alone but we did let him bring a couple of pretty decent blues to celebrate turning 85 this week. Toby Walker also sang about automobiles for a song covered elsewhere by Ry Cooder (among others).

It is an unbelievable 40 years since Duane Allman was killed and we had no hesitation in marking the anniversary with some examples of his slide wizardry. His radio appearance with Delaney and Bonnie filled our 1001 Blues spot because we found more than our quota of trivia (Producer Phil Ramone was the man behind the infamous Marilyn Monroe "Happy Birthday" performance, he has worked with Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra and Pavarotti) (See what I mean). On Thursday we noted the death (age 35) of John Alex Mason from cancer, yet his photos show him as a good looking blond healthy guy that could easily be a pro-footballer. He often played a guitar made from a cigar box while wailing on bass and drums. He had the balls to take on some old standards like Rolling and Tumbling and make them his own. The sadness is in what may well have been and just two albums to remember him by.

Neat little gem this week from Chick Willis - a real down homey piece that features his old pal Travis Haddix. I almost left it in my home cd player as its become one of my picks for 2011. Jo Ann Kelly is another much missed genius and Superbird will issue a rarities set in November, caveat emptor though because the album was out for a very brief spell on the Indigo label before being withdrawn. Worth checking out just for the two interviews she gives on the last pair of tracks.

Carl Sonny Leyland is a Brit who recorded a fine piano project in New Orleans and we paired him with Jimmy Yancey's "Buggle Call" in the piano feature. Not just me that can't spell. Lou Rawls was lead voice for the Chosen Few on our gospel spot and Catfish Keith gave us something from his new retrospective too join in.

Trivia by the smidge load, tomfoolery by the smudgeload and white tee shirt by the washing load - we did it this week and with your help we'll do it again next week. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Ya Ya	Sonny Rhodes	7	Disciple Of The Blues	Sonny Rhodes	Wild Dog
Quicksand	Guitar Slim	17	The Story Of My Life	Guitar Slim	SPV
My Fannie Mae	Chick WillisTravis Haddix	7	Let The Blues Speak For Itself	Chick WillisTravis Haddix	Benevolent Blues
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show	Joe Tex	7	Skinny Legs And All	Joe Tex	Kent (U.K.)
I'm Living With The Blues	Shakura S'aida	10	The Blueprint	Shakura S'aida	STONY PLAIN
Falling Down Blues	Furry Lewis	24	Robert Johnson And Old School Blues	Robert Johnson	UNION SQUARE
Come On In My Kitchen	Delaney & Bonnie	5	Duane Allman: An Anthology, Vol. 2	Duane Allman	POLYDOR
You Just Using Me	Quintus McCormick Blues Band	1	Put It On Me!	Quintus McCormick Blues Band	DELMARK
Worried Life Blues	Chuck Berry	23	From Ripley To Chicago	Various Artists	INSTANT
I Want To Be Your Driver	Chuck Berry	17	His Best Volume 2	Chuck Berry	MCA/CHESS
Crazy 'Bout an Automobile	Toby Walker	2	Shake Shake Mama	Toby Walker	ltw
P.A. Slim Is Back	Rick Estrin And The Nightcats	7	Twisted	Rick Estrin And The Nightcats	Alligator
West Helena Blues	George Harmonica Smith	2	Blowing The Blues	George Harmonica Smith	el segundo
You Hurt Me	Little Willie John	24	Mark Lamarr's Roc-King Up A Storm	Various Artists	WESTSIDE
Rolled And Tumbled	John-Alex Mason	5	Jook Joint Thunderclap	John-Alex Mason
Rolling Log Blues	Jo-Ann Kelly	6	Key To The Highway (Rare Recordings)	Jo-Ann Kelly	MOONCREST
All The Way	Keb' Mo'	3	The Reflection	Keb' Mo'	Yolabelle International
Shout For Albert	Carl 'Sonny' Leyland	14	Boogie And Blues	Carl 'Sonny' Leyland	SOLO ARTIST
Yance's Buggle Call	Jimmy Yancey	18	The Best Of Boogie Woogie	Various Artists	DOCUMENTS
No Room At The Hotel	Chosen Gospel Singers, TheLou Rawls	21	Specialty Story	Various Artists	Specialty
Soul Of A Man	Catfish Keith	10	Rolling Sea	Catfish Keith	FISHTAIL
Mean Old World	Eric ClaptonDuane Allman	15	Crossroads	Eric Clapton	POLYDOR
Waiting For A Train	Boz Scaggs	2	Duane Allman: An Anthology, Vol. 2	Duane Allman	POLYDOR
Statesboro Blues	Allman Brothers Band, The	6	Duane Allman Anthology	Duane Allman	POLYDOR

STAR BLUES on 16th October 2011 at 22:00

2011-10-17T00:10:00.000-07:00

Something for everyone I'd have thought on last night's STAR BLUES with a smidge of trivia and a smudge of tomfoolery. (OK yes and some finger trouble in cd track selection off the wobbly web information).

Mojo Buford died on the 11th and he did three stints in Muddy Waters' band though the www can't agree on dates or who he replaced (and I left my notes out of reach). The reissue industry hasn't been kind to him either leaving his credit off the notes for the 1974 'Unk in Funk' album he cut with Muddy - a real shame for an acknowledged master of the blues harp form. We also went to one of his solo projects on JSP to luxuriate in his rich tones.

Our 1001 blues feature shone a spotlight on Robert Ward whose birthday was due on 15th, his early career included working with Wilson Pickett and the original version of 'Your Love Is Amazing' that featured his warm throaty vocal and his unique "watery" guitar sound he got from a very small Magnatone amplifier. Other players with distinctive characteristics included Pee Wee Crayton and Lazy Lester who was so inspirational to Kim Wilson and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Beth Hart is a fairly new name to me but she has massive nerve in taking on Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain" in a setting you wouldn't normally find her co-conspirator Joe Bonanmassa. Naked fingers not slide were the order of the day for John Littlejohn helping him cast off the Elmore James cliche he wore so often. Piano duties came from Johnnie Johnson and Bob Hall, though Jay McShann was not bit player for Pee Wee Crayton and nor was Pinetop Perkins rippling alongside Maria Muldaur.

The blues purists will want me to answer for starting with such a hoary old chestnut as the blues national anthem, if not that then why I took a trip to the Valleys to find Tom Jones in Burnin' Hell. The latter seemed appropriate given the Rugby World Cup mugging of the Welsh team and it is a bold interpretation of John Lee Hooker's brooding original piece.The Persuasions did a capella as only they could in answer to a claim I heard this week on how the Magnets were now number one in the genre(!!) - and Otis Taylor pushed at the edges of blues with his "Cowgirl".

Who knows where the 2 hours went, but it was great to have you along for the ride. More of the same in a brand new white tee-shirt at 10pm (BST) next Sunday. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

The Blues Is Alright	Little Milton	1	Greatest Hits	Little Milton	MALACO
Doctor Brown	Fleetwood Mac	11	Best Of	Fleetwood Mac	COLUMBIA
The Sun Is Shining	Johnny Littlejohn	1	When Your Best Friend Turns Their Back On You	Johnny Littlejohn	JSP Records
Don't Explain	Beth Hart, Joe Bonamassa	5	Don't Explain	Beth Hart, Joe Bonamassa	PROVOGUE
Boogie Woogie Upstairs	Pee Wee Crayton	10	Essential	Pee Wee Crayton	INDIGO
You Got It	Etta James	18	Call My Name	Etta James	Kent
Your Love Is Amazing	Robert Ward	1	Twiggs County Soul Man	Robert Ward	BLACK TOP
She's Fine She's Mine	Jimmy Ricks & Rickateers	10	The Dominoes Meet The Ravens	Various Artists	SEQUEL
You Got To Pay Your Dues	Albert Washington w. Lonnie Mack	5	Blues & Soul Man	Albert WashingtonLonnie Mack	ACE
You Better Stop	Andrew Brown	7	The Way I Feel	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
Sylvie	Bert Jansch	20	Angie: The Collection	Bert Jansch	Sanctuary Records Group Ltd
Crawlin' King Snake	Big Joe Williams	22	Roots Of Rock	Various Artists	ACROBAT
Soulful Dress	Sugar Pie Desanto	1	Go Go Power • The Complete Chess Singles 1961-1966	Sugar Pie Desanto	Kent
T. V. Mama	Freddie King	9	Stayin' Home With The Blues	Freddie King	SPECTRUM
Ain't No Cowgirl	Otis Taylor feat. Gary Moore	9	Clovis People Vol. 3	Otis Taylor	TELARC
Just To Be With You	Muddy Waters feat. Carey Bell	12	Funky Butt	Muddy Waters	CHARLY
Trouble No More	Muddy Waters feat Mojo Buford	14	Funky Butt	Muddy Waters	CHARLY
Big Leg Woman	Mojo Buford	9	State Of The Blues Harp	Mojo Buford	JSP Records
Slow Train	Johnnie Johnson	7	Blue Hand Johnnie	Johnnie Johnson	EVIDENCE
Death Ray Boogie	Bob Hall	15	Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues	Various Artists	INDIGO
Burning Hell	Tom Jones	5	Praise & Blame	Tom Jones	Seconds Out Productions LLC
Members Only	Persuasions	13	Rounder Revue	Various Artists	Rounder
Midnight Hours	Larry Dale With Mickey Baker's Orchestra	8	In The '50S: Hit, Git & Spit	Mickey Baker	Rev-Ola Bandstand
Late Late In The Evening	Lazy Lester	12	Lazy Lester	Lazy Lester	FLYRIGHT
Jack Of Diamonds	Jesse Thomas	24	Complete Recorded Works 1948-1958	Jesse Thomas	DOCUMENT
Decent Woman Blues	Maria MuldaurPinetop PerkinsSteve Freund	10	Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul	Maria Muldaur	Stony Plain Music

STAR BLUES on 9th October 2011 at 22:00

2011-10-10T05:19:00.001-07:00

A very fruitful expedition to Northern parts has put some extra width to the range of blues we can include on our playlists on STAR BLUES. The sun shone, the white tee shirt gleamed and Lady Blue relaxed - I got a bit behind with the computer bits and bobs.

We marked the death a year ago of Solomon Burke and that of Bert Jansch last week (say it with a J not a Y). Bert was the guitarist's guitarist and influenced dozens of great players (check out his "Black water slide" before you listen to Led Zeppelin); he often hitch-hiked to gigs expecting to be loaned a guitar when he got there making his extraordinary playing even more remarkable. Many of his early folk pieces are very blues-worthy.

Ricky Nelson made his first (and only?) appearance on the show last night by dint of the work done by his long time guitarist James Burton, whose sessions of the Sixties are now on an Ace cd. Burton is the only person to have recorded with both Elvis Presley and Elvis Costello. Johnny Heartsman was in the cache of treasures I found and John Lee Hooker did guest vocal duties for Michael Osborn in 1996 (one of his final recordings).

Kent have put Etta James' "Call My Name" album out on cd for the first time, it was her first go at an album (as opposed to a set of hit singles) and she was in great form down in Muscle Shoals. The cd has a dozen bonus cuts too. Parent label Ace have just anthologised the Los Angeles label called Flash and STAR BLUES included two of the singles (there were only 31 in total)

Louisiana Red gets less airplay than he deserves and he works well solo or - as last night - with a full electric combo. The centenary project for Robert Johnson had Honeyboy Edwards sounding a little frail as he lead Charlie Musselwhite and others through the "Sweet Home Chicago" standard. Harriet Lewis will be playing in Castor in a couple of weeks, she did "Wade in the Water" for our gospel spot; the other half were the Isley Brothers from 1959 at their rawest hardest best. Somehow we left out our piano blues and I'll be sure to make amends next Sunday at 10pm (BST), I hope you'll want to join in the tomfoolery until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Fool Me Once	B. B. King	4	There Is Always One More Time	B. B. King	MCA
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love	Solomon Burke	18	Home Is In Your Heart	Solomon Burke	RHINO
Paint My Mailbox Blue	Johnny Heartsman	2	The Touch	Johnny Heartsman	Alligator
MY BABE	Ricky Nelson	4	Early Years 1956-1969	James Burton	ACE
Valerie	Louisiana Red	4	Pretty Woman	Louisiana Red	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Sweet Home Chicago	Big Head Blues Club Featuring Big Head Todd & The Monsters	10	100 Years Of Robert Johnson	Big Head Blues Club Featuring Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Fannie Mae	Buster Brown	12	Stoned Alchemy	Various Artists	INSTANT
harmony st	D'MAR & GILL	6	Real Good Friend	D'MAR & GILL	Airtight
Come Back Baby	Bert Jansch	1	Best Of Bert Jansch	Bert Jansch
My Rooster Is King	Grady Champion	5	Payin' For My Sins	Grady Champion	SHANACHIE
Drowning On Dry Land	O. V. Wright	13	Soul Of O. V. Wright	O. V. Wright	MCA
Bring It On Home	Kenny Neal	8	A Taste Of Blues Harmonica	Various Artists	TELARC
When The Blues Are Bad	John Mayall	11	Padlock On The Blues	John MayallJohn Lee Hooker	CLEOPATRA
Mean Boss Blues	Cyril Neville	1	Brand New Blues	Cyril Neville	MC RECORDS
Mabel	Michael OsbornJohn Lee Hooker	9	A Background In The Blues	Michael Osborn	BLUE ROCK'IT
Candy Man	Spikedrivers	3	Front Porch Swing	Spikedrivers	PROPER
Wade In the Water	Harriet Lewis	1	Soulful Sounds	Harrit Lewis	ACOUSTIC MUSIC
Yes, Indeed	Isley Brothers, The	3	Shout! The Definitive Edition	Isley Brothers, The	Hoodoo Records
JUMP WITH ME BABY	Mamie Jenkins	5	The Flash Records Story	Various Artists	ACE
HURRY, HURRY, BABY	Sydney Maiden	3	The Flash Records Story	Various Artists	ACE
Right Time	Nappy Brown	6	Long Time Coming	Nappy Brown	BLIND PIG RECORDS
Ride My Automobile	Pete Mayes	2	Broke Down: Blues About Automobiles	Various Artists	COLLECTABLES
842-3089 (Call My Name)	Etta James	7	Call My Name	Etta James	Kent
Can't You See What You're Doin' To Me (Featuring Alex Schultz)	Big Pete	2	Choice Cuts	Big Pete	Delta Groove Productions
Sweet Dreams	Roy Buchanan	5	Chronicles - Sweet Dreams	Roy Buchanan	POLYDOR

STAR BLUES on 2nd October 2011 at 22:00

2011-10-09T03:41:00.000-07:00

With Lady Blue "in the house" my white tee shirt was pristine and very well behaved. Birthdays were due for past legends Albert Collins and Koko Taylor, as well as for Billy Branch and Duke Robillard (both very much still with us). Harking back to the Fifties Whiteboy James' front cover photo has him attended to by five maidens in white tee-shirts and red shorts (of course I said nothing untoward), he has an infectious retro style.

We dug out some lap-steel in response to a short piece in Blues & Rhythm magazine about Hop Wilson: thus came Otis Grand and Joe Louis Walker ass well as a sublime instrumental example of the sacred steel genre by Sonny Treadway in the gospel spot. I don't think I've included any Jimmy Blythe before on STAR BLUES but he was very welcome with his great boogie piece in the piano blues feature. The blues purists will applaud the inclusion of Tampa Red but a few of them will have listened through gritted teeth as he got out his kazoo, as he so often did when recording for RCA Bluebird. We guarantee a kazoo free zone between 10 and midnight next Sunday, hope we can spend two hours together again round your place. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Travellin' South	Albert Collins	4	Iceman	Albert Collins	POINTBLANK
Daylight At Midnight	Travis Haddix	5	Daylight At Midnight	Travis Haddix	EARWIG
Eugene Hideaway Bridges 04 Baby I Like	Eugene Hideaway Bridges	4	Rock And A Hard Place	Eugene Hideaway Bridges	ARMADILLO
Gold Brick Bar	Whiteboy James And The Blues Express	7	Extreme Makeover	Whiteboy James And The Blues Express	RIP CAT
Travelin' Alone	Eric Clapton	1	Clapton	Eric Clapton	Reprise/Warner Music Japan
Railroad Bill	Etta Baker	2	Railroad Bill	Etta Baker	MUSIC MAKER
I Stay Blue All The Time	Big Bill Broonzy	21	Four Classic Albums - Plus!	Big Bill Broonzy	AVID
Wang Dang Doodle	Koko Taylor	5	Koko Taylor	Koko Taylor	MCA / CHESS
I Don't Want To Hear About Yours	Hubert Sumlin	8	Black Top Blues-A-Rama	Various Artists	BLACK TOP
Further Up The Road	Bobby 'Blue' Bland	16	The 3B Blues Boy. The Blues Years : 1952-1958	Bobby 'Blue' Bland	ACE
Where's My Money?	Billy Branch AND Sons Of Blues	1	Where's My Money?	Billy BranchSons Of Blues	EVIDENCE
Playhouse Blues	Floyd Jones / Eddie Taylor	11	Masters Of Modern Blues	Floyd JonesEddie Taylor	Shout
Hop On It	Joe Louis Walker W. Otis Grand	7	Great Guitars	Joe Louis Walker	VERVE
Mercy Mercy Mama	Duke Robillard Band, The	3	Low Down And Tore Up	Duke Robillard Band, The	STONY PLAIN
I Smell Trouble	Little Johnny Taylor	11	The Galaxy Years	Little Johnny Taylor	ACE
Big Leg Mama	Dennis Binder	2	Hole In That Jug	Dennis Binder	EARWIG
Travelin' At The Speed Of Love	Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women	8	Havin' The Last Word	Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women	Alligator
Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down	Maria Muldaur	11	Steady Love	Maria Muldaur	STONY PLAIN
Don't Let The Devil Ride	Sonny Treadway	1	Sacred Steel: Traditional Sacred African-American Steel Guitar Music In Florida	Various Artists	Arhoolie Records
Down To The River To Pray	Alison Krauss	6	A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection	Alison Krauss	Rounder
You Got To Do Better	Tampa Red	4	Bluebird Recordings	Tampa Red	RCA
Chicago Stomps	Jimmy Blythe	2	A Porttrait Of Boogie Woogie	Various Artists	GALE
What's On Your Worried Mind?	Otis Spann	14	Live The Life	Otis Spann	Testament
Playing In The Park	Frank Goldwasser W. Phillip Walker	11	Blu Ju	Frank Goldwasser	CROSSCUT RECORDS
Love Cruiser	Super Chikan	10	Sum' Mo Chikan	Super Chikan	Chikan Howse Records