Neil Jones' excellent Star Rock show set the tone for the opening of last night's show with guitar workouts from Walter Trout (for the Bluesbreakers) and Luther Allison. The pace didn't let up straight away, the baton was passed to the teenage Dani Wilde for a live performance captured during the Ruf Blues Caravan tour. The much missed JoAnn Kelly was along in short order with one of some previously unavailable (on cd) tracks now out on Manhaton. No matter which way you slice it, she was the real deal and her booklet photo bears a real resemblance to my old Sunday School teacher.
She'd have been proud of the Harold Boggs' offering "Lord Give Me Strength" in our Gospel spot, even if his Nashboro side came from 1958 (not 1966 as I mentioned) - my penance will be to bring you more round about the same time on next weeks show. Fans of piano blues had a treat with a couple of things taken from a ten-cd box set of Boogie Woogie: Sammy Price made his first appearance on Star Blues under his own name but both Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson had been round before. The piano was featured on that gospel track and we'd already had Eddie Boyd doing a sixties version of "Blue Coat Man" with Peter Green doing what Peter Green does well.
There's a nice set on Rev-Ola at the moment featuring the session work of guitarist Mickey Baker and I played one of the things he did with Larry Dale, I'll certainly return to this disc in future shows. Ace has just put out a survey of pretenders to Little Richard's throne - these are guys (and gals) pitched by various independent labels at the market left vacant by the Georgia Peach's exile from that nasty rock'n'roll on a couple of occasions - and the show had a couple of these.
Both Blues Grammy winners (BB King and Dr. John) got plays off their most recent albums and I was pleased to include an Ella Fitzgerald performance in response to a request from a regular listener. I'm finding most feedback comes during the week, probably meaning the show gets recorded for off-line playback - so you are possibly reading this without having yet heard the show? This evening I'll post the playlist to http://www.garyblue.co.uk/ and (God willing) we'll have chance to be together again at ten on Sunday night, until then take care of yourself and take care of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
Monday, 16 February 2009
Monday, 9 February 2009
STAR BLUES on 8th February 2009 at 22:00
With tracks from four albums yet-to-be-released, the first hour of last night's show was very firmly in the camp of modern electric blues. Joe Bonamassa got proceedings underway with an exuberant version of Nina Simone's hit "Feelin' Good", though his new album also touches base with a fine slow blues and a moody piece done on National Steel. Alex Fields' track showed his robust style on another decent release and on the evidence of the new one from Rene Gene Hall, I'd say they would be good fun in the live environment. The fourth offering came from Greg Ashby on a lovingly crafted project to celebrate the work of James "Yank" Rachell - what this project lacks in household names it makes up for in classy playing and song selection.
Etta James is said to be somewhat put out by Beyonce Knowles' performance at the inauguration of President Obama, the erstwhile Destiny's Child sang Etta's signature piece "At Last" - apparently without recourse to Ms James. Beyonce has recently played Etta in the film "Cadillac Records" but I do think some sort of compromise could have prevailed with a two-handed version? The cynics may point out that the film needs the publicity before going to DVD.
Odetta was due to have been singing for her friend Barack, but fate intervened last December - she lived just long enough to see him elected. On television on Friday she was interviewed about her music and her political beliefs, so I thought it only fitting that the show last night should include one of her finest vocal performances on a Lead Belly song. There were also two differing approaches in the gospel feature: one a capella from Son House, the other a lavish arrangement of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Up Above My Head" from Al Green. Those fabulous 88s were represented by alcohol inspired songs from Amos Milburn and Cecil Gant, and a rambunctious go at "Boot 'Em Up" from Aaron Moore and three of Muddy Waters' ex-sidemen.
Overnight I note the success of B. B. King and Dr. John at the Grammy Awards and you can be sure I'll play tracks from both on Star Blues next week. I'll also have more concrete news on those dates in June by BB with John Mayall. All being well the full playlist will be posted by eight tonight on http://www.garyblue.co.uk/ and don't forget we can do some more of the same (if you'll have me) on FM and on-line at http://www.star107.co.uk/ next Sunday at ten. Until then take care of yourself and take care of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
Etta James is said to be somewhat put out by Beyonce Knowles' performance at the inauguration of President Obama, the erstwhile Destiny's Child sang Etta's signature piece "At Last" - apparently without recourse to Ms James. Beyonce has recently played Etta in the film "Cadillac Records" but I do think some sort of compromise could have prevailed with a two-handed version? The cynics may point out that the film needs the publicity before going to DVD.
Odetta was due to have been singing for her friend Barack, but fate intervened last December - she lived just long enough to see him elected. On television on Friday she was interviewed about her music and her political beliefs, so I thought it only fitting that the show last night should include one of her finest vocal performances on a Lead Belly song. There were also two differing approaches in the gospel feature: one a capella from Son House, the other a lavish arrangement of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Up Above My Head" from Al Green. Those fabulous 88s were represented by alcohol inspired songs from Amos Milburn and Cecil Gant, and a rambunctious go at "Boot 'Em Up" from Aaron Moore and three of Muddy Waters' ex-sidemen.
Overnight I note the success of B. B. King and Dr. John at the Grammy Awards and you can be sure I'll play tracks from both on Star Blues next week. I'll also have more concrete news on those dates in June by BB with John Mayall. All being well the full playlist will be posted by eight tonight on http://www.garyblue.co.uk/ and don't forget we can do some more of the same (if you'll have me) on FM and on-line at http://www.star107.co.uk/ next Sunday at ten. Until then take care of yourself and take care of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
Monday, 2 February 2009
STAR BLUES on 1st February 2009 at 22:00
Lady Bianca's "What Women Will Do" was the featured album last night on a Star Blues playlist very much on the distaff side. The show turned into a survey of the modern blues scene as practiced by the current crop of blues ladies: the two tracks from Lady Bianca's new release were joined by songs from Janiva Magness, Cassie Taylor and Shakura S'Aida. Add in a rambunctious boogie from Katie Webster and you're there with the girls all holding their own.
As it was the last weekend of the month, it was the last of the Buy-One-Get-One-Free promotions offering pairs of tracks by well-known players. In a difficult choice, I settled on a pair each from Robert Cray and the second Sonny Boy Williamson. The weekly gospel spot had a classic side from a group formed over seventy years ago (making Status Quo appear as mere debutants by comparison) - the Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama; their stirring contribution enough to melt the driving snow outside the studio window.
I closed proceedings with two contrasting blues guitar styles: a magnificent two-hander from a 1928 session by Lonnie Johnson (aided and abetted by "white" jazzman Eddie Lang masquerading as the "black" Blind Willie Dunn), and a 2008 slashing slide piece from Julian Sas done in the Netherlands. The night also had a fabulous solo from Hubert Sumlin on a 1966 song from Big Mac and we went a few steps off the blues highway to mark the death of John Martyn at the age of sixty. In his final interview he was pleased to have made that age with a good time and no regrets but still very much a little boy inside.
The full playlist from the show will be on my web-site http://www.garyblue.co.uk/ from about eight o'clock tonight and I'll return (God willing) at ten on Sunday with more Star Blues both on FM and on-0line at http://www.star107.co.uk/ Until then, take care of yourselves and take care of those that take of you
Gary Blue
As it was the last weekend of the month, it was the last of the Buy-One-Get-One-Free promotions offering pairs of tracks by well-known players. In a difficult choice, I settled on a pair each from Robert Cray and the second Sonny Boy Williamson. The weekly gospel spot had a classic side from a group formed over seventy years ago (making Status Quo appear as mere debutants by comparison) - the Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama; their stirring contribution enough to melt the driving snow outside the studio window.
I closed proceedings with two contrasting blues guitar styles: a magnificent two-hander from a 1928 session by Lonnie Johnson (aided and abetted by "white" jazzman Eddie Lang masquerading as the "black" Blind Willie Dunn), and a 2008 slashing slide piece from Julian Sas done in the Netherlands. The night also had a fabulous solo from Hubert Sumlin on a 1966 song from Big Mac and we went a few steps off the blues highway to mark the death of John Martyn at the age of sixty. In his final interview he was pleased to have made that age with a good time and no regrets but still very much a little boy inside.
The full playlist from the show will be on my web-site http://www.garyblue.co.uk/ from about eight o'clock tonight and I'll return (God willing) at ten on Sunday with more Star Blues both on FM and on-0line at http://www.star107.co.uk/ Until then, take care of yourselves and take care of those that take of you
Gary Blue
Monday, 26 January 2009
STAR BLUES on 25th January 2009 at 22:00
Thanks to a listener I was able to give the explanation about "Smokestack Lightning" on last night's show as well as offering "Buy-One Get-One Free" deals on Canned Heat and Howlin' Wolf. The enquiry had come about the classic song and the lyrics describe the sparks given off from the stack of those old fashioned locos running the length and breadth of the States. A small bit oi trivia there for when it goes quiet in the snug.
As well as the fabulous celebrations of blues, the founders of Canned Heat all had massive record collections of thousands of 78rpm discs - the show came full circle when I was also able to play a track by Joe Hill Louis from the soundtrack to a film "Desperate Man Blues" about the collection of Joe Bussard and shown on television on Friday night. The guy is amazing - in his Seventies with the enthusiasm of a teenager - playing air guitar along with a Robert Johnson rarity; he believes his enormous set of records should be played and enjoyed not stored away and revered.
The same night on television included a documentary and concert by Seasick Steve - a true wonder of the age, an old boy playing a single string diddley-bow to a rapt audience of 25000 (who'd have thought it would happen in their lifetime? Blues in the mainstream anyone?)
Blues & Rhythm magazine did a news piece on the show and was picked up by a new listener to the online service of the show. He had fond memories of the Cambridge blues scene in the 1960's including a historic gig by Little Walter at the Alley club. His letter to the show included photos and a whole host of Chicago Blues goodies that will get added to future playlists.
I also did tracks by the new albums from Bobby Jones (ex. Four Aces) and Joanne Shaw Taylor (a teenager with blond hair and nimble fretwork), piano blues in boogie and barrelhouse styles, gospel, a tribute to the late Fathead Newman and the usual tomfoolery. God willing, I'll be doing some more at ten next Sunday on-line and on FM - the playlists will be on http://www.garyblue.co.uk/ tonight - until we can be together again take care of yourselves and take of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
As well as the fabulous celebrations of blues, the founders of Canned Heat all had massive record collections of thousands of 78rpm discs - the show came full circle when I was also able to play a track by Joe Hill Louis from the soundtrack to a film "Desperate Man Blues" about the collection of Joe Bussard and shown on television on Friday night. The guy is amazing - in his Seventies with the enthusiasm of a teenager - playing air guitar along with a Robert Johnson rarity; he believes his enormous set of records should be played and enjoyed not stored away and revered.
The same night on television included a documentary and concert by Seasick Steve - a true wonder of the age, an old boy playing a single string diddley-bow to a rapt audience of 25000 (who'd have thought it would happen in their lifetime? Blues in the mainstream anyone?)
Blues & Rhythm magazine did a news piece on the show and was picked up by a new listener to the online service of the show. He had fond memories of the Cambridge blues scene in the 1960's including a historic gig by Little Walter at the Alley club. His letter to the show included photos and a whole host of Chicago Blues goodies that will get added to future playlists.
I also did tracks by the new albums from Bobby Jones (ex. Four Aces) and Joanne Shaw Taylor (a teenager with blond hair and nimble fretwork), piano blues in boogie and barrelhouse styles, gospel, a tribute to the late Fathead Newman and the usual tomfoolery. God willing, I'll be doing some more at ten next Sunday on-line and on FM - the playlists will be on http://www.garyblue.co.uk/ tonight - until we can be together again take care of yourselves and take of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
Monday, 19 January 2009
STAR BLUES on 18th January 2009 at 22:00
Eric Clapton, when interviewed, is unhappy with the guitar break on the seminal 1968 live version of "Crossroads" - I used the song as the first in a pair of tracks on the "Buy-One-Get-One-Free" promotion on the show. I put it with one of the best songs ever written about cars, "Terraplane", that Eric covered on his "Sessions for Robert J" project. My other artist in the feature was John Lee Hooker: teamed with Robert Cray for an updated go at "Mr. Lucky" in 1991 and shorn of celebrity guests for the Vee-Jay version of "Crawlin' Kingsnake" from the Fifties.
The much promised "Walkin' By Myself" from Jimmy Rogers graced the first hour of the show featuring the best harp solo in recorded blues history from Walter Horton. Feel free to disagree but you won't get me to readily change my mind.
There was some trivia for when things go quiet in the snug: Little Milton's "Grits Ain't Groceries" revealed that Mona Lisa was a man, something confirmed to me several years ago by a noted Art Historian.
As one of the younger listeners celebrates her first birthday this coming Thursday, I played Lady Bianca's "Baby's Boogie" for proud parents Kim and Mark and to mention Lady B's upcoming new album and appearance on the new "Astral Weeks - Live" project with Van Morrison. We played "Gloria" by Van and John Lee Hooker earlier in the show and you'd think the playlist was carefully planned wouldn't you? (It is but don't tell anyone). Speaking of new things lead neatly to the new single by U2 on the Monday Star Breakfast show and the U2/B. B. King gospel collaboration from "Rattle and Hum", "When Love Comes To Town".
The weekly celebration of piano blues included Roosevelt Sykes' "The HoneyDripper" and the Pilgrim Travellers provided "Straight Street" by way of the gospel spot: has there ever been a more beautiful use of the human voice?
By eight on Monday evening, the full playlist for the show will be on http://www.garyblue.co.uk/ and I'll be back God willing with more top tunes and tomfoolery in a blues style next Sunday at ten pm (don't forget you can listen on-line through http://www.star107.co.uk/ or on FM) - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
The much promised "Walkin' By Myself" from Jimmy Rogers graced the first hour of the show featuring the best harp solo in recorded blues history from Walter Horton. Feel free to disagree but you won't get me to readily change my mind.
There was some trivia for when things go quiet in the snug: Little Milton's "Grits Ain't Groceries" revealed that Mona Lisa was a man, something confirmed to me several years ago by a noted Art Historian.
As one of the younger listeners celebrates her first birthday this coming Thursday, I played Lady Bianca's "Baby's Boogie" for proud parents Kim and Mark and to mention Lady B's upcoming new album and appearance on the new "Astral Weeks - Live" project with Van Morrison. We played "Gloria" by Van and John Lee Hooker earlier in the show and you'd think the playlist was carefully planned wouldn't you? (It is but don't tell anyone). Speaking of new things lead neatly to the new single by U2 on the Monday Star Breakfast show and the U2/B. B. King gospel collaboration from "Rattle and Hum", "When Love Comes To Town".
The weekly celebration of piano blues included Roosevelt Sykes' "The HoneyDripper" and the Pilgrim Travellers provided "Straight Street" by way of the gospel spot: has there ever been a more beautiful use of the human voice?
By eight on Monday evening, the full playlist for the show will be on http://www.garyblue.co.uk/ and I'll be back God willing with more top tunes and tomfoolery in a blues style next Sunday at ten pm (don't forget you can listen on-line through http://www.star107.co.uk/ or on FM) - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
Monday, 12 January 2009
STAR BLUES on 11th January 2009 at 22:00
The show was dedicated to the community currently living on the streets, particularly in Cambridge, Ely and in our area. Our daytime presenter Ryan Taylor will spend Thursday night on the street armed only with a tape recorder and the clothes he stands in, the results will surely prove eye-opening.
By way of the two-for-one offer in the STAR schedules, I played a couple of tracks by Muddy Waters and two from B. B. King - one of which was a rare version of the classic song "Why I Sing The Blues". We wished Patrick Swayze well with his current health troubles and included something from his good friend Jeff Healey to recall their collaboration on the "Roadhouse" movie. There was also some gospel from an unlikely source: Janis Ian - and some vintage piano blues from Lloyd Glenn and Jimmy Yancey.
Further to some enquiries about the show of 4th January, last night I was able to confirm the superb 1992 collection of Walter Horton's seminal Memphis recording is still available from Ace. His most celebrated performance is found on the track "Walkin By Myself" by Jimmy Rogers and I'll play that one on next week's show ...
Don't forget the show is live on FM and live through the star107.co.uk web-site; I'll post the full playlist on garyblue.co.uk this evening (Monday) and god willing I'll be back with more blues, news and reviews at ten next Sunday night. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Gary Blue
By way of the two-for-one offer in the STAR schedules, I played a couple of tracks by Muddy Waters and two from B. B. King - one of which was a rare version of the classic song "Why I Sing The Blues". We wished Patrick Swayze well with his current health troubles and included something from his good friend Jeff Healey to recall their collaboration on the "Roadhouse" movie. There was also some gospel from an unlikely source: Janis Ian - and some vintage piano blues from Lloyd Glenn and Jimmy Yancey.
Further to some enquiries about the show of 4th January, last night I was able to confirm the superb 1992 collection of Walter Horton's seminal Memphis recording is still available from Ace. His most celebrated performance is found on the track "Walkin By Myself" by Jimmy Rogers and I'll play that one on next week's show ...
Don't forget the show is live on FM and live through the star107.co.uk web-site; I'll post the full playlist on garyblue.co.uk this evening (Monday) and god willing I'll be back with more blues, news and reviews at ten next Sunday night. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Gary Blue
Monday, 5 January 2009
STAR BLUES on 4th January 2009 at 22:00
As well as the usual piano blues and gospel offerings, last night's show included two rare items - one by Robert Cray and the other featuring Eric Clapton. The Cray track is something he did in 1995 for a special project on Don Covay and though it features his best playing it is currently unavailable. Clapton's contribution to a session by Champion Jack Dupree sounds as if he's playing as though his life depended on it. The original vinyl album is worth a few bob and was never on cd until last year - then the disc was subsequently withdrawn two weeks after release. Look out for more rare items on future Star Blues.
I noted the retirement of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and set out a case for a decent reward for his contribution to British Blues, how about Lord Mayall of Macclesfield? Robert Plant did get a CBE in the New Years list so we celebrated with the Everly's song "Gone Gone Gone" he did with Alison Krauss last year to great commercial and critical success.
There was also a frantic workout from a 1953 session done to eat up spare studio time just before midnight by Ruth Brown - in these days of overdubs and multitrack recording there's little chance of Leona Lewis or Alexandra Burke being able to emulate "Little Miss Rhythm".
There's a full playlist for the show from Monday evening at garyblue.co.uk and I'll be back with more Star Blues at ten next Sunday night - until then take care of yourself and take care of those that take care of you. Happy New Year
Gary Blue
I noted the retirement of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and set out a case for a decent reward for his contribution to British Blues, how about Lord Mayall of Macclesfield? Robert Plant did get a CBE in the New Years list so we celebrated with the Everly's song "Gone Gone Gone" he did with Alison Krauss last year to great commercial and critical success.
There was also a frantic workout from a 1953 session done to eat up spare studio time just before midnight by Ruth Brown - in these days of overdubs and multitrack recording there's little chance of Leona Lewis or Alexandra Burke being able to emulate "Little Miss Rhythm".
There's a full playlist for the show from Monday evening at garyblue.co.uk and I'll be back with more Star Blues at ten next Sunday night - until then take care of yourself and take care of those that take care of you. Happy New Year
Gary Blue
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