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 The original vinyl album is worth a few bob and was never on cd until last year - then the disc was subsequently withdrawn two weeks after release.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
No comments:
Post a Comment