I've been a bit worried lately that the playlists for STAR BLUES have been filled with guitarists plying their version of electric blues/rock and I've neglected the other styles of blues. So I set myself a task last night of showing as many sides of our music as I could in the couple of hours I'm allowed. Judging by the feedback I've had so far, we did ok with some great choons. We still did some modern stuff with Sean Chanbers but we also had classics from Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James and John Lee Hooker. Our piano blues spot covered both bases with Mike Kindred from 2004 on "Bankable Boogie" and the ever reliable Jimmy Yancey from 1951 at one of his last sessions for his "Bugle Call".
Pick of the crop - in my humble - was the imperious Cleo Gibson whose Ford Movements made this happy man very old (she wasn't talking about her car when offering a 10,000 mile guarantee). Georgia White and Marion Williams completed a formidable trio of great female blues voices. Marion's "Can't No Grave" is covered by Johnny Cash on the final set of unreleased recordings he made with Rick Rubin at American studios and she provided a neat comparison in approach that gave each version a different spin. As for the Gospel tent, the Blind Boys of Alabama came along with Robert Randolph and Ben Harper for a robust go at Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready".
The other trips through blues were done with Kelly Joe Phelps, deft of finger and warm of voice, Eric Clapton , who with practice could make a name for himself, Arthur Adams , back in great form and on Delta Groove, and two very different versions of recorded fifty years apart of "Stagger Lee". Van Morrison, Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore were on hand as the Irish contingent to bring an early celebration of St. Patrick's Day even though Mr. Moore had help from a certain Mr. King.
I'm planning a black-tee shirt outing on Good Friday as an extra but I'll be back clad in white next Sunday at 10pm (GMT) with more blues, news, reviews and tomfoolery. You can wear what you like, nothing at all if you really want because its radio - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
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