STAR BLUES yesterday had Serendipity on the show and an armful of albums newly out or due real soon. We bumped into the new theme song for our own Mighty Mark Peters, a song from James Armstrong called "Slender Man Blues" - he can do what bigger men can't and you can expect Mark will come on stage at the World Championship Welly Wanger event with spangly cape and swirling smoke to his new opus. Or possibly he's too shy.
Just in case you're thinking the rest of the playlist couldn't keep up: In order we dipped into newbies of local favourites Egypt, the Holmes Brothers, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Magic Slim, Lightnin' Hopkins, Aynsley Lister, Janiva Magness and the third volume of the Goldwax story. We'll make return visits soon and Wendell Holmes' "Fair Weather Friend" seems set to become feted with song awards for his poignant lyrics on being diagnosed with cancer.
A couple of weeks ago, Maria Muldaur gave me trouble with a gospel offering on cd but her duet with Bonnie Raitt yesterday was just fine. Champion Jack Dupree is another centenarian this year, he was on hand for first session done for Syd Nathan's King label - his "Heart Breakin Woman" featured superb electric guitar from Brownie McGhee. The whole thing went out under the name of Big Tom Collins but we weren't fooled for our piano blues spot. Mark Knopfler helped Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and Kid Ramos excelled for James Harman on "Icepick Boogie" - two good excuses to roll the rug back and jive at bedtime.
Almost forgot. The Lighnin' Hopkins set is as far as I know the first career spanning retrospective of this unique blues artist. It goes from 1948 to 1973 and it intends to be the music for Alan Govenar's biography of Hopkins. This will be one of the reissue projects of the year.
As for next week, more new things from Guitar Shorty, Anders Osborne, Tiny Topsy, the XL label, a rock'n'roll anthology from Ace and the new one from Anni Piper. We kick-off next Sunday at 10pm (BST) and I'll be thrilled if you can drop in for more STAR BLUES. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
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