STAR BLUES on 15th May 2011 at 22:00

A quick glance at GARY BLUE's ALMANAC revealed another centenary to mark this week. Wednesday 18th May is the 100th anniversary of Big Joe Turner, arguably the man who invented rock'n'roll. We noted his work from the Spiritual to Swing concert set up by John Hammond through his sides for Savoy, Aladdin, Imperial and for Atlantic. Of course we had to do "Shake Rattle and Roll" but we also had his jazz-tinged 1942 recording of "Mama Done Told Me" as well as a rare-ish version of "Roll Em Pete" with his long term sparring partner Pete johnson on sparkling keys. My abiding memory of BJT was through a black n white film clip where he ambles on stage from a curtain barely moving - except for the finger clicking of his right hand. The joint was swinging from the rafters with his bel-canto voice.

Other late additions to the playlist came from first plays of the new project from one-man band Ben Prestage and from the harmonica sensation Giles Robson (he is the darling of both Chris Evans and Paul Jones). Our 1001 blues feature had a song you'll hear in an advert on tv at the moment - At Last - and it was also a chance to wish Etta James well now she's back in hospital with further blood problems. The distaff side of piano blues came to the fore with a Two-Fisted Katie Webster and a bluse ballad from Lady Bianca (last seen backing Van Morrison).

Our gospel spot went to the first recording session of Fred McDowell in 1959 for "Woke Up This Morning with My Mind on Jesus", quite lovely picking beautifully captured by Alan Lomax. The edge of blues at the rock end had both Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan and the link to our special Robert Johnson show last week was provided by Elmore James and a stinging first go at "Dust My Blues".

I plan to have a Bob Dylan theme (pun deliberately intended) for next weeks STAR BLUES to mark the start of his eighth decade on 24th May. Thanks again for all the feedback on the complete works of Robert Johnson and I hope we get chance to spend another two hours together next Sunday at ten, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

Track	Artist	Album
Dust My Blues	Elmore James	[1-4]Blues Tunes - Various Artists{- -}
Rock Me Baby	Jimi Hendrix Experience, The	[1-5]Live At Monterey - Jimi Hendrix Experience, The{- -}
These Bills	Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones	[1-4]I Need Time - Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones{- -}
My Heart's In Texas	Smokin' Joe Kubek w. Bnois King	[1-5]My Heart's In Texas - Smokin' Joe KubekBnois King{- -}
Trouble & Pain	Robert Cray Band	[1-8]This Time - Robert Cray Band{- -}
At Last	Etta James	[1-18]The Best Of Etta James - Etta James{- -}
Edge Of The World	Shawn Pittman	[1-6]Edge Of The World - Shawn Pittman{- -}
My Home Is A Prison	Lonesome Sundown	[1-10]It's Your Voodoo Working: The Best of Excello - Various Artists{- -}
That's All Right	James Cotton	[1-2]Fire Down Under The Hill - James Cotton{- -}
Cooling Board	Dirty Aces, The	[1-10]Crooked heart of mine - Dirty Aces, The{- -}
Give Me Back My Wig	Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods	[1-8]First Blood - Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods{- -}
West Side Soul	Hubert Sumlin Feat. Ronnie Earl	[1-2]Blues Guitar Duels - Various Artists{- -}
These Blues Is Killing Me	A. C. Reed w. Stevie Ray Vaughan	[2-6]S.R.V - Stevie Ray Vaughan{- -}
I Got The Blues	Lady Bianca	[1-1]All By Myself - Lady Bianca{- -}
Two-Fisted Mama	Katie Webster	[2-16]Alligator Records 40th Anniversary (2Xcd) - Various Artists{- -}
Tell The Devil I'm Gone	Ben Prestage	[1-1]One Crow Murder - Ben Prestage{- -}
Blues In The Night	Big Joe Turner	[1-3]I Don't Dig It - Big Joe Turner{- -}
Roll 'Em Pete	Big Joe Turner	[1-5]Jumpin' With Joe - Big Joe Turner{- -}
Shake Rattle And Roll	Big Joe Turner	[1-15]Blues Masters - Various Artists{- -}
Honey Hush	Big Joe Turner	[1-8]Greatest Hits - Big Joe Turner{- -}
Woke Up This Morning With My Mind On...	Mississippi Fred McDowell	[1-7]The First Recordings - Mississippi Fred McDowell{- -}
Five Card Hand	William Clarke	[1-2]The Hard Way - William Clarke{- -}
Don't Start Me To Talkin'	Sonny Boy Williamson	[1-19]The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years - Various Artists{- -}