STAR BLUES on 18thSeptember 2011 at 22:00

STAR BLUES draws on traditional and vintage recordings along with the best of the new breed and our show last night certainly ticked all those boxes. Charlie Musselwhite is in fine form these days and he came along to help George Thorogood on his new album of covers done first for the Chess label (Hence the project title of 2120 South Michigan Ave.). Charlie added a bit of light and shade to George’s boyish enthusiasm take on “My Babe” to ease in to our show after Rock God Neil Jones at ten.

Late addition to the playlist came in the form of a lovely piece of playing with Toby Walker in the songbook of Blind Boy Fuller. Toby’s understated album is a little gem that we’ll go to again. Still can't believe the classic Stax soul arrangement that Eli Paperboy Reed gives Lemmy's "Ace of Spades" but when we play it the phones get busy for all the right reasons!

Freddie Kings birthdate slipped by on 3^rd September and we went to one of his Shelter recordings which showed off his muscular playing on the original of a piece that many rock/blues players cover these days. Namesake, but no relation, B B king had his 86^th birthday on Friday 16^th and with the live version of Gambler’s Blues  demonstrated why he was so far ahead of the pack in the Sixties. Celebrations were somewhat tempered with news of the death of Willie Big-Eyes Smith and so soon after his friend and musical partner Pinetop Perkins. Smith had two spells in Muddy Waters band and founded the Legendary Blues Band. He started as a harp player  and recently he returned to it as his instrument of choice. I’ve held back some of his solo sides but he got a showcase as sideman to Koko Taylor and one of his compositions from the multi-award winning album “Joined at the Hip” hid did with Pinetop. A few weeks before he died he must have smiled that big grin as his son Kenny got a gong from Living Blues magazine as Best Musician (Drums).

From the 1950s Jimmy Anderson was Naggin; Sonny Boy Williamson and Mighty Joe Young did things from the 1960s and one of the songs Jimmy Johnson but for Bruce Iglauer’s Living Chicago Blues project moved ourfocus to the 1970s. Our 1001 feature came from the last session Big Maceo did at the piano before his stroke  - the definitive version of Chicago Breakdown. Any significant remnants of the Jelly Roll Morton piece had long gone as far as I could tell.  The Blind Boys of Alabama have done duty in our gospel spot before but Bishop Dready Manning was in the tent for the first time with the “Gospel Train”. I got his track from Music Maker as I did the closing rocker by Beverley Guitar Watkins.

Next Sunday at ten (BST) we’ll have more STAR BLUES fare, thanks in advance for the kind invite to your place. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

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My Babe (Featuring Charlie Musselwhite)	George Thorogood	10	2120 South Michigan Ave	George Thorogood	Capitol
Me And My Guitar	Freddie King	4	Texas Cannonball	Freddie King	SEQUEL
Serves Me Right To Suffer	Jimmy Johnson	10	Living Chicago Blues Vol. 1	Jimmy Johnson	Alligator
W.C. Handy Sang The Blues	Roy Gaines	6	New Frontier Lover	Roy Gaines	SEVERN
What Kind Of Man Is This?	Bob Corritore, Koko Taylor, Bob Margolin, Little Frank Krakowski, Bob Stroger, Willie "Big Eyes" Smi	1	Harmonica Blues	Bob Corritore	Delta Groove
Chicago Breakdown	Big Maceo	14	20th Century Blues	Various Artists	CATFISH
I've Got Mine	Pink Anderson	12	All That Blues	Various Artists	ORIGINAL BLUES CLASSICS
Sylvie	Lead Belly	2	Goodnight Irene	Leadbelly	MUSIC CLUB
Sylvie	Louise SetaraLadysmith Black Mambazo	9	Still Waters	Louise Setara	EMI / MANHATTON
Early In The Morning	Mighty Joe Young	16	Legacy Of The Blues : Maxi Sampler	Various Artists	SONET
I'm His Wife You're Just His Friend	Ann Sexton	3	Sound Stage Seven Story	Various Artists	CHARLY
Ace of Spades	Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves	1	Ace Of Spades	Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves	not given
Gambler's Blues	B. B. King	2	Great Moments With B. B. King	B. B. King	MCA
Dog House Boogie	Seasick Steve	5	Dog House Music	Seasick Steve	Bronzerat
Iko Iko	Dr. John	1	Gumbo	Dr. John	ATCO
Take It Easy	Pinetop Perkins	9	Crucial Chicago Blues	Various Artists	Alligator
Grown Up To Be A Man	Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith	1	Joined At The Hip	Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith	TELARC
I Saw The Light	Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Hank Williams, Jr., The	12	Various Artists	Various Artists	not given
Gospel Train	Bishop Dready Manning	64	Music Maker	Various Artists	Music Maker
My Younger Days	Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	22	Work With Me	Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	CHARLY
Naggin	Jimmy Anderson	8	Louisiana Swamp Blues	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
Keep On Truckin' Mama	Toby Walker	5	Shake Baby Shake	Toby Walker	VANGUARD
Street Singer	Ray Bonneville	9	Rough Luck	Ray Bonneville	BLUESIDE
I'm Gonna Rock Some More	Beverly 'Guitar' Watkins	41	Music Maker	Various Artists	Music Maker