Sunday 22 April 2012

STAR BLUES on 22nd April 2012 at 22:00

Back a couple of years we did a Blues in Britain themed STAR BLUES and for St George's Day we returned there last night. With a number of big names and enthusiastic sidemen the Sixties on this side of the pond had its own "Blues Boom" while the popularity of the genre waned Stateside. Some of them went on to have unexpected success on the singles charts: Pete Wingfield played piano for Jellybread and their rambunctious go at Huey Piano Smith's bout  of Pneumonia; Jona Lewie Stopped the Cavalry a while after he did "Boogie Woman" under his given name of John Lewis.

Neither Led Zeppelin nor the Stones needed introduction or explanation and it was a treat to hear both Paul Jones (Manfreds) and Eric Clapton (Bluesbreakers) playing blues covers as if their very lives depended on it. Clapton wasn't first axenman in that job, Roger Dean predated him and recorded with John Mayall "Live At Kooks Kleek" the open track chosen was later a hit for Katie Melua "Crawlin Up A Hill". (BTW I'm pretty sure the album was cut in a studio with overdubbed audience)

Alexis Korner would've had a birthday this past week and his earliest influence on blues hereabouts got an outing through a version of "Early in the Morning" that had ace folk bass player Danny Thompson and a fruity vocal from the great Herbie Goins. Maggie Bell and Jo Ann Kelly flew the distaff flag  and brother Dave laid out some impressive credentials with his 1968 contribution.

Sonny Boy Williamson cut a striking figure in four-quarter suit and a briefcase of harps, he recorded in London in 1963 with the Yardbirds as backing group and ten years later Jim Simpson of Big Bear used native players to brief visiting bluesmen from the States in 1973 and 1974 - as examples we had Boogie Woogie Red and Lightnin Slim. No British survey of Sixties blues could leave out Mike Vernon's Blue Horizon label and we had Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack and Duster Bennett to show the depth of talent on offer.

I was all set to unveil the story of my first record in my collection but the clock had other ideas. A tale for another day. We'll be back next Sunday at ten pm, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you



Track.Title Track.ArtistSort Index Album.Title Album.ArtistSort Label
Have You Heard John Mayall's Bluesbreakers 7 Clapton Is God: The Cream Of Early Eric Clapton Eric Clapton Castle Music Uk
Talk To Me Baby Fleetwood Mac 27 Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues Various Artists INDIGO
As The Years Go Passing By Maggie Bell 2 Best Of Maggie Bell ANGEL Air
Come On Rolling Stones, The 1 Rolled Gold Plus: Very Best Of The Rolling Stones Rolling Stones, The ABKCO
I Got My Mojo Working Manfred Mann 3 The Best Of The Emi Years Manfred Mann EMI
When You Got A Friend Dave Kelly 7 Me And The Devil / I Asked For Water T.S. McPhee & Friends BEAT GOES ON
My Little Cabin Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)Yardbirds, The 13 Clapton Is God: The Cream Of Early Eric Clapton Eric Clapton Castle Music Uk
Flood In Huston Savoy Brown 1 Shake Down / Getting To The Point Savoy Brown BGO
Woke Up This Morning Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated 10 Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues Various Artists INDIGO
Ride With Your Daddy Tonight Brunning Sunflower Blues Band, The 2 Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues Various Artists INDIGO
Levee Camp Holler Jo-Ann Kelly 8 Black Rat Swing Jo-Ann Kelly CASTLE
Every Little Bit Hurts Spencer Davis Group, The 3 The Best Of The Spencer Davis Group Spencer Davis Group, The ISLAND
Hideaway Chicken Shack 2 Blue Horizon Story Vol. 1 Various Artists CBS
Too Long Gordon Smith 5 Blue Horizon Story Vol. 1 Various Artists CBS
Gallows Pole Led Zeppelin 6 Led Zeppelin Iii Led Zeppelin Atlantic
Boogie Woman John Lewis 4 Me And The Devil / I Asked For Water T.S. McPhee & Friends BEAT GOES ON
Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie 'Flu Jellybread 17 Blue Horizon Story Vol. 1 Various Artists CBS
Walking In The Park Lightnin' Slim 16 American Blues Legends 73 / 74 Various Artists INDIGO / BIG BEAR
After Hours Boogie Woogie Red 2 American Blues Legends 73 / 74 Various Artists INDIGO / BIG BEAR
Crawling Up A Hill (Version 2) John Mayall 1 Plays John Mayall: Live At Klooks Kleek! John Mayall Universal/Decca
Jumping At Shadows Duster Bennett 11 Complete Blue Horizon Sessions Duster Bennett SONY
John Henry Jumps In Paul Lamb 4 Harmonica Man Paul Lamb CASTLE
That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch Jon 'T-Bone' Taylor 1 Bop Brothers (And Sisters) Jon 'T-Bone' Taylor ABACABE
Created: 22/04/2012 23:50:50

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