STAR BLUES on 6th May 2012 at 22:00

Billy Boy, Big Bill, Brad, Barbara, BB, Bop and Buzz. Nothing like a bit of alliteration to cleanse the soul, that's what I say. The Big Red Book of Radio Rules says that you shouldn't start a show with new tracks the audience don't know - I think the Mighty Mark Peters has my copy. The Phantom Blues Band started out as  Taj Mahal's musicians of choice and their third disc maintains their high standards despite changing label; the Royal Southern Brotherhood has Mike Zito with members of two dynasties: Devon Allman and Cyril Neville. The expected onslaught of high intensity playing is leavened with thoughtful atmospheric skills at that far end of our purview. Brad Hatfield is another with a new project and you shouldn't confuse this Cincinatti singer and harp player with the guy of the same name from Boston who writes film scores. Peter Karp and Sue Foley get together again for their second album as a two-piece, while Barbara Lynn's recordings for Jamie in the early 1960s are collected on a brand new disc.

The fresh items continued with a lovingly compiled survey of the work of Gary Primich who died in 2007 just as he was hitting his artistic stride - the two discs dip into his back catalogue as well as some unreleased tracks courtesy of his son's archive. Steve Hooker is an interesting guy who links bop to buzz with a love of rockabilly and soul, he sent us a sampler of albums on his label we chose a slide instrumental that rocked out quite nicely. His survey starts with Howlin' Wilf (known these days as James Hunter) and we went to Wilf's "Cry Wilf" album before we got out hands on "Leather Soul".

Ray Charles, BB King, Lighnin' Hopkins and Robert Johnson need no further comment from me, the word legend is enough. The Squadron Leader - my dad - loved Nina Simone's voice so it was a treat to include her version of "Nobody Knows You"  and other blues ladies such as Irma Thomas, Bettye LaVette and Lavern Baker weren't far behind. Our rock god, Neil Jones, received the album from Hat Fitz and Cara but thought it would suit us instead: top man. BTW what sort of name is that, I'm pretty sure the vicar would never christen anyone Cara?

All of which leaves us with two tracks from the new album by Billy Boy Arnold. His warm voice is perfect for the songs of Big Bill Broonzy, there's neither a note wasted nor too many and he has top-notch support from the likes of Eric Noden and Billy Flynn. They capture the essence of Broonzy without copying him, this project on Electro-Fi cannot be praised highly enough. Until next Sunday at ten pm, take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Track.Title	Track.ArtistSort	Index	Album.Title	Album.ArtistSort	Label	Released
A Good Time With The Blues	Phantom Blues Band	2	Inside Out	Phantom Blues Band	REDEYE Records	2012
A Brand New Man	James Armstrong	10	Blues at the Border	James Armstrong	CATFOOD	2012
Witness to My Misery	Brad Hatfield	1	Uphill From anywhere	Brad Hatfield	N/A	2012
Feelin' Bad	Ray Charles	5	The Genius Sings Blues	Ray Charles	Atlantic	20091108
You'll Lose a Good Thing	Barbara Lynn	7	You'll Lose a Good Thing	Barbara Lynn	JAMIE	1963
Girl in the Valley a.K.A. Water Coast Blues	Billy Boy Arnold	3	Billy Boy Arnold Sings: Big Bill Broonzy	Billy Boy Arnold	Electro-Fi
More Than I Bargained For	Peter Karp and Sue Foley	7	Beyond The Crossroads	Peter Karp and Sue Foley	Blind Pig
Mellow Down Easy	Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays	10	Cry Wilf!	Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays	BIG BEAT	200610
Cool Driver	Johnny Shines	21	Rough Treatment - The J.O.B. Records Story	Various Artists	WESTSIDE
Black Cat Bone	Lightnin Hopkins	1-8	The Blues Box	Various artists	UNION SQUARE
Terraplane Blues	Robert Johnson	2-3	The Blues Box	Various artists	UNION SQUARE
Left My Heart In Memphis	Royal Southern Brotherhood	3	RSB	Royal Southern Brotherhood	Ruf
Fine Old Foxy Self (King LP 635)	James Brown	11	R&B Humdingers Volume 12	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records	2012
Cornbread Row	Big Al Downing	1	Southern Soul Shake!: SSS Soul Survey & Music City Soul	Various Artists	CHARLY
Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go	Bettye LaVette & Hank Ballard	12	Southern Soul Shake!: SSS Soul Survey & Music City Soul	Various Artists	CHARLY
Nobody Knows You When Your Down & Out	Nina Simone	19	Songs To Sing: The Best Of Nina Simone	Nina Simone	Music Club Deluxe	2006
Walkin' Dr Bill Aka Gotta Find My Baby	B.B. King	21	Theme Time Radio Hour - Series 2	Various Artists	ACE	2009
First Class Love	Little Johnny Taylor	7	The Galaxy Years	Little Johnny Taylor	ACE	20100410
Soul On Fire	Lavern Baker	21	The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records	2010
Didn't it Rain	Norfolk Travellers	13	Gospel Box	Various Artists	Red Box	2009
Soul Of A Man	Irma ThomasCorey Harris	11	After The Rain	Irma Thomas	Rounder	2006
Keyto the Highway	Billy Boy Arnold	4	Billy Boy Arnold Sings: Big Bill Broonzy	Billy Boy Arnold	Electro-Fi
Wiley Ways	Hat Fitz And Cara	8	Wiley Ways	Hat Fitz And Cara	N/A	2012
Steel Sedan	Steve Hooker	10	Leather Soul - vol one	Various Artists	oosoul
Boogie Woogie Baby	Gary Primich	4	Just a little more	Gary Primich	old pal

Created: 06/05/2012 23:54:27