Sunday 27 July 2014

STAR BLUES on 27th July 2014 celebrating female blues and birthdays upcoming for Buddy Guy and Robert Cray

Timely issue from Fantastic Voyage helps us make up for not having female blues on recent shows

A mid-morning documentary on the life and work of Billie Holiday was a timely reminder of her sumptuous voice which could convey blues as readily as jazz. I also learned that "Lady Day" was actually the name Lester Young used for Billie's mother before Billie took it for herself. Mickey Champion's skill came from her glamourous and stylish clothes sense at odds with her uncompromising earthy world weary voice - audible right through to that project she did for Cannonball a few years ago. To the best of my research Linda Hayes is still with us, her brother was in the Platters and she had some R&B success in her own right circa 1953.

Vaneese Thomas has the pick of the newest crop with a tribute project to her father, the irrepressible Rufus Thomas. Digital trickery means they can duet on a previously unissued take of a Rufus piece. Sister Carla is also on hand but if you love Betye LaVette's work as much as me you're in for a treat. I had to write myself a note to remember to take the disc out of the car into the studio, it had been a fixture in my system all week. Bob Coritorre came over twice, once on the album he did with John Primer that showed why Chicago Blues is so good at the moment; he was also helping out Dave Specter on a new thing he's done on Delmark.

Lavern Baker's material was sometimes tinged with novelty, at others with fire and one imagines her rivalry with label mate Ruth Brown would have been the stuff of legend. Ruby Glaze was the female voice on a handful of songs put out under Blind Willie McTell, her track on STAR BLUES was in her own name but seemingly had Willie on string support. The much missed Jo Ann Kelly did a version of Louisiana Blues to round out the feature for us.

Birthday boys Cray and Guy couldn't be more different in temperament and approach to playing, both men have been massively influential. When Eric Clapton left the Bluesbreakers he wanted Cream to be a power-trio just like Buddy Guy's West side of Chicago outfit. We had one of Buddy's earliest Chess sides that Eric would have heard then a 1979 live effort Buddy did with Junior Wells at that years Blues Estefayette festival. Both our selections on Young Bob had roots in his soulful side; one from Stax era William Bell, the other a cover of a Bobby Parker classic. Our opening pair of tracks we for Pretty Blue whose birthday it was; since little more than a twinkle in Lady Blue’s eye she has always loved those two songs – it is every parent’s legal duty to ensure the finest music is on hand during a child’s formative years.

Prof. Longhair and Floyd Dixon were in the piano tent in their different forms, those folks are always welcome here. Though we didn't strictly have a gospel number, Marie Knight was on hand doing one of her occasional secular performances.

It was a pretty decent night for blues guitar players all of which prompts me to plug next week's show where the guitar must be unplugged if you're coming in here. Auntie Beeb has a penchant for the guitar riff at the moment with the great and the good voting for the best one (not sure how you measure it). STAR BLUES is pleased to act as antidote because our music has always been about songs and people not about showing off. Gets down off soapbox while other blues radio shows stand and stare open-mouthed.

track.titletrack.artistsortindexalbum.titlealbum.artistsortlabel
Sell My MonkeyB. B. King5Introducing B. B. KingB. B. KingMCA
Little Bitty Pretty OneThurston Harris And The Sharps3Let The Good Times Roll - The Aladdin StoryVarious ArtistsOne Day Music
Share What You Got Keep What You NeedRobert Cray12Bad InfluenceRobert CrayDEMON
Steal Your Heart AwayBobby Parker2Soul City PhiladelphiaVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Southern Central BluesVaneese Thomas1Blues for My FatherVaneese ThomasSegue Records
Bam-A-LamMickey Champion1-26Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties FemalesVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
voodoo voodoolavern baker3-31Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties FemalesVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
'tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Dobillie holiday1-14that old devil called lovebillie holidayretro
Coal MinerNappy Brown11New Breed R&b With Added PopcornVarious ArtistsKent
Slop Around (Chess 1759)Buddy Guy10R&b Humdingers Volume 11Various ArtistsVee-Tone Records
Bad DreamJames Davis21Duke Blues BrothersVarious Artists
Between Midnight And DayProfessor Longhair12Mardi Gras In New OrleansProfessor LonghairSPV Blue
Bad NeighbourhoodFloyd Dixon14Blues TunesVarious ArtistsHIT
man or mouseJohn Primer and bob coritorre9knockin around these bluesJohn Primer and bob coritorredelta groove
Blues Get Off My ShoulderRobert Cray6Nothing But LoveRobert CrayPROVOGUE
One Room Country ShackBuddy Guy4The Story Of Black And Blues :1976-1988Various ArtistsFREMEAUX ET ASSOCIES
Atomic BabyLinda Hayes30Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties FemalesVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Smooth OperatorRuth Brown13Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties FemalesVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Grasshopper BabyMarie Knight12Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties FemalesVarious ArtistsFantastic Voyage
Salt In My CoffeeBetty James16A Greyhound Bus And Ride - Moonshine Blp 117Various Artistsmoonshine
Tell Me, Is There Still A Chance?Goree Carter15Deep FeelingVarious ArtistsFantatsic Voyage
I Can't Help ItGuitar Crusher4Boogie On Broadway ( Moonshine Blp 119 )Various Artistsmoonshine
Bop Cat StompKing Charles feat. Left Hand Charlie16Deep FeelingVarious ArtistsFantatsic Voyage
be careful with the blueshop wilson3-25Deep FeelingVarious ArtistsFantatsic Voyage
too late to changejohnny fuller3-8Deep FeelingVarious ArtistsFantatsic Voyage
Lonesomeday BluesRuby Glaze8The Great Women Blues SingersVarious ArtistsRETRO
Louisiana BluesJo Ann Kelly7Key To The HighwayJo Ann KellySanctuary Records Group Ltd
Why Do Things Happen To MeW. C. Clark4Texas SoulW. C. ClarkBLACK TOP
Don't Take My Kindness For A WeaknessEarl Gaines1Crankshaft BluesEarl GainesBlue Label / SPV
louisiana stompdave specter and bob coritorre10message in bluedave specterdelmark
Created: 27/07/2014 23:43:08

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