Sunday 3 August 2014

STAR BLUES on 3rd August 2014 at 22:00 with a focus on piano, voice, harp and sax

Putting a bit of balance back into the way blues is portrayed after a few weeks of electric guitar domination. Other than an unplanned visit from Pat Hare on "Cotton Crop Blues" we pretty much nailed it. (There was no way I'd interrupt anything as magnificent as Hare's aggressive solo). So no apologies for that, nor for being a shameless hussy in stealing ideas for our playlist from FB (especially Lou Sargent)

Little Richard's collection has a title that is too modest and his full on piano style is never more than one track away in the jukebox I have in my head. Wynonie Harris possessed quite the dirtiest pipes  in rock'n'roll and our choice showed how he was rock'n'rollin' ahead of the pack.  Hadda brooks was elegant and stylish - and a founding star at Modern in the Bihari's debut year; Jimmy Witherspoon and Billy Boy Arnold  were out and about on Chess.

Our most left field offering got back to basic instrumentatio with Napolean Strickland's crew: its a marmite instrumental you either love or loathe (count me in pile number one). It sounds as it it should be really old but was actually cut in the early Sixties released by Pete Weldings Testament imprint. The Memphis Jug Band had top notch players like Will Shade in the ranks and the joyous sound they made together still has echoes today in the work of folks like Otis Taylor. Sister Rosetta's go at "Take A Little Walk" had different emphasis to the well known version by Robert Lockwood Jr.

I came to Lou Pride's music fairly late in his career but I immediately set about wrapping myself in as much of his gorgeous voice as possible, He brought a version of a 1978 song by Earl Randle for Ann Peebles. You may not know the name James Phelps but you may have heard the voice: he had the tough job following Johnnie Taylor and Sam Cooke in the Soul Stirrers. His secular side for Checker was a hit and our choice on this special STAR BLUES.

Mattie Delaney only cut two records, one more than Cleo Gibson who delighted us from a bygone era. we didn't ignore the guitar completely, we just had it acoustically and rarely better than with Robert Johnson, Tommy McClennan, Black Ace or Bukka White. As for piano we stayed with the heavyweight names of Jimmy Yancey and Pete Johnson.

The kind feedback we got before, during and after the show makes it almost certain we'll do another show with the same theme. Told you we were different: Britain's Other Blues Show will be back on Sunday at 10pm (BST) with more mayhem, trivia and tomfoolery. 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
Heeby-Jebbies Little Richard And His Band 21 Just About As Good As It Gets Little Richard SMITH & CO
Mean Old Frisco Champion Jack Dupree 1 Two Classic Albums Plus Singles Champion Jack Dupree AVID
Ridin' The Boogie Lou Sargent 6 Rockin' Memphis Various Artists Proper Box
It Ain't The Meat Swallows, The 48 Bedspring Poker - Meat In Motion 1926/1951 Various Artists INDIGO
Ridin' The Boogie Hadda Brooks 11 Modern Music: 1945 Various Artists ACE
Dig This Boogie Wynonie Harris 1 The Bullet Records Story - The First Americana Label Various Artists SPV
When The Lights Go Out Jimmy Witherspoon 18 Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
I Didn't Take Your Woman (You Gave Her To Me) Lou Pride 13 Twisting The Knife Lou Pride ICHIBAN
Love Is A Five Letter Word James Phelps 9 Chicago Radio Soul Various Artists Kent (U.K.)
you got me where you want me Etta James 11 queen of soul Etta James kent
night train james brown 1-2 only young once various artists one day
Down The Big Road Blues Mattie Delaney 11 The Great Women Blues Singers Various Artists RETRO
I've Got Ford Movements In My Hips Cleo Gibson 10 Bedspring Poker - Meat In Motion 1926/1951 Various Artists INDIGO
I'm A Steady Rollin' Man Robert Johnson 1-9 old school Robert Johnson ROUGH GUIDES
Blue As I Can Be Tommy McClennan 19 Cross Cut Saw Tommy McClennan DOCUMENT
parchman farm bukka white 2-1 old school Robert Johnson ROUGH GUIDES
Eleven O'clock Twist Bill Doggett 10 Only Young Once: The King Records Story Various Artists One Day Music
Black Ace Black Ace 7 Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Texas Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Jivin' The Blues John Lee 'Sonny Boy Williamson 20 History Of Rhythm And Blues Part One Various Artists Rhythm and Blues Records
Cotton Crop Blues James Cotton 18 Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Harmonica Jam Hot Shot Love 3 Sun Blues Box : 1950-1958 Various Artists CHARLY
My Babe Napolean Strickland Fife & Drum Band 20 Sampler Various Artists Testament
Sun Brimmer's Blues Memphis Jug Band 1 Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Just A Closer Walk With Thee Sister Rosetta Tharpe 15 Gospel - The Ultimate Collection Various Artists RED Box
House Rent Stomp Big Bill Broonzy 8 House Rent Stomp Big Bill Broonzy BLUES ENCORE
Sugar Farm Blues Yank Rachell 22 Walk Right In Various Artists INDIGO
My Trainfare Out Of Town Johnny Young 9 Ground-Breaking Blues: A Blue Horizon Sampler Various Artists BLUE HORIZON
You Got To Love Me Billy Boy Arnold 14 Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll Various Artists Fantastic Voyage
Pinetop's Blues Pinetop Smith 23 Roll 'Em Pete : 25 Years Of Piano Blues And Boogie Various Artists INDIGO
At The Window Jimmy Yancey 13 The Blues Box Various Artists METRO
Cherry Red Big Joe Turner & Pete Johnson 2-1 Roll Em Pete Various Artists INDIGO
Created: 03/08/2014 23:22:17 

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