Robert Johnson's place in the pantheon of enigmatic greats was assured almost from the start - though one shouldn't forget he would play polkas and such as a working travelling musician. We had chance to listen to his contemporaries and followers over the course of a special format show now fallen from favour on UK blues radio. Bukka White had a powerful technique - sabre not rapier. Amos Easton used the name Bumble Bee Slim when in the recording studio with a more nuanced technique. Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller both did their best work pre-war and Son House was the stylistic link from Muddy Waters back to Charley Patton and so on.
Sax is an instrument you either love or not - Red Prysock, Bill Doggett and King Curtis were its finest exponents. (We did sneak some electric guitar in under the radar for "Soul Twist" - ok I forgot). Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Rushing, and Joe Turner had great presence and added credibility to otherwise ho0hum Christmas fa(y)re. Oscar McLollie approached his work with gleeful abandon, Mabel Scott held the line and the Ravens completely re-did an old chestnut. Not really within our normal scope, we extended seasonal hospitality to super-bass-heavy Jimmy Ricks. The Du-Droppers answered the Domioes stamina and the Wheels made their debut in these parts. The Persuasions group is now the premier a capella outfit even if they have a fondness for reaching into deeper wells in other genres like Frank Zappa.
Mahalia Jackson pitched a gospel tent on the near side, Jimmy Yancey, Amos Milburn and Lloyd Glenn did piano duties. Memphis Minnie and Lil Green sounded years advanced of Mamie Smith and Trixie Smith (not related). Mamie's is thought to be the first recorded mention of "The Blues" and Trixie's imperious voice cut through the poor fidelity of the original 78rpm source for her piece.
We hope to have proved there is more to the music than showing off on electric axe and that you'll want to go further in exploring other facets of blues. Its a real honour to be able to get a warm invite round your place with such marvellous music and I plan to be back next Sunday at 10pm (BST) for more STAR BLUES. 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 |
Steady | Jerry McCain | 16 | The Ace Story - Volume 3 | Various Artists | ACE |
Travelling Riverside Blues | Robert Johnson | 5 | Beg Borrow Or Steal | Various ArtistsRobert Johnson | CATFISH |
Aberdeen Mississippi Blues | Bukka White | 1 | Parchman Farm Blues | Bukka White | ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION |
Steady Roll Mama Blues | Bumble Bee Slim (Aka Amos Easton) | 16 | The Essential | Bumble Bee Slim (Aka Amos Easton) | CLASSIC BLUES |
Goin’ Back To Texas | Memphis Minnie | 17 | History Of Rhythm And Blues Part One | Various Artists | Rhythm and Blues Records |
Go Girl! | Tri-Saxual Soul Champs | 13 | Black Top Blues-A-Rama | Various Artists | BLACK TOP |
zat you santa | louis armstrong | 3-20 | rockin around christmas tree | various artists | crimson |
Roll 'Em Pete | Joe Turner & Pete Johnson | 1 | Roll 'Em Pete : 25 Years Of Piano Blues And Boogie | Various Artists | INDIGO |
Can't Do Sixty No More | Du Droppers, The | 16 | Let's Have A Ball | Various Artists | Blue Label / SPV |
lets have a ball | the wheels | 1 | Let's Have A Ball | Various Artists | Blue Label / SPV |
Members Only | Persuasions | 13 | Rounder Revue | Various Artists | Rounder |
vitamin m | steve brookes | 5 | vintage troubadour | steve brookes | |
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen | Mahalia Jackson | 20 | Just For A Day: The Apollo Records Story | Various Artists | one day |
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning | Mississippi Fred McDowell | 9 | The First Recordings | Mississippi Fred McDowell | Rounder |
Levee Camp Blues | Son House | 4 | Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: [Son House] | Son House | Columbia Legacy |
Good Mornin' Little School Girl | Sonny Boy Williamson | 10 | Reborn And Remastered | Robert Johnson | ROUGH GUIDES |
Soul Twist | King Curtis | 29 | Teen Beat Vol.2 | Various Artists | ACE |
One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer | Amos Milburn | 63 | Blues Barrelhouse And Boogie - The Best Of | Amos Milburn | Capitol |
Good Morning Blues | Jimmy Rushing | 11 | The R'n'b Years 1947: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1947 | Various Artists | BOULEVARD VINTAGE |
the hucklebuck | paul williams | 20 | big horn | various artists | proper |
Yancey Special | Jimmy Yancey | 6 | Eternal Blues | Jimmy Yancey | BLUES ENCORE |
crazy blues | mamie Smith | 11 | The Blues Box | Various Artists | METRO |
how come you do me like you do | lil green | 12 | The Blues Box | Various Artists | METRO |
Railroad Blues | Trixie Smith | 13 | The Blues Box | Various Artists | METRO |
white christmas | ravens | 8 | mark lamarr's christmas | various artists | acrobat |
dig that crazy santa claus | oscar mclollie | 1-11 | rockin around christmas tree | various artists | crimson |
boogie woogie santa claus | mabel scott | 1-11 | rockin around christmas tree | various artists | crimson |
The Hammer | Red Prysock | 40 | The Big Horn | Various Artists | PROPER |
Chica Boo | Lloyd Glenn | 12 | The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952 | Various Artists | Rhythm and Blues Records |
diddie wa diddie | Blind Blake | 2-3 | The essential | Blind Blake | classic blues |
milk cow blues | Josh White | 2 | blues singer | josh white | SONY |
truckin my blues away | blind boy fuller | 14 | legends of the blues | various artists | spv |
Honky Tonk | Bill Doggett | 5 | The Very Best Of Burlesque | Various Artists | Not Now Music |
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