STAR BLUES on 25th January 2015 at 22:00 - without essential blues artist Smokey Hogg

.. who was a surprise inclusion - alongside the usual suspects - to a budget 2-cd set called "Essential Blues"

track.title	track.artistsort	index	album.title	album.artistsort	label
Days Of Old	Otis Grand	13	Nothing Else Matters	Otis Grand	SEQUEL
Crosscut Saw	Albert King	12	Ultimate Collection	Albert King	RHINO
She Hit Me From The Blind Side	Johnny B. Moore	3	Rockin' In The Same Old Boat	Johnny B. Moore	DELMARK
Loaded Down	Matthew 'Boogie Jake' Jacobs	1-1	Mr Joe's Jambalaya // Loaded Down With The Blues	Various Artists	CHARLY
Dalel03 I'm Tired	Larry Dale	3	Complete Larry Dale	Larry Dale
Saturday Night Dady	Little Esther	22	The R'n'b Hits Of 1952	Various Artists	INDIGO
ruler of my heart	irma thomas	2-11	Mr Joe's Jambalaya // Loaded Down With The Blues	Various Artists	CHARLY
she moves me	Muddy Waters	1	genesis - roots of rock'n'roll	various	CHESS
I Can't Hold Out	Elmore James	5	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
sweet black angel	robert nighthawk	12	genesis - roots of rock'n'roll	various	CHESS
romance without finance	big bill broonzy	8	genesis - roots of rock'n'roll	various	CHESS
My Jug And I	Persuasions	116	25 Years	Various Artists	Rounder
I Woke Up Screaming	Bland, Bobby "Blue"	23	Where Southern Soul Began 1954-1962	Various Artists	HISTORY OF SOUL
Hard To Handle	Otis Redding	1	100 Hits Legends - Otis Reading	Otis Redding	DEMON
You And Me Together	Vernon Garrett	13	New Breed R'n'b	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show	Big Maybelle	4	I Put A Spell On You: The Okeh Story	Various Artists	One Day Music
Black Boy	Roebuck 'Pop' Staples	25	The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971	Various Artists	STAX
Going Down	Freddie King	18	Old Grey Whistle Test Blues	Various Artists	Wm UK
(Night Time Is) The Right Time	Smokey Wilson	11	Round Like An Apple: Big Town Sessions 1977-1978	Smokey Wilson	ACE
Walking Blues	Butterfield Blues Band, The	1	Butterfield Blues Band / East West	Butterfield Blues Band, The	ELEKTRA
somethings got a hold of me	Etta James	2-6	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
i just want to make love to you	Etta James	1-3	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Tough Mary	Etta James	3-10	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Work Baby Work	Larry Darnell	21	Okeh R'n'b Story 1949-1957	Various Artists	COLUMBIA
Square Dance Boogie	Cliff 'King' Solomon	30	Okeh R'n'b Story 1949-1957	Various Artists	COLUMBIA
Saturday Night Fish Fry	Louis Jordan	1	Jiving Jamboree	Various Artists	ACE
Black Cat Bone	Jessie Mae Hemphill	19	Lucky Lucky Man	Henry Gray	Blind Pig
One Dime Blues	Etta Baker	36	25 Years	Various Artists	Rounder
Too Many Men	Ruth Brown	25	Teardrops From My Eyes : Introduction To Ruth Brown	Ruth Brown	PROPER
Let's Jump Tonight	Chuck Willis	12	Okeh R'n'b Story 1949-1957	Various Artists	COLUMBIA
Too Many Tears	Roy Lee Johnson	22	Where Southern Soul Began 1954-1962	Various Artists	HISTORY OF SOUL
East St. Louis Baby	Robert Boyd (Aka Professor Longhair)	22	Roll 'Em Pete : 25 Years Of Piano Blues And Boogie	Various Artists	INDIGO
The Way I Feel	Detroit Jr.	12	The Way I Feel	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
Too Many Woman Blues	Willie Lane	14	Down Home Blues Classics	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Say You're Leaving	Fenton Robinson	17	The Way I Feel	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT

Created: 25/01/2015 23:24:58

STAR BLUES on 18th January 2015 at 22:00 Senior blues players like Henry Gray (90), Eddy Clearwater (80) with birthdays

... Vernon Garrett is 82, Barabara Lynn 73,  as well as marking tomorrow for Willie Big-Eye Smith, Janis Joplin. Smith started out as a harp player but got a powerful reputation in the traps for Muddy Waters on down. In his latter days he returned to his first love, some times with his son Kenny on drums. There is a well-realised live set he recorded with Roger Hurricane Wilson which proved to be his final release and a nice way to celebrate one of the very best. Janis arguably never fulfilled her potential though she wore her blues influences just as proudly as the rock ones.

Barbara Lynn deserves to be far better known: strong vocals and confident guitar standing front and centre. Garrett was featured in some depth in the pages of living Blues during 2014 and his sweet-voiced singles were reviewed; he sings gospel nowadays. We had a 1964 single recorded with his wife.

Henry Gray is still an active blues player; he looks fairly unassuming, he has learnt to play loud and creates a joyous noise (a hard won career in Howlin' Wolf's band would no doubt be a factor). Friends and blues artists held birthday concerts for him (including a date at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix) - there will have been no stopping his participation. He has a road band called Short Fuse and there's a clutch of live albums showing their collective gifts in support of him.

Eddie Clearwater's birthday presents included a number 1 blues album for "Soul Funky" showing him as good today as he's always been. For comparison we also went back to his first studio work issued as "Little Eddie" and very firmly in the Chuck Berry mold.

Our show started with three female stars, I can't recall the last time we did that. Deborah Coleman brought along a sturdy version of Johnny Morrisette's "Brick", and we included his own song "Damper" off a brand new 10-inch vinyl record looking back over the SAR record imprint set up by Sam Cooke and JW Alexander. The whole thing has been lovingly created by those splendid folks at Vee-Tone Records. Of-course it had a gospel track from the Soul Stirrers and we completed the loop by having "Little Bluebird" from Johnnie Taylor's classic album from 1967.

In a trice we bade our farewells with Henry Gray's masterpiece instrumental. Never fear I'm planning some more for the next visit round your place; if you'll have us we can come Sunday night at 10pm (GMT) 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
Brick	Deborah Coleman	5	I Can't Lose	Deborah Coleman	BLIND PIG RECORDS
Spoonful	Etta James	20	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
mercedes benz	janis joplin	2-13	essential	janis joplin	sony
Look Don't Touch	Hubert Sumlin	16	Up Jumped The Blues	Various Artists	MUSIC CLUB
Floodin' In California	Carl Weathersby	8	Come To Papa	Carl Weathersby	Evidence Music
Finger Snappin' Boogie	Henry Gray	12	Lucky Lucky Man	Henry Gray	Blind Pig
I Declare That Ain’t Right	Henry Gray	22	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
08. Henry Gray - How Can You Do It (Sunland 105)	Henry Gray	8	45's Collection Prt 037	Various Artists
Blood Hound Blues	Victoria Spivey	10	Moaning The Blues	Victoria Spivey	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Downsville Blues	TomcAt Courtney	6	Downsville Blues	TomcAt Courtney	Blue Witch Records
Ride And Roll	Sonny Terry	14	Groove Records Story	Various Artists	One Day Music
Gotta Go (Upside Your Head)-	Buddy & Ella Johnson	2-8	Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour - Best Of The Second Series	Various Artists	CHROME DREAMS
rockin' good way	vernon and jewel	14	connoisseurs only	Various Artists	kent
Jump Children	Fats & Dave	17	Cosimo Matassa Story	Various Artists	Proper Box
Big Bottom Blues	Duke Robillard	12	New Blues For Modern Man	Duke Robillard	SHANACHIE
eyesight to the blind	willie big eye smith and roger hurricane wilson	1	live blues	smith and wilson	smith and wilson
Hypnotized	Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater	2	Soul Funky	Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater	CLEAR
I Was Gone	Eddie Clearwater	21	Solid Stroll Vol. 4	Various Artists	LUCKY Gal
I Don't Know Why	Eddie Clearwater	63	Sweet Home Chicago	Various Artists	INDIGO
listen to the angels sing	soul stirrers	5	Sar - thats where its at	Various Artists	vee-tone
damper	Johnnie Morisette	2	Sar - thats where its at	Various Artists	vee-tone
Little Bluebird	Johnnie Taylor	11	Wanted One Soul Singer	Johnnie Taylor	Atlantic
Blues, Blues, Blues	Ralph Willis	1	Shake That Thing!: East Coast Blues 1935-1953,	Various Artists	JSP Records
I Got A Letter	Ralph Willis	14	Jumping At Jubilee	Various Artists	SEQUEL
You'll Lose A Good Thing	Barbara Lynn	7	You'll Lose A Good Thing	Barbara Lynn	JAMIE
I Got The Blues For You	Al Collins	5	Shuckin' Stuff	Various Artists	WESTSIDE
All Around The World	James Booker	2	Keep It Rollin' - Blues Piano Collection	Various Artists	Rounder
Corrine Corrina Blues	James 'Boodle-It' Wiggins	12	Pure Vintage Blues Vol. 3 : Future Blues	Various Artists	EMPRESS
The Monkey On My Back	Ray Agee	9	Bay Area Blues Blasters	Various Artists	El Cerrito
Strange Woman	Carey Bell	1	Brought Up The Hard Way	Carey Bell	JSP
Say What You Mean	Phil Guy	3	Get Up And Go	Johnny Rawls	JSP Records
Gray's Bounce	Henry Gray	15	Swamp Blues	Various Artists	ACE

Created: 18/01/2015 23:43:15

STAR BLUES for Charlie, Charley and Charles. We also said a farewell to Popsy Dixon (Holmes Brothers)

With three million on the streets in Paris the least we could do was to have a playlist made from fifteen artists christened thus. One of the songs to mark Popsy Dixon's death seemed to fit the mood, especially from a band with such a gentle and joyful outlook. That cover of Nick Lowe's song was a little outside our normal envelope and he Candye Kane composition came from a place that looks for similarities rather than trying seek out differences. Plenty of regular blues fare as well, and all being well we're back at 10pm (GMT) next Sunday round your place with as much trivia, tomfoolery and vinyl blues as one man can carry. 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
We Got To Stop This Killin'	Big Jack Johnson	8	Blues Revue Sampler (Apr / May 2003	Various Artists	BLUES REVUE
Harpin' On A Riff	Charlie Musselwhite	1	Harpin' On A Riff	Charlie Musselwhite	MUSIC CLUB
Automobile	Charlie Sayles	3	Hip Guy	Charlie Sayles	JSP Records
Movin' Out Movin' In	Charles Caldwell	7	Remember Me	Charles Caldwell	FAT POSSUM
Jesus And Mohammed	Candye KaneBob Brozman	10	Guitar'd And Feathered	Candye Kane	Ruf
The Crawl	Guitar Jr.	24	On Bended Knee - The Birth Of Swamp Pop	Various Artists	GREAT Voices Of The Century
Nobody But You	Rob Robinson	22	Diggin' Gold - A Galaxy Of West Coast Blues	Various Artists	ACE
Yield Not To Temptation	Bobby 'Blue' Bland	17	The Voice : Duke Recordings 1959-69	Bobby 'Blue' Bland	ACE
Crossover	Eddy 'The Chief' Clearwater	8	Prime Chops. Blind Pig Sampler Vol. 2	Various Artists	BLIND PIG RECORDS
Another Man Done Gone	Vera Hall	1	Blues Love Songs	Various Artists	OUTCASTE
A Spoonful Blues	Charley Patton	4	The Rough Guide To Blues Legends: Charley Patton	Charley Patton	ROUGH GUIDES
Cow Cow Blues	Charles 'Cow Cow' Davenport	4	The Best Of Boogie Woogie	Various Artists	DOCUMENTS
Dearborn Street Breakdown	Charles Avery	18	The Best Of Boogie Woogie	Various Artists	DOCUMENTS
Slave To Love	Charles Walker	21	Where Southern Soul Began 1954-1962	Various Artists	HISTORY OF SOUL
Come By Here	Hightower Brothers	6	Screamin' Gospel Holy Rollers Vol. 2	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down	Holmes Brothers, The	5	Speaking In Tongues	Holmes Brothers, The	Alligator
Fair Weather Friend	Holmes Brothers, The	9	Feed My Soul	Holmes Brothers, The	Alligator
The Final Round	Holmes Brothers, The	13	Righteous! Rounder Heritage Essential Collectio	Holmes Brothers, The	Rounder
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?	Holmes Brothers, The	3	State Of Grace	Holmes Brothers, The	Alligator
if you come to louisiana	Larry Garner	8	Blues For Sale	Larry Garner	Dixiefrog
mean ol frisco	Larry Johnson	2	Blues For Harlem	Larry Johnson	ARMADILLO
New Old Lady	Little Charlie & The Nightcats	7	Free Blues	Various Artists	Alligator
Walkin	Charlie Lucas	15	New York City Blues Yesterday Vol. 4	Various Artists
No Ridin' Blues	Charley Booker	3	The Traveling Record Man: Historic Down South Recording Trips	Various Artists	ACE
Kissing Bug Boogie	Charles Crown Prince Waterford	22	1946-1950	Crown Prince Waterford	BLUES CLASSICS
Trouble Blues	Charles Brown	7	Let The Good Times Roll - The Aladdin Story	Various Artists	One Day Music
Real lovin mama	Floyd Dixon	2-1	Complete Aladdin Recordings	Floyd Dixon	Capitol
Alabama Blues	Charles Spand	25	20th Century Blues	Various Artists	CATFISH
Heavy Suitcase Blues	Charley Taylor	16	Broke Black And Blue	Various Artists	PROPER
Jealous Hearted Blues	Charlie Lincoln	12	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Atlanta	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage

Created: 11/01/2015 23:55:26

STAR BLUES on 4th January 2015 at 22:00 celebrating blues from Memphis

Elvis Presley - born 80 years ago this week - started his recording career there, our dip into the city's music showed so much more from Gus Cannon to Albert king by way of James Cotton ....

track.title	track.artistsort	index	album.title	album.artistsort	label
We're Gonna Make It	B. B. KingIrma Thomas	10	Blues Summit	B. B. King	MCA
WOMAN ACROSS THE RIVER	LITTLE MILTON	21	NOBODY WINS	VARIOUS ARTISTS	KENT
Pinetop's Boogie Woogie	Pinetop Perkins	7	Sun Records - Ultimate Blues Collection	Various Artists	VARESE
I'M LONESOME BABY	IKE TURNER	1-9	SUN BLUES YEARS 1950-1958	VARIOUS ARTISTS	CHARLY
Beer Drinkin' Woman	Memphis Slim	11	Beer Drinkin' Woman	Memphis Slim	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
you don't love me	willie cobbs	8	memphis 60	various artists	BGP
Mr. Highway Man	Howlin' Wolf	6	The Sun Blues Box Sampler - Blues, R&b And Gospel Music In Memphis 1950 - 1958	Various Artists	bear family / b&r magazine
Little Fine Healthy Thing	Billy 'The Kid' Emerson	69	50 Golden Years : Sun Record Company	Various Artists	FABULOUS
Poor Boy A Long Way From Home	Gus Cannon	10	Memphis Masters	Various Artists	YAZOO
Streamline Train	Red Nelson	15	Thirties Blues	Various Artists	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Truckin' Little Woman	Willie Nix	9	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Blues, Stay Away From Me	Wade Walton	10	The Bluesville Years. Vol 9: Down The Country Way	Various Artists	PRESTIGE
The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair	Sleepy John Estes	17	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
WHITEWASH STATION BLUES	MEMPHIS JUG BAND	2-10	IT CAME FROM MEMPHIS	VARIOUS ARTISTS	BARBICAN
Boogie In The Park	Joe Hill Louis	7	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
GO BACK TO YOUR USED TO BE	JESSIE MAE HEMPHILL	1-14	IT CAME FROM MEMPHIS	VARIOUS ARTISTS	BARBICAN
Mojo In My Hand	L. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson	1	Mojo In My Hand	L. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson	Arhoolie Records
No One Woman`s Man	Wild Child Butler	8	The Devil Made Me Do It	Wild Child Butler	BLUE HORIZON
Search Me Lord	Brother Joe May	25	Good News	Various Artists	PROPER
When The Gate Swings Open	Heavenly Gospel Singers	16	Good News	Various Artists	PROPER
Two Piano Boogie	Freddie Burns	2-3	Rockin' Memphis	Various Artists	Proper Box
COOL DOWN MAMA	LOST JOHN HUNTER	1-1	Rockin' Memphis	Various Artists	Proper Box
STEP IT UP AND GO	HARMONICA FRANK	2-7	Rockin' Memphis	Various Artists	Proper Box
Laundromat Blues	Albert King	1	King Of The Blues Guitar	Albert King	Atlantic
Sweet Home Chicago	Luther Tucker	19	20th Anniversary	Various Artists	ANTONES
FEELIN GOOD	JUNIOR PARKER	3-3	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Tiger Man	Rufus Thomas	11	The Influences Behind The Rolling Stones	Various Artists	Hoodoo Records
STRAIGHTEN UP BABY	JAMES COTTON	1-14	Sun Records - Ultimate Blues Collection	Various Artists	VARESE
THAT'S NO WAY TO GET ALONG	ROBERT WILKINS	10	MEMPHIS BLUES	VARIOUS ARTISTS	INDIGO
Billy Lyons And Stackolee	Furry Lewis	3	Memphis Masters	Various Artists	YAZOO
EAGLE ROCK	Junior Wells	2	Junior Wails - Complete Singles As & Bs	Junior Wells	Jasmine
Dr. Ross Boogie	Dr. Ross	14	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage

Created: 04/01/2015 23:53:33