From the current crop we went to a Little Freddie King project which got good notices in the new Living Blues magazine, and to the last known sessions by Pops Staples from 1999: his plans were for a Staple Singers album but Mavis recently asked her producer Jeff Tweedy to strip out Pops' voice and guitar to serve as foundation to a new release called "Don't Lose This". An obvious high point is the reworking on Blind Willie Johnson's "Nobody's Fault". It's here in gloriously stark guitar-only form.
Our "eat my socks" candidate is the renowned pairing of Jimmy deBerry and Walter Horton for the instrumental "Easy" - loping guitar versus intense harp. If you hear a better performance before next Sunday's STAR BLUES, the tootsie warmers are toast.
The remenisences came thick and fast for the bulk of the remainder of the playlist. The double vinyl "Blues Jam At Chess" came from Replays in Southampton, something of a rarity on the Sire label (shame about the purple and chocolate brown sleeve). For the Jan 69 date, Mike Vernon and Marshall Chess surrounded the then lineup of Fleetwood Mac with Otis Spann, Honeyboy Edwards, Willie Dixon and the aforesaid Shakey Horton. It was the fourth blues album I bought. That was about a fortnight after I bought the "Anthology" double album on Duane Allman from Replays. I've been a massive fan of Skydog ever since.
The second blues vinyl was the "Best of Chess Blues" mentioned above - Debenhams in Southampton as I recall. One cut apiece from anyone who was anyone at Chess, including the Sonny Boy Williamson number "Your Funeral" which so impressed booklet notesmith Don Snowden. He also remarked upon the McCarthyism that prompted the raid on the offices of Parrot Records before JB Lenoir's classic was licenced to the Chess imprint. The only slight flaw to an immaculate package was the rare photo of Little Walter playing guitar (it is printed across the fold of the gatefold sleeve).
I also touched on listening to Radio Luxemburg 208 under the bed clothes and discovering Roy Buchanan. Before that I'd just bought my first blues vinyl album from Caters Record Shop on Maldon High Street. Twice a day going to school I'd walked past the unassuming shop that barely hinted at the cornucopia of treasures within. The window displays were light bulbs, wiring, heaters, electrical gubbins and bee-keeping equipment. Mrs Cater was a woman of small stature, barely able to see over the counter. Not a talkative woman but knowledgeable on almost everything. She helped me countless times, including pointing me toward "Blues World of Eric Clapton" on Decca. It had performances of John Mayall, Otis Spann and Champion Jack Dupree. Remember this was Eric at his most blues playing as if his life depended on it, he was proud to call himself a purist.
I've never knowingly bought a record because it would be valuable, as a result I've memories which are priceless. Thank you for letting me share them with you on STAR BLUES, I hope Record Store Day did the same for you and that the day rekindled some old passions or sparked newly minted classics. If you'll have me, I'll bring some more STAR BLUES to your place at 22:00 (BST) next Sunday. 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 |
| A Fool (For Hiding My Love From You) | Harold Burrage | 11 | Foxy R&b | Various Artists | ACE |
| Mean Red Spider | Muddy Waters | 6 | Rollin' Stone | Muddy Waters | CHESS |
| Too Many Cooks | Robert Cray | 1 | The Score | Robert Cray | CHARLY |
| How Can You Do It (Sunland 105) | Henry Gray | 8 | 45's Collection Prt 037 | Various Artists | |
| Chickee Wah-Wah | Bobby Marchan | 12 | Gumbo Ya Ya: The Cosimo Matassa Story Volume 2 | Various Artists | PROPER |
| I Feel So All Alone | Jody Williams | 4 | Chicago/ The Blues Yesterday 9 | Various Artists | |
| Nobody's Fault But Mine | Pops Staples | 6 | Don't Lose This | Pops Staples | Anti |
| Run Here Baby, Run | Little Freddie King | 5 | Messin' Around Tha Living Room | Little Freddie King | |
| Watch Out | Fleetwood Mac | 1 | Blues Jam In Chicago | Fleetwood Mac | COLUMBIA |
| Easy | Jimmy And Walter | 8 | The Sun Blues Box Sampler - Blues, R&b And Gospel Music In Memphis 1950 - 1958 | Various Artists | bear family / b&r magazine |
| Man Ain't Nothin' But A Fool | Sonny TerryBrownie McGhee | 2 | Hometown Blues | Sonny TerryBrownie McGhee | MAINSTREAM |
| Mean Ole Gal | Johnny Otis Orchestra, Vocal By Esther Jones, The | 24 | Blues Belles With Attitude | Various Artists | ACE |
| Have A Good Time Baby | Ursula Reed | 7 | Old Town Blues - The Uptown Sides | Various Artists | ACE |
| Send Me A Man | Alberta Hunter | 11 | Empty Bed Blues : Best Of The Good Time Mommas | Various Artists | PULSE |
| Mean Old World | Eric Clapton And Duane Allman | 4 | Duane Allman Anthology | Duane Allman | POLYDOR |
| Sweet Dreams | Roy Buchanan | 1 | Roy Buchanan // Second Album | Roy Buchanan | BGO |
| You Upset Me Baby | B.B. 'Blues Boy' King & His Orchestra | 11 | Speak Easy - The Rpm Records Story Volume 2 1954-57 | Various Artists | Ace Records |
| Madison Blues | Elmore James | 9 | Slidin' | Various Artists | CHARLY |
| One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer | John Lee Hooker | 1 | 20th Century Masters | John Lee Hooker | MCA |
| Your Funeral And My Trail | sonny boy williamson | 225 | Let Me Tell You About The Blues; Chicago - The Evolution Of Chicago Blues 1925-1958 | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
| Nite Owl | Tony Allen & The Champs | 24 | Jump Blues Jamaica Way: Jamaican Sound System Classics Vol. 3 | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
| South Bound Train | Various Artists | 205 | Let Me Tell You About The Blues; Chicago - The Evolution Of Chicago Blues 1925-1958 | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
| Chicken | Baby Boy Warren | 21 | Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Detroit | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
| Eisenhower Blues | J.B. Lenoir | 16 | Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&b And Rock 'N' Roll | Various Artists | Fantastic Voyage |
| Pretty Girls Everywhere | Otis SpannEric Clapton | 1 | Clapton Is God: The Cream Of Early Eric Clapton | Eric Clapton | Castle Music Uk |
| Third Degree | Champion Jack DupreeEric Clapton | 3 | Clapton Is God: The Cream Of Early Eric Clapton | Eric Clapton | Castle Music Uk |
| Bernard Jenkins | John MayallEric Clapton | 17 | Clapton Is God: The Cream Of Early Eric Clapton | Eric Clapton | Castle Music Uk |
| t bone shuffle | t-bone walker | 2 | Masterworks Sampler Vol. 2 | Various Artists | CHARLY |
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