STAR BLUES on 3rd April 2011 at 22:00

Our playlist on last night's STAR BLUES gave us a chance to congratulate two independent record labels on remarkable anniversaries - I only hope we did them justice, with all the tracks being alternately from Alligator (now 40 years in the business) and Arhoolie (with an additional ten years).

The link back to last week's "Fake ID" took us to one of the biggest selling blues albums of them all: "Showdown!" by Robert Cray, Johnny Copeland and Albert Collins. The Hop Wilson composition "Black Cat Bone was something Collins and Copeland laid down on the first night before Cray showed up". Our closing link featured Shemekia Copeland, Johnny's daughter and the end of the chain so far...

The "You Me & 1001 Blues" piece we did at half past ten told the tale of Bruce Iglauer's passion to record Hound Dog Taylor that lead to Alligator's birth. It was fitting we had another piece at half past eleven looking into Chris Strachwitz' quest to record Lightnin' Hopkins in a juke joint that took a diversion by way of some lovely playing from Mance Lipscomb. In addition to sharing a hard won independence, both labels have strong communal spirit with small staff rosters and big family spirit. Mavis Staples and Fred McDowell held down the gospel tent and Professor Longhair and Robert Shaw showed off fabulous keyboard skills for the piano feature. Longhair's album proved to be his last while R L Burnside was on hand with one of his earliest pieces gathered on an anthology of 1960's Mississippi Blues. Chris couldn't spell the French name of Clifton Chenier's song so they settled simply for "Louisiana Blues" and Alligator was happy to act as the American outlet for a French album recorded by the old sparring partners Buddy Guy and Junior Wells.

There were folks I'd ear marked to play (Koko Taylor, John Jackson etc) that will have to await a catchup selection - both labels had fascinating stories to tell. Our music is immeasurably richer for their contributions and I hope last night's STAR BLUES gave a small taster. I've another white tee-shirt for next Sunday's show, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

Track	Artist	Album
Black Cat Bone	Albert Collins&Johnny Copeland	[1-3]The 20th Anniversary Collection - Various Artists{- -}
Pontiac Blues	Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	[1-1]American Masters Vol. 2 : Urban Blues - Various Artists{- -}
Been Gone Too Long	Billy Boy Arnold	[1-16]25th Anniversary Collection - Various Artists{- -}
Anna Lee	Earl Hooker	[1-4]American Masters Vol. 2 : Urban Blues - Various Artists{- -}
Going Home	Son Seals	[1-11]Alligator Records 40th Anniversary (2Xcd) - Various Artists{- -}
Poor Black Mattie	R. L. Burnside	[1-14]American Masters Vol. 1 : Country Blues - Various Artists{- -}
Ain't Got Nobody	Hound Dog Taylor	[1-1]Deluxe Edition - Hound Dog Taylor{- -}
Wild, Wild Woman	Johnny Young	[1-1]Chicago Blues - Johnny Young{- -}
Burn Your Bridges	Cephas & Wiggins	[1-7]Crucial Harmonica Blues - Various Artists{- -}
Mercury Blues	K. C. Douglas	[1-2]Journey Of Chris Strachwitz (40 Years Of Arhoolie Records) - Various Artists{- -}
When A Guitar Plays The Blues	Roy Buchanan	[1-10]The Alligator Blues Sampler - Various Artists{- -}
Louisiana Blues	Clifton Chenier	[1-25]Journey Of Chris Strachwitz (40 Years Of Arhoolie Records) - Various Artists{- -}
Red Beans aka I Got My Mojo Working	Professor Longhair	[2-8]Alligator Records 40th Anniversary (2Xcd) - Various Artists{- -}
The Ma Grinder	Robert Shaw	[1-7]Arhoolie Presents American Masters, Vol. 8: 15 Piano Blues & Boogie Classics - Various Artists{- -}
Step Into The Light	Mavis Staples	[2-11]Alligator Records 40th Anniversary (2Xcd) - Various Artists{- -}
'bout A Spoonful	Mance Lipscomb	[1-5]American Masters Vol. 1 : Country Blues - Various Artists{- -}
Give Me My Coat And Shoes	Buddy Guy & Junior Wells	[1-12]Alligator Records 40th Anniversary (2Xcd) - Various Artists{- -}
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning	Fred McDowell & Johnny Woods	[1-13]15 Down Home Gospel Classics - Various Artists{- -}
Better Not Touch	Shemekia Copeland	[1-6]Deluxe Edition - Shemekia Copeland{- -}

STAR BLUES on 27th March 2010 at 22:00

The roll-call of blues artists called away in recent weeks has grown uncomfortably large and I will admit that I thought Pinetop Perkins would always be there. He wasn't a natural band leader and his best work was almost always done with someone else. He was the unsung lynchpin of Muddy Waters Indian Summer career via Johnny Winter though he joined Waters band in 1969 after Otis Spann left for (sadly very brief) solo glory. Different in style and temperament to the younger Spann, Muddy had no hesitation in extending the offer to join. In addition to a later track from Muddy, Pinetop showed real genius on a two hander with Bob Margolin in the songbook of Robert Johnson.
We found out why he was called Pinetop from his first solo session at Sun in 1953 and we ended our celebration of him with "Grindin' Man" from his final project with Willie Big Eye Smith that won him a Grammy less than a month ago. There's a great story that may just be urban legend (though I hope not): he came to London a couple of years ago for a club gig then everyone adjourned back to the hotel including some very attractive blonde ladies. Spying a piano in the hotel foyer Pinetop decided too play and tell some stories from his long career. The night porter wasn't amused but turned a blind eye to the revelry in the early hours. The really cool thing is that Pinetop (age 95) kept going as the stragglers had to give into tiredness. I've never seen a photo of Pinetop without a hat or a huge smile.
The rest of the fare on offer was none to shabby either: new album from Tracy Nelson (due in the shops 19th April), and returns to new projects by Rory Block and Marcia Ball. The distaff side of blues in 2011 is still strong. Last weeks link ended with Elmore James, how we got from there to Albert Collins is revealed over on "BluesChain.BlogSpot.Com". Gospel came from Albertina Walker and the Caravans in superb fashion and the two hours was over and done all too soon. Until we can get another couple hours next Sunday at ten, take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Track	Artist	Album / Track
Can't Stop Lovin'	George Thorogood	[1] Heritage: Who Do You Love – George Thorogood
Feel Good Doin' Bad	Lonnie BrooksLong John HunterPhillip Walker	[5] Lone Star Shootout - Lonnie BrooksLong John HunterPhillip Walker
I'm Ready	Muddy Waters	[1] I'm Ready - Muddy Waters
Feel Like Messin' Up	James Harman	[6] Mo' Na'kins Please! - James Harman
Mean Old Frisco	Blues Band, The	[1] Scratchin' On My Screen : Acoustic Blues Music - Blues Band, The
Mystery Train	Little Junior Parker (As Little Junior’s Blue Flames)	[12] Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis - Various Artists
I've Got Ford Movements In My Hips	Cleo Gibson	[13] Territory Singers - Vol2 : 1928-1930 - Various Artists
You're So Fine	Snooks Eaglin	[5] Out Of Nowhere - Snooks Eaglin
Kindhearted Woman Blues	Bob MargolinPinetop Perkins	[8] Hellhound On My Trail - Various Artists
Meet You At The Chicken Shack	Lightnin' Hopkins	[5] His Blues - Lightnin' Hopkins
Walkin'	David Gogo	[6] Skeleton Key - David Gogo
How Could You Do It	Henry Gray	[14] Louisiana Swamp Stomp - Various Artists
Little Red Rooster	Rolling Stones, The	[7] Rolled Gold Plus: Very Best Of The Rolling Stones - Rolling Stones, The
Have Mercy Miss Percy	Long Tall Marvin	[7] Gaz's Rockin' Blues - Various Artists
Woke Up This Morning	Rory Block	[11] Shake 'Em On Down: A Tribute To Mississippi Fred McDowell - Rory Block
Fine And Mellow	Eva Cassidy	[4] Live At Blues Alley - Eva Cassidy
I'm Willing	Caravans Feat. Inez Andrews And Albertina Walker	[12] Rough Guide To .. Gospel - Various Artists
Victim Of The Blues	Tracy Nelson	[1] Victim Of The Blues - Tracy Nelson
We Fell Hard	Marcia Ball	[4] Roadside Attractions - Marcia Ball
Pinetop's Boogie Woogie	Pinetop Perkins	[8] Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis - Various Artists
Grindin' Man	Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith	[12] Joined At The Hip - Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith
Fake I.D.	Albert Collins	[3] Blues Guitar Box - Various Artists

STAR BLUES on 20th March 2011 at 22:00

Only at the last minute did it become clear how to link with Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally" on the previous STAR BLUES, bearing in mind the need to tantalise with a suitable song at the end of the show. We've covered a lot of blues styles since the first link from Fleetwood Mac.

Last Sunday Big Jack Johnson died and it seems like another strong tie to the past has gone, he was the last of the Jelly Roll kings. I wanted to show his contribution to Robert Palmer's film "Deep Blues" but the disc refused to play ball in either drive. Instead we did a couple of tracks from his album on MC Records called "We Gotta Stop This Killing" (the title track is particularly apposite right now).

If you compiled a mix-tape of the songs so far in the feature "You Me 1001 Blues" (as listeners Jess and Mike are doing) you've got to the end of side one round about now with ZZ Hill's "Down Home Blues". The song defined a new genre and its album sold a million. The gospel spot had the Harmonizing Four complete with basso genius Jimmy Jones; the piano spot had a first appearance from Art Tatum whose florid, exuberant style was in contrast with his placid calm appearance. With birthdays of two very young listeners and a Facebook dialogue with Bermuda, STAR BLUES was over and done all too soon.

If you're interested in how we solved the puzzle of the links in the chain, wizz over to "blueschain.blogspot.com" and all will be revealed at ten pm next Sunday. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

STAR BLUES on 13th March 2011 at 22:00

Other than a senior moment regarding Otis Rush's work for Duke (vs his earlier classics on Cobra), last night's STAR BLUES had the usual mix of new releases, white upper-body garments, mayhem, tomfoolery,gospel,piano and a couple of links.

Marcia Ball is a consummate pianist, singer-songwriter who always surrounds herself with the finest musicians. Her new album has been eagerly anticipated and its been well worth the wait. I'm pretty sure our play of her "Sugar Boogie" was a UK exclusive? There's also a 3-cd set looking at the Singles output from Ted Jarrett's Champion label. The survey has been put together by Fred James who does more for Nashville music that anyone I know. The hard part was not devoting the whole show to the cd set, just settled for Don Q, The Fairfield Four (a lovely gospel vocal performance).

Carl Sonny Leyland is a Brit who now lives in New Orleans, he brought a tribute to Albert Ammons for some more boogie in the piano blues spot - the perfect fit to Ms. Ball's outing. Both Bo Diddley and Robert Cray were in the Jools Holland segment of the BBC4 British blues night on Friday - both deserving of a place in yesterday's STAR BLUES. Marshall Lawrence earned his with a good review in the new issue of Living Blues magazine (there are others). The mag also has a tasty feature on Bobby Bland's work for Malaco and I was surprised to learn how rarely he's been interviewed (strange given his stature in the worlds of blues, soul and crossover to the mainstream (viz: Hucknall and Van Morrison)).

The top end link was Jeff Healey's version of "Hideaway" and as he was in the film Roadhouse we went to its soundtrack for the closing link: Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett. Find out the next link on Sunday at 10pm (GMT) until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

STAR BLUES on 6th March 2011 at 22:00

In the words of the great Philosopher (Berry, C.) "You Never Can Tell". You never can tell when or where the muse will strike for inspiration on what to include in STAR BLUES. Half-way up a ladder was I when Joe Duskin's version of "EveryDay I Have The Blues" was knocked on its ass by a caustic guitar solo for all the world like Eric Clapton. Except it was Peter Frampton. Who'd a thought it.

I was tempted to say I nearly came a Cropper but he was backing Albert King on our "1001 Blues" feature so we'll quickly move past the easy pun. Our chain started with an unplugged Clapton and ended with a fully energised Freddie King. Marie Knight did a version of Gary Davis for our Gospel spot and we went back to 1953 for a great track to mark Eddie Kirkland's tragic death last week. His "No Shoes" just had him and a drummer with John Lee Hooker nowhere to be seen in Detroit for the King label. Some researchers thought Hooker was in there by dint of Eddie's strong thumb-picked bass lines and the series of duet pieces they were turning out at the same time.

Etta James' rarest sides for Chess are now out through Ace, 18 for the first time on cd. Her health is still parlous and her unissued side from 1964 showed us what a great voice she had. Johnny Vincent's Mississippi label inspired Ace here in London and they now reach vol 3 of the label story. Bobby Marchon's "Loberta" was added to the original issue and was on the show last night. He had to wait to move from Huey Piano Smith's Clowns before finding success in his own right, even this track was doctored with Huey's voice before Vincent put it out.

The purists had plenty of evidence in the case against Rory Block last night, her go at "Worried Mind" was characterised with the guitar taps and mannerisms they find unpalatable, she is however drawing attention to the music of Mississippi Fred McDowell which aint no bad thing. I've got another white tee-shirt lined up and a few more surprises on the playlist for STAR BLUES next Sunday night at 10pm - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

STAR BLUES on 27th February 2011 at 22:00

Saturday was wet so I did the only thing possible, I went to a record fair. Result too by finding a rare Freddie King double set with some unreleased goodies. That was a real fillip while compiling a STAR BLUES playlist that featured some blues ladies of the first order.

Etta James was despatched to the FAME studios in Alabama by Chess in the hope that the magic given to Aretha's classic soul sides would rub off. She came back with "Tell Mama", "Security", "I'd Rather Go Blind" and the gem written by Oldham and Penn: "I Worship The Ground".For reasons best known to Chess they put it on an obscure b-side but it was our show highlight yesterday. Candi Staton's flirtation with disco brought her some commerciasl recognition but she's always been in a class above the rest when it comes to soul and gospel - our evidence was her version of "Thats How Strong My Love Is". Deborah Coleman is a stylish singer and player, she did a song from Albert Collins repertoire: "If You Love Me Like You Say". Rory Block is given short shrift by blues purists for her mannered style, I don't have a problem with her and I'm really enjoying her new album that celebrates the music of Mississippi Fred McDowell.

Gospel from Mahalia Jackson and Johnny Cash, piano from a nine year old Sugar Chile Robinson, classic Memphis Slim from 1957 and a 1991 session from Jimmy McCracklin. We paid tribute to Carl Hodges and Johnny Nitro who died recently, the latter via his song "Too Many Dirty Dishes". While on air, news came through that Eddie Kirkland had been killed in an accident with his van and a bus on the way back from his gig. Eerily similar to the death last Valentines Day of Lil Dave Thompson.

The aforementioned Freddie King and T-Model Ford did blues of different flavours both deserving to be played loud. I'm still struggling mightily with pc problems and generating playlists, thanks for your patience. I've had better luck with white tee shirts (bought anothER one last week), see it in your minds eye next Sunday at 10pm (GMT) until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

While on air

STAR BLUES on 20th February 2011 at 22:00

With both Blind Willie McTell and John Alex Mason in the playlist, I doubt another blues show on the planet could cover a wider spectrum of blues than we did last night. Mason has a rap section from RL Burnside’s son, Cedric and Willie’s was a trademark piece of 12string finger picking from 1932. The latter item was this weeks “1001” blues that showed everything you Google about someone is likely to be wrong or incomplete. Michael Gray has written the definitive biography of McTell and even he doesn’t know who Ruby Glaze was.

This May will celebrate 100 years of Robert Johnson and the modestly named Big Head Todd has a project of cover songs helped out by luminaries like Hubert Sumlin, Charlie Musselwhite and B B King. We chose “Crossroads Blues” to put the King of the Blues in a very different spotlight – he has been influenced by jazz greats like Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt. This came through in his playing, beautifully sculptured jazz accompaniment to Hammond B3 organ – not the five note trills you normally hear from Lucille. At 86 B can still surprise us.

Cassie Taylor provided vocals to Gary Moore’s last album, she’s the daughter of Otis Taylor and is gifted with a breathy vocal and punchy bass style – both are to the fore on her new album “Blue”. She tackles a number of genres but she’s never far from roots or blues. Soul star Bobby Jones has a new project too but I didn’t get too many details, the only track I had was “Little Sally Walker” but I can’t wait to hear more. Soulmen Clay Hammond and Marvin Sease died recently and Little Johnny Taylor’s go on Galaxy at Clay’s “Part Time Love” was the biggest selling blues single of all time (part due to the song, part to Taylor’s vocal and part to the anguished guitar from Arthur Williams). I got a song suitable for family audience to mark Marvin’s death and a star of his stature won’t easily come again. If you want to know more about him, it’d be worthwhile finding the article in Living Blues magazine.

Chain at the top was Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips” and the show ended with the Stones’ version of the same song they cut in St Tropez for “Exile on Mainstreet”. Along the way we had Elmore James, Johnny Heartsman, piano boogie woogie from Meade Lux Lewis and Katie Webster and gospel from Rev. Gary Davis and the Speer Family. I’ve an idea what I can use for the Chain next week, see if you’re right by bringing your best ears on Sunday at 10pm (BST). Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.