STAR BLUES on 1st May 2011 at 22:00

Plenty of sunshine and general feel-goodness after the nuptials and two new listeners, STAR BLUES is after all Catherine and William's local blues show. Dare we say by Royal Appointment??? With half dozen or more new releases they'll have good evidence that our music is still going strong.

Eric Bibb can be relied on for angelic vocals and great songs and Elvin Bishop brought a track off his album recorded on a recent blues cruise. He's on Delta Groove these days, as is Shawn Pittman who sent us a stylish offering from his new one. Bobby Rush is reliably excellent and Mighty Sam McClain has teamed with a Norwegian partner for a lovely project that both men clearly enjoyed: Sam had plenty of space to stretch out on "Open Heaven's Door" that fit nicely in the gospel groove. Retro band Vintage Trouble tore the roof off Jools Holland's Later tv show t'other day and they all but did it again for us on Sunday.

Lead Belly's work is coming back into favour so we had his "Alabama Bound" in the You Me & 1000 Blues spot, something he re-recorded in 1940 with the Golden Gate Quartet. We tried to set the record straight on his prison spells and found out he screen tested as an actor in Hollywood. The Alabama connection also let us think about the folks in Alabama at the moment and their devastation.

Jon Cleary's debut for Alligator served us some mighty fine keyboard work and second-line drumming for the piano blues spot and we heard from Sugar Blue and the song that gave him his nickname ("The Sugar Blues"). Top and tail links were both from the Butterfield Blues Band; pointing back to last week they covered the Willie Dixon song "Mellow Down easy" and looking to next week's Robert Johnson special show they covered "Walkin' Blues" for us. The plan is to get from his first recording to his last (number 29) in the two hours: either in his original form or with a cover version). On Sunday 8th May it will be RJ Centenary so the choice seems right - hope you can make it. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Mellow Down Easy	Butterfield Blues Band, The	6	Butterfield Blues Band / East West
Karma	Terry Quiett Band	1	Just My Luck
Road Shufflin'	Phil Gates	10	Addicted To The Blues
It Took A Long Time	Finis Tasby	2	Shattered Dreams - Funky Blues 1967-1978
Broken Hearted Man	Bobby Rush	7	Show You A Good Time
Red, Black On Blues	Pura Fe	2	A Blues Night In North Carolina
Alabama Bound	Lead Belly	8	Midnight Special
Troubadour	Eric Bibb	4	Troubadour Live
Blues Hand Me Down	Vintage Trouble	1	The Bomb Shelter Sessions
The Night Time Is The Right Time	Elvin Bishop's Raisin' Hell Revue	5	Live On The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
I've Had Enough	Shawn Pittman	9	Edge Of The World
Heart Fixing Business	Albert King	9	Years Gone By - Plus!
Sugar Coated Love	Johnny Winter	12	I'm A Bluesman
Credit Card	Harmonica Hinds	2	Anything If I Could
One More Mile To Go	Sugar Blue	11	Crucial Harmonica Blues
Sugar Blues	Clarence Williams	8	The Best Of Boogie Woogie
C'mon Second Line	Jon Cleary	3	Alligator Lips And Dirty Rice
Take Your Eyes Off My Woman	Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith	3	Joined At The Hip
Open Up Heavens Doors	Knut Reiersrud/Mighty Sam McClain	11	One Drop Is Plenty
Big Muddy	Larry Dale	22	Old Town Blues - The Uptown Sides
Perfect Song	Solomon Burke	12	Hold On Tight
Walking Blues	Butterfield Blues Band, The	1	Butterfield Blues Band / East West

STAR BLUES on 24th April 2011 at 22:00

Double bubble of St. George's Day and Easter Sunday added up to a special STAR BLUES with a view of our music from these shores and the 60's British Blues Boom. There's a rich seam to mine with plenty of artists emulating and celebrating the blues they'd discovered on record. Typical was Georgie Fame who found a Dave Bartholomew song done by Fats Domino - from singles brought in through our ports on boats from the Caribbean.

Lonnie Donegan got his name in a slip by an on stage announcer when Tony Donegan's Jazz Combo were support to Lonnie Johnson. He helped fashion the skiffle craze from simple implements and Leadbelly's music. With Chris Barber and Alexis Korner the renewed interest here in blues allowed the "originals" a boost in fortunes through tours to Europe. We had tracks from the other usual suspects: John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin.

Bob Hall held down the piano stool for us and Louise Marshall was recorded at Wells Cathedral with Jools Holland for some gospel. She, along with Beth Rowley, brought female blues bang up to date. However we didn't forget the sublime vocal artistry of Christine McVie on her version of a hit for Etta James - nor did we overlook the very demure looking Jo Ann Kelly who sounded as if she came from the Delta.

I had chance to don a black tee shirt on Easter Monday for some non-blues based tomfoolery and I will be back for more in both colours next weekend. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Gary Blue

Diddy Wah Diddy	Fabulous Thunderbirds, The	25	Collection
Key To The Highway	Jo-Ann Kelly	10	Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues
Watch Out	Bernie Marsden	7	Green And Blues
Stormy Monday Blues	Little Joe Cook	25	Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues
Death Ray Boogie	Bob Hall	15	Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues
Flatfoot Sam	Blues Band, The	2	The Official Bootleg Album // Ready
Bernard Jenkins	John MayallEric Clapton	17	Clapton Is God: The Cream Of Early Eric Clapton
I'd Rather Go Blind	Chicken Shack	6	Story Of The Blues
Need Your Love So Bad	Fleetwood Mac	10	Best Of
Harmonica Blues	Chris Barber W. Lonnie Donegan Group	2	Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues
My Time After A While	John Mayall	3	Crusade
Nobody's Fault But Mine	Beth Rowley	1	Little Dreamer
Blue Monday	Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames	17	The Big Beat: The Dave Bartholomew Songbook
Lost John	Lonnie Donegan	1	Muleskinner Blues : Best Of
Seven Acts Of Mercy	Jools Holland	3	The Informer
Country Mile	Rory Gallagher	4	B. B. C. Sessions
Black Night	Savoy Brown	3	Shake Down / Getting To The Point
Throw Down A Line	Jeff Beck Group, The	9	Beck-Ola
Little Red Rooster	Rolling Stones, The	7	Rolled Gold Plus: Very Best Of The Rolling Stones
Jumpin' At Shadows	Duster Bennett	8	Bright Lights Big City
Good Times Bad Times	Led Zeppelin	1	Led Zeppelin
If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day	Tony McPhee	11	Hoochie Coochie Men : A History Of British Blues
Mellow Down Easy	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	11	Weak Brain Narrow Mind

STAR BLUES on 17th April 2011 at 22:00

Chicago guitarist Lacy Gibson died last week and we had some of his nimble clean playing on last night's STAR BLUES from some 1970's recordings put out on Black Magic. Recent tornadoes are still raging across several States in American, a major musical casualty being the headquarters of Malaco Records in Jackson Mississippi. They got a marker from the town a year ago to mark their contribution and influence and the marker is now the only thing left. Their sound characterised blues for the African American audience in the 80's and 90's, so we remembered Z Z Hill, Little Milton and James Peterson while co-founder Wolf Stevenson decides what to do next.

Lauren Sheehan is gifted with a beautiful touch on banjo and mandolin, her rich voice is a perfect complement to her music that effortlessly spans blues, folk and Americana. The gap since her previous previous project is about six years and her new one has been worth the wait. Gina Sicilia is on her third album and we were pleased to go back to it again based on the feedback from last weeks show. New offerings on hand from Midnight Shift and the Chris Bergson Band as well as the results of last year's European tour undertaken by the Music Maker Review: Dr Burt is almost seven feet in stature and he mused "What Can An Old Man Do But Play The Blues". His distinctive style comes from the unusual tuning of a 12-string axe, something he only took up after an argument with his wife in 1957.

The Dixie Hummingbirds sang about Ezekial's Wheel and Henry Gray and Memphis Slim did piano duties. I indulged my favourite harp player (Walter Horton) through a support role to Joe Hill Louis at Sun records. Our "1001" feature told the tale of how Mike Vernon started the Blue Horizon label and the top and tail links both had a Jimmy Reed connection. To find what the chain starts next with you'll need to be with us at ten pm next Sunday, I'll be in a white tee shirt but you can wear anything. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Track	Artist	Album
Big Boss Man	Jimmy Reed	[1-12]You Don't Have To Go - Jimmy Reed{- -}
Back In A Cadillac	Coco Montoya	[1-10]Can't Look Back - Coco Montoya{- -}
Can't Control Myself	Gina Sicilia	[1-6]Can't Control Myself - Gina Sicilia{- -}
W.P.A. Rag	Big Bill Broonzy	[1-13]Good Time Tonight - Big Bill Broonzy{- -}
I Need Your Loving	Don Gardner And Dee Dee Ford	[1-24]Birth Of Soul Vol. 3 - Various Artists{- -}
Little Bluebird	Little Milton	[1-8]Greatest Hits - Little Milton{- -}
Across The Board	Hubert Sumlin	[1-1]Blue Horizon Story Vol. 1 - Various Artists{- -}
What Can An Old Man Do	Dr. Burt	Music Maker Revue Live – Various Artists{- -}
Louie's Blues	Lauren Sheehan	[1-13]Rose City Ramble - Lauren Sheehan{- -}
I Ain't Beggin' Nobody	Larry Davis	[1-1]I Ain't Beggin' Nobody - Larry Davis{- -}
The Hustle Is On	James Blood Ulmer	[1-2]No Escape From The Blues - The Electric Lady Sessions - James Blood Ulmer{- -}
Tear It Up	Midnight Shift	[0-4]Rhythm Rockin' Boogie - Midnight Shift{- -}
Goin' Home	Chris Bergson Band	[1-1]Imitate The Sun - Chris Bergson Band{- -}
Take My Love	Lacy Gibson	[1-1]Switchy Titchy - Lacy Gibson{- -}
Don't Let The Devil Ride	James Peterson	[6-2]The Last Soul Company - Various Artists{- -}
Lucky Lucky Man	Henry Gray	Lucky Man – Henry Gray{- -}
Best Gal I Ever Had	Memphis Slim	[1-14]Chicago Piano 1951-1958 - Various Artists{- -}
Hydromatic Woman	Joe Hill Louis	[6-8]Sun Blues Box : 1950-1958 - Various Artists{- -}
Ezekiel Saw The Wheel	Dixie Hummingbirds, The	[3-11]Gospel - The Ultimate Collection - Various Artists{- -}
Louie's Guitar Boogie	Jay McShann	[2-4]The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952 - Various Artists{- -}
Country Rules	Dave RileyBob Corritore	[1-7]Lucky To Be Living - Dave RileyBob Corritore{- -}
Someone Else Is Steppin' In	Z.Z. Hill	[3-15]The Last Soul Company - Various Artists{- -}
Hush Hush	Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan	[1-11]On The Jimmy Reed Highway - Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan{- -}

STAR BLUES on 10th April 2011 at 22:00

"Ex-chippy Chuck chiselled out of cheque by Chess" how about that for a redtop headline. It refers to the 1001 blues feature on "Maybellene" that was the debut record by Chuck Berry for Chess. The sessions were done in May 1955 and the writing credit was given - in part - to Alan Freed, someone Chuck Berry had never met.

We aren't immune from the Wedding Fever of the Royals and the big competition run by the station: Roy Brown turned up with something to say about nuptuals for Louis Jordan's Caldonia and Little Ester did a little boogie for the matimonial celebrations. Posh frock and new hat and shoes purely optional. On the subject of fashion matters, I learned of a positive outbreak of white tee-shirts in Cambridge over the weekend - who'd have though I'd be a dedicated style guru.

Muddy Waters would have been 98 and Al Green will be 65 this week, what better excuse to play tracks on STAR BLUES last night. Green covered Sister Rosetta Tharpe for a cut that was one of seven previously unissued before the Hi-retrospective from a few years ago. We also had another track from Tracy Nelson's fine new effort on Delta Groove - an old-fashioned sounding song by Earl Thomas that is brand new. She was joined on the distaff side by the upcoming Gina Sicilia whose third album has some mature sounding vocals in several blues styles. Her striking good looks also give the lie to the myth that blues is only done by portly, balding men of a certain age.

The Golden Gate Quartet and Naomi Shelton did gospel with Al Green while Little Willie Littlefield and Fats Domino were responsible for the piano spot. Neither Jimmy Johnson nor Fenton Robinson get enough airplay these days, I hope our selections yesterday did them justice. Saturday is world Record Store Day but I don't know of any participating stores in Cambridge. Those that do will have some rare stuff on offer and even if you don't buy, the real joy is in looking and listening to fabulous music that you wouldn't otherwise try. Speaking of which: Two non blues specials on the way on Easter Monday and the May Bank Holiday just bursting with fresh goodies. Till then there'll be the normal diet of blues, tomfoolery, mayhem and white upper body garments on Sundays at 10pm (BST) so take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.

Track	Artist	Album
Will The Circle Be Unbroken	Mavis Staples	[1-12]Have A Little Faith - Mavis Staples{- -}
Blind Man	Gregg Allman	[1-5]Low Country Blues - Gregg Allman{- -}
Blind Man	Little Milton	[1-3]Stand By Me - Little Milton{- -}
Hellz Bellz	Matt Hill	[1-2]On The Floor - Matt Hill{- -}
Baby Please Don't Go	Fenton Robinson	[1-5]Special Road - Fenton Robinson{- -}
Mama's Got A Girlfriend Now	Ben Harper	[1-6]Welcome To The Cruel World - Ben Harper{- -}
Maybellene	Chuck Berry	[2-22]The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years - Various Artists{- -}
Members Only	Gina Sicilia	[1-3]Can't Control Myself - Gina Sicilia{- -}
Mellow Down Easy	Little Hatch	[1-10]Rock With Me Baby - Little Hatch{- -}
Long Distance Call	Muddy Waters	[2-8]Rollin' Stone - Muddy Waters{- -}
Poor Boy, Long Ways From Home	Banjo Joe [aka Gus Cannon]	[1-2]Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis - Various Artists{- -}
Take Five	Jimmy Johnson	[1-9]Chicago Blues Bash - Various Artists{- -}
Wedding Boogie	Little Esther	[2-17]Jump 'N' Jive - Various Artists{- -}
Caldonia's Wedding Day	Roy Brown	[1-9]Saturday Night! King And Imperial Recordings - Roy Brown{- -}
Lead a Horse to Water	Tracy Nelson	[1-2]Victim Of The Blues - Tracy Nelson{- -}
You Messed Up My Mind	Clay Hammond	[1-2]Slow 'N' Moody, Black & Bluesy - Various Artists{- -}
Up Above My Head	Al Green	[1-49]A Deeper Shade Of Green - Al Green{- -}
Lift My Burdens	Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens	[1-11]What Have You Done, My Brother? - Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens{- -}
Walk In Jerusalem Just Like John	Golden Gate Quartet, The	[1-14]The Golden Gate Quartet - Our Story - Golden Gate Quartet, The{- -}
Poor Me	Fats Domino	[1-25]Imperial Singles Vol. 2 1953-1958 - Fats Domino{- -}
Love You All Night Long	Little Willie Littlefield	[1-124]The Music City Story (3Cd) - Various Artists{- -}
Cry Baby	Percy Mayfield	[2-19]Specialty Story - Various Artists{- -}
Baby What You want Me To Do	Steve CropperAlbert KingPops Staples	[4]Jammed Together - Various Artists{- -}