STAR BLUES on 18th March 2012 at 22:00

With historical content, new blues, St Patrick's Day and some old favourites you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a typical STAR BLUES but that assumes you'd be brave enough to predict what will happen between 10 and midnight on a Sunday night...
Someone asked Jimi Hendrix what is was like to be the world's greatest guitarist; he replied he didn't know and they should ask Rory Gallagher. He was a consummate guitarist taken from us too early by a failed liver damaged with prescription drugs he took to conquer his fear of flying. The film documentary "Ghost Blues" about Rory is sat at home on my iplayer and I wanted to pay tribute with a previously unissued go at "BullFrog Blues": that and a two-handed piece from John Lee Hooker and Van Morrison capped our St Patrick's Day celebration. Of all the albums and guests who attended the Hook's Indian Summer career, Van was the one who understood his friend best.
Pee Wee Crayton crossed my radar during the week through an extensive feature in issue 56 of Living Blues from 1980/81. He learned ukelele and built himself a banjo out of a cigar box before moving to guitar. He used a four finger style that allowed him big chords and he got early chart success with his first singles on Modern.  Disputes over royalties meant he didn't stay long with them though he stopped off at Vee-Jay just long enough to cut a session with our slow blues "Telephone Is Ringing" on last night's STAR BLUES. He was shamefully ignored by most thereafter and even dropped out of music and drove a truck in the early Sixties. Johnny Otis gave him a job in 1970 with the Revue and Crayton found his way back to the studios again. He was under the spotlight in the You,Me & 1001b Blues feature.
The centrepiece of the show was the handful of tracks by Lightnin' Hopkins who would have been 100 on 15th March. Robert Plant's Band of Joy loosely interpreted "Central 209" a couple of years ago, Hopkins did the original for us; he covered both the risque Tampa Red song "Play With Your Poodle" and Big Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go" and he got down dirty and boogied with "Jake Head". I once tried to count all Hopkins compact discs in print - I stopped when I got to 200. He ploughed that furrow that wandered in and out of the standard 12-bar form and had a fascinating life that began at the knee of Blind Lemon Jefferson.
Our new crop included Eddie Taylor Jr, proving that great blues runs in the genes - we were lucky because the album on Wolf just about snuck out with no advance warning in this direction. Bob Corritore is a master harp player, his new project hooks him up with Tail Dragger for top-notch blues playing all round. They first net on 11th Jan 1976, the day after Howlin' Wolf died - a connection kept alive here by Henry Gray who played piano for the Wolf and does sterling stuff here too.
Sunday Wilde hasn't been on STAR BLUES before, but this Ontario blues artist will surely be back if she can ever shake that man. Her third album came our way and we could hear why she's started to win those awards,. She was shaded (just) in the new release stakes by   Janiva Magness with her "Stronger Now" project for Alligator. In my humble opinion this is her best singing yet and there is a very pleasant graininess now to her timbre that has come from taking on life's latest challenge. This has the most soulful vocals I've heard since Bettye LaVette's album from 2010 "Interpretations".

Eddie Cusic and Maurice Jean Vaughan don't get much of an outing on blues radio in theUK, STAR BLUES was pleased to put matters right yesterday. We also squeezed in a new R&B anthology on VeeTone compiled by the redoubtable Mark Lamarr - my only regret is I've missed out on the first ten volumes in the set. Deffo on my list. All too soon it was over and all I can say is watch out next week - I've got more of the same for 10pm next Sunday on Cambridge and Ely's STAR RADIO, 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
Bullfrog Blues	Rory Gallagher	11	Notes From San Francisco	Rory Gallagher	Eagle Rock Entertainment
Gloria	Van Morrison With John Lee Hooker	1	Gloria	Van Morrison	POLYDOR
Get it Over Baby	Bobby JonesMannish Boys, The	5	Comin' Back Hard	Bobby JonesMannish Boys, The	DELTAGROOVE
Early in the Morning	Charlie Musselwhite	10	Stand Back! Here Comes	Charlie Musselwhite	VANGUARD
Give Me Central 209	Lightnin' Hopkins	19	His Blues	Lightnin' Hopkins	ACE
Telephone is Ringing	Pee Wee Crayton	22	The Best Of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour	Various Artists	CHROME
I Didn't Take Your Woman (You Gave Her to Me)	Lou Pride	13	Twisting The Knife	Lou Pride	ICHIBAN
I Been Mistreated	Raful Neal	1	I Been Mistreated	Raful Neal	ICHIBAN
I Wonder Why	Debbie DaviesAlbert Collins	7	25th Anniversary Collection	Various Artists	BLIND PIG RECORDS
I Wonder Why	Lightnin' Hopkins	16	(1946-1960)	Lightnin' Hopkins	STORY OF THE BLUES
Use What You Got	Eddie Taylor Jr.	6	So Called Friends	Eddie Taylor Jr.
Cut You Loose	Eddie Cusic	4	Leland Mississippi Blues	Eddie Cusic	WOLF
Slop Around	Buddy Guy	10	R & B Humdingers	Various Artists	veetone
I Can't Shake That Guy	Sunday Wilde	10	What Man!?? Oh That Man!!	Sunday Wilde	INDEPENDENT
Cold Outdoors	Tail DraggerBob Corritore	5	Longtime Friends in the Blues	Tail DraggerBob Corritore	Delta Groove Productions
Jake Head Boogie	Lightnin' Hopkins	2	His Blues	Lightnin' Hopkins	ACE
Let Me Play With Your Poodle	Lightnin' Hopkins	7	The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
Back to New Orleans	Lightnin' Hopkins	1	The Best Of Lightnin' Hopkins	Lightnin' Hopkins	PRESTIGE
Up Above My Head (I Hear Music in the Air)	Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Marie Knight	15	Gospel - The Ultimate Collection	Various Artists	RED Box
You Got What You Wanted	Janiva Magness	7	Stronger For It	Janiva Magness	Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
I Want to Be Your Spy	Maurice John Vaughan	8	25th Anniversary Collection	Various Artists	Alligator
Telephone Song	Stevie Ray Vaughan	14	The Real Deal! Greatest Hits Volume 2	Stevie Ray Vaughan	SONY

Created: 19/03/2012 08:39:33

STAR BLUES on 11th March 2012 at 22:00

oh dear... The wise Buddhas who sit in the place marked Health and Safety are worried - they've heard folks enjoying STAR BLUES and they now wish to act to mitigate claims in the event of a further outbreak of unconfined jollity. Hence last night's audit and stern edict thus:

You must not perpetrate, perpetuate, participate or encourage tomfoolery on your STAR BLUES show. You may not facilitate or encourage good time behaviour in any fashion, manner or degree. Gay wild abandon is strictly forbidden and we will monitor your output to ensure you comply. There will be a three stage traffic light system to indicate transgressions in your transmission - you must ensure the green light is lit throughout. Instances where tomfoolery is hinted at will illuminate the amber bulb. Sanctions will follow if the red light shows.

Well I think we got away with it - there were murmurings of jitterbugging and frivolity when I played Ronnie Earl but the orange light just flickered. Don't tell anyone I took the lamp out of the red. Ryan may have noticed this morning because I left a nasty mark on his Love Shack when I stood on the desk to reach over when I did it.

Nor did it stop me from getting the very best out of BB King, Etta James, James Cotton and Bobby Bland - if anyone has any doubts on why these are judged as the greats, rush home now and listen to the tracks we chose last night. I probably upset a few Whitney Houston fans in my assertion of the greater influence from Etta James but I don't care. Ol B always thought Hendrix to be a master blues player and the 1966 go at "Red House" provided ample evidence. I also got drawn into a Facebook discussion during the week on the best blues piano player - too hard to call I said but don't forget Leroy Carr. Living Blues magazine proposed him as best of all time on any instrument a few years ago (more influential than Robert Johnson et al). Who was I to argue?

Chris Thomas King was on hand with another piece at the outer envelope of blues and Jimmy Nolen came along with some raw guitar playing not often heard on blues radio. We've played versions of Tom Waits' "Down in the Hole" before but I don't think we've had the one used by Hans Theesink on his project Jederman,.

They haven't said anything about my white tee shirt so I'm going XXL next week to smuggle in as many dirty deeds as you can do on the cheap (ref: AC/DC). I hope you'll want to be there to hear how it turns out, 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
Johnny Got a Boom Boom	Imelda May	15	More Mayhem	Imelda May	DECCA
(Ain't That) Just Like a Woman	B. B. King	10	B. B. King The Crown Recordings: Disc 7 : More B. B.. King	B. B. King	ACE
Red House	Jimi Hendrix	3	:Blues	Jimi Hendrix	MCA
Limetown (fragment)	Guy Davis	1	Chocolate To The Bone	Guy Davis	RED HOUSE
I Believe I'll Lose My Mind	Guy Davis	4	Chocolate To The Bone	Guy Davis	RED HOUSE
Baghdad Blues	Beverly 'Guitar' Watkins	2	The Feelings Of ...	Beverly 'Guitar' Watkins	MUSIC MAKER
Sad Hours	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	4	His Best	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	MCA/CHESS
I Pity the Fool	Bobby 'Blue' Bland	4	Deep Soul Treasures - Vol. 4	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
I'd Rather Go Blind	Etta James	16	Her Best	Etta James	MCA/CHESS
Way Down in the Hole	Hans Theessink	1	Jedermann Remixed - The Soundtrack	Hans Theessink	BLUE GROOVE
Half a Mind	Bobby Marchan	14	Get Down With It The Soul Sides 1963-67	Bobby Marchan	Kent
Fever	Little Willie John	24	The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
The Way You Do	Jimmy Nolen	7	Scratchin'-Federal 52-56	Pete "Guitar" Lewis-Jimmy Nolen-Cal Green	charly R&B
Pack it Up	Freddie King	16	Ultimate Collection	Freddie King	HIP-O
T-Bone Boogie	Ronnie Earl	2	Blues T-Bone Style	Various Artists	EASYDISC
I've Got Love if You Want it	John Hammond	1	Got Love If You Want It	John Hammond	POINTBLANK
Two Trains Runnin'	James CottonJoe Louis Walker	9	Deep In The Blues	James CottonJoe Louis Walker	VERVE
Cairo Blues	Melvin 'Lil Son' Jackson	4	American Masters Vol. 1 : Country Blues	Various Artists	Arhoolie Records
Mojo Hand	Lightnin' Hopkins	1	His Blues	Lightnin' Hopkins	ACE
Naptown Blues	Leroy Carr	7	Naptown Blues	Leroy Carr	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
I Asked for Water	Howlin' Wolf	3	Howlin' Wolf / The Wolf Is At Your Door: The Singles 1951-1960	Howlin' Wolf	Jasmine
O Brother Where Art Thou?	Chris Thomas King	1	Legend Of Tommy Johnson	Chris Thomas King	21ST CENTURY
Bad Feeling Blues	Lightnin' Slim	11	Tuff Enough - Ace (Ms.) Blues Masters Vol.3	Various Artists	WESTSIDE
Fannie Mae	Holmes Brothers, The	4	Righteous! Rounder Heritage Essential Collectio	Holmes Brothers, The	Rounder
Little Sister	Ry Cooder	9	Why Don't You Try Me	Ry Cooder	WEA

Created: 12/03/2012 12:49:11

STAR BLUES on 4th March 2012 at 22:00

Plenty of new music from folks making a first appearance on STAR BLUES - and on this evidence it won't be their last. In that set, I'm chuffed to be able to include the soulful Jackie Johnson, a vibrant Hip Shakin' Mama and the fast upcoming star Cherry Lee Mewis. Jackie is a new name to me with a beautiful tone to her voice, she simp;ly oozes class and she neatly lead us toward our gospel spot with her "Keep The Faith". Shelley Lynne Hardinge is an ex-pat Brit based in Ontario and her "I Been Lovin' You Too Long" was written for her husband who plays bass in her band. She really admires Willie Dixon and she has that same line in wry observation. Young Cherry Lee Mewis mines the same vein as Imelda May but I hear both Ruth Brown and Brenda Lee in her voice that will set her apart in the long run. Volker Strifler doesn't sound like a name for a blues artist, thankfully we subscribe to the Bo Diddley dictum about books, covers and names to allow us to give airtime to this fine project on Vizztone.

Giles Robson has a track on the Blues cd given away with Classic Rock magazine (other rock mags are available), the rock god Neil Jones passed the disc over to us for inclusion in our playlist last night. Memphis Gold celebrated his birthday yesterday and he brought his wonderfully fluid guitar to our party and we pushed our purist needle hard up against the endstops on the dial with another track from his "Contraband" album. We lost John Cephas exactly three years ago and his partnership with Phil Wiggins gave us a reminder of a gentle man and skillful guitarist. Sean Taylor is a nice player who writes and sings well, sadly for us he sits on the outer edge of what I can get away with on STAR BLUES - his version of "Sixteen Tons" more than did the job for us and he deserves to get wider recognition.

Champion Jack Dupree's "Blues from the Gutter" album was recorded in 1958 for Atlantic, its been reissued now with a second album and a whole cd full of singles he did inn the early Fifties appearing on cd for the first time. Every self respecting blues fan will already have the vinyl album but the budget price on the current package and bonus stuff means a re-purchase is more than justified. Joe Liggins paired with Jack for the piano spot and the teenage Sam Cooke did splendid service in the gospel tent.

World Book Day was my chance to go back to Steve Franz' great biography of Elmore James, so it gave us an excuse to go to Elmore's first session for Trumpet - and the very different reading by Robert Lockwood - on Dust My Broom. Add in two women who arrived a day early looking for BB King and Willie Mabon - I had to look after them as best i could. Honestly two hours is just not enough to keep it all in, we'll do our best next Sunday at 10pm 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
T-Bone Intentions	Long John Hunter	13	25th Anniversary Collection	Various Artists	Alligator
Tell Me What's the Reason	T-Bone Walker	1	Blues Guitar Box	Various Artists	SEQUEL
Monday Woman	B. B. King	5	Makin' Love Is Good For You	B. B. King	MCA
Monday Woman	Willie Mabon	6	The Seventh Son	Willie Mabon	charly blues masterworks
Key to the Highway	Cephas & Wiggins	11	Richmond Blues	Cephas & Wiggins	SMITHSONIAN
Sixteen Tons	Sean Taylor	6	Love Against Death	Sean Taylor	SGO Records
Lay On My Delta Bed	Otis Taylor	9	Contraband Blues	Otis Taylor	TELARC
The Mighty Incinerator	Giles Robson	1	Giles Robson & Dirty Aces	Giles Robson
I Found Out	Mickey Murray	11	People Are Together	Mickey Murray	SECREt Stash
You're Gonna Make Me Cry	Chuck Roberson	1	I'll Take Care of You	Chuck Roberson	DESERT SOUNDS
Memphis Still Got Soul	Johnny Rawls	1	Memphis Still Got Soul	Johnny Rawls	Catfood
Country Girl	Johnny Otis Show	5	Shattered Dreams - Funky Blues 1967-1978	Various Artists	BGP
Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong	Sherman Robertson	6	Going Back Home	Sherman Robertson	AUDIOQUEST
Whole Lotta Woman	Memphis Gold	10	Memphis Gold - From Radiosubmit	Memphis Gold	Chet Chandler
I've Been Loving You Too Long	Hip Shakin Mama And The Leg Men	7	Reclaim Your Land	Hip Shakin Mama And The Leg Men	hipshakin music
Man Overboard	Cherry Lee Mewis	1	Heard It Here First	Cherry Lee Mewis	CLM
Keep The Faith	Jackie Johnson	11	Memphis Jewel	Jackie Johnson	Catfood
Peace in the Valley	Soul Stirrers Feat. Sam Cooke, The	1	Gospel - The Ultimate Collection	Various Artists	RED Box
The Honeydripper	Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers	12	The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
Evil Woman	Champion Jack Dupree	4	Two Classic Albums Plus Singles	Champion Jack Dupree	AVID
Dust My Broom	Elmore James	17	The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
Dust My Broom	Robert Lockwood Jr.	8	Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954)	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Wait A Minute	Volker Strifler Band	5	Let The Music Rise	Volker Strifler Band	Vizztone

Created: 05/03/2012 20:32:17 

STAR BLUES on 26th February 2012 at 22:00

Neither Louisiana Red nor Joe Thompson held much sway outside fans of our music - there's a curious Law that says the more influential you are the less you'll be appreciated at the time. We had chance to celebrate both on this STAR BLUES through their deaths in the last day are so. Joe was described as the most historically important American traditional performers still working in the 21st Century: his familial roots go back as far as the American Civil War. Born in North Caroline he learned fiddle at age five and gigged ever since - playing dance music, pure and simple with subtlety amply replace with joyous enthusiasm. He had an album out on Rounder in the 90s and he joined the Carolina Chocolate Drops for a live concert they released on cd last year. Two tracks seemed barely enough to say a proper farewell.

Iverson Minter's mother died when he was two and his father was attacked by the Ku Klux Klan. He learned at the knee of John Lee Hooker, Elmore James and Muddy Waters - truth be told he could outplay them and for party pieces he'd imitate them. When he got to Detroit he signed with Hooker's label owner - Joe Von Battle - and recorded seven songs in JVB's basement. Minter called himself Rocky Fuller at the time. He became Louisiana Red thereafter and he seemed equally at home as a solo slide master or with a small robust combo of like minded musicians. We sampled just about every facet of his work from the first track I ever heard by him ("Valerie") to his most recent project. His gifts have been bouyed by collaborations with David Maxwell and Little Victor - the latest three projects all got great reviews and two gongs to show for them. He was a fan as well as a musician, with some lovely stories from fellow players about his words of kindness along the way.

We also event to the new project from Otis Taylor which has split the critics on the percentage blues quotient - we love it at STAR BLUES, Taylor has again pushed at the edges of our music while keeping the tradtitional African American core. The New Heritage Orchestra is also trying interesting arrangements on old themes - in a package which features "Beady-Eyes" Smith on drums. (The apple didn't fall far from that tree: exemplary drum skills indeed). Catherine Russell has a lovely voice, obviously schooled in the ways of jazz and we stretched our purview to welcome her into our fold (they can't touch you for stretching a purview, I checked). Other new albums concentrated on being fine retrospective surveys of Paul Kelly and George Jackson - both out through Ace.

Our birthday book had Irma Thomas and the redoubtable Johnny Winter who both added to the celebrations started last week with Paul Jones. Some of my Facebook friends have been talking about Sonny Rhodes, LC Green and Eddie Cusic, reason enough for me to play them last night. Who knows for next week, I'll be here if you'll be there: 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
I Wanna Get Your Boogie	Sonny Rhodes	9	A Good Day To Play The Blues	Sonny Rhodes	STONY PLAIN
Share What You Got Keep What You Need	Robert Cray	12	Bad Influence	Robert Cray	DEMON
Blues Power	Albert King	2	The Complete Stax-Volt Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971	Various Artists	STAX
Catfish Blues	Heritage Blues Orchestra	4	And Still I Rise	Heritage Blues Orchestra	MRI
Bad Company	Deitra Farr	2	The Search Is Over	Deitra Farr	JSP Records
Goin’ Down to the River Blues	L.C. Green	13	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Detroit	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
I Walk the Water	Eddie Cusic	11	Leland Mississippi Blues	Eddie Cusic	WOLF
Dona	Carolina Chocolate Drops feat Joe Thompson	11	Dona Got A Ramblig Mind	Carolina Chocolate Drops	MUSIC MAKER
John Henry	Carolina Chocolate Drops feat. Joe Thompson	4	Carolina Chocolate Drops With Joe Thompson	Carolina Chocolate Drops, TheJoe Thompson
Come on Baby Now	Rocky Fuller	21	Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954)	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Valerie	Louisiana Red	4	Pretty Woman	Louisiana Red	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Get It While You Can	Johnny Rawls	8	Red Cadillac	Johnny Rawls	DEEP SOUTH SOUL
Only Your Love	Paul Kelly	6	Hot Runnin' Soul	Paul Kelly	Kent
Bright Lights, Big City	Johnny Winter & Susan Tedeschi	7	Roots	Johnny Winter	Megaforce
Steel Guitar Blues	Michael Messer	8	King Guitar	Michael Messer	CATFISH
Ride on Red, Ride on	Louisiana Red	4	Back To The Black Bayou	Louisiana Red	Ruf
I'm Getting Tired	Louisiana Red & Little Victor's Juke Joint	9	Memphis Mojo	Louisiana Red & Little Victor's Juke Joint	Ruf
First Degree	Louisiana Red w. Lefty Dizz	1	In The Tradition	Various Artists	BLUES ALLIANCE
Move on Up a Little Higher	Marie Knight	14	In The Tradition	Various Artists	BLUES ALLIANCE
Wake Up and Live	Catherine Russell	3	Strictly Romancin'	Catherine Russell	World Village
Share My Name	Cary Morin	6	Sing It Louder	Cary Morin	MUSIC MAKER
Don't Mess With My Man	Irma Thomas	3	Jockomo Jockomo	Various Artists	MUSIC CLUB
Greedy Over You	George Jackson	3	Don't Count Me Out: Fame Recordings Vol.1	George Jackson	Kent
Yell Your Name	Otis Taylor	2	Contraband Blues	Otis Taylor	TELARC
Tipitina	Tuts Washington	12	Jockomo Jockomo	Various Artists	MUSIC CLUB

STAR BLUES on 19th February 2012 at 22:00

We don't do many interviews on STAR BLUES. Paul Jones has a birthday this week so we marked the celebration by repeating our conversation that we did on Christmas Day. Many folks asked for us to do the show again as they'd missed it first time around midst turkey and trimmings.

As he is my counterpart on BBC Radio2 he doesn't get much chance to talk about his own life and work, especially what he does at the helm of his very popular weekly show. While he gets some flak about having an easy time with the resources of Auntie Beeb behind him he still only gets 58 minutes to represent the blues scene in the UK - that's not much time to touch a wide range of styles or delve back into the archives. We talked about his move from Thursday mid evening to Monday early slot and how it raised his profile and audience. By implication that can't be anything else but good news for the rest of us who love blues.

He's been a working musician for about fifty years and is one of a dwindling generation on hand in the 60s to be in support bands when promoters would only pay to ship over the headline acts (like John Lee Hooker etc). All of which gives him a nice fund of road stories to give colour to the personalities who did so much to establish a platform for our music here. Someone should pick up the task of documenting all this stuff while we still have the chance.

There's a strong faith that has kept him young at heart with a genuine enthusiasm for the next generation of players and an appetite for a full diary this year and onwards. His role as ambassador for blues in Britain is worn with some humility but is almost completely overlooked in the mainstream despite a recent clutch of awards. A real nice guy and a pleasure.

Next Sunday we resume the usual tomfoolery at 10pm (GMT) I hope you'll want to come along, white tee shirt and all - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

STAR BLUES on 12th February 2012 at 22:00

Never one to shirk from a challenge, I rolled up the sleeves of my white tee-shirt to combine the highlights of the show that never was, with a highly talented birthday bunch, with late new additions from two long-standing favourites: Eric Bibb and Lady Bianca. Don't shout it too loudly but I think we got away with it.

Otis Grand, Otis Clay, Pink Anderson, Big John Wrencher, Little Johnny Taylor and Magic Sam had birth anniversary greetings from the full range of colours in the STAR BLUES pallette. Big John Wrencher's go at the Little Walter song was recorded at the Sunday market held in Chicago's Maxwell Street until 1994. His August 1964 live street corner performance was ably supported by stinging guitar from Robert Nighthawk. The track was available because it had been captured for a documentary film.

You'd find it hard to credit almost sixty years have intervened since Little Johnny Watson brought his wild guitar to the studio for the first time on his third session as a leading man. There can be few other players able to shred his axe as thoroughly or distinctively as Johnny Watson. Fans of guitar had further pleasures from Johnnie Bassett and Fred McDowell in differing styles.

Lady Bianca has a unique style when she leads from the front on her chosen instrument (piano), she was at the top of her game for the track we chose from her brand new project. Eric Bibb's new one features fiddle on a number of songs and his angelic voice added subtle shades to a song written by Harrison Kennedy. Ace Records has issued the second volume of Johnny Otis sides and we had no hesitation in marking his recent death with the landmark "Cold Shot" track taken from his 1969 album of same name. With Lady B in the piano slot, we went to Candye Kane for some 1999 recordings done live in Belgium - we also have a special prayer for her now she has a recurrence of her cancer. She has a big heart and balls enough to take on a Bessie Smith classic too.

Next week Paul Jones will celebrate his 70th birthday and so STAR BLUES will repeat the conversation I had with him on Christmas Day. He and I chewed the fat about the Blues Band, his role at the head of the British blues scene and some titbits of gossip. Until then at 10pm (GMT) on Sunday take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Track.Title	Track.ArtistSort	Index	Album.Title	Album.ArtistSort	Label
Three Time Loser	Otis Grand	1	Hipster Blues	Otis Grand	BLISS STREET
Heatin' Me Up	David Dee	20	Goin' Fishin'	David Dee	ICHIBAN
Money Back Guarantee	Johnnie Bassett	4	Party My Blues Away	Johnnie Bassett	CANNONBALL
Crawling King Snake	Doors, The	8	L.A. Woman [40th Anniversary]	Doors, The	Rhino Records
Crawling King Snake	John Lee Hooker	11	The Roots Of The Doors	Various Artists	SNAPPER MUSIC
Space Guitar	Young John Watson	10	The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
Bad to Worse	Grainne Duffy	4	Out Of The Dark	Grainne Duffy	CDCG
Oh What A Dream	Ruth Brown	3	Miss Rhythm - Greatest Hits And More	Ruth Brown	SEQUEL
I Cant Make It Alone	Otis Clay	4	Hi Masters	Otis Clay	HI
Part Time Love	Little Johnnie Taylor	21	Birth Of Soul Vol. 1	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
Cold Shot	the Johnny Otis Show	14	Johnny Otis Story, Vol.2	Johnny Otis	ACE
I'm Tough (Tough As I Want To Be)	Phillip Walker	1	The Best Of Phillip Walker	Phillip Walker	HIGH TONE
Can't Hold Out Much Longer	Big John Wrencher	2	And This Is Maxwell Street	Various Artists	CATFISH
All Your Love	Magic Sam	14	Chicago Boss Guitars	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
Every Day In The Week Blues	Pink Anderson & Simmie Dooley	3	Heavy Hitters Vol. 1	Various Artists	PIGMEAT RECORDS
Could Be Me Could Be You	Eric Bibb	6	Deeper in the Well	Eric Bibb	HARMONICA MUNDI
Wished I Was In Heaven Sitting Down	Mississippi Fred McDowell	3	The First Recordings	Mississippi Fred McDowell	Rounder
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning	Rev. Robert B. Jones Snr.	10	The Time Of The Preacher	Rev. Robert B. Jones Snr.	ROJO
Stealin'	Lady Bianca	5	Servin' Notice	Lady Bianca	MAGIC-O
Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer	Candye Kane & Sue Palmer	2	One Night In Belgium	Candye Kane & Sue Palmer
Ode To Fess	Henry Butler	12	Homeland	Henry Butler	BASIN STREET RECORDS
Rocking Boogie Party	Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne	12	An Old Rock On A Roll	Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne

Created: 13/02/2012 22:08:54

STAR BLUES on 5th February 2012?

Sorry I missed you last night at such short notice: one day I'll tame the weather, my shoulder injury, a crazy dog and an automobile.

I had it in mind to play a few things to mark African-American month (February in US, "Black History month in UK): so tracks lined up from Ann Rabson, Samuel James, Johnie Bassett and Rev, Robert Jones. A couple of recent releases excited enough interest for me to return to "Hellfire" by Joe Louis Walker and also Philipp Fankhausers new one "Try My Love".

The Doors "final" album came out 40 years ago, its now available as a double disk set with unreleased versions and songs, their go at "Crawling Kingsnake" puts the emphasis on organ rather than vox/guitar and was very interesting, we wanted it as a back to back with John Lee Hooker's version of Tony Hollins song. Some digging around has found us a copy of Grainne Duffy's first album and its another goodun - she is really a major talent in her own right (much much more than just a Bonnie Raitt clone).

Johnny Guitar Watson and Jesse Thomas were on my birthday hitlist and Henry Butler was due to pay tribute to Professor Longhair. We like Ruthie Foster's new album, especially the haunting version of "Titanic" - just one of three brand new projects making a STAR BLUES debut, the others from Little Freddie King and Joel daSilva.

We'll hope for a better outcome next Sunday at 10pm (GMT) in the meantime, here's what we missed.....

Heatin' Me Up	David Dee	20	Goin' Fishin'	David Dee [1]	ICHIBAN
Love Song (Ode To George)	Ann Rabson	10	The Best Of M.C. Records	Various Artists	M.C. RECORDS
The Titanic	Ruthie Foster w. Blind Boys Of Alabama	13	Let it Burn	Ruthie Foster	Blue Corn Music
Honky Tonk Blues	Roy Gaines	9	I Got The T-Bone Walker Blues	Roy Gaines	Groove Note
Money Back Guarantee	Johnnie Bassett	4	Party My Blues Away	Johnnie Bassett	CANNONBALL
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning	Rev. Robert B. Jones Snr.	10	The Time Of The Preacher	Rev. Robert B. Jones Snr.	ROJO
Jack Of Diamonds	Jesse Thomas	24	Complete Recorded Works 1948-1958	Jesse Thomas	DOCUMENT
Bad to Worse	Grainne Duffy	4	Out of the Dark	Grainne Duffy	CDCG
Ode To Fess	Henry Butler	12	Homeland	Henry Butler	BASIN STREET RECORDS
Tired Man	Albert Collins	10	The Ice Axe Man Cometh (Collection 1978-86)	Albert Collins	MUSIC CLUB
Justice Blues	Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown	25	The R'n'b Years 1951: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1951	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Crawling King Snake	John Lee Hooker	11	The Roots Of The Doors	Various Artists	SNAPPER MUSIC
Joe Fletcher's Blues	Samuel James	2	For Rosa, Maeve And Noreen	Samuel James	Northern Blues
Oh What A Dream	Ruth Brown	3	Miss Rhythm - Greatest Hits And More	Ruth Brown	SEQUEL
I'm Gonna Move You Out And Get Somebody Else	T-Bone Walker	14	The Complete Capitol/Black And White Recordings	T-Bone Walker	Capitol
Space Guitar	Young John Watson	10	The History Of Rhythm & Blues, Volume 3 - The Rocknroll Years	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
Honeydripper	Jools Holland	10	Finding The Keys	Jools Holland	RHINO
Jealous Kinda Fella	Philipp Fankhauser	3	Try My Love	Philipp Fankhauser	FUNK HOUSE BLUES
For Don	Joel Dasilva And The Midnight Howl	10	Joel Dasilva And The Midnight Howl	Joel Dasilva And The Midnight Howl	N/A
Crawling King Snake	Doors, The	8	L.A. Woman [40th Anniversary]	Doors, The	Rhino Records