STAR BLUES on 14th October 2012 at 22:00

We gave STAR ROCK god Neil Jones a white tee-shirt as honorary cub reporter for STAR BLUES on the red carpet of the premiere of "Life of Riley", Jon Brewer's telling of B B King's life story. He spoke to Brewer, and Mick Taylor, on our behalf for the 1001 blues feature. In 1967 the young Taylor followed Peter Green into John Mayal's Bluesbreakers and was part of a generation directly influenced by B - the fan inside him is still there. Brewer talked of how he got onboard to get B's story to as many folks as possible. I'm off to Norwich tonight to see for myself. Many thanks to Neil for rubbing shoulders with the great and good at the premiere and party, its a dirty job but someone has to do it.

The sinister yellow ducks are in a Mexican standoff situation with Mrs Doubtfire wearing the most resolute of pinafores, in a staring contest with Ernest Borgine my money's on her - the fate of the two young chicks rests with her.

Unsurprisingly we are now officially (?) Britain's Other Blues Show; as proof our birthday book celebrated Chuck Berry, Kenny Neal, Olga, Mickey Baker, Nappy Brown and Guitar Gabriel - each with an individual blues gift Gabriel's album was his first in 30 years and was part of the launch of the MusicMaker organisation. It has an impressive roster (Precious Bryant, Etta Baker, Beverley Watkins, John Dee Holeman and so on) and is run as a not for profit outfit dedicated to the welfare of blues musicians who ground out a living on the road without healthcare provision. Regular subscribers who get my annual publication "GARY BLUE'S ALMANAC" are asked to make a donation to MM instead of paying me.

While we have good health in mind we sent positive thoughts to Kid Ramos, Curtis Salgado and Candye Kane who are all having a tough time with cancer. The power of Curtis' voice - with many textures in common with Solomon Burke - was astonishing given how ill he has been. Candye went back into hospital briefly but is now on the road again, Facebook showed her in New Orleans - she simply does not know how to slow down. She has lost loads of weight but still has the biggest heart of anyone I know.

The Crescent City gave us Champion Jack Dupree and Fats Domino - our piano blues maestros last night and as if it needed a bonus we snuck in Roy Milton's "RM Blues" on the Specialty label. Johnny Guitar Watson, Pee Wee Crayton and birthday boy Mickey Baker had overdriven amps and aggressive guitar in the 50s which still blows away everything else before or since. Mickey is still with us and would be a great subject for a film by Jon Brewer? Barbara Lynn is a great left-handed player - barely hamprered by what looks like a fulsome bridesmaid dress on the booklet cover of Kents anthology of her rare 60s and 70s singles.

Mick Hucknell has had a go at "That's How Strong My Love Is" - bless him - he oversells it so we gave him OV Wright's original as a homework assignment. For further inspiration James Carr covered Otis Redding. Mark Lamarr's gospel collections on Veetone brought forth another gem for us.  Before we knew it our allotted 118 minutes were up (a third hour anyone?). My plans for next week are to theme STAR BLUES around the feature in the new issue of Living Blues - "New Generation of Acoustic Blues". Hope you can be at your place in good time for 10pm (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
She Don't Play By The Rules	John Mayall W. Mick Taylor	13	Along For The Ride	John Mayall	EAGLE
Too Much	Omar & The Howlers	1	Too Much Is Not Enough	Omar & The Howlers
Poppa Stoppa	Pee wee Crayton	8	Ace 30: Blues And R'n'b	Various Artists	ACE
Too Tired	Johnny 'Guitar' Watson	6	Ace 30: Blues And R'n'b	Various Artists	ACE
Sugar Coated Love	Barbara Lynn	14	A Good Woman	Barbara Lynn	Kent
Real Gone Lover	Kid Ramos	12	House Party	Kid Ramos	EVIDENCE
everyday i have the blues	b b king	2-1	blues tunes	Various Artists	n/a
3 o clock blues	b b king	1	blues tunes	various artists	n / a
playing with my friends	b b king w. robert cray	1	blues summit	various artists	mca
just take your time	Olga (Featuring Cody Dickinson)	4	Whatever You Want	Olga	219 Records
That's How Strong My Love Is	O.V. Wright	19	The Complete Goldwax Singles, Vol. 1 1962-1966	Various Artists	Kent
Don't Be Angry	Nappy Brown	12	The Golden Age Of American Rock 'N' Roll - Volume 8	Various Artists	ACE
atomic boogie	pete johnson	1	Jump 'N' Jive	Various Artists	METRO
Alimony	Lonnie Brooks	7	Bayou Lightning	Lonnie Brooks	Alligator
Bitter With The Sweet	Kenny Neal	2	Hooked On Your Love	Kenny Neal	BLIND PIG RECORDS
promised land	chuck berry	15	at his best	chuck berry	mca/chess
Hard Knock Gal	Candye Kane	10	Sister Vagabond	Candye Kane	DELTAGROOVE
Miss You Like The Devil	Guitar Gabriel	8	Deep In The South	Guitar Gabriel	MUSIC MAKER
Strollin'	Champion Jack Dupree	1	Blues From The Gutter	Champion Jack Dupree	Atlantic
Dance With Mr. Domino	Fats Domino	24	The Fat Man	Fats Domino	IMPERIAL
R M Blues	Roy Milton & His Solid Senders	4	Specialty Story	Various Artists	Specialty
its getting late	voices of jordan	1	screaming gospel	various artists	veetone
my babys gone	eddie riff feat. Mickey Baker	23	hit git and split	mickey baker	revola
Love Man	Curtis Salgado	7	Soul Shot	Curtis Salgado	Alligator
I Can't Turn You Loose	James Carr	11	Hard To Handle: Black America Sings Otis Redding	Various Artists	ACE
something missing	Holmes Brothers, The	5	Feed My Soul	Holmes Brothers, The	Alligator

Created: 14/10/2012 23:48:25 

STAR BLUES on 7th October 2012 at 22:00

Britain's Other Blues Show has resident yellow plastic ducks, we were twinned with Cairo in Egypt, we marked Albert Collins & Duke Robillard with birthdays, and talked about The Help and Nick Curran who'd just died. Collins is up for election to the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame, he was one of the most distinctive guitarists with an aggressive yet fluid style - his career was brought back on track by Canned Heat, he recorded with Gary Moore and played at the Philadelphia leg of Live Aid with George Thoroghgood.

Duke is the consummate cool guitarist with a jazz inflection and a penchant for all things T-Bone Walker. He doesn't know how to make a bad record. Layla Zoe is a new name to us, though she's firmly at the rock end of our purview she brought something of a party mood to last night's STAR BLUES. Can't believe we now say "the late" when we announce Nick Curran, a much loved figure in the blues community. Even though many knew of his illness, being taken at 35 is cruelly too soon. In recent times he'd flit from genre to genre (punk, rockabilly and so on) we did a track from his 2003 project "Dr Velvet" where he and Jimmie Vaughan tore up Gatmouth Brown's "Midnight Hour Blues". I could hear Screamin' Jay in Nicks vocal style.

Ian Siegal has another new album, extending a series of interesting sounds that push the genre envelope - this time out he's with Cody and Luther Dickinson and Alvin Youngblood Hart. We like it though some most definitely won't. The same situation affected the film "The Help" - it was criticised for showing a watered down view of the life of the African American women working as domestic help in Jackson at  the turn of the Sixties. 1960's not 1860's. How people can treat others in this way is beyond me, the fact it is within living memory of many who are still with us. Mavis Staples version of her dad's composition "Don't Knock" is on the soundtrack and it was in STAR BLUES last night as our 1001 blues feature. Normally we'd have held it for the gospel spot but we let the Sims Brothers in instead with "Ocean of Prayer". Theres a new survey of songs associated with Otis Redding covered by "Black America" - (as opposed to Vermillion or Ochre?) our first choice was Albert Washington's version of "These Arms Of Mine".

Classic era blues players included Junior Parker, John Littlejohn,  JB Hutto, Eddie Campbell and Johnny B. Moore - did I mention Ruth Brown and Wynonie Harris? Prof. Longhair was in New Orleans for our piano spot, to be joined straight after by ex-pat Carl Sonny Leyland who's now based in the Crescent City too. Add in two East Coast pickers (Gabriel Brown & Ralph Willis (who had Brownie Mcghee sitting in)) and we were at our allotted limit for time. You were magnificent, I was Gary Blue and would like to be again round your place at 10pm (BST) next Sunday. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Travellin' South	Albert Collins	4	Iceman	Albert Collins	POINTBLANK
Feel Like Choppin'	Johnny Littlejohn	6	When Your Best Friend Turns Their Back On You	Johnny Littlejohn	JSP Records
Let's Get Crazy	Layla Zoe	4	Sleep Little Girl	Layla Zoe	Cable Car Records
Midnite Hour	Nick Curran & The Nitelifes	7	Doctor Velvet	Nick Curran & The Nitelifes	BLIND PIG RECORDS
Off The Wall	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	14	An Introduction To	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	PROPER
Ya Ya	Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays	3	Cry Wilf!	Howlin' Wilf & The Vee-Jays	BIG BEAT
That's Allright	Juke Joint Jonny	5	Pure And Simple	Juke Joint Jonny	Blues Leaf Records
Don't Knock	Mavis Staples	1	You Are Not Alone	Mavis Staples	Anti
Daddy Daddy	Ruth Brown	2	Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974: Volume 2, 1952-1954	Various Artists	Atlantic / Wea
Fussin’ And Fightin’ Blues	Little Junior Parker	5	Ride With Me, Baby: The Singles 1952-1961	Little Junior Parker	Fantastic Voyage
Earlie Grace Jnr	Ian Siegal & The Mississippi Mudbloods	7	Candy Store Kid	Ian Siegal & The Mississippi Mudbloods	NUGENE
these arms of mine	albert washington	1	hard to handle: black america sings otis redding	various artists	ace
Too Much Alcohol	J. B. Hutto & The Hawks	8	Chicago / The Blues / Today!	Various Artists	ACE
Treat Me So Lowdown	Duke Robillard	3	Duke Robillard's World Full Of Blues	Duke Robillard	STONY PLAIN
Trouble At Midnight	Roy Brown	10	Saturday Night! King And Imperial Recordings	Roy Brown	EL TORO
Yancey's Bugle Call	Carl 'Sonny' Leyland	8	Boogie And Blues	Carl 'Sonny' Leyland	SOLO ARTIST
Her Mind Is Gone	Professor Longhair	6	Mardi Gras In New Orleans	Professor Longhair	SPV Blue
Motherless Child	Gabriel Brown	5	Shake That Thing!: East Coast Blues 1935-1953,	Various Artists	JSP Records
Blues, Blues, Blues	Ralph Willis	1	Shake That Thing!: East Coast Blues 1935-1953,	Various Artists	JSP Records
Ocean Of Prayer	Sims Brothers, The	18	Gospel Celebrities And Celestial Lights	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Hen House Hopping	Corey Lueck & The Smoke Wagon Blues Band	4	It Ain't Easy	Corey Lueck & The Smoke Wagon Blues Band	smoke wagon
Tell Me Pretty Baby	Lazy Lester	1	Lazy Lester	Lazy Lester	FLYRIGHT
Here Comes The Blues	Wynonie Harris	4	Bloodshot Eyes	Wynonie Harris	INDIGO
Alibi Blues	U.P. Wilson	11	Attack Of The Atomic Guitar	U.P. WilsonPaul Orta & Kingpins	RED LIGHTNIN'
turn on your love light	johnny b. moore	2	live at blue chicago	johnny b. moore	delmark
cut you a loose	eddie c campbell	4	spider eatin' stew	eddie c campbell	delmoark

Created: 07/10/2012 23:48:26

STAR BLUES on 30th September 2012 at 22:00

Cora Mae Walton was born on 28th September near Memphis, she married and they moved to Chicago with "35 cents and a box of Ritz crackers". Success didn't come quickly or easily, she had a gig at Sylvio's club in 1963 when Willie Dixon walked in. He got her signed to the Chess label and believed the song "Wang Dang Doodle" was right for her. She didn't care for it as a novelty piece, it was an immediate commercial hit despite the earlier go by Howlin' Wolf. Those Sixties sessions had the cream of the crop like Buddy Guy and Matt Murphy though she wasn't scared off - her distinctive style was packed with menace and aggression and Dixon rated her as the best he'd ever come across.  We took two from those first sessions for Chess and a later guest outing for Bob Corritore whereby she lost none of her power in first rate company. She won 25 WC Handy Awards, equivalent to Oscars, more than anyone else. Our 1001 Blues feature hardly seemed big enough.

More distinctive vocals from Lawrence Lebo who moves effortless from blues to jazz and back on her third EP which chides us "Don't Call Me Larry". She has a lovely sweet voice and a refreshingly sparse arrangement for her own songs with none of the usual showing off on guitar.  She's also another (like Bob Corritore) who does a lot behind the scenes to keep the blues alive in all its forms. Gaye Agdebelola used to be in  Saffire (the Uppity Blues Women) she was positively glorious on her coming-out album "Gaye Without Shame" demonstrating very nice slide guitar skill backed by Bob Margolin in his living room!

We kept a promise to return to the Chicago club date BB King did in 1966 for his "Blues Is King" album to play the previously unissued "Going Down Slow" remarkable for the force of B's vocal rather than his prowess with Lucille. Z. Z Hill would have also had a birthday, as would Little Buster - two of the finest soul blues singers that reinvigorated interest in our music in the African American communities.

Ranie Burnette was recorded by Fat Possum and he came from the school defined as "Mississippi Hill Country Blues" by RL Burnside. His album is worth looking for. Tommy McClennan cut over 40 sides for Bluebird between 1939 and 1942 -- all of them cleaned up and reissued by the Document label. Within in a trice we changed styles to get some Wicked Pickett and the talents of George Jackson (if you see his name as writer, singer or producer its as good as a guarantee).

Blues Matters! magazine appears every month like clockwork and usually focuses on the edge rock has with blues and beyond. Cover star is an impish Robert Cray with broad mischievous grin and nifty titfer. Lady Blue thinks he looks cute and quite sexy - I have the exact same hat and she thinks I look like a Brussels sprout and refuses to go out with me if I wear it. Go figure. We played his new single to announce he'll be in Cambridge at the Corn Exchange on 8th March next year. In the same magazine there's an article as a spirited defence of an ill-thought out attack on Bob 'the bear' Hite. So we added to the rebuttal by including a track from "Hooker 'n' Heat". Another tactic could have been a bottle of earwax cleaner and some F-sized speakers to showcase top-class Canned Heat. You choose.

Tom Jones is blessed with a remarkable set of pipes and he employs them on gospel pieces these days. he co-wrote "Traveling Shoes" with guitarist and producer Ethan Johns. Our weekly spot is a natural home when he's on this kind of form. Piano duties fell to Henri Herman of the Cadillac Kings whose live album is a terrific sample of a British band firing on all cylinders celebrating jumpin R&B. Toby Walker will be in Bury St Edmunds on 3rd November, his graceful playing on a Eugene Powell piece was delightful. Before we knew it the time was up and I hadn't had time to play Drink Small who will soon be playing with Ironing Board Sam - remind me next week at ten pm (BST) 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
Down Home Blues	Z. Z. Hill	2	Best Of	Z. Z. Hill	MALACO
Goin' Down Slow	B. B. King	1	King Of The Blues	B. B. King	MCA
Hungry Woman's Blues	Gaye Adegbalola	3	Gaye Without Shame	Gaye Adegbalola	Hot Toddy
Lonely Nights	Clarence Edwards	1	Swampin'	Clarence Edwards
Whatever I Am You Made Me	Koko Taylor	9	Koko Taylor	Koko Taylor	MCA / CHESS
What Kind Of Man Is This?	Bob Corritore, Koko Taylor, Bob Margolin, Little Frank Krakowski, Bob Stroger, Willie 'Big Eyes' Smi	1	Harmonica Blues	Bob Corritore	Delta Groove
I Love A Lover Like You	Koko Taylor	18	Wang Dang Doodle	Koko Taylor	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Blue As I Can Be	Tommy McClennan	19	Cross Cut Saw	Tommy McClennan	DOCUMENT
Hungry Spell	Ranie Burnette	7	Hill Country Blues	Ranie Burnette	FAT POSSUM
I Got My Eyes On You	John Lee HookerCanned Heat	10	Hooker 'N' Heat. The Best Of ... Plus	John Lee Hooker	SEE FOR MILES
(Won't Be) Coming Home - Album Version	Robert Cray Band	1	Won't Be Coming Home - Robert Cray	Various Artists
I'm Crazy About My Baby	Jimmy Johnson	4	Tobacco Road	Jimmy Johnson	STORYVILLE
I Got A Problem	Phillip Walker	11	Working Girl Blues	Phillip Walker	BLACK TOP
What Can I Do (Somebody Tell Me)	Little BusterSoul Brothers, The	1	Right On Time	Little BusterSoul Brothers, The	BULLSEYE BLUES
Three Time Loser	Wilson Pickett	1	Have Mercy! The Songs Of Don Covay	Various Artists	ACE
Save Me	George Jackson	10	Let The Best Man Win	George Jackson	fame / kent
Traveling Shoes	Tom Jones	8	Spirit In The Room	Tom Jones	ISLAND
It's Not The First Time	Lawrence Lebo	3	Don't Call Her Larry, Vol Iii	Lawrence Lebo	Unsigned
mean ol frisco	Cadillac Kings, The	8	Gonna Tell Your Momma	Cadillac Kings, The	33 records
hamar boogie	Cadillac Kings, The	9	Gonna Tell Your Momma	Cadillac Kings, The	33 records
Hacksaw Rag/Cincinnati Flow Rag	Toby Walker	12	Live At The Bottleneck	Toby Walker	Powerhouse Records
Better Man	Eli Cook	2	Ace, Jack & King	Eli Cook

Created: 30/09/2012 23:54:50 

STAR BLUES on 23rd September 2012 at 22:00

What is it about 23rd September? A really full birthday book includes Ray Charles, Tiny Bradshaw, Albert Ammons, Joe Hill Louis, Mighty Joe Young, Roy Buchanan, Little Joe Blue, Fenton Robinson and Duster Bennett (We will leave the simplistic explanation of parental festive good cheer to others). Though none of these men are still here in person, there's a more than ample serving of blues to remember them.

Little Joe Blue was lazily characterised in his early work as a copyist of B B King which was sad as he offered more than that. You will not easily find his work but what you do find is worthwhile. Duster Bennett and Roy Buchanan grew up with blues as soundtrack and celebrated it in their own ways. Roy's effort was a naked excuse for me to put some Jimmy Nolen into the show - I wont apologise for doing so. Fenton Robinson had an effective vocal style with graceful, precise playing style: Stevie Ray Vaughan heard Fenton's playing on "Texas Flood" and was inspired to take it to the mass consciousness - we did one of his Meteor sessions instead. Tiny Bradshaw had a big voice and a risque delivery that suited his upbeat jumpin style. Again we avoided the obvious choice "Train Kept A Rollin" later done over by the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.

Albert Ammons had a great left hand and was a founding father of boogie woogie piano. The mantle is now taken up by Deanna Bogart and others - her "Pianoland" project is gorgeous, especially among the usual fare of guitar led projects. She is on Blind Pig, as is the 75 year old Magic Slim and we took a track off his new "Bad Boy" album. He never disappoints.

Similar new stuff kept the quality bar way up high: Chris Thomas King pushing the envelope as youd expect, Maria Muldaur with a lovely tribute album to Memphis Minnie in the hands of Ruthie Foster (and I'm guessing Del Rey on guitar), and that astonishing album from Betyye Lavette which hits the shops today (Monday 24th). She reinvented a Savoy Brown song so it perfectly summed up the weariness of lifes travails. One internet listener - Dave - helps keep the playlists honest with his unerring suggestions, we had little hesitation in going to the well of recordinmgs on the Fire label he mentioned (even though I ran out of time for June Bateman). Mighty Joe Young was there with the Lefty Bates Orchestra.

We saved Ray Charles until the 1001 blues feature by cheating on three of his Atlantic sides from the Fifties. His autobiographies are candid about his weaknesses and addictions so it was difficult to find a tale to tell suitable for a family audience. I recounted the story of Bobby Womack's first plane trip with Ray having just joined the band. Ray Charles was known as the genius - no arguing from me, if anyone deserved that name it was Ray Charles, the more I listen the more I hear: vocalist, pianist, songwriter, performer, arranger, producer.

Then it was all done, one hundred eighteen short minutes of blues, trivia, tomfoolery and gossip. I am grateful for the feedback on our B B King show, I was very nervous coming round to your place with a few things you weren't expecting. Hopefully you'll be up for some more at ten (BST) next Sunday night 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
Blues For Jimmy Nolen	Roy Buchanan	6	Deluxe Edition	Roy Buchanan	Alligator
Stuck In Greenville	Chris Thomas King	6	Bona Fide	Chris Thomas King	21st Century Blues
Sweet Mama Janisse	Taj Mahal	4	Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal	Taj Mahal	COLUMBIA/LEGACY
Well Oh Well	Tiny Bradshaw	13	The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
WHY BABY	Mighty Joe Young with Lefty Bates Orch	9	Best Of New York On Fire Vols. 1 And 2	Various Artists	FIRE
Ride With Your Daddy Tonight	Duster Bennett	10	Bright Lights Big City	Duster Bennett	INDIGO
blackjack	Ray Charles	4-1	hiostory of rhythm and blues vol. 3	Various Artists	rhythm and blues
Let The Good Times Roll	Ray Charles	15	Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974: Volume 4, 1957-1960	Various Artists	Atlantic / Wea
i got a woman	Ray Charles	16	history of rhythm and blues vol 3	Various Artists	rhythm and blues
3220 Blues (Featuring Cassie Taylor)	Bluesmasters, The	10	The Bluesmasters Volume 2	Bluesmasters, TheCassie TaylorHubert SumlinPinetop PerkinsMickey Thomas	REDEYE Records
keeP youR BiG Mouth Closed	Ruthie Foster	13	... First There Was Memphis Minnie	Various Artists	STONY PLAIN
pleasures all mine	bobby long	16	Best Of New York On Fire Vols. 1 And 2	Various Artists	FIRE
it aint right	charles walker	17	Best Of New York On Fire Vols. 1 And 2	Various Artists	FIRE
How Much More Long	Magic Slim & The Teardrops	7	Bad Boy	Magic Slim & The Teardrops	Blind Pig
I'm Tired	bettye lavette	9	thankful n thoughtful	bettye lavette	anti
Boogie Woogie Boogie	Deanna Bogart	3	Pianoland	Deanna Bogart	Blind Pig
Chicago In My Mind	Albert Ammons	4	The Best Of Boogie Woogie	Various Artists	DOCUMENTS
Tennessee Woman	Fenton RobinsonDukes, The	23	The Complete Meteor: Blues, R&b, & Gospel Recordings	Various Artists	ACE
Don´t Leave Me No More	Jimmy Nolen	13	Scratchin'-Federal 52-56	Pete 'Guitar' Lewis-Jimmy Nolen-Cal Green	charly R&B
jesus wash away my troubles	soul stirrers	1-2	gospel celebrities	various artists	fantastic voyage
Heartbreak Hotel	Mary Coughlan	12	The Whole Affair: The Very Best Of Mary Coughlan	Mary Coughlan	Hail Mary Records
right there where youleft it	Little Joe Blue	3	southern country boy	Little Joe Blue	jewel
Hydromatic Woman	Joe Hill Louis	8	Sun Blues Box : 1950-1958	Various Artists	CHARLY
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out	Peter Green Splinter Group	7	Blue's Don't Change	Peter Green Splinter Group	ADA UK
I'm Too Far Gone To Turn Around	Bobby 'Blue' Bland	18	The Voice : Duke Recordings 1959-69	Bobby 'Blue' Bland	ACE
cherry pie	ironing board sam	1	ninth wonder	ironong board sam	music maker

Created: 23/09/2012 23:55:35

Celebrating B B King's 87th Birthday, STAR BLUES on 16th September 2012 at 22:00

B. B. King has never liked the description "King of the Blues" but at least don't think he's of Irish descent. The day he was born, his father's plantation owner Jim O'Reilly was on hand instead of the midwife and Albert Lee King was all for naming his new son O'Reilly in gratitiude - Riley was chosen as the boy didn't look Irish. King's autobiography has several other stories which add colour to an already colouful life: he celebrated his 87th birthday yesterday (16th September) and STAR BLUES dipped into his career for some well-known stuff, some rarities, a live gem and his most recent foray into the studio to help Justin Scott create a debut album.

That one has a song called "Praying Man" about a pair of escaping slaves, one voiced by K.R.I.T. (because thats who Scott records by) the other by our hero undderpinned with a very muted Lucille. With no blues content, the track won't feature in our hallowed halls again but it is a perfect example of how B B King spreads his brand to a new generation. I blame U2 for making him into "isn't he the guy who played with ..." instead of "the genius who created a unique sound". We did have other collaborations in last night's STAR BLUES but we stuck to established blues names like Irma Thomas and Robert Lockwood Jr.

Around 2000, Sid Seidenberg moved aside from managing King and this hasn't been a great period for his fans: just two lacklustre studio efforts ("Reflections" in 2002 and "One Kind Favor" in 2008) and armfuls of poor live albums where he goes through the motions, if you're lucky. This years disc of the 2011 "star-studded" (ahem, steady) Royal Albert Hall gig was a real lowpoint which cast him as ringmaster in a freak circus. To set the record straight, STAR BLUES devoted over an hour to the whole of the album "Blues Is King". It was recorded live at the International Club in Chicago on 5th November 1966 and it found him at his purest, most raw and primeval. Newly divorced and buffeted by life's cruelties he was a long way from the good natured avuncular old gentleman he is portrayed today. He almost shouts the lyrics, he doesn't fuss with banter between songs - the pain is heard in Lucille's brutal tone. Many folks judge his "Live at the Regal" as the greatest live blues album of all time - not so, you heard it last night on STAR BLUES. There's a further track "Goin Down Slow" from the gig which will get an outing on next weeks STAR BLUES.

A 1971 moment playing acoustic guitar with Alexis Korner and Duster Bennett, was - as far as I can tell - the only time B recorded using the instrument. (There is a snippet of another song on the interactive cd-rom put oout in 1994, but it isn't easy to locate in the set of random performances). Time beat us last night, I had planned his accompaniment on Otis Spann's "Five Spot" for the piano feature and his early version of "Save A seat For Me" in the gospel spot. Saved for later.

In the week leading up to the show, I teased some trivia every day: here are the answers.

* Three cartoon characters who made albums asked BB King to guest.
   a) charlie brown - track called "joe cool"
   b) garfield - on "monday morning blues"
  c) the simpsons - for "born under a bad sign"

* His character in Blues Brothers20000 was Melvin Gasperone (a petrol pump attendant)

* He hosted a radio show on KDIA and he wrote and sung a jingle to advertise the Pepticon drink.

* His first job was as tractor driver which lasted until he parked it afterwork but forgot to put the handbrake on. Later he came back to the farm to pay for the damage in full.
 

I can't count the number of pleasures to be found in B. B. Kings work, I hope our STAR BLUES reminded you of a few that are sometimes overloooked. God willing, I'll be back on Sunday at 10pm with another grab-bag of trivia, tomfoolery and yet to be discovered blues gems. 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
Never Make A Move Too Soon	B. B. King	4	King Of The Blues	B. B. King	MCA
I'll Survive	B. B. King	3	Blues On The Bayou	B. B. King	MCA
We're Gonna Make It	B. B. King and Irma Thomas	10	Blues Summit	B. B. King	MCA
Yes Man	B. B. King	8	Here And There : Uncollected B. B. King	B. B. King	HIP-O
Bob And B.	Robert Lockwood Jr. w. B. B. King	13	I Got To Find Me A Woman	Robert Lockwood Jr.	VERVE
Praying Man	K. R. I. T. feat. B. B. King	1	Tales From The Underground	K. R. I. T.
You Upset Me Baby	B. B. King	5	King Of The Blues	B. B. King	MCA
"BLUES IS KING" Bluesway lp
Waitin' On You	B. B. King	1	Great Moments With B. B. King	B. B. King	MCA
Gambler's Blues	B. B. King	2	Great Moments With B. B. King	B. B. King	MCA
Tired Of Your Jive	B. B. King	3	Great Moments With B. B. King	B. B. King	MCA
Night Life	B. B. King	4	Great Moments With B. B. King	B. B. King	MCA
Buzz Me	B. B. King	5	Great Moments With B. B. King	B. B. King	MCA
Don't Answer The Door	B. B. King	1	Blues Is King	B. B. King	MCA
Blind Love	B. B. King	6	Great Moments With B. B. King	B. B. King	MCA
i know what you're puttin' down	B. B. King	8	blues is king	B. B. King	bluesway
Baby Get Lost	B. B. King	7	Great Moments With B. B. King	B. B. King	MCA
Gonna Keep On Loving You	B. B. King	8	Great Moments With B. B. King	B. B. King	MCA
____________________
Alexis' Boogie	B. B. King w. Alexis Korner & Duster Bennett	1	In London	B. B. King	BLUESWAY
Why I Sing The Blues	B. B. King	13	The Vintage Years	B. B. King	ACE
Everyday i have the blues	B. B. King	6	king of the blues	B. B. King	MCA

Created: 17/09/2012 00:06:27

STAR BLUES on 9th September 2012 at 22:00

If you were driving in Boulder Colorado at 11 minutes past four yesterday afternoon, two things: a) if the driver in front was behaving like a brussel sprout you ought to be slowing down a bit cos he's probably a relative of mine b) how cool was it to be letting the good times roll with Louis Jordan? It was eleven elven in Cambridge and Ely for Britain's Other Blues Show and we'd already marked birthday book roster members Freddie King, Jimmy Reed and Otis Redding. We remembered the Charles Shaar Murray quote which compared Jimmy's songs to eating peanuts - really tasty and needing another straight away. Some of his Vee-Jay work ought to be in every blues fans collection. King was massively influentual with his full-frontal no-prisoners approach; Eric Clapton says he learned just about everything from Freddie.

The 1965 album "Otis Blue" was at the heart of our 1001 blues feature. Two sessions on 9th and 10th July that year yielded eleven tracks - just over half an hour's music - for what one reviewer called "the most complete album of all time". No argument here. His third album, with popularity riding high, here was a chance to include covers of the Stones, Temptations and Sam Cooke. Nustled in that company was a stunning vocal on B B King's "Rock Me Baby": once the big O did a version of a song, it was his evermore. Actually when you think it was Booker T & MGs with Otis on lead vocals does it get better than that anyway, Cropper's biting guitar and marvellously understated drumming of Al Jackson...

We did gospel with Lurrie Bell and Joe Louis Walker from Bell's brand new album and an approach to vocal and slide going back as far as Blind Willie Johnson. The other gospel warning came from John Lee Hookers 3rd recording session when Eddie Burns fierce harp really challenged the stompin foot and guitar of the Boogie Man. Hooker cut an album with Canned Heat and their 1970 "Future Blues" snuck onto our playlist. A really bluesy go at "Trouble Blues" from Fats Domino and a 1947 Little Johnny Jones piece were in our piano tent. The songs of Otis Taylor and George Jackson and some Bayou Boppin provided themes for spanking new collections on Ace and Kent - the good stuff just keeps coming.

Our show next week will be wall to wall B B King, classics rarities and oddities *PLUS* a 1960s live performance that will knock your socks off: his recent efforts have cast him as ringmaster, back in the day he was Chairman of the Board. Until 10pm (BST) next 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
Name Of The Game	Boo Boo Davis	6	Name Of The Game	Boo Boo Davis	BLACK & TAN
Upside Your Head	Omar Kent Dykes	2	Big Town Playboy	Omar Kent Dykes	Ruf
Chip Off The Old Block	Johnny Jones	2	Can I Get An Amen	Johnny Jones	SPV
Earl Gaines	Sittin' Here Drinkin'	10	Champion Records The Singles Collection	Various Artists	SPV
Ohio Bound	Big Lucky Carter	9	The Complete Goldwax Singles, Vol. 1 1962-1966	Various Artists	Kent
Future Blues	Canned Heat	14	The Very Best Of Canned Heat	Canned Heat	EMI
Rock Me Baby	Otis Redding	15	100 Hits Legends - Otis Reading	Otis Redding	DEMON
Naggin	Jimmy Anderson	8	Louisiana Swamp Blues	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
Tee-Na-Na	Dicky williams	2	The Ace (Ms) Story Volume 4	Various Artists	ACE
satisfied woman satisfied man	vernon garrett	16	pounds of soul	Various Artists	kent
The Chokin' Kind	Allen Toussaint	7	What Is Success: The Scepter And Bell Recordings	Allen Toussaint	Kent
linda gail	rob bernard	4	boppin on the bayou	various artists	ace
The Welfare (Turns It'sback On You)	Freddie King	19	Texas Sensation	Freddie King	CHARLY
Big Boss Man	Jimmy Reed	4	Good Times, Bad Times	Various Artists	MOJO MAGAZINE
Ugly Papa	Julia Lee	5	Snatch And Grab It - Essential Julia Lee (Vol. 1)	Julia Lee	INDIGO
Let The good times roll	louis jordan	18	best of	louis jordan	best of jazz
Shelby County Blues	Little Johnny Jones	43	The Aristocrat Of The Blues	Various Artists	MCA/CHESS
Trouble blues	fats domino	15	imperial singles vol 5	fats domino	ACE
A Man Is Nothing But A Fool	Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee	7	Cripple Creek	Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee	NOT Music
It's A Blessing	Lurrie Bell	4	The Devil Ain't Got No Music	Lurrie Bell	ARIA
Burnin' Hell	John Lee Hooker	8	Boogie Chillen	John Lee Hooker	INDIGO
After Awhile	Papa Lightfoot	69	Down Home Blues Classics	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
i feel good all over	sam butera	22	handy man - songs of otis blackwell	Various Artists	ace
mini skirt mini	george jackson	1	let the best man win	george jackson	fame / kent
a bomb bop	mike fern	1-1	wild streak vol 2	various artists	veetone
baby what you want me to do	jimmy reed	10	you dont have to go	jimmy reed	orbis
i'm tore down	freddie king	1-12	r&B spotlight 61	various artists	fantastic voyage

Created: 10/09/2012 09:06:06

STAR BLUES on 2nd September 2012 at 22:00

At one point Britain's Other Blues Show pushed the definition of blues further than St Trinian's knicker elastic last night, our reason was the nakedly visceral interpretation of Gnarls Barclay's "Crazy" by Bettye LaVette. By slowing the tempo and investing the lyrics with an uncompromising sense of madness and frustration Bettye has made it into a completely new masterpiece. She has no equals, nor has Sugar Blue with total mastery of the top range of his harp he has at long last taken his position as number 1 in the world's harp rankings.  With a driving band his double live album "Raw Sugar" finds him in his natural setting.

Frank Son Seals started out as a drummer for Albert King, he was an accomplished guitarist by 1979 at the session he did for Bruce Iglauer's Alligator at Curtis Mayfields studio in Chicago. We also returned to Michael Burks' final recordings for the thoughtful lyrics of "Take A Chance", still can't believe he is gone - just when he finally got into his stride. Larry Lampkin was clearing a garage at the age of 13 and found some old guitars, this Fort Worth player never looked back. Before the pair of reviews he got in Living Blues and Blues & Rhythm magazine, I'd not heard of him - glad I checked him out for his lovely fluid playing that never outstayed its welcome on his 3-minute compositions. Ron Wienstock writes for Living Blues, he also has a blog which this week was about Joe Weaver - so I shamelessly nicked his idea to play Joe's 1965 single on Fortune records.

In 2009 Willie Big Eyes Smith did some duo performances with Roger Hurricane Wilson; Roger has worked his socks off getting fan funding to ensure their live recordings got issued: job done and the results have achieved the difficult task of setting the ambiance and getting the fidelity of voice, acoustic guitar and harp. Willie was in great form on "Rub My Back". The Blues Broads gather together four marvellous ladies usually lead players in their own right: they did a lovely a capella gospel track for us last night from their live set on Delta Groove.

Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King are unplugged these days, two voices and two guitars between them - their offering last night also had a harp each from randy Chortkoff and Bob Corritore. we went back to 1945 for two tracks of the new Modern label survey on Ace records and we showed our Wild Streak more than once. Arthur Crudup and Johnny Ace brought songs from the lesser known drawer from respective sets just out on Fantastic Voyage. Similar surprise came from Rosetta Tharpe in secular mood on "Tall Skinny Papa", Little Richard out did James Brown on a version of a Don Covay song and Bea Baker drove her Lavendar Cadillac.

We had some great feedback on the acoustic/folk/country/delta blues show - so we will definitely do another one before too long. Kuala Lumpur was our twin at 11:11pm (06:11 for them) though I doubt I will really be a lasting substitute for their version of Vanessa Feltz. What I will do is be back at 10pm on Sunday, really hope you can be at your place to meet me. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you

Red Hot Mama	Sugar Blue	1	Raw	Sugar Blue	beeble
Landlord At My Door	Son Seals	9	Deluxe Edition	Son Seals	Alligator
Bad Boy Blues	Hollywood Blue Flames, The	8	Deep In America / Larger Than Life, Vol. 2	Hollywood Blue Flames, TheHollywood Fats Band, The	DELTAGROOVE
Don't You Know	Johnny Ace	18	Ace's Wild!	Johnny Ace	Fantastic Voyage
Soul Girl	Jeanne & The Darlings	3	We're The Soul Girls: Jeanne And The Darlings / The Charmels	Jeanne And The Darlings / The Charmels	Kent
$29 Special	Michael Roach	3	The Blinds Of Life	Michael Roach	STELLA
Crazy	Bettye Lavette	6	thankful n thoughtful	Bettye Lavette	Anti
Black Cadillac	Green, Joyce	21	Wild Streak Vol.1	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
(Ev'ry Time I Hear) That Mellow Saxophone	Roy Montrell	17	Cosimo Matassa Story	Various Artists	Proper Box
Mercy	Lorrie And Larry Collins	5	Wild Streak Vol.1	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
No Good Could Come of This	Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois KingBob Corritore	9	Close to the Bone	Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King	Delta Groove Productions
Crazy About A Woman	Jesse Fuller	9	San Francisco Bay Blues	Jesse Fuller	ORIGINAL BLUES CLASSICS
Take A Chance On Me, Baby	Michael Burks	2	Show Of Strength	Michael Burks	Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
Running for Your Love	Larry Lampkin	1	When I Get Home	Larry Lampkin	Kaint Kwit
I Want A Tall Skinny Papa	Sister Rosetta Tharpe	5	The Blues Box	Various Artists	METRO
That's The Boogie	Three Bits Of Rhythm	18	Modern Music: 1945	Various Artists	ACE
I Want A Lavender Cadillac	Bea Barker	4	I'm A Bad Bad Girl	Various Artists	INDIGO
Gonna Be Some Changes Made	Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup	19	My Baby Left Me The Definitive Collection	Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup	Fantastic Voyage
Rub My Back	Willie "Big Eyes" Smith And Roger "Hurricane" Wilson	12	Live Blues Protected By Smith & Wilson	Willie "Big Eyes" Smith And Roger "Hurricane" Wilson	BLUESTORM
Jesus, I'll Never Forget	Dorothy Morrison	9	The Blues Broads	Blues Broads, The	Delta Groove Productions
Baby, I Love You So	Joe Weaver And The Don Juans	8	Rock On	Various Artists	ACE
I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got Me	Little Richard	5	Have Mercy! The Songs Of Don Covay	Various Artists	ACE
Please, Please, Please (Spear 2)	Buddy Sharpe & The Shakers	20	Wild Streak Vol. 2	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
Play Boy Blues	Pearl Traylor With Howard McGhee & His Orchestra	21	Modern Music: 1945	Various Artists	ACE

Created: 02/09/2012 23:44:32