STAR BLUES on 25th November 2012 at 22:00

There's something a little hinckey when you think about a man of 69 front and centre of a rock band with a packed-out venue in the palm of his hands. Such was Mick Jagger's fate last night as the Stones marked their first half century on the crazy Ferris wheel of music. Even more strange when remembering Muddy Waters was 68 in 1981 when he invited a gleeful Jagger with Richards, Wood, Wyman and Stewart onto the stage at Buddy Guy's Checkerboard Lounge. You're never too old for blues but mainstream rock is another brussel sprout altogether.

I was talking about that Checkerboard gig because BBC4 had shown the newly remastered DVD in the middle of Saturday night. Muddy was awesome with slashing slide on "Country Boy" before the cameos started - his band had John Primer and Rich Kreher on guitars, Lovie Lee on Piano and an amazing display of harp dexterity from Mojo Buford. I've promised to get myself on Santa's good list next year if he'll slip the soundtrack under my pillow (it's too late to redeem myself for 2012). We had to make do with the 1971 version Muddy did live at Mr Kelly's for our 1001 Blues feature.

More guitar mastery from Lonnie Johnson (who did so much to shape B B King's sound), Ray Agee, Roy Gaines and Etta Baker on the playlist. Birthday boy Jimmy Johnson sang gospel for many a year and you can hear that fervour in his voice, his axe skills are pretty decent too. Jimmy Burns had brother Jimmy on hand to cover "Your Cash Aint Nothin But Trash". Otis Grand's new "Blues 65" project is a goodun cementing a nice partnership with Sugar Ray Norcia. At the age of 6 Gitlo Lee played with Sonny Boy Williamson and he now has a solid album out under his own brand, his old boss got things under way from "Down & Out Blues", the first album in the Pye R&B series eagerly devoured by blues fans on this side of the pond. Preston Shannon's celebration of "Cold Beer And Good Times" closed us off leaving us to ask why he isn't better known?

The John Lee Hooker song "Boogie Children" got a going over from the Playboys (with John Fred without Judy - disguised or otherwise). Nathan Abshire reworked Arthur Crudup's "Thats AlRight Mama", Phil Upchurch's hit "Can't Sit Down" was tastily updated by Willie Mitchell and the amazing bass voice of Jimmy Ricks was recorded in New York as part of Benny Goodman's Sextet. Otis Clay did our gospel duty and Eddie Boyd was on keys. In a show of such depth and variety, Mud Morganfield (Muddy's yoiunger son) is in Norwich tonight and was as majestic as his dad for a track from his latest album on Severn Records where he is part of that ol' magic called Bob Coritorre.

The BBC headline suggested some contestants had also lost their socks, but I bet it wasn't the same reason as me. I can't say anything else yet but I can point you in the direction of my next e-book, "Gary Blues Almanac 2013". Free. Send me your email details to gary.blue@star107.co.uk and when its done it will find its way direct to you. Please make a donation to www.musicmaker.org if you like it and can make use of it (no amount too small).

We'll look at what you can put on your Santa list next week at 10pm (GMT) until then take care of yourself and take care of those that take care of you.

Track.Title	Track.ArtistSort	Index	Album.Title	Album.ArtistSort	Label
Wake Up Baby	Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	8	Down And Out Blues / In Memorium	Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	BEAT GOES ON
Feelin Good	Janiva Magness	4	The Devil Is An Angel Too	Janiva Magness	Alligator
Go Ahead And Blame Me	Mud Morganfield	9	Son Of The Seventh Son	Mud Morganfield	SEVERN
Ain't Studdin' You Baby	Gitlo Lee	10	Comin Out the Hole	Gitlo Lee
You Can't Sit Down	Willie Mitchell	11	Memphis Rhythm King	Willie Mitchell	BACKBEAT
Go Ahead On	Guitar Red	23	Sun Records - Ultimate Blues Collection	Various Artists	VARESE
Rolling Log	Rory Block	10	The Very Best Of The Blues	Various Artists	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
country boy	muddy waters	2	my home is in the delta	muddy waters	blues encore
rockin all day	dennis gruenling	1	rockin all day	dennis gruenling	vizz tone
midnight lover man	Roy Brown	7	saturday night	roy brown	el toro
Oh Babe	Ravens, The	26	Birds Of A Feather	Ravens, The	PROPER
boogie children	playboys feat john fred	27	boppin on the bayou	various artists	ace
bopogie woogie feeling	tony casanova	22	wid streak	various	veetone
Those Days Are Gone	Otis Grand	12	Blues '65	Otis Grand	MAINgate
your cash aint nothing but trash	Eddie & Jimmy Burns	2	Snake Eyes	Eddie BurnsJimmy Burns	DELMARK
country preacher	jimmy johnson	1	country preacher	jimmy johnson	orbis blues
All of My Life	Roy Gaines	9	Rock-A-Billy: Boogie Woogie Blues Man	Roy Gaines
Love Is A Cold Shot	Ray Agee	23	Bay Area Blues Blasters	Various Artists	El Cerrito
thats all right	nathan abshire	12	bopping by the bayou	various artists	ace
Save A Seat For Me	Otis Clay	4	The Gospel Truth	Otis Clay	BLIND PIG RECORDS
Hard Headed Woman	Eddie Boyd	9	Chicago Piano	Various Artists	PAULA
Jackson’s Boogie	Little Willie Jackson	21	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: West Coast	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Railroad Bill	Etta Baker & Taj Mahal	5	Etta Baker With Taj Mahal	Etta BakerTaj Mahal	MUSIC MAKER
Racketeers Blues	Lonnie Johnson	16	The Original Guitar Wizard	Lonnie Johnson	PROPER
Walkin' These Blues Away	Eomot Rasun	2	Three Days Walkin'	Eomot Rasun	APO
cold beer good time	Preston Shannon	12	All In Time	Preston Shannon	BULLSEYE BLUES

Created: 25/11/2012 23:43:19 

STAR BLUES on 18th November 2012 at 22:00

Richard "Hacksaw" Harney was born in 1902 and by the age of ten he was earning a living as a street singer. He cultivated a unique style which combined finger picking - which mimicked a mandolin - with solid bass figures that sound like a second player is on the date with him. as far as I know there's just one album under his own name: 'Sweet Man' on Edsel from a 1972 session; we dipped in for "Adelphi Stomp".




Dan Pickett was another supremely gifted player who was based on the East Coast, his work is rarely anthologised - which is a big shame given his skill and reputation amongst those "in the know". We had no problem in sharing his 1949 song "99 and 1/2" with you on last night's STAR BLUES.



Our pitch opened with Louis Jordan for no other reason than he matches my definition of sublime and it was a refreshing change to hear the original of "Buzz Me" rather than any one of a number of electric versions which always centre on guitar showings off. The erudite scribe Charles Shaar Murray wrote about Jimmy Witherspoon: "Too jazz for blues and too blues for jazz". I can see his point but Spoon was bigger than either genre, his effortless shouting was a highlight at the 1959 Monterey Jazz Festival when conventional wisdom said his time was long gone, killed off by rock'n'roll. He and tenor sax man Ben Webster had other ideas. We took their cover of "St Louis Blues" from a volume in the Orbis magazine series.



Ann Peebles gets waaaaay less props than she should, I doubt many folks could name one of her songs which isn't about "Rain". After many years with Willie Mitchell at the helm, Ann jumped ship from Hi to Bullseye for a project produced by Ron Levy. His touch brought out a grittier edge to her voice and she was steered towards less obvious songs such as those by Delbert McClinton. Nice. Ollie Nightingale can sound like Sam Cooke at times, not that's a bad thing because it's double qualification for duties in the gospel tent. Amos Milburn held keyboard court with one of his Aladdin recordings, ably supported not once but twice by Otis Spann and Muddy Waters (even if Muddy was smuggled into 'Blues will never die" as Dirty Rivers). "Blow Wind Blow" was the first song Otis Spann did as part of Muddy Waters' band and its one of the mere handful of sides Walter Horton cut with Muddy. I used the opportunity as a reminder that 1913 will be the centenary of Muddys birth and we will be doing some special shows next April in celebration.



Freddie Kings work for Cotillion is sometimes overlooked when compared with the early stuff for Federal and his later stuff for RSO, I like it for the way King Curtis put Freddies guitar up front and let everyone else try to keep up from behind. The 1967 album "Never Get Out Of these blues" isn't one of John Lee Hooker's best but it does have a couple of flashes of what Hooker does best, mostly on Al Kings song "Think Twice Before you Speak" and we also had a smidge of the man himself from a Kent collection of proper R&B. Just time to mention a project from Ann Rabson and Bob Margolin on Vizztone, full of charm and old-fashioned pleasure of two seasoned players enjoying each others company.



Regular listeners will know I always wear a white tee-shirt - and once a year I sign one for charity. Just done it, there's is only one of them, You can bid for it by taking part in the Thursday auctions on Ryan Taylor's breakfast show on Thursday mornings. He's keeping it a secret on when it will be, you should listen to him to find out. I've slipped a few extra goodies into the basket so I hope you'll want to follow the auction and time those bids precisely. Meantime you were splendid company yesterday, I was Gary Blue and if you'll have me I'll bring some more trivia and tomfoolery next Sunday night at ten pm (Mr Ernest, Mrs Doubtfire and the two little ducks, Deefer and Spot will already 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
Buzz Me	Louis Jordan	3	Reet Petite And Gone	Louis Jordan	INDIGO
Miss Lucy	Big Al Downing	5	Holy Mackerel! Pretenders To Little Richard's Throne	Various Artists	ACE
Lucky To Be Living	Dave Riley & Bob Corritore	4	Lucky To Be Living	Dave Riley & Bob Corritore	Blue Witch Records
Think Twice Before You Go	John Lee Hooker	6	Tantalizing With The Blues	John Lee Hooker	MCA
Dyin' Flu	Albert Collins	6	The Cool Sound Of Albert Collins	Albert Collins	BLUE CITY
Read Me My Rights	Ann Peebles	3	Full Time Love	Ann Peebles	BULLSEYE BLUES
St. Louis Blues	Jimmy Witherspoon	15	Ain't Nobody's Business	Jimmy Witherspoon	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Home In Your Heart	Solomon Burke	23	Handy Man - The Songs Of Otis Blackwell	Various Artists	ACE
Ain't Givin Up Nothin	Al King	20	New Breed R'n'b	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out	Joe Hicks	7	Stax: We'll Play The Blues For You	Various Artists	STAX
Adelphi Ramble	Richard 'Hacksaw' Harney	4	Sweet Man	Richard 'Hacksaw' Harney	EDSEL
Tough Luck	Robert Lee McCoy	1	Prowling Nighthawk	Robert Nighthawk	CATFISH
I Wonder Why	Freddie King	3	My Feeling For The Blues	Freddie King	REPERTOIRE
Tin Pan Alley	Phillip Walker	2	Bottom Of The Top / Blues	Phillip Walker	DEMON
Choo Choo Boogie	Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown	5	Just Got Lucky	Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
I've Got A New Home	Ollie Nightingale & The Dixie Nightingales	8	Gospel Celebrities And Celestial Lights	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
cut you a-loose	rick allen	10	age & chief blues story	various artists	fuel 2000
Blow Wind Blow	Muddy Waters	23	Mad Love : Introduction To Muddy Waters	Muddy Waters	PROPER
The Blues Never Die	Otis Spann	6	All That Blues	Various Artists	ORIGINAL BLUES CLASSICS
Anybody's Blues	Amos Milburn	32	Blues Barrelhouse And Boogie - The Best Of	Amos Milburn	Capitol
Anywhere You Go	Ann Rabson With Bob Margolin	10	Not Alone	Ann Rabson With Bob Margolin	Vizztone
99 1/2 Won't Do	Dan Pickett	23	Shake That Thing!: East Coast Blues 1935-1953,	Various Artists	JSP Records
Blues After Hours	Pee Wee Crayton	13	The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
need your love so bad	fleetwood mac	10	fleetwood mac	fleetwood mac	blue horizon
frogs in the long grass	Eddie Martin & His Big Blues Band	1	Looking Forward Looking Back	Eddie Martin & His Big Blues Band	BUEBLOOD

Created: 18/11/2012 23:55:00

STAR BLUES on 11th November 2012 at 22:00

Permission to speak Mr Mainwaring?




With the passing of the Corporal, the handover from Neil and our opening from Johnnie we had more Joneses at ten on STAR BLUES than in a miner's snug in the Rhonda Valley. (I just thought: Are they open on Sundays in Wales these days?) Johnnie's "Chip Off the Old Block" was a robust peformance from a man usually known for grace and subtlety; he had a decent voice too leading us neatly into the consummate blues artist, Little Milton. He was on four of the seminal record labels of 50s 60s 70s 80s (Sun, Chess, Stax, Malaco) and had "Greatest Hits" on each with no overlaps. His final project in 2005 on Telarc was done with Jon Tiven who brought out some late period gems from our hero. We also had the final album from Michael "Iron Man" Burks - he got the nickname from his energetic and enthusiastic work ethic that meant he never gave anything less than full measure, his big loud guitar could well put off a few of our purist bretheren but that huge voice forgives him anything in my hum. Robert Cray's new album has a decent set of songs looking at traditional blues themes from the perspective of this century - the tales of rejection, pain and misery arent about never having had things like family, comforts and stuff, these are about taking it for granted and losing them suddenly and unexpectedly from outside forces.



We weren't short of female stars either: Koko Taylor at her imperious best (with Buddy Guy on guitar); Etta James with one of the finest Chess records ever made outside Chicago (down at Muscle Shoals); the lithe singing and playing of a very young Bonnie Raitt captured live on a Philadelphia Radio Show; (she just had a birthday); the irrepressible Candye Kane who just doesn't know how to slow down in spite of her recent health worries (she has a birthday on 13th) and Ruth Brown did "RB Blues" in 1950 and showed why at the time she was the only hit maker Atlantic could rely on. Richard Rosenblatt runs Vizztone and he is having a great birthday celbration with new releases on Doug Demming and Dennis Gruenling, the same band but double the fun.



Sugar Chile Robinson was the official piano blues standard bearer as well as being our youngest ever contender, Jimmy Liggins was on hand with the "Honeydripper" and it was a real pleasure to do the full version of Ramsey Lewis' "Wade in the water" - so often you just get a minor smidge as backing bed to a promo or advert. Mark Lamarr's big stack of records provides fabulous anthologies to the Vee-Tone label, the second volume of "Screaming gospel and Holy Rollers" was our dip into the gospel pot for the Soul Seekers. Mighty Joe Young did some good stuff for Blind Pig, shame his wikipedia entry is a film about a gorilla. Dave sent through a fine Magic Slim single on Mistreater and we had chance to enjoy it together last night. Slim still epitomises the spirit of modern Chicago blues.



While we are now ensconsed officially as "Britain's Other Blues Show", it's never just about the blues: I have a family to care for too! On getting into the studio last night, I could see Ernest Borgnine and Deefa but not Mrs Doubtfire or Spot. They usually flaunt themselves from the top of the speaker to make sure the webcam gets the best angle (Deefa Duck is a real tart I can tell you). About half way through the show, I glimpsed a flash of yellow and found Spot and Mrs D hiding behind the monitor where they'd been since the fireworks on Bonfire night. Before those men with the natty white coats that do up at the back catch up with me, I'll be off to plan some more trivia and tomfooolery for next Sunday at ten pm (GMT) 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
Chip Off The Old Block	Johnny Jones	1	I Was Raised On The Blues	Johnny Jones	BLACK MAGIC
Second Hand Love	Little Milton	10	Think Of Me	Little Milton	TELARC
(I Got) All You Need	Koko Taylor	8	Wang Dang Doodle	Koko Taylor	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Wade In The Water	Ramsay Lewis Trio	1	Mojo Chess Classics	Various Artists	MOJO
don't you lose a good thing	dan penn	4	the fame recordings	dan penn	ace
Cadillac Assembly Line	Albert King	18	Best Music Catalogue In The World	Various Artists	CHARLY
Sitting On Another Man's Knee	Lonesome Sundown	20	Genuine Excello R'n'b	Various Artists	ACE
Family Rules	Guitar Jr.	7	On Bended Knee - The Birth Of Swamp Pop	Various Artists	GREAT Voices Of The Century
Flip, Flop And Bop	Floyd Cramer	4	Teen Beat Vol.2	Various	ACE
Willie Mae Blues	Billy Boy Arnold	7	Billy Boy Arnold Sings: Big Bill Broonzy	Billy Boy Arnold	Electro-Fi
Mighty Tight Woman	Bonnie Raitt	1	The Lost Broadcast: Philadelphia 1972	Bonnie Raitt	Left Field Media
nobodys fault but mine	John Renbourn	18	The Essential: The Best Of John Renbourn	John Renbourn	Castle Pulse
wonder why	magic slim	2	magic slim	magic slim
Fix This	Robert Cray	7	Nothing But Love	Robert Cray	PROVOGUE
end of the line	Mighty Joe Young	7	Mighty Man	Mighty Joe Young	blind pig
R. B. Blues	Ruth Brown	6	Miss Rhythm - Greatest Hits And More	Ruth Brown	SEQUEL
Security	Etta James	20	Tell Mama	Etta James	CHESS
Numbers Boogie	Sugar Chile Robinson	4	The R'n'b Years 1949: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1949	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
the honeydripper	roy milton	7	The R'n'b Years 1949: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1949	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
somethings gotta hold of me	soul seekers	18	screamin gospel and holy rollers	various artists	vee-tone
Count On You	Michael Burks	1	Show Of Strength	Michael Burks	Alligator Records & Artist Management, Inc.
I'm My Own Worst Enemy	Candye Kane	7	Guitar'd And Feathered	Candye Kane	Ruf
whoevers thrilling you is killing me	z z hill	17	rolling with the punches: allen toussaint songbook	various artists	ace
Cotton Picking Blues	Big Mama Thornton	6	They Called Me Big Mama	Big Mama Thornton	Proper Introduction
bloodshot eyes	dennis gruenling	11	rockin all day	dennis gruenling	vizztone
one good reason	doug demming	3	whats it gonna take	doug denning	vizztone

Created: 12/11/2012 00:02:03

STAR BLUES on 4th November 2012 at 22:00

Being glossy and photogenic will get you quite a number of places however we don't care if your name IS Lady Gaga, got a white tee shirt and an electric guitar - you're just not in STAR BLUES tonight. You too Jessie J and Cheryl Cole!!

What we did have were eleven new albums and a man  from Senegal. The genesis of our music is often stated as exclusively coming from the African continent. Indeed the link is at the heart of the new Eric Bibb project where he is joined with Habib Koite for song arrangements as much to do with Senegal as the States. It sounds gentle and unassuming but there is both grace and power in their collaborations. Several of other other choice had a markedly different pace: dad-to-be Mike Sanchez lead the Big Town Playboys into a glorious celebration of "Glamour Girl" bookended with the unmistakable pipes of Clyde McPhatter.

The late Robert Covington was billed as "the Golden Voice", he was also a fine drummer whose opener heavily featured the young Carl Weathersby. Carl was at one time part of Mississippi Heat who now celebrate 20 years together. Their new album gave him chance to get back front and centre alongside harp maestro and band leader Pierre Lacoque. Kay Kay died earlier this year just about on the cusp of wider recognition she deserved from her three albums; Catfood Records takes the best from those as a "Best Of" and she got good solid support from her band The Rays.

Nathan Abshire took an accordion to the Arthur Big Boy Crudup classic composition and sounded nothing like Elvis. "Glory of Love" was a decent doo-wop version from the Cleftones and the piano tent was full with Katie Webster and the brand new cd+dvd package by the rippling Mitch Woods.  Memphis Gold was on the cover of Living Blues a year or so ago, his is a fascinating tale and we let him in to show a more traditional side through his "Biscuit Boogie". Ann Rabson was in Saffire the Uppity Blues Women for a goodly while, she's invited Bob Margolin onto her new album and they make fine music together from her piano and his guitar. I really hope there'll be more from them in this vein with each sounding considerably younger than is possible given their vast experience.

Larry Garner is a stalwart of the blues scene, as he has been for a couple of decades now, his semi humourous "23 Past" was from the set he recorded on JSP in 1990. Robert Cray has over 20 albums now and old friend and bass player Richard Cousins is back in the fold. The new one has justifiably garnered plenty of praise for his singing and playing - my view is you should carefully check out the songwriting too. He doesn't have the anger or fire of Joe Louis Walker, but he sports a nifty titfer that Lady Blues says makes him look cute (I have one exactly the same in the same colour but she says I look like a Brussel sprout). Other axe wizardry came from Brownie McGhee, Black Ace and John Dee Holeman before we had to upsticks and pack our stuff away.

Our family of plastic ducks are stars in their own right - who's bright idea was it to mention them in one of the new jingles for Britain's Other Blues Show? As soon as I played it they noticed the webcam and posed and preened for the rest of STAR BLUES. All I can say is Lady Gaga, which is where we came in. We'll be back on Remembrance Day at 10pm (GMT), 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 Don't Care	Robert Covington	4	Blues In The Night	Robert Covington
No Mama's Boys	Kay Kay and the Rays	1	The Best Of Kay Kay And The Rays	Kay Kay and the Rays	Catfood
vENTILLATOR BLUES	Bopcats	10	25 Years Of Rock'n'roll	Bopcats	eller soul
C.C. Rider	Richie Havens	1	My Own Way	Richie Havens	DOUGLAS
Overcoat Mama	Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith	13	Born In Arkansas	Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith	Big Eyes
3d Loving	Piney Brown	8	Jumping At Jubilee	Various Artists	SEQUEL
think	the "5" royales	17	king new breed r&b	various artists	kent
Caledonia	Ann Rabson With Bob Margolin	6	Not Alone	Ann Rabson With Bob Margolin	Vizztone
that's all right mama	nathan abshire	12	boppin on the bayou	various artists	ace
Let The Boogie Woogie Roll	Clyde McPhatter	12	Let The Boogie Woogie Rock'n'roll	Various Artists	ACE
Glamour Girl	Big Town Playboys	4	Hip Joint	Big Town Playboys	BLUE HORIZON
a lovers prayer	vernon green	24	new breed r&b	various artists	kent
Changin' My Ways	Tas Cru	2	Tired Of Bluesmen Cryin'	Tas Cru	crustee trees
biscuit boogie	Memphis Gold	2	Pickin In High Cotton	Memphis Gold
Mr. Mistreater	Mississippi Heat	11	Delta Bound	Mississippi Heat	DELMARK
Blues Get Off My Shoulder	Robert Cray	6	Nothing But Love	Robert Cray	PROVOGUE
No Good Woman	Black Ace	14	Gems From April 2011	Various Artists
Born For Bad Luck	Brownie McGhee	7	Okeh : Great Race Labels Vol. 3	Various Artists	CATFISH
solid gold cadillac	Mitch Woods	2	blues beyond borders	Mitch Woods	club 88 records
Two Fisted Mama	Katie Webster	3	Comin' Home To The Blues	Various Artists	MUSIC CLUB
With My Maker I Am One	Habib Koité, Eric Bibb	9	Brothers In Bamako	Habib Koité, Eric Bibb
Glory Of Love	Cleftones, The	9	Happy Memories	Cleftones, The	Jasmine
lookin the world over	maria muldaur	5	...then came memphis minnie...	various artists	STONY PLAIN
Chapel Hill Boogie	John Dee Holeman	10	Piedmont Blues	John Dee Holeman	DOC ARTS INC.
past 23	LARRY GARNER	10	DOUBLE DUES	LARRY GARNER	JSP

Created: 04/11/2012 23:43:15

STAR BLUES on 28th October 2012 at 22:00

Whereas our previous show prohibited entry if you had an electric guitar about your person, last night we only let you in if you had one. Just my shameless excuse to celebrate the vintage 50s and 60s players who defined the sound of our music. Hopefully a nice surprise for listeners who may have thought we'd tarry awhile in the Noughties blues-rock denizens.




Joe Louis Walker has been round the block a few times and the only way he's not a superstar is that he ain't as pretty as Robert Cray. I've just about everything he's recorded and no two of his projects are the same. He got armfuls of awards for his "Blues of the Month Club" album and it seemed a fitting opener to STAR BLUES. Then straight back to an era where recording engineers carried clipboards and wore white coats and handlebar moustaches. They almost fainted when Eric Clapton got out his Vox AC30 amp and put it on a chair for his first album for John Mayall. He was loud with a capital *F* and they were about to pull the plug. Luckily Gus Dudgeon was on hand to save the sessions and as far as I'm concerned these were EC's finest sides - he truly played as if his very life depended on it. Otis Grand now has his most satisfying project in 20 years on the starting blocks. Like Dudgeon Otis  has recorded his semi acoustic loud, front and centre on his "Blues 65" album. Our choice "Washed My Hand In Muddy Water" heavily featured Sugar Ray Norcia's voice and harp and Grand is happy to share the Kudos with him.



Buddy Guy was an acknowledged influence on Clapton, who fully expected Cream to function as a power trio in the Buddy Guy tradition. Guy's 1962 song "When My Left Eye Jumps" was a perfect example of why - on his day - Buddy could cut anyone. One of the other West Side Chicago masters was Otis Rush. We found him in 1958 for his COBRA single "Double Trouble” Both Rush and Guy had a certain edgy menace to their playing - a style taken to another level by Pat Hare (a troubled man, who started at Sun Records, did time in Muddy Waters band and died in prison). Our other guest who ironically ended his days behind bars was Calvin Leavy. His "Cummins Prison Farm" is thought by many to be the final "proper" blues record of them all. (They subscribe to a theory that blues ended in 1970).



Our 1001 feature was a hit for James Brown in 1967 and a track Albert King cut for Stax in 1969. King is deliciously funky as he stings relentlessly on top of a matchless exhibition of drumming from Al Jackson. Ace added the track as a bonus to their reissue of the "Years Go By" album. While thinking of James Brown, the axe chair was held down by Jimmy Nolen between 1965 and 1970 (remember "Papas Got A Brand New Bag"?). In 1958 he was inked by Federal for some terrific singles, I've made it my business to get them all since discovering his solo work in my earlier treasure trove from pastures North.



Larry Davis and Fenton Robinson can be treated as synonyms for quality and class. Davis did work for Virgo ably kitted out with Fenton's guitar. Mickey Baker is still with us and there's a splendid anthology of his 50s and 60s assists out on Rev-ola: any of the 31 tracks would be a gem, especially the partnership with Larry Dale on "After Hours Blues". Robert Randolph had an album celebrating the sacred steel tradition of the lap steel guitar, we took "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed" as our gospel outing. For obvious reasons we skipped over a piano offering but a couple of fabulous ladies kept us on topic - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins with "Baghdad Blues" on Music Master and the Atlantic cash in of an early track by Barbara Lynn as soon as she looked likely to get star status. I think I may have said before (once or twice or more) that electric blues guitar gets no better than T-Bone Walker and Albert Collins runs him mighty close second in my affections; add in Pee Wee Crayton and the job is almost done.



Both B. B. King and Luther Allison were easy choices and I held back just enough time to go to Elmore James for "Standing At The Crossroads". Then our first STAR BLUES of the winter was done (you did do the clock didn't you?). Our plastic duck family has been reunited and I am already lined up as stunt double to George Clooney in those difficult and dangerous romantic scenes with Angelina Jolie. He can't carry of a white tee shirt like me. They'll only be dangerous if you let Lady Blue find out. With fingers crossed for that I'll report for duty again next Sunday at 10pm (GMT) if you'll be at your place. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take of you.

Track.Title	Track.ArtistSort	Index	Album.Title	Album.ArtistSort	Label
Blues Of The Month Club	Joe Louis Walker	1	Blues Of The Month Club	Joe Louis Walker	VERVE
All Your Love	Eric Clapton With John Mayall	1	Bluesbreakers Feat. Eric Clapton	John MayallEric Clapton	DERAM
Mojo Boogie	J. B. Lenore	9	Blues Guitar Masters	Various Artists	CHARLY
Every Dog’s Got His Day	Johnny Copeland	11	Slow 'N' Moody, Black & Bluesy	Various Artists	Kent
Bonus Pay	Pat Hare	1-10	blues guitar masters	various artists	charly
(Until Then) I'll Suffer	Barbara Lynn	10	A Good Woman	Barbara Lynn	Kent
Cold Sweat	Albert King	13	Years Gone By - Plus!	Albert King	STAX
the score	robert cray	2-6	blues guitar masters	Various Artists	charly
double trouble	otis rush	13	good 'uns	otis rush	westside
The Years Go Passing By	Larry Davis	22	Slow 'N' Moody, Black & Bluesy	Various Artists	Kent
Blue Shadows	Lowell Fulson	19	Blues Guitar Pioneers	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
The Hustle Is On	T-Bone Walker	13	Blues Guitar Pioneers	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water	Otis Grand	6	Blues '65	Otis Grand	MAINgate
Cummins Prison Farm	Calvin Leavy	25	Southern Soul Showcase	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
my left eye jumps	Buddy Guy	1-9	Can't Quit The Blues	Buddy Guy	SONY
Baghdad Blues	Beverly 'Guitar' Watkins	2	The Feelings Of ...	Beverly 'Guitar' Watkins	MUSIC MAKER
The Freeze	Albert Collins	9	Blues Masters	Various Artists	RHINO
Need Your Love So Bad	Fleetwood Mac	10	Best Of	Fleetwood Mac	COLUMBIA
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning	'the Word'	9	The Word	Various Artists	ROPEADOPE
Part Time Love	Luther Allison	1	Mississippi Blues	Various Artists	Putumayo World Music
MoviN' On Down The Line	Jimmy Nolen	22	Scratchin'-Federal 52-56	Pete 'Guitar' Lewis-Jimmy Nolen-Cal Green	charly R&B
Midnight Hours	Larry Dale With Mickey Baker's Orchestra	8	In The '50S: Hit, Git & Spit	Mickey Baker	Rev-Ola Bandstand
woke up this morning	b b king	4-18	blues guitar pioneers	various artists	boulevard vintage
Texas Hop	Pee Wee Crayton	14	Gaz's Rockin' Blues	Various Artists	ACE
Standing At The Crossroads	Elmore James And His Broomdusters	1	The Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956	Elmore James And His Broomdusters	ACE

Created: 28/10/2012 23:50:44

STAR BLUES on 21st October 2012 at 22:00

A blues show without electric guitars is not the same as a blues show lacking in fretboard wizardary. Just ask Buddy Moss, Big Bill Broonzy or Tampa Red. Our show was a companion piece to our August Bank Holiday Monday special. The pre-war recordings of the masters of the genre were balanced with a number of tracks from Living Blues magazine's feature called "Next Generation of Acoustic Blues".

Valerie June is in that category - she has striking dreadlocks, distinctive voice and skills on banjolele - and was recently profiled in both Observer and Guardian newspapers. She has yet to record under her own name - due in the Spring I'm told - but I tracked down a couple of guest appearances. One is on a Nina Simone tribute album, the other is a water themed project with John Forte. Little Joe Ayers was in the LB spotlight and purveys blues in a refreshingly purist Delta tradition. His "Backatchya" album has already started to pick up awards and will be a contender for more.

Chaney Sims is with her dad, Bill Sims Jr, in the Heritage Blues Orchestra - an outfit with a playing style that sounds like it goes back to the era of the Mississippi Sheiks. The lineup has no bass player but their songs are extremely rhythmic and exude atmosphere. Though the Carolina Chocolate Drops weren't in the magazine, we similarly admire their authentic acoustic approach. Our own Mighty Mark Peters is a big fan who thinks  I've not got video of his cavorting to their jigs (just not put it on YT yet....) They got known through the Music Maker label and charity; Shelton Powe similarly benefited from their help with finding him a guitar and some odd gigs following his sudden redundancy from his day job which forced him to sell his axe. Shelton plays nimbly in the Carolina style and has just put out his debut full disc through Music Maker. His story is told in the magazine and ought to remind all of us how thin the line is between getting by and not (and how crossing that line is never done by choice).

Blind Boy Paxton was the last of the clutch mentioned in Living Blues. He's just 22 and went blind at sixteen. He has said he doesn't listen to music made since 1934 and he has carved out a unique position as fervent supporter of the minstrel/troubadour method. Songs from that era were part of an oral tradition, never written down and rarely recorded. Paxton hates the political correctness that inhibits free discussion of coon music (to use his description). He intends the listener should feel uncomfortable when he as an African American plays them: the PC approach to thinking assumes the audience cannot put the songs in a historical context and that the world can have changed. Some work still to do IMHO. A prodigious talent way beyond his years of whom we will hear much more. Next time someone says blues is dead with no future or relevance, just say Blind Boy Paxton.

There are ofcourse other blues magazines, just as there are many blues radio shows - we don't claim to be better than them just different. Ethel Waters and Johnny Temple for example had decent sized catalogues of fine blues records and it was a privilege to give them an outing on STAR BLUES. Our previous foray into the territory on Bank Holiday Monday didn't give us enough time to include the pivotal blues greats, we had another go this week with Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson, Mance Lipscomb, Bessie Smith, Sleepy John Estes and Tommy McClennan. I first discovered the power and beauty in prewar blues through Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell and their place on our playlist was an easy choice.  If you've seen the Blues Band you'll know Paul Jones does a pretty good a capella version of "Woke Up this Morning With Jesus On My Mind", the original from Roosevelt Graves did Gospel duty for us. Little Brother Montgomery hasn't been out on STAR BLUES lately so he was our piano blues leaving us just enough time to cheat on the promise to omit electric guitar. The red Lightning album "No friend Around" has the earliest John Lee Hooker sessions recorded at very high volume with no polish applied after the fact (essential as starting point for a serious Hooker fan if you ask me). As the next day approached we got there through John Lee's "Lowdown Midnite Ramble".

You were very kind with your hospitality and invitation - absolutely magnificent as always, I was Gary Blue. I will be again on this upcoming Sunday at 10pm (GMT) if you'll let me. Don't forget to change you clocks backwards. 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
Gimme A Pigfoot	Bessie Smith	24	Blues Queen. The Definitive Collection	Bessie Smith	Phoenix Records
Sittin' On Top Of The World	Mississippi Sheiks	7	The Early Blues Roots Of Bob Dylan	Various Artists	CATFISH
st louis Blues	ethel waters	6	The Blues Box	Various Artists	METRO
Give Me Water	John Forté	1	Valerie June - Sampler	Valerie June	.
I Got To Keep To The Highway	Buddy Moss	1	Atlanta Blues Legend	Buddy Moss	BIOGRAPH
Bellevina	Big Boy Henry	105	Music Maker Sampler	Various Artists	MUSIC MAKER
The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair	Sleepy John Estes	17	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Memphis	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad	Big Bill Broonzy	20	House Rent Stomp	Big Bill Broonzy	BLUES ENCORE
Pickin' The Blues	Memphis Minnie	10	Me And My Chauffeur	Memphis Minnie	PROPER
riro's house	Carolina Chocolate Drops	1	Leaving Eden	Carolina Chocolate Drops	Warner Music
Stranger Blues	Shelton Powe	1	Carolina Blues And Gospel	Shelton Powe	MUSIC MAKER
Goin' Up The Country	Barbecue Bob	7	Sweet Patuni : Best Of Georgia Blues	Various Artists	INDIGO
Let Me Play With Your Poodle	Tampa Red	22	It Hurt's Me Too	Tampa Red	INDIGO
C-Line Woman	Heritage Blues Orchestra	2	And Still I Rise	Heritage Blues Orchestra	MRI
i believe i'll go downtown	johnny temple	4-20	broke black n blue	Various Artists	proper
No Special Rider Blues	Little Brother Montgomery	2-25	Broke Black And Blue	Various Artists	PROPER
Naptown Blues	Leroy Carr	7	Naptown Blues	Leroy Carr	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Anywhere I Go	Little Joe Ayers	3	Backatchya	Little Joe Ayers	DEVIL DOWN
Dirtiest Little Darling	Blind Boy Paxton	1	Dirtiest Little Darling / Railroad Bill	Blind Boy Paxton	EVANGELIst
shake it up and go	Tommy McClennan	18	Cross Cut Saw	Tommy McClennan	DOCUMENT
Pony Blues	Charley Patton	3	The Rough Guide To Blues Legends: Charley Patton [Disc 1]	Charley Patton	ROUGH GUIDES
Mama, Let Me Lay It On You	Mance Lipscomb	7	Texas Blues Guitar	Mance Lipscomb	Arhoolie Records
Woke Up This Morning With Jesus On My Mind	Roosevelt Graves & Brother	1	Rare And Red Hot Gospel	Various Artists	CATFISH
Harmonica Stomp	sonny terry	20	devil in the woodpile	Various Artists	INDIGO
Cool Drink Of Water Blues	Tommy Johnson	22	Broke Black And Blue	Various Artists	PROPER
lowdown midnite blues	John Lee Hooker	8	No Friend Around	John Lee Hooker	RED LIGHTNING

Created: 21/10/2012 23:55:34 

B B King: The Life of Riley (dir. Jon Brewer)

Shown for one night only at selected Odeon cinemas in UK. (Norwich 15th October 2012 at 21:00 BST)

Billed as "Survival is a Word, this is Its Story", Jon Brewer's two hour film collects interviews and archive footage about the child born near Itta Bena, Mississippi on 16th September 1925. We get to hear a recording of Riley's father Albert giving directions to the family home and there are several conversations with neighbours, cousins and schoolmates. The scale of the cotton fields and the shabbiness of the homes is all too starkly real on the big screen though King carefully points out his privations were no different to anyone elses. Through talking to his blues contemporaries (Rufus Thomas, Bobby Bland, Robert Lockwood and Calvin Owens) we get a good insight into the man and artist.

Some of the narrative is told out of chronological order which confused Little Bitty Pretty Blue (who came with me having never seen BB King before) and she didn't know who some folks interviewed were such as Joe Bihari. Like me, she found the first hour really engrossing able to understand and engage with the story.

Round about 1969, B's fortunes changed through "patronage" of white rock stars and boy do we get to see that through a stream of folks telling us how great our hero is without telling us we can't already hear for ourselves. The one real insight comes from Bono who shows us what it is like working and rehearsing with him, we get first hand experience of what drives him, how he conjures up that creative impulse. We could have done without Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Bonamassa telling us that B B King is an icon and a great player - we already knew that thank-you. Little Bitty Pretty Blue provided some suggestions as to their motives for taking part which I won't repeat here. What makes it particularly galling is the fact that there are no complete songs anywhere in the film - repeat nothing is seen or heard as a full performance! I wanted LBPB to get the experience of the full roar of "Don't open the door" or "Everyday I have the blues" and she missed out (even though she thinks Jonny Lang is kinda cute).

The film only has two events since the 70s: the U2 project and "Riding With The King" which rather short changes King in his move to international recognition (music on films, cameo appearances on mainstream television) and his most accomplished albums in 40 years with "Born on the Bayou". The significance of his involvement with "The Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match isn't developed and his work with prisoners is totally excluded. That was by far the biggest oversight as King has often mentioned how easily he could have taken a wrong turn in life and been where they are. Its a big part of who he is and his determination to put something back and its omission spoilt the film and undermined Jon Brewer's intention for the project.

B. B. King is a complex, somewhat private, man. He is unfailingly gracious and modest; he has been hijacked in recent times by lesser souls aiming for greatness by association: his recent live work has cast him as ringmaster in a freak circus. "Life of Riley" was a one-off opportunity to redress the balance while he is still with us. In summary, there was a fascinating story to be told, however through the fumbling of the latter-period storyline and inexplicable decision to fillet the music contributions in deference to the nodding dogs - this ain't quite it.  7 out of 10 from LBPB and 6 out of 10 from me.