STAR BLUES on 13th July 2014 at 22:00 - Texas Blues Artists plus DIALTONE label

A very special STAR BLUES this week with Mance Lipscomb, Lil Son Jackson, T-Bone Walker and Freddie King. we're concentrating on the Lone Star state with a dip into the splendid Dial-Tone label.


Texas Blues has a big sound and is best known for the skills of its guitar players. Of those we had several like Albert Collins and Freddie King (still can't decide who's better. Just keep putting the Iceman ahead because of those airplane runway sized collars Freddie wore in the Seventies). A couple of others made names through the West Coast blues scene but birthrights in Texas put them on our list: Lowell Fulson and Charles Brown.

Lest you think its about the six stringed axe, Big Walter Price joined Brown on the ivory ticklers team. Frank Frost flew a lone flag for the harp men. Sax genius Grady Gaines did what he did best and brother Roy was back in his Rock'n'Roll routes for "Isabella". I was asked beforehand not to forget Johnny Winter and he was very forceful in his two hander with fellow label star Lonnie Brooks from his Alligator days. Tutu Jones is a more modern player with tinges of soul in both voice and guitar; ZuZu Bollin was much under-rated and under-recorded (I've made a note to track down more of his stuff).

Rare and alternate versions of Pee Wee Crayton's early pieces he did for Modern are newly available through Ace and It was a treat to bring you something never previously issued. You could just about get a fag paper between his solo on the track and the finest T-Bone Walker tone, though I doubt you'd get two.

The pre-war giants were represented by Blind Lemon Jefferson (of course) and Texas Alexander; country blues from Black Ace and Lightnin' Hopkins (ofcourse), rounded out with the iconic "Cairo Blues" by Lil Son Jackson (who I think had a deceptive and memorable singing style as well as player).

The conundrum on the fierce guitar solo on Scremin' Jays "Whammee" from last week was answered by a listener as Mickey Baker (ofcourse).

The centrepiece for the show went down to Houston for a rich sample of items currently in the Dialtone catalogue. Eddie Stout has gradually built a formidable body of artist who still play blues in the good old fashioned way. Last years project from Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown is perhaps best known but the Birdlegg album is a little gen which has excited many in the know - expect more good things from both acts pretty soon. Ervin Charles plays keyboards and he boogied steadfastly for us. Hosea Hargrove's album has been sympathetically put together and it is good to see Ray reed with product on the shelves. His brother-in-law was guitarist Clarence Pierce who is featured in the new edition of Blues & Rhythm magazine (other blues magazines are available, a couple are worthwhile, most can usefully plug a draught under the bath at best). Clarence was part of the loose aggregation that recorded as the Texas Eastside Kings and there was some lovely understated soulful playing to remember him.

We did cheat with Big Mama Thornton who wasn't born in Texas; she did some great sides for Peacock out of Houston so we had no problem with her credentials.

Next Sunday STAR BLUES will remember the 1964 AFBF tour that reached Britain that week so you can be sure of Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf and Sleepy John Estes between 10 and midnight (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
Fake I.D.	Albert Collins	3	Blues Guitar Box	Various Artists	SEQUEL
daylight	Tutu Jones	1	Staying Power	Tutu Jones	BULLSEYE BLUES
Why Don't You Eat Where You Slept Last Night	Zuzu Bollin	17	Let Me Tell You About The Blues: Texas	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Some Other Day, Some Other Time	Freddy King	23	King New Breed R'n'b	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
Talkin' Woman	Lowell Fulson	18	Uk Sue Label Story, Vol. 3: The Soul Of Sue	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
austin boogie	pee wee crayton	6	jumpin in los angeles	pee wee crayton	ace
Wound Up Tight	Lonnie Brooks	3	Blues Guitar Box 2	Various Artists	SEQUEL
G. G. Shuffle	Grady Gaines & Texas Upsetters	8	Blues Sax Greats	Various Artists	EASYDISC
Pack Fair And Square (Peacock 1666)	Big Walter PriceThunderbirds	1	Rhythm Rockin' Blues	Various Artists	Groove SOURCE
Just Like A Dog (Barking Up The Wrong Tree)	Big Mama Thornton	10	Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
5. Lucy Mae Blues	Ray Reed	4	Where The Trinity Runs Free	Ray Reed	DIALTONE
I'm In Love With You Baby	Hosea Hargrove	12	Tex Golden Nugget	Hosea Hargrove	DIALTONE
you hurt me	texas eastside kings w. charles pierce	5	texas eastside kings	texas eastside kings	dialtone
Back To The Shimmy	Jewel Brown	9	Milton Hopkins & Jewel Brown	Milton HopkinsJewel Brown	DIALTONE
Jumpin' With Ervin	Ervin Charles	5	Greyhound Blues	Ervin Charles	DIALTONE
You Up Set My Mindt	Birdlegg	7	Birdlegg	Birdlegg	DIALTONE
You Better Heed My Warning (With Mickey Baker's Orchestra)	Larry Dale	9	Groove Records Story	Various Artists	one day
Isabella (Deluxe 6119)	Roy Gaines	21	R&b Humdingers Volume 11	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
Cairo Blues	Lil’ Son Jackson	2	Down Home Blues Classics Texas 1946-1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD ENTERTAINMENT
Black Cat Blues	Lightnin' Hopkins	1	Texas Blues	Lightnin' Hopkins	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
Trifling Woman	Black Ace	9	Texas Blues	Various Artists	CATFISH
Long Tall Girl Got Stuck On Me	Mance Lipscomb	7	Blues Roots	Various Artists	TOMATO
Penitentiary Moan Blues	Texas Alexander	14	Crime And Punishment	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
prison cell blues	blind lemon jefferson	2-16	crime and punishment	various artists	fantastic voyage
Feel Good Babe	Frank Frost	18	Jelly Roll King	Frank Frost	CHARLY
Worry Blues	Willie Mabon	2	Willie's Blues - The Greatest Hits 1952 - 1957	Willie Mabon	Jasmine Records
Love's Like A River	Charles Brown	13	The Ace Story - Volume 5	Various Artists	ACE
Little Mae Belle	West Texas Slim	25	Down Home Blues Classics Texas 1946-1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD ENTERTAINMENT
Mojo In My Hand	L. C. 'Good Rockin'' Robinson	20	Let's Have A Blues Ball!	Various Artists	ACE
When The Rain Starts Fallin'	Johnny Copeland	8	Texas Party	Johnny Copeland	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
T-Bone Shuffle	T-Bone Walker	1	You're My Best Poker Hand: The Definitive Collection	T-Bone Walker	Fantastic Voyage

Created: 13/07/2014 23:30:17  

STAR BLUES on 6th July 2014 at 22:00

Humdingers. Slabs of 'em straight from Mark Lamarr's endless collection of treasures via those splendid folks at Vee-Tone. Crank up the juice to the speakers would be my advice for any of the Seventeen Greasy Groovers on offer. Probably best known of the names is that of King Curtis and his sax exquisitely slid into the Midnight hour. I wasn't familiar with the Billy Miranda offering on Checker with its rural country harp but that's the real joy of what Mark does: he serves up plenty of new and rare names.Ditto Boots Brown.

We started a show with a track originally taken from the only truly essential blues album - the sessions had Albert King backed by Booker T and the MGs, sparse guitar lines and immaculate understated drumming from Al Jackson; fluid organ from Jones and rock solid bass from Duck Dunn. Non-pareil playing and arrangements.

Our birthday book had space for Larry Garner, Louis Jordan and James Cotton. The last named upset more than a few folks in blues by posing in dungarees on the porch of a run down shack for the artwork of his Verve project. The music was something special however, with Joe Louis Walker on earthy down-home guitar and Charlie Haden on "proper" standup acoustic bass.

Same instrument plus Sue Palmer on piano and Kid Ramos bringing unpretentious playing to Candye Kane's go at "Fine Brown Frame". She is constantly working, often for charitable causes, and I've never heard her bitter or complaining about her lot in life, she still sings well and gave the song a nice interpretation. I used the title as a subtle introduction to a pair of bicycle songs marking the Tour de France stage starting in the morning. Bob Gaddy rippled through his one and Fats Domino updated the "Bicycle Built for Two" theme on the b-side of a 1961 single on Imperial.

It's become our custom to be first out of the traps with a Christmas song and we took no chances by ensuring no-one could say we were just late for last year. Despite putting it into my FB status I'm sure there were some first time visitors who thought I wouldn't press play on Clarence Carter.

Both Luther Allison and Fenton Robinson brought wares from their Alligator cupboards, and Screamin' Jay rode close to the edge with a guitarist that I've not yet identified. Jesse Fuller showed his gifts in a different way. James Phelps had a decent secular career after following Johnnie Taylor in the Soul Stirrers. Before that he'd been lead voice for the Calvary Clefs who did gospel duties for us. Victoria Spivey had Lonnie Johnson along for support with deft fingers and urbane voice. That mood often suited Arthur Prysock but we found an uptempo treatment of "Good Rockin Tonight" he did for Old Town.

Next week we've a mind to go down Texas way at 10pm(BST) on Sunday night for more of Britain's Other Blues Show - 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
Laundromat Blues	Albert King	1	King Of The Blues Guitar	Albert King	Atlantic
If You Come To Louisiana	Larry Garner	8	Blues For Sale	Larry Garner	Dixiefrog
low down and dirty	luther allison	1	Crucial Chicago Blues	Various Artists	Alligator
I Hear Some Blues Downstairs	Fenton Robinson	12	Crucial Chicago Blues	Various Artists	Alligator
(She Put The) Whamee On Me	Screamin' Jay Hawkins	21	The R'n'b Hits Of 1955	Various Artists	CASTLE
linda lu	Robert 'Bilbo' Walker	4	Rock The Night	Robert 'Bilbo' Walker	ROOSTER BLUES
Run Rose (Checker 957)	billy miranda	1	Slabs Of Humdingers, Vol. 1	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
Shine On	Lillian Offitt	8	Chief Records Story	Various Artists	one day
Fine Brown Frame	Candye KaneKid Ramos	8	Guitar'd And Feathered	Candye Kane	Ruf
Bicycle Blues	Bob Gaddy & His Alleycats	7	Bluestream	Various Artists	MAINSTREAM
Rockin' Bicycle	Fats Domino	26	The Imperial Singles Vol. 4, 1959-1961	Fats Domino	ACE
Dealin' With The Devil	James CottonJoe Louis Walker	4	Deep In The Blues	James CottonJoe Louis Walker	VERVE
Guitar Blues	Jesse Fuller	5	The Lone Cat	Jesse Fuller	ORIGINAL BLUES CLASSICS
So Sweet	Drink Small	2	Hallelujah Boogaloo	Drink Small	MUSIC MAKER
It Ain't Nothin' But The Truth	Johnny Rawls	5	Put Your Trust In Me	Johnny Rawls	JSP Records
Ain't That Just Like A Woman	Louis Jordan	18	The History Of Rhythm And Blues Volume Two 1942-1952	Various Artists	Rhythm and Blues Records
Pinetop's Boogie-Woogie	Pinetop Perkins	24	Sun Blues Box : 1950-1958	Various Artists	CHARLY
Dynamite (Groove Ep Egb 1000)	boots brown	5	Slabs Of Humdingers, Vol. 1	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records
Boot 'Em Up	Du Droppers, The	7	Groove Records Story	Various Artists	one day
goin' crazy	pete guitar lewis	1-25	boogie uproar	various artists	one day
Quinsella	Sonny Boy Johnson	3	Alley Special	Various Artists	COLLECTABLES
going down to the river	clefs of calvary feat. james phelps	2-28	get your soul right	various artists	fantastic voyage
Idle Hours	Victoria Spivey & Lonnie Johnson	9	The Bluesville Years. Vol 8: Roll Over, Ms. Beethoven	Various Artists	PRESTIGE
good rockin' tonight	arthur prysock	4	too late baby	arthur prysock	ace
Back Door Santa	Clarence Carter	1	The Original Soul Christmas	Various Artists	RHINO
Nine Below Zero	Sonny Boy Williamson	9	King Biscuit Time	Sonny Boy Williamson	ARHOOLIE
Worried Man Blues	Johnny Williams	5	Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954)	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
lie to me	john and sylvia embry	3	troubles	john and sylvia embry	delmark
Goin Away Baby (Round Like An Apple)	Smokey Wilson	6	Round Like An Apple: Big Town Sessions 1977-1978	Smokey Wilson	ACE
Dynamite At Midnite (Apollo 507)	king curtis	13	Slabs Of Humdingers, Vol. 1	Various Artists	Vee-Tone Records

Created: 06/07/2014 23:44:37 

STAR BLUES on 29th June 2014 at 22:00

5th July 1954 proved to be a significant point in music in the last century and beyond, at 706 Union Ave. Memphis Bill Black Scotty Moore and Elvis Presley recorded a handful of songs that yielded his first commercial single. In the intervening years, myths and legends have clouded the details of how the songs were chosen and the story is that the three men were just goofin' around and Sam Phillips had a light bulb moment to commit their foolishness to tape, with a cover of blues artist Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's composition "That's All Right (Mama)". I actually believe the session may have transpired somewhat differently:

Sam was a canny operator and he'd have been unlikely to leave things to chance; I think Marion Keister heard something in the two earlier goes Elvis had done in the twelve months previous. They however didn't agree on a style of music with the best fit (Elvis always wanted to be a ballad singer). So he put the boy in the studio with a couple of seasoned players with instructions to do country, r&b and ballad songs. Sorry if my alternative story line is less romantic but just a theory.

We put the song in that reading into our STAR BLUES playlist with the best part if two hours worth of context as singles Elvis could have heard that year. A year that had (exactly to the day) Joe Turner with "Shake Rattle and Roll" at number 1. Our line-up included the bigger better known names of the time like B.B. King, Muddy Waters  and Howlin' Wolf as well as Tommy Ridgely, Willie Egans and Lula Reed.

For only the second time in the history of the show, i left the white tee-shirt at home - I wore black instead to mark the death on Friday of Bobby Womack. For many it was the end of that generation of true soul singers. Just a year ago, Bobby Bland died but Bobby Womack was on the bill at the Glastonbury festival. Dozens of obituaries and tributes tried to justify the attention he was getting by mentioning his association with dozens of rock names quite frankly not fit to tie his shoelaces. Robert Dwayne Womack (b. 4 March 1944) was a massive talent. Full stop. Awesome voice rooted in gospel from a whisper to a scream. Gifted song writer and distinctive guitarist. His earliest gospel sides for Sam Cooke's SAR label fit our programme and with a heavy heart we marked his death at the age of 70.

Just in was the latest dip into the seemingly endless treasure trove of Mark Lamarr's record collection. The splendid folks at Vee-Tone have it in the shelves on vinyl long player - it'll be ready for your listening delight next Sunday right here on Britain's Other Blues Show, STAR BLUES at 10pm 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
I'm Ready	Muddy Waters	20	The R'n'b Hits Of 1954	Various Artists	INDIGO
Shake Rattle and Roll	Joe Turner	15	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Hoy Hoy	Little Johnnie Jones	17	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
The Things That I Used to Do	Guitar Slim	9	The R'n'b Hits Of 1954	Various Artists	INDIGO
It Should’ve Been Me	Ray Charles	22	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Last Night	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	19	The R'n'b Hits Of 1954	Various Artists	INDIGO
Eisenhower Blues	J. B. Lenoir	14	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Bottle it Up and Go	Big John Greer	12	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Jam Up	Tommy Ridgley	7	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Cotton Crop Blues	James Cotton	12	The R'n'b Hits Of 1954	Various Artists	INDIGO
thats alright mama	elvis presley	3	king of rock'n'roll - 50s masters	elvis presley	rca
i smell a rat	big mama thornton	23	r & b years:1954	various artists	boulevard vintage
Yield Not to Temptation	Womack Brothers	28	Sar Records Story 1959-1965	Various Artists	ABKCO
Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray	Womack Brothers	29	Sar Records Story 1959-1965	Various Artists	ABKCO
Somewhere There's a God	Womack Brothers	30	Sar Records Story 1959-1965	Various Artists	ABKCO
Space Guitar	Young John Watson	29	The R'n'b Hits Of 1954	Various Artists	INDIGO
You Upset Me Baby	B. B. King	12	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show	Big Maybelle	9	The R'n'b Hits Of 1954	Various Artists	INDIGO
I’m Just Your Fool	Buddy Johnson	5	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Kissing in the Dark	Memphis Minnie	13	The R'n'b Hits Of 1954	Various Artists	INDIGO
Watch Dog	Lula Reed	15	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
East of the Sun	Jerry McCain	26	The R'n'b Hits Of 1954	Various Artists	INDIGO
It’s a Shame	Willie Egans	25	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Rockin' Daddy	Howlin' Wolf	28	The R'n'b Hits Of 1954	Various Artists	INDIGO
Make My Dreams Come True	Elmore James	5	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Blue Monday	Smiley Lewis	4	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Good,good,whiskey	Amos Milburn	14	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Work With Me Annie	Royals, The	3	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Annie Had a Baby	Midnighters, The	21	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
I Feel So Bad	Chuck Willis	1	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Beggin’ My Baby	Little Milton	13	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Midnight Hour	Clarence “gatemouth” Brown	22	The R'n'b Years 1954: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1954	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE

Created: 29/06/2014 23:37:37

STAR BLUES on 22nd June 2014 at 22:00

Sugar Ray Rayford leads our new release feature and our reissues include the earliest recordings by Junior Wells. It was about as bold an opening salvo as you're likely to find; label boss Randy Chortkoff has his sleeves up for harp duties on the project. Out at the same time for the same badge is the Nick Nixon collaboration with Andy T band and the self penned songs are the strength of this one. When I saw the Nightcats at Colne a while back they had Charly Baty on guitar proving a deft foil to the consummate front man Rick Estrin. Though the urbane guitarist has moved on they are deservedly rewarded with a recording of a live gig (newly out on Alligator). Our choice is a crowd pleaser and the audience were vocal throughout.

The last entry in our new release segment was the latest from Bobby Rush who maintains both an astonishing work ethic and an enviable sequence of releases. No sooner has the album hit the racks, its already had great press in Living Blues and the album's lead-off song "Another Murder In New Orleans" is award-nominated. as before he blends that raw downhome country blues with horn fuelled gutbucket soul-blues. You can tell why he's a favourite round these parts.

Arthur Prysock was blessed with a full, rounded voice given to expressive slow blues ballads. His stuff on Old Tome is out for the first time through Ace and it includes punchy readings of hits done by Roy Brown and Muddy Waters / Etta James. I just finished writing a review of a twofer disc that pairs two of B. B. Kings albums first out on Crown. The bonus tracks include a dynamic, forceful, vocal from our hero in a rework of "Everyday I have The Blues" with the Count Basie Orchestra. Its been anthologised before so we chose the landmark cover from Joe Williams. The beauty of the human vox got further showcase from the Swan Silvertones and the Pilgrim Travellers in our extended gospel feature.

No shortage of rambunctious key twiddling with piano men Sunnyland Slim, Forest Sykes and the magnificent Amos Milburn. Spoilt for choice - I'll say. Jasmine has two projects on the starting blocks: one to gather all 28 tracks recorded by the Chris Barber outfit when Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee cam to London to play in 1958. Originally spread over three platters, this survey adds two unreleased pieces to create what is (I think) the only single disc collection of this stuff. Jasmine also collects the very earliest stuff on Junior Wells, including a handful of sides helped by Earl Hooker. that man was back on the Bobby Saxton single which was the biggest commercial 45 on Bea and Baby. With the same scale of national distribution as neighbours Chess and Vee-Jay, who knows how many more they'd have done?

During the week I found a half hour interview given by B. B. King to the much missed John Walters - pretty sure it went out on Arena in the mid-80s and B was very natural and forthcoming. Over the closing credit title sequence, the producer chose a track from Junior Kimbrough, so we shamelessly stole the same idea. I first came to John Brim through the two artist collection on Chess called Whos Muddy Shoes by dint of Elmore James. He is known for the song which got covered by Aerosmith but he was so much more than that. His out on Chess we included proves why.

On 5th July it'll be 60 years since Elvis Presley cut "Thats All Right" at Sun studios. To mark the event, our STAR BLUES next week is a two hour all vinyl extravaganza which will almost certainly include the other players from 1954 who were at the top of their games. 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
Wrapped up and ready	mannish boys	1	wrapped up and ready	mannish boys	delta groove
Love Of A Woman	Blinddog Smokin', Bobby Rush	6	Decisions	Bobby Rush With Blinddog Smokin'
Baby Right Now	Andy T - Nick Nixon Band	1	Livin' It Up	Andy T - Nick Nixon Band	Delta Groove Productions
dump that chump	rick estrin and night cats	11	live!	rick estrin and night cats	alligator
i just wanna make love to you	arthur prysock	3	too late baby - old town singles 1958-1966	arthur prysock	ace
Every Day I Have the Blues	Joe Williams	10	The R'n'b Years 1952: 100 Hot Rhythm And Blues Tunes From 1952	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Eyes Full of Tears	Pee Wee Crayton	7	Complete Aladdin And Imperial Recordings	Pee Wee Crayton	Capitol
It's Your Voodoo Working	Charles Sheffield	19	The Real Excello R'n'b	Various Artists	ACE
No Other Way Round	Midnights, The	16	Music City Vocal Groups	Various Artists	ACE
trying to make a living	bobby saxton feat. earl hooker	1-28	chicago bound	various artists	fantastic voyage
You Got Me Where You Want Me	John Brim	7	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&B And Rock 'n' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Blues Before Sunrise	Scrapper Blackwell	8	The Prestige/Bluesville Story	Various Artists	NOT NOW
Just a Dream	Sonny TerryBrownie McGhee	27	Blues Legends In London	Josh WhiteBig Bill BroonzySonny Terry & Brownie McGhee	PYE
You Better Stop	Andrew Brown	7	The Way I Feel	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
Meet Me in the City	Junior Kimbrough	3	You Better Run: The Essential Junior Kimbrough	Junior Kimbrough	FAT POSSUM
Cut That Out	Junior Wells	1	juniors wail	junior wells	jasmine
Get Your Soul Right	Swan Silvertones, The	1-1	Get Your Soul Right: The Gospel Quartets & The Roots Of Soul Music	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
jesus hits like an atom bomb	pilgrim travellers	3-1	Get Your Soul Right: The Gospel Quartets & The Roots Of Soul Music	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Killer Diller	Betty Everett	16	Breezy Sugar: The Pure Essence Of Chicago Rock & Roll	Various Artists	Fanatstic Voyage
Johnson Machine Gun	Sunnyland Slim	3	Chess Blues	Various Artists	CHESS
Tonky Boogie	Forrest C Sykes	2-28	Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&B And Rock 'n' Roll	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Real Pretty Mama	Amos Milburn	37	Booze Babes Blues And Boogie - Essential	Amos Milburn	INDIGO
Meet Me in the Bottom	Pink Anderson	1	The Bluesville Years. Vol 6: Sweet Carolina Blues	Various Artists	PRESTIGE
Goin' To Alabama	Al Smith	11	The Prestige/Bluesville Story	Various Artists	NOT NOW
Need My Baby	Shakey Horton	27	Goin' Down To Eli's (The Cobra And Abco Rhythm And Blues Anthology 1956-1958)	Various Artists	WESTSIDE
Black Spider Blues	Robert Lockwood Jr.	4	20th Century Blues	Various Artists	CATFISH
I Be's Troubled	Muddy Waters	5	20th century blues	various artists	CATFISH
Blues You Dog	Tony Collins	8	Breezy Sugar: The Pure Essence Of Chicago Rock & Roll	Various Artists	Fanatstic Voyage
Johnny's Stomp (Early Version) - Johnny Heartsman	Various Artists	11	The Music City Story (3Cd)	Various Artists	ACE

Created: 22/06/2014 23:23:57

STAR BLUES on 15th June 2014 at 22:00

Mid term review for 2014 tonight so our first hour pulled out a selection from the new albums we've played this year. If I'm honest I'd say we were a mite behind where we were at the half way mark in 2013. There are still quality projects out there but not as many. In Joe Louis Walker, Jarekus Singleton and Selwyn Birchwood Alligator has another strong hand and Grady Champion's new imprint DeChamp has top notch talent in the form of Eddie Cotton and J J Thames. Our label of the year - Delmark - has concentrated on archive projects, compare their output from last year with Lurrie Bell and Toronzo Cannon. Not sure what they have in the pipeline...?

Bob Corritore has done the business as expected with an old fashioned honest to goodness instrumental album and our current must-play items are out by Johnny Drummer and Rip Lee Pryor. I guess Robert Cray qualifies as veteran now he's in a seventh decade but his current album goes back to the soul roots of what makes him so special. His recent gig in Cambridge ranks in my all-time top ten list and we dipped into the album to find his reworking of an Otis Redding song. West Coast pianist Kenny Blues Boss Wayne went north to Canada to get his props and has been quiet record-wise for a couple of years; his closing salvo was a fitting punctuation point to our survey of 2014's new albums.

We touched a lot of bases in our vinyl hour, including Ray Agee and Larry Davis who we played as a belated birthday wish to a Facebook friend. Three numbers from a rich seam of feisty females from the Fifties were a good sample of the fare on offer in the reissue market this year. it is a constant source of pleasure to find stuff appearing for the first time since original release. Vee-Tone, Jasmine and Fantastic Voyage are all looking outside the usual suspects and their packaging is starting to rival that of the Ace label who lead the market. all good news if you are a long time collector on the lookout for that something a bit different.

Cecil Gant did duties in the piano tent and we erred on the pop side of the Staple Singers for the gospel choice which was a showcase for Mavis Staples lovely grainy vocal. A little outside our usual purview perhaps. No such quibble about Floyd Jones or Washboard Sam (who was part of the perfect power trio when in harness with Memphis Slim and Big Bill Broonzy). While scavenging for new vinyl I found a 1959 album by Lightnin' Hopkins, all being well I'll include it next Sunday on STAR BLUES at 10pm (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
Texas Stomp	Calvin Owens	4	True Blue	Calvin Owens	SEQUEL
all i want	joe louis walker	2	hornerts nest	joe louis walker	alligator
Overworked And Underpaid	Selwyn Birchwood	7	Don't Call No Ambulance	Selwyn Birchwood	Alligator
Blame Game	Jarekus Singleton	11	Refuse To Lose	Jarekus Singleton	Alligator
t-town ramble	bob corritore	11	taboo	bob corritore	delta groove
Wake Up Baby	Rip Lee Pryor	4	Nobody But Me	Rip Lee Pryor
Better Than Good	Johnny Drummer	11	Bad Attitude	Johnny Drummer	EARWIG
Nobody's Fault But Mine	Robert Cray Band	2	In My Soul	Robert Cray Band	PROVOGUE
Tell You What I Know	JJ Thames	11	Tell You What I Know	Jj Thames	CDBaby
Pay to Play	Eddie Cotton	3	Here I Come	Eddie Cotton	DEChamp
Out Like A Bullet	Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne	11	Rollin' With The Blues Boss	Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne	STONY PLAIN
Love is a Cold Shot	Ray Agee	23	Bay Area Blues Blasters	Various Artists	El Cerrito
I've Been Hurt So Many Times	Larry Davis	1	New Breed R'n'b	Various Artists	Kent (U.K.)
I've Got Love	Syl Johnson	19	I'll Go Crazy: Federal Records Story	Various Artists	one day
Creole Gal Blues	Edgar Blanchard And The Gondoliers	9	Boogie Uproar - Gems From The Peacock Vaults	Various Artists	one day
You Drive Me Crazy	joan Shaw	1-6	Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
rock 'n' roll blues	linda hopkins	3-22	Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
dippin in my business	rose marie mccoy	2-7	Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Touch a Hand, Make a Friend	Staple Singers, The	2-13	Ultimate Staple Singers: A Family Affair	Staple Singers, The	Kent (U.K.)
john henry	Pops Staple	1-22	Ultimate Staple Singers: A Family Affair	Staple Singers, The	Kent (U.K.)
Are You Ready	Cecil Gant	15	We're Gonna Rock - Essential	Cecil Gant	INDIGO
diddie wah diddie	Blind Blake	2-3	The Essential	Blind Blake	ALLEGRO
Levee Camp Blues	Washboard Sam	22	Get Down Brother	Washboard Sam	CAMDEN
what you want to do it for	lonesome sundowwn	14	rhythm and bluesin by the bayou	various artists	ace
just give me a chance	silas hogan	1	bluesin by the bayou	various artists	ace
skinny mama	floyd jones	7	Blues Is Killin' Me	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT

Created: 15/06/2014 23:50:09 

STAR BLUES out looking for vinyl blues - 8th June 2014

Back next week

STAR BLUES on 1st June 2014 at 22:00 - Its time for Chicago. Blues that is.

Less than a fortnight ahead of the Festival, Its time for Chicago. (Blues that is) In recent years Chicago has come back to the forefront of blues with John Primer, Billy Boy Arnold and Lurrie Bell making some of their best ever work. We had all three on last night's STAR BLUES show at least once each. Primer was also Magic Slim's guitarist of choice on the version of JB Lenoir's song he brought to our celebration, Lurrie Bell was on hand for the BMA nominated album Eddie C. Campbell did last year. He's had some major health worries but is at least back in Chicago now for the treatment he needs. Billy Boy is probably the most gifted of any blues player on the scene and he caught a great vibe for his celebration of one of Chicago's first blues stars Big Bill Broonzy.

Muddy Waters had no hesitation in selecting Jimmy Rogers as his favourite guitar player for a dream band lineup and "Luedella" showed why. Eddie Taylor got a rep for his work with John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed but he had a unique and distinctive sound but scandalously few chances to record as a band leader in those days.Morris Pejoe is similarly less well known but we put him in top notch company last night.

Etta James and Koko Taylor cut some big hits for Chess and Little Milton had chart honours on each of his labels where he hung his hat (we chose his version of a Chick Willis piece). Snooky Pryor was just one of the harp masters on offer (his son is a current resident on our usual weekly playlist). Big Walter - my own fave - was a star on the Sunnyland session, Little Walter's career was all too short but long on influence and we subscribed to Charles Shaar Murray's view on the work of Jimmy Reed.

The greatest record ever made a t Chess studios in Chicago happened on 5th August 1955; it had Sonny Boy Williamson on vocals and harp and the Muddy Waters band in support. You may have another choice but (to borrow a phrase from Ian Siegal) you'd be wrong. Pretty close was Paul Jones' show winner "Smokestack Lightnin" though it was shaded as there are few times when you can claim Muddy as a backing band.

The generation of guitarists coming straight after Muddy based themselves in the clubs over on the West Side, they were brash, cocky and had an attitude. They did the business: Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and for many the greatest of them all Magic Sam. For the most part the music spoke for itself last night on STAR BLUES but on the way home I started to think of the list of folks we just didn't get time for: Carey Bell, Jimmy Dawkins, Hound Dog Taylor etc etc. More than enough to dip back in later on this year.

Next week (8th June) I'm on my annual vinyl pilgrimage in pastures northern, so there's no STAR BLUES show - but if you'll be there I'll be here again on 15th June at 10pm (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
Keep on Lovin' the Blues	John Primer	9	All Original	John Primer	BLUES House
Hey Hey Baby	Lurrie Bell	1	Blues In My Soul	Lurrie Bell	DELMARK
I Do	Eddie C. Campbell	1	Spider Eating Preacher	Eddie C. Campbell	DELMARK
Luedella	Jimmy Rogers	2	Complete Chess Recordings	Jimmy Rogers	MCA/CHESS
gary stomp	john brim	11	Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954)	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Gonna Buy Me a Telephone	Morris Pejoe	12	Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954)	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
29 Ways	Koko Taylor	16	Wang Dang Doodle	Koko Taylor	ORBIS BLUES COLLECTION
looking for my baby	jody williams	1	chicago - blues yesterday vol 9	various	n/a
I Feel So Bad	Little Milton	7	Greatest Hits	Little Milton	MCA/CHESS
First Time I Met the Blues	Buddy Guy	1-29	chicago bound	various artists	fantastic voyage
Chicago Is Just That Way	Eddie Boyd	14	The Blues Is Here To Stay	Eddie Boyd	Jasmine Records
sometimes i wonder	otis spann	1-14	Chicago / The Blues / Today!	Various Artists	ACE
messin with the kid	junior wells	1-3	Chicago / The Blues / Today!	Various Artists	ACE
Big Boss Man	Jimmy Reed	6	The Anthology	Jimmy Reed	NOT NOW
Mama Talk to Your Daughter	Magic Slim & The Teardrops	1	Chicago Blues Session Volume 3	Magic Slim & The Teardrops	WOLF
Ride 'em on Down	Eddie Taylor	3-16	Let Me Tell You About The Blues; Chicago - The Evolution Of Chicago Blues 1925-1958	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Rock Me	Muddy Waters	5	Chicago Blues - Chess Masters	Various Artists	CHESS
I Just Want to Make Love to You	Etta James	1-3	chicago bound	Various Artists	fantastic voyage
Easy Baby	Magic Sam	8	West Side Guitar 1957-1966	Magic Sam	FLYRIGHT
Three Times a Fool	Otis Rush	10	Chicago Boss Guitars	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
cant be satisfied	muddy waters	2-14	chicago bound	various artists	fantastic voyage
40 cups of coffee	danny overbea	2-16	chicago bound	various artists	fantastic voyage
So Much Trouble	Tampa Red	3-15	Down Home Blues Classics - Chicago (1946-1954)	Various Artists	BOULEVARD VINTAGE
Boogy Fool	Snooky Pryor	3	Chicago Blues Harmonicas	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
south bound train	Big Bill Broonzy	3-5	Let Me Tell You About The Blues; Chicago - The Evolution Of Chicago Blues 1925-1958	Various Artists	Fantastic Voyage
Willie Mae Blues	Billy Boy Arnold	7	Billy Boy Arnold Sings: Big Bill Broonzy	Billy Boy Arnold	Electro-Fi
Last Night	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	10	His Best	Little Walter (Aka Marion Walter Jacobs)	MCA/CHESS
Highway 61	Sunnyland Slim Feat. Walter Horton	19	Chicago Blues Harmonicas	Various Artists	FLYRIGHT
Smokestack Lightnin' Don't Start Me Talkin'	Howlin' Wolf Sonny Boy Williamson (Aka Rice Miller)	14 13	Chess Blues Classics 1947-1956	Various Artists	MCA/CHESS
Dynamite	earl hooker	3-27	chicago bound	Various Artists	fantastic voyage

Created: 01/06/2014 23:41:38