I made a blunder on last weeks show that had to be put right yesterday with suitable man size portion of humble pie. My piece on Little Smokey Smothers was finished off with a splendid blues performance - by his brother Otis (Big) Smokey Smothers. So we played something from Little Smokey's debut solo album last night to make amends. Amazingly it was also his first appearance on STAR BLUES too.
There were also rare outings from Angela Brown, Dana Gillespie and Joan Armatrading (who knew in 1972 that the gentle folkie could play electric blues guitar like that and have two number-1 blues albums before 2010). Dana is know to many by her association with David Bowie, for being an Australian swimming champion and her voluptuous charms - she's matured into a smokey voiced blues singer and writer of the very highest order. Like Armatrading, she has a new album that will surprise and delight many.
As a young child I went to Sunday School which was fun but the weekly session with the grown ups in church was cold and impersonal. If only they'd had Mavis Staples doing the sermons and music, my experiences would have been so much better. There is a warmth and stoicism in her singing that touches the listener - her new project with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco is a magnificent effort already written onto the statuettes at next years awards I'm sure.
We found Freddie King in rare acoustic mood in a Dallas radio studio in the early 1970's with a very individual take on "Dust My Broom"; handslapped knees provided rhythm to the Carolina Chocolate Drops version of "Why Don't You Do Right" composed by Kansas Joe McCoy but made into a hit by Lil Green then Peggy Lee. Not much chance of a hit or even airplay for (Benjamin) Bull Moose Jacksons "Big Ten Inch" but it was his shellac he meant wasn't it? That actually brings us back to Dana Gillespie who covered the song back a while.
I'm updating the cover songs section of GARY BLUE'S ALMANAC, so its coming. Please bring your best ears next Sunday at 10pm (GMT), I can't promise to be blemish free but it won't be bland. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Monday, 29 November 2010
Monday, 22 November 2010
STAR BLUES on 21st November 2010 at 22:00
Heartiest congratulations to the Mighty Mark Peters and Lisa this past week, both up late at nights with new son Harrison to ensure his daily routine includes a weekly dose of STAR BLUES. To mark the celebration we had James Armstrong on hand with “Slender Man Blues” and Lady Bianca’s rollicking “Baby’s Boogie”. By that time we’d already heard from Otis Grand, Joe Louis Walker and Johnny Rawls – a starting line-up you’d not match anywhere else.
Earl Gaines, Bobby Rush, and Bob Corritore brought new or recent albums, as did those chaps at the SPV label who have put out a nice anthology of Jump and R&B from 1940’s label Bullet Records. As well as Cecil Gant, Willie Dixon and Walter Davis they gave a start to an earnest young pup by the name of Riley King, wonder whatever happened to him? Johnnie Mae Marshall co-wrote “Gonna Send You Back to Georgia”, Timmy Shaw did it first but our back-to-back feature had versions from James Carr and Hound Dog Taylor about as different as you can imagine. Roy Roberts is a nice player with a warm throaty voice and anything by him is a welcome addition to the playlist and we caught Luther Allison in a rare acoustic mood in his living room. Mahalia Jackson held fast in the gospel tent and Red Miller’s Trio did the honours on a b-side for the piano feature.
Little Smokey Smothers died on Saturday and we passed on the sad news and remarked on his long-lasting friendship with Elvin Bishop – we’ll play something from it on next weeks show along with Elvin’s own album that has at long last arrived here. In the run up to Christmas, I’m putting the finishing, touches to Gary Blue’s Almanac 2011 the follow up to last years volume. As before there’ll be no charge, I’m just asking for a donation to benefit the MusicMaker charity if you like it and decide to keep it. Keep listening for more details. You made me welcome last night and I’d like to do it all again next Sunday at 10pm if you’ll have me – until then take care of your selves and take care of those that take care of you
Earl Gaines, Bobby Rush, and Bob Corritore brought new or recent albums, as did those chaps at the SPV label who have put out a nice anthology of Jump and R&B from 1940’s label Bullet Records. As well as Cecil Gant, Willie Dixon and Walter Davis they gave a start to an earnest young pup by the name of Riley King, wonder whatever happened to him? Johnnie Mae Marshall co-wrote “Gonna Send You Back to Georgia”, Timmy Shaw did it first but our back-to-back feature had versions from James Carr and Hound Dog Taylor about as different as you can imagine. Roy Roberts is a nice player with a warm throaty voice and anything by him is a welcome addition to the playlist and we caught Luther Allison in a rare acoustic mood in his living room. Mahalia Jackson held fast in the gospel tent and Red Miller’s Trio did the honours on a b-side for the piano feature.
Little Smokey Smothers died on Saturday and we passed on the sad news and remarked on his long-lasting friendship with Elvin Bishop – we’ll play something from it on next weeks show along with Elvin’s own album that has at long last arrived here. In the run up to Christmas, I’m putting the finishing, touches to Gary Blue’s Almanac 2011 the follow up to last years volume. As before there’ll be no charge, I’m just asking for a donation to benefit the MusicMaker charity if you like it and decide to keep it. Keep listening for more details. You made me welcome last night and I’d like to do it all again next Sunday at 10pm if you’ll have me – until then take care of your selves and take care of those that take care of you
Monday, 8 November 2010
STAR BLUES on 7th November 2010 at 22:00
A first for me on last night’s STAR BLUES with every track coming from a brand new album, boy was I nervous coming round to your place with an armful of stuff barely out of the shrink wrap. As it turned out you made me welcome anyway and there were plenty of good things on offer.
Imelda May is stylish and a rebel in a way that fuses rockabilly with forties jump blues, the title track off her new album “Mayhem” set the tone from the off last night. She was joined with new names Rita Chiarelli and Kirsten Thien, each with confident performances from projects we’ll be bound to go back to before long. The latter was lucky to get on the playlist; her soft-focus photo on the front cover looks more for Marie Claire magazine than for a blues show. Nearly put her to the bottom of the pile as being too glamourous for us? (Then I remembered our very own slender man – Mark Peters – the very epitome of cool suave sophistication at 6 in the morning)
Why Kenny Neal isn’t a huge star I’ll never know, just savour how his fluid playing stretches out on modern blues. The 74 year-old Buddy Guy has “Living Proof” out next week and he came along with two tracks: one with Carlos Santana’s magic, the other a ferocious piece the envy of a 24 year old. I found his music many years ago on a semi-legal cassette tape while in a leaky caravan during a miserable fortnight’s holiday, his axe playing blew me away then. It still does. Clay McClinton’s influence is obvious, but when that is Delbert as dad, he ain’t doing too bad at all. Todd Sharpville looks set to break big in the States; his new double album has cameos from Duke Robillard, Joe Louis Walker and Kim Wilson. He wrote all but one of the songs and his muscular guitar never outstays its welcome. Did I mention his dad is an Arch-Bishop and David Cameron wanted him to be a Conservative mp? The coalition’s loss is our gain. Lynwood Slim has gone to Sao Paolo in Brazil for his backing band and the results were both jumpin’ and joyous.
Bobby Womack and Aaron Neville both brought covers of Dylan songs and Robert Plant inspired me to include the original “Twelve Gates to the City” that his Band of Joy did magnificently at the Electric Proms. Tiny label Dialtone gave us Hosea Hargrove and the Rev. KM Williams bringing us full circle with authentic rural blues. If nothing else I hope STAR BLUES has given you some ideas for items on Santa’s list and the “normal” programming will be back next Sunday at 10pm. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Imelda May is stylish and a rebel in a way that fuses rockabilly with forties jump blues, the title track off her new album “Mayhem” set the tone from the off last night. She was joined with new names Rita Chiarelli and Kirsten Thien, each with confident performances from projects we’ll be bound to go back to before long. The latter was lucky to get on the playlist; her soft-focus photo on the front cover looks more for Marie Claire magazine than for a blues show. Nearly put her to the bottom of the pile as being too glamourous for us? (Then I remembered our very own slender man – Mark Peters – the very epitome of cool suave sophistication at 6 in the morning)
Why Kenny Neal isn’t a huge star I’ll never know, just savour how his fluid playing stretches out on modern blues. The 74 year-old Buddy Guy has “Living Proof” out next week and he came along with two tracks: one with Carlos Santana’s magic, the other a ferocious piece the envy of a 24 year old. I found his music many years ago on a semi-legal cassette tape while in a leaky caravan during a miserable fortnight’s holiday, his axe playing blew me away then. It still does. Clay McClinton’s influence is obvious, but when that is Delbert as dad, he ain’t doing too bad at all. Todd Sharpville looks set to break big in the States; his new double album has cameos from Duke Robillard, Joe Louis Walker and Kim Wilson. He wrote all but one of the songs and his muscular guitar never outstays its welcome. Did I mention his dad is an Arch-Bishop and David Cameron wanted him to be a Conservative mp? The coalition’s loss is our gain. Lynwood Slim has gone to Sao Paolo in Brazil for his backing band and the results were both jumpin’ and joyous.
Bobby Womack and Aaron Neville both brought covers of Dylan songs and Robert Plant inspired me to include the original “Twelve Gates to the City” that his Band of Joy did magnificently at the Electric Proms. Tiny label Dialtone gave us Hosea Hargrove and the Rev. KM Williams bringing us full circle with authentic rural blues. If nothing else I hope STAR BLUES has given you some ideas for items on Santa’s list and the “normal” programming will be back next Sunday at 10pm. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Monday, 1 November 2010
STAR BLUES on 31st October 2010 at 22:00
We finished our contribution to Black History Month with the fifth show in a quartet. Living Blues magazine chose essential blues albums for the for decades since 1970 and last night we looked at how blues has changed in this period as well as at how blues is already in the main stream in adverts and as part of tv show soundtracks.
Case in point being Etta James' "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" via the soft drink advert is now on a colleague's ring tone even though he won't have anything to do with blues. Similarly Ray Charles' "Mess Around" now promotes a well known chemist with cute kids and grubby faces. Taj Mahal's "You Can't Always Get What You Want" has been in Hugh Laurie's "House" and so on.
There's a fifty year limit on song reproduction copyright that's opened up dozens of cd reissues of classic blues and r&b from late 40's and 50's - there's a number of labels formed to put these songs into the marketplace. Personally I'm not sure about buying things when you can't be sure the artist (or family) has got their dues. Stick to the big name reissue labels like Ace would be my advice because of the research done to ensure everyone gets paid who should. STAR BLUES last night made mention because the situation has changed the landscape for blues making things readily available that you could only dream of just a few years before.
Hardworking live acts in Britain and Europe have kept the word out there so we were pleased to celebrate the Blues Band, Dr. Feelgood and Mike Sanchez in particular. Big names courted by the rock press like Gary Moore, B. B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raitt made sure our music could be found in non-blues places. Tom Jones as we speak is in the album charts reflecting the visibility of gospel so we went to the original of his cover of Johnny Cash's "Gods Gonna cut You Down" for our sacred spot; and then to Eric Bibb's uplifting bucolic piece "Shingle by Shingle". Mitch Woods' tribute to the New Orleans sound that shaped Rock'n'Roll was called Crescent City flyer with rippling piano and solid sticksmanship off Earl Palmer at age 82.
Next Sunday every track will be from a cd not played before and released in 2010. If you've not been naughty you can use the show to build your Santa list - don't forget Santa knows and he'll check the list twice. I've got another white tee-shirt in my box if you've got the ears. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Case in point being Etta James' "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" via the soft drink advert is now on a colleague's ring tone even though he won't have anything to do with blues. Similarly Ray Charles' "Mess Around" now promotes a well known chemist with cute kids and grubby faces. Taj Mahal's "You Can't Always Get What You Want" has been in Hugh Laurie's "House" and so on.
There's a fifty year limit on song reproduction copyright that's opened up dozens of cd reissues of classic blues and r&b from late 40's and 50's - there's a number of labels formed to put these songs into the marketplace. Personally I'm not sure about buying things when you can't be sure the artist (or family) has got their dues. Stick to the big name reissue labels like Ace would be my advice because of the research done to ensure everyone gets paid who should. STAR BLUES last night made mention because the situation has changed the landscape for blues making things readily available that you could only dream of just a few years before.
Hardworking live acts in Britain and Europe have kept the word out there so we were pleased to celebrate the Blues Band, Dr. Feelgood and Mike Sanchez in particular. Big names courted by the rock press like Gary Moore, B. B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raitt made sure our music could be found in non-blues places. Tom Jones as we speak is in the album charts reflecting the visibility of gospel so we went to the original of his cover of Johnny Cash's "Gods Gonna cut You Down" for our sacred spot; and then to Eric Bibb's uplifting bucolic piece "Shingle by Shingle". Mitch Woods' tribute to the New Orleans sound that shaped Rock'n'Roll was called Crescent City flyer with rippling piano and solid sticksmanship off Earl Palmer at age 82.
Next Sunday every track will be from a cd not played before and released in 2010. If you've not been naughty you can use the show to build your Santa list - don't forget Santa knows and he'll check the list twice. I've got another white tee-shirt in my box if you've got the ears. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Monday, 25 October 2010
STAR BLUES on 24th October 2010 at 22:00
The fourth show in the series looking at notable blues albums chosen by Living Blues magazine gave us the widest range of styles so far. The Noughties has been a decade that has allowed our music to take note of its heritage in country-blues and jazz and then bring in elements of world music. It still retains the edge of electric guitar based Chicago blues.
B B King is still doing the biz, his "One Kind Favour" album is on the list and he brought a new version of a Howlin' Wolf song. We had chances to celebrate less well known artists like Johnny B. Moore, Andrew Jr. Boy Jones and Barbara Lynn as well as core show stalwarts like Phillip Walker and Robert Ward who never made a bad album. Moore's "Rockin In The Same Boat" from 2003 is his most recent project because of health worries and Koko Taylor died after her "Old School" album that did exactly what it said on the tin with a fierce slide guitar display from "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin. Barabara Lynn is an amazing left-handed guitarist and singer whose work was sampled by Moby on his "18" album.
Last week we talked about some comments from blues-bored rock-based guitarists wanting to change the music, I hope the selections from Otis Taylor, Corey Harris and Alvin Youngblood Hart were enough to demonstrate that the future is in safe hands. One of the heavyweight Sundays proclaimed R. L. Burnside as "the last living bluesman" though his "Wish I Was In Heave Sitting Down" won him few friends with the purists when it came out in 2000. They objected to his use of samples, overdubs and seven producers and they bemoaned the lack of interaction with other players. Obviously there's been a re-evaluation to see the album in this list. Bettye Lavette and Joe Louis Walker came along with excellent contributions that back up their achievements with brand new albums we've featured on STAR BLUES.
I haven't felt the four shows have had enough of the full flavour of 40 years change in blues so I've added a fifth show to the quartet to look at how the music has been bucked up by folks like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Gary Moore; at the effect of john Lee Hooker's "Healer", at the use of blues music in adverts and in tv series, and at how box-sets and public-domain recordings have added to the sustained popularity of blues. All that - and a white tee-shirt - next Sunday at ten. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
B B King is still doing the biz, his "One Kind Favour" album is on the list and he brought a new version of a Howlin' Wolf song. We had chances to celebrate less well known artists like Johnny B. Moore, Andrew Jr. Boy Jones and Barbara Lynn as well as core show stalwarts like Phillip Walker and Robert Ward who never made a bad album. Moore's "Rockin In The Same Boat" from 2003 is his most recent project because of health worries and Koko Taylor died after her "Old School" album that did exactly what it said on the tin with a fierce slide guitar display from "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin. Barabara Lynn is an amazing left-handed guitarist and singer whose work was sampled by Moby on his "18" album.
Last week we talked about some comments from blues-bored rock-based guitarists wanting to change the music, I hope the selections from Otis Taylor, Corey Harris and Alvin Youngblood Hart were enough to demonstrate that the future is in safe hands. One of the heavyweight Sundays proclaimed R. L. Burnside as "the last living bluesman" though his "Wish I Was In Heave Sitting Down" won him few friends with the purists when it came out in 2000. They objected to his use of samples, overdubs and seven producers and they bemoaned the lack of interaction with other players. Obviously there's been a re-evaluation to see the album in this list. Bettye Lavette and Joe Louis Walker came along with excellent contributions that back up their achievements with brand new albums we've featured on STAR BLUES.
I haven't felt the four shows have had enough of the full flavour of 40 years change in blues so I've added a fifth show to the quartet to look at how the music has been bucked up by folks like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Gary Moore; at the effect of john Lee Hooker's "Healer", at the use of blues music in adverts and in tv series, and at how box-sets and public-domain recordings have added to the sustained popularity of blues. All that - and a white tee-shirt - next Sunday at ten. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Monday, 18 October 2010
STAR BLUES on 17th October 2010 at 22:00
I have just about everything Bobby Womack has recorded, so I am at loss to explain why I thought his 1975 song Jealous Love was done by Syl Johnson for the Robert Cray version in last night’s 1990s blues album survey. I am suitably humbled. Elsewhere STAR BLUES heavily reflected the electric dominance of our music during the decade with just small pockets of down-home and acoustic sounds. Cray has been recording for thirty years and has a remarkable consistency that sees him (even as we speak) on the cover of the newest issue of Living Blues. Within the pages he’s pictured with B. B. King whose ‘Blues on the Bayou’ project was full of lovely relaxed unforced performances. My review in B&R at the time remarked on how it was the first whole album worthy of his talent.
Michael Hill’s Blues Mob currently have no record deal, yet their “Can’t Recall A Time” from their debut “Bloodlines” had a still-relevant social message showing blues has a vibrant future. Similarly at the envelope of the blues, Mighty Mo Rodgers’ big-label debut drew its influences from a number of places including the new-world and Alvin YoungBlood Hart and Corey Harris brought new sensibilities to traditional forms of blues. At the moment a couple of high-profile “blues” players have said the music is boring and needs to change, presumably by adding more free-form instrumental grandstanding – I think our music is in great shape with a younger generation that includes Robert Randolph and the Homemade Jamz band. This is a discussion that happens every now and again when second rate rock guitarists turn to blues to make a quick buck and then want to move on to the real money in the mainstream.
The other side to the 90s blues scene was the almost total replacement of vinyl with compact disc and with the indecent haste box-sets were assembled and pushed out to celebrate the legacy or make us buy stuff for a second time depending on your perspective. By their nature those projects were missing from Living Blues survey and I plan to do a fifth show in the series of four to “catch up” with the milestones for blues since 1970. That’ll be in a fortnight on 31st October and next week we’ll look at the Noughties decade, so I hope you’ll bring your best ears, the music and white tee-shirt is down to me; until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that will take care of you.
Michael Hill’s Blues Mob currently have no record deal, yet their “Can’t Recall A Time” from their debut “Bloodlines” had a still-relevant social message showing blues has a vibrant future. Similarly at the envelope of the blues, Mighty Mo Rodgers’ big-label debut drew its influences from a number of places including the new-world and Alvin YoungBlood Hart and Corey Harris brought new sensibilities to traditional forms of blues. At the moment a couple of high-profile “blues” players have said the music is boring and needs to change, presumably by adding more free-form instrumental grandstanding – I think our music is in great shape with a younger generation that includes Robert Randolph and the Homemade Jamz band. This is a discussion that happens every now and again when second rate rock guitarists turn to blues to make a quick buck and then want to move on to the real money in the mainstream.
The other side to the 90s blues scene was the almost total replacement of vinyl with compact disc and with the indecent haste box-sets were assembled and pushed out to celebrate the legacy or make us buy stuff for a second time depending on your perspective. By their nature those projects were missing from Living Blues survey and I plan to do a fifth show in the series of four to “catch up” with the milestones for blues since 1970. That’ll be in a fortnight on 31st October and next week we’ll look at the Noughties decade, so I hope you’ll bring your best ears, the music and white tee-shirt is down to me; until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that will take care of you.
Monday, 11 October 2010
STAR BLUES on 10th October 2010 at 22:00
Jerry Wexler described Solomon Burke as "the" soul singer and the news came hard yesterday that the Bishop had died while travelling to his next gig in Holland to promote a new album he's recorded with Dutch band deDijk. Our STAR BLUES show last night remembered him with a pair of tracks, one from each end of his career. As a sixteen year-old, he recorded for Apollo in 1956 and we uncovered one of those sides and did a selection off this year's "Nothings Impossible" album, produced by legendary Willie Mitchell (who passed in January). I left the playing of his really well-known sides on Atlantic to the other shows who will remark on this great talent but we had chance to recall a couple of his entrepreneurial activities.
The rest of the show moved to the 1980s for the choice of albums in the second of four specials looking back over 40 years of blues. In that decade many afro-Americans felt pushed out of soul and blues music by white rockers and disco fans so there was a sense of holding ground with only pockets of artists trying new things. The blues market had moved towards albums and the mainstream labels had no real interest in our music. Z. Z. Hill bucked the trend with a ground breaking album on Malaco that opened up a "soul-blues" genre aimed squarely at the Southern States' chitlin circuit. Bobby Bland also moved to Malaco after parent-label MCA didn't know what to do with him or his music - he was persuaded to cut a Larry Addison song "Members Only" that gave a real kick start to his career.
Muddy Waters was enjoying an Indian Summer in fortunes too by dint of Johnny Winters production and help on four great albums: "King Bee" proved to be his last in 1981 but it was chosen by Living Blues for the 1980s list and onto our show. Winter also did some sessions with Sonny Terry and Willie Dixon for his own Mad Albino label that saw wider distribution via Alligator. Bruce Iglauer maintained the quality with offerings from Koko Taylor, Son Seals, the final Professor Longhair project and the debut of Lil' Ed Williams and his Rough Housin' Blues Imperials. Jimmy Johnson is 82 now, is still gigging and his "North South" on Delmark was featured - Magic Slim is up there in years too and is the bedrock for the current Chicago club scene, we had a track from his "Grand Slam" album. According to LB he is a national treasure and you wouldn't find any argument here.
Next Sunday our review turns to the 1990s and I hope you'll be able to come along, I'll bring the music if you bring your best ears. Until Sunday 17th at 10pm (BST) take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
The rest of the show moved to the 1980s for the choice of albums in the second of four specials looking back over 40 years of blues. In that decade many afro-Americans felt pushed out of soul and blues music by white rockers and disco fans so there was a sense of holding ground with only pockets of artists trying new things. The blues market had moved towards albums and the mainstream labels had no real interest in our music. Z. Z. Hill bucked the trend with a ground breaking album on Malaco that opened up a "soul-blues" genre aimed squarely at the Southern States' chitlin circuit. Bobby Bland also moved to Malaco after parent-label MCA didn't know what to do with him or his music - he was persuaded to cut a Larry Addison song "Members Only" that gave a real kick start to his career.
Muddy Waters was enjoying an Indian Summer in fortunes too by dint of Johnny Winters production and help on four great albums: "King Bee" proved to be his last in 1981 but it was chosen by Living Blues for the 1980s list and onto our show. Winter also did some sessions with Sonny Terry and Willie Dixon for his own Mad Albino label that saw wider distribution via Alligator. Bruce Iglauer maintained the quality with offerings from Koko Taylor, Son Seals, the final Professor Longhair project and the debut of Lil' Ed Williams and his Rough Housin' Blues Imperials. Jimmy Johnson is 82 now, is still gigging and his "North South" on Delmark was featured - Magic Slim is up there in years too and is the bedrock for the current Chicago club scene, we had a track from his "Grand Slam" album. According to LB he is a national treasure and you wouldn't find any argument here.
Next Sunday our review turns to the 1990s and I hope you'll be able to come along, I'll bring the music if you bring your best ears. Until Sunday 17th at 10pm (BST) take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Gary Blue
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