Just For A Thrill . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of Through To Midnight:

Well, as always there was a big cheery welcome for all as we set off for two hours of the music that you won’t hear on ‘ordinary radio’.  For the curious, we offered a vaguely supervised musical adventure Through To Midnight . . . different it is . . . usual it ain’t!

We brought an ‘Under The Covers’ selection that focused on Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits, with some great ‘alternative’ interpretation of Mark’s songs. Then, there was our Girls & Guitars feature with its spotlight on Northern California’s guitarist and singer Karen Almquist. For the lovers of 50s and 60s vocal groups there was a little treat from The Five Keys in our Doo Wop Delight special.

There were plenty of new releases too from The Diplomats of Solid Sound, Jimmie Vaughan, Charlie Wood, Jon Grindick, The Larry Griffith Project, The B.B. King Blues Band, The Teskey Brothers, Hamish Anderson, Mavis Staples and Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed. But, it all kicked off with the great Jon Cleary and a great party starter ‘Pump It Up’ . . . and we did . . . take a listen . . .

Pump It Up
J&B – Jeff Golub & Brian Auger
Pump It Up – Jon Cleary
Just Make A Move (And Be Yourself) – Tower Of Power
Will It Go Round In Circles – Billy Preston
Love The One You’re With – The Isley Brothers
Ain’t No Love – Sam Moore & Steve Winwood

Under The Covers
So Far Away – Bobby Thompson
Walk Of Life – Charles Mann
Sultans Of Swing – Blue System

Makin’ Whoopee
Bette Davis Eyes – Jackie De Shannon
Makin’ Whoopee – Dr John & Rickie Lee Jones
I’m Still In Love With You – Jimmie Vaughan

Girls & Guitars
Why Are People Like That – Karen Almquist

When The Night Comes
Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone – Rhythm Express
Gimme Little Sign – Danielle Brisebois
Got To Be Real – LA Sound Machine
Telephone Call From Istanbul – Tom Waits
Grand Piano – Charlie Wood
All Night Cafe – Jon Grindick
Slow Grind – Larry Griffith Project
Hey There Pretty Woman – The B.B. King Blues Band
When The Night Comes – Ray Bonneville
Hold Me – The Teskey Brothers
The Fall – Hamish Anderson

Doo Wop Delight
Just For A Thrill – The Five Keys

We Get By
We Get By – Mavis Staples
Couldn’t Find A Way – Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed
Sincerely – Johnny Jenkins

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5 fm on 22 May 2019

 

Blues Elixir . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:

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We arrived in good spirits for this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling and with an armful of new releases and a few ‘seasoned’ favourites to ensure even more good spirits among the blues fans. We kicked off the show with Austin’s own Jimmie Vaughan who was in town this past week to launch his new album ‘Baby Please Come Home’ and it was this week’s ‘album of the week’, with some great Texas blues.

There are plenty of great new releases around at present Michele D’Amour & The Love Butlers, Bob Corritore & Friends, Larry Griffith Project, Peter Poirier, Li’l Chuck The One Man Skiffle Machine, The BB King Blues Band, R.K. Turner, Joe Louis Walker, John Verity, John Clifton, Peter Ward, Pack Rat’s Smokehouse, and The Cash Box Kings.

There were a couple of choices to remind us of some memorable appearances this past week by the much esteemed Diz Watson and the superb Paddy Milner. Both had successful London gigs and our playlist included a taster of each to bring back happy memories. There was also a preview of the upcoming ‘Rockin’ The Blues’ London event with tracks from the three names appearing there, Kris Barras, Jonny Lang and Walter Trout.

Gonna Tell Your Mama
Baby Please Come Home – Jimmie Vaughan (Baby Please Come Home – 2019)
Gonna Tell Your Mama – Bob Corritore & Friends (Do The Hip-Shake Baby! – 2019)
I Know – Larry Griffith Project (Bonafide – 2019)
Saturday Night Boogie Woogie Man – Diz Watson (88 Special – 2013)
Come On Over – Michele D’Amour & The Love Butlers (Heart Of Memphis – 2019)
Tearing Me Apart – The Kris Barras Band (ft Phoebe Ions) (Lucky 13 – 2016)
Sleeping Dog Blues – Li’l Chuck The One Man Skiffle Machine (Mono – 2019)
Bad Luck – Peter Poirier (Empty Arms – 2019)

Pinetop’s Pick
On The Wall – Louise Johnson (On The Wall – 2015)

Too Tired
If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day – Blue Touch (40 Miles – 2019)
Walkin’ Blues – Keb Mo (ft musicians from 6 countries) (Playing For Change – Song Around The World – 2019)
What’s Your Name – Jimmie Vaughan (Baby, Please Come Home – 2019)
Too Tired – Jonny Lang (Smokin’ – 2011)
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow – The BB King Blues Band (The Soul Of The King – 2019)
Pick A Bale Of Cotton – R.K. Turner (Coming From My Kitchen – 2019)
Too Drunk To Drive Drunk – Joe Louis Walker (Viva Las Vegas Live – 2019)

Blues Elixir
Killing Floor – Adam Holt (Kind Of Blues – 2019)
I Just Don’t Love You Anymore – John Verity (Where’s The Love – 2019)
Poor Boy – John Clifton (In The Middle Of Nowhere – 2019)
Just A Game – Jimmie Vaughan (Baby, Please Come Home – 2019)
Blues Elixir – Peter Ward (ft Sugar Ray Norcia & Ronnie Earl) (Train To Key Biscayne – 2019)
Big Road Blues – Arthur James (Hey . . . I’m Still Here – 2019)
What’s Your Flavour Baby – Pack Rat’s Smokehouse (Edge Of The Swamp – 2019)
Be Careful How You Vote – Walter Trout (Survivor Blues – 2019)

Austin Calling
Lonely No More – W.C. Clark (Lover’s Plea – 2012)

Blues ‘Fore Dawn
The World’s Getting Smaller Everyday – Paddy Milner (21st Century Blues – 2000)
The Wine Talking – The Cash Box Kings (Hail . . . To The Kings- 2019)
Pretty Baby – J.B. Hutto & The New Hawks (Slippin’ And Slidin’ -1990)
Baby, What You Want Me To Do – Jimmie Vaughan (Babby, Please Come Home – 2019)
Blues ‘Fore Dawn – Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers (Sinner Street – 2000)

This week our regular feature ‘Austin Calling’, focused on Austin local bluesman W.C. Clark, who’s become a popular proponent of Texas blues. In his early years he got courted relentlessly by Stevie Ray Vaughan, to join his band, which he eventually did and went on to co-write Stevie’s famous hit ‘Cold Shot’. Our choice came from his 2012 album ‘Lover’s Plea’ . . . . ‘Lonely No More’.

Veteran bluesman J.B. Hutto turned up with The New Hawks at the suggestion of one listener, which was a reminder that if you have some tracks or artists to suggest for our playlist here, then do get in touch . . . email, facebook, twitter and failing those you can try telepathy! So, with a big thanks for listening to this week’s show, here’s hoping we’ll meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5 fm on 21 May 2019
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 23 May 2019

The Right To Rock . . .

Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:

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Well, if you were ever in any doubt, we are most certainly living in ‘interesting times’. There have been plenty of national and international events to capture our attentions, but nothing could divert us from our rummaging time in the Cruising Library . . . and very worthwhile it was too.

We pulled out a very early track from Trini Lopez, definitely more rock & roll than his later easy listening style. We also found something by blues and jazz singer, dancer, and drummer, Sonny Parker, who was a one time member of vaudeville act Butterbeans & Susie. He spent many years with Lionel Hampton’s band . . . but we played his own recording ‘She Sets My Soul On Fire’.

Several of this week’s choices came through suggestions of others. So, there were a few grateful acknowledgements, including Thom Hickey for his great piece on his Immortal Jukebox about Jackie Wilson, to our good pal Jamie Dell’Apa down there in New Orleans for turning up some great sides by The Jolly Jax . . . and we found another that they cut for Cookin’ Records in 1968. . But, before all that, we kicked off down the road with ‘Puddin’ . . . a little 1957 Imperial 45 from Ernie Freeman . . .

The Right To Rock
Puddin’ – Ernie Freeman
She Sets My Soul On Fire – Sonny Parker
The Right To Rock – Trini Lopez
Baby Workout – Jackie Wilson
Stumbling Block – Champion Jack Dupree
Tiphe Tina – The Jolly Jax
Zip Boom – The Supremes
Love Me – The Woodside Sisters
High Flyin’ Baby – The Harptones
I Saw Her Standing There – James Booker

Girls & Guitars
Awesome Sauce – Patty Reese

Much Too Much
When I See Ya! – TT Grace
You Got What I Like – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
Red Hot – Big Boy Pete
Dear Dad – Dave Edmunds
I Do Believe – Clyde McPhatter
Tick Tock – The Medallions
Much Too Much – The Hollywood Flames
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There are some out there in Cruising land who think we will soon run out of names for our Girls & Guitars feature . . . but it hasn’t happened yet. This week our spotlight fell on Patty Reese, who hails from Colesville, Maryland and has been leading her band and gigging around America with an award winning mix of blues, soul and rock influenced numbers. To show off her talents, we chose a track from her latest album ‘Let In The Sun’ and her very New Orleans flavoured ‘Awesome Sauce’.

Our doo wop stop this week caught up with an Old Town 45 called ‘Zip Boom’ which the label credits to a short lived, mid 50s vocal group called The Supremes, but the original members of The 50s Supremes say this is not them on this recording . . . and no one seems to know who it is . . . so if you do, please tell. Matt The Cat also got a cheer from here for his profile of vocal group The Harptones, who turned up on our playlist in their own right and backing the Woodside Sisters on their version of ‘Love Me’.

The Cruise Mobile took a trans Atlantic trip for some fine rocking there from Swedish band TT Grace and then some home grown rocking from the UK’s Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Big Boy Pete (aka Peter Jay) and guitar ace Dave Edmunds. Then, to take us heading for home we had the good company of The Medallions and the Hollywood Flames. Then we were parking up the Cruise Mobile and giving it a quick polish so its all ready for the our next adventure together. So, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 14 May 2019

Something Got Me Started . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of Through To Midnight:

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Well, if you noticed a darkly dressed individual hurrying into the studio under cover of darkness . . . it was either Elwood Blues (who was even further from Chicago than he thought) or your truly. The bundle of records and CDs clutched close may have given a clue that it was me heading in to prepare for another ‘Through To Midnight’. . . . of course, ‘prepare’ is used with a generous interpretation here, because there is always an unpredictability about what actually gets into the playlist. But, the whole show kicked off at a pace with the wonderful Elkie Brooks and followed fast by Chromeo, the much missed Allen Toussaint and Keb Mo. The funkmaster himself, Johnny Guitar Watson, was on hand to get Midnight Groovers up on the floor and Rik Waller’s Mighty Soul Band took it from there.

The wonderful Frankie Miller brought a few ‘Love Letters’ before our ‘Under The Covers’ feature turned its spotlight on Paul Carrack, with some covers of his songs by Sharon, The Fortunes and Bobby Womack. Plenty of new releases too, from George Benson, Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul, The Kelly Bell Band, Norma Tenega and John Verity. Our Girls & Guitars had as its focus, the most excellent Bex Marshall with a favourite of hers here, ‘Bourbon Street’.

Just Lookin’
J&B – Jeff Golub & Brian Auger
Rising Cost Of Love – Elkie Brooks
Over Your Shoulder – Chromeo
Happiness – Allen Toussaint
Just Lookin – Keb Mo’
It’s A Damn Shame – Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson
Something Got Me Started – Rik Waller’s Mighty Soul Band
Love Letters – Frankie Miller

Under The Covers
Over My Shoulder – Sharon
Eyes Of Blue – The Fortunes
How Long (Has This Been Goin’ On) – Bobby Womack

Amazing Game
Rockin’ Chair – George Benson
Love Again – Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul
Last $4 – The Kelly Bell Band
It Should Have Been Me – Zoot Money & His Big Roll Band
Amazing Game – Mindi Abair & Trombone Shorty
Ya Herd Me – Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes

Girls & Guitars
Bourbon Street – Bex Marshall

Lifting Me
Walking My Cat Named Dog – They Might Be Giants
Illusion – Norma Tenega
Riders On the Storm – Nektar
Where’s The Love – John Verity
Girl From The North Country – Walter Trout
It’s Not The Spotlight – Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland
The Tide Keeps Lifting Me – The Staple Singers

Doo Wop Delight
Until You Came Along – The Visitors

Sincerely
Come With Me Baby – Rebecca Downes
Who’s That Lady – Lucas Arruda
Virtual Ground – Ana Popovic
Sincerely – Johnny Jenkins

Thanks to our good pal Neil Pellegrin, our Doo Wop Delight this week, came from The Visitors with their ‘oh so smooth’ take on ‘Until You Came Along’. There were a few great covers from Nektar, Lucas Arruda and Walter Trout that really deserve to be heard and some excellent originals from Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, The Staple Singers, Rebecca Downes and Ana Popovic (who was on our giglist this week).

Now, own up! You wouldn’t hear those on ‘ordinary radio’ . . . so keep that in mind until the next time we meet to go Through To Midnight. Until then, remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5 fm on 15 May 2019

Pocket Full Of Blues . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:

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Well, our blues time together kicked off this week with a swinging little number from The Larry Griffith Project, ‘I Do, I Did, I’m Done’, from their latest album ‘Bonafide’ and set the standard early for this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling. The playlist had plenty of new releases, a few ‘seasoned’ favourites and a selection of tracks from our album of the week, The B.B. King Blues Band with ‘The Soul Of The King’.

Among the great new releases was one from New England guitarist Peter Ward, who’s back with his latest album, called ‘The Train To Key Biscayne’ and Keb Mo turned up with a taster from his upcoming album ‘Oklahoma’, all about the lady in a red dress, dancing at the bar and sipping a margarita. Then, we heard from Bob Corritore & Friends with ‘Trying To Make A Living’ from their new release ‘Do The Hip Shake’ and featuring Sugaray Rayford on vocals and Junior Watson on guitar.
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If your taste in blues includes ‘one man bands’, then there was a treat from Li’l Chuck, The One Man Skiffle Machine with his take on ‘Boom Boom’, followed by this week’s ‘Pinetop’s Pick’ with ‘the mystery man of the blues’ Robert Johnson with ‘From Four Til Late’.

Thanks went out to Peter Hall for suggesting something from Albert King, recorded live at the 1975 Memphis Blues Festival . . . and so it popped up on the playlist this week, along with a great track, ‘Nothing But The Blues’, from John Verity’s latest EP ‘Where’s The Love’. Then, there was a warm welcome back for Savoy Brown with another track from their latest album, City Night’ and it was a reminder of the band’s time with Chris Youlden on vocals, especially a favourite here called ‘Needle & Spoon’, which was also recorded by Foghat . . . so that seemed a suitable follow up.

There was 48 seconds of heavenly joy from Big Daddy Wilson with the playout track on his latest album ‘Deep In My Soul’, which led into The BB King Blues Band with a great tribute to BB King called ‘Regal Blues’.

Boom Boom
I Do, I Did, I’m Done – Larry Griffith Project (Bonafide – 2019)
Change (Ain’t Never For The Good) – Peter Ward (Train To Key Biscayne – 2019)
I Remember You – Keb Mo (Oklahoma – 2019)
Trying To Make A Living (ft Sugaray Rayford & Junior Watson) – Bob Corritore & Friends (Do The Hip Shake – 2019)
Sweet Little Angel – The B.B. King Blues Band (The Soul Of The King – 2019)
Boom Boom – Li’l Chuck The One Man Skiffle Machine (Mono – 2019)

Pinetop’s Pick
From Four Til Late – Robert Johnson (The Centennial Collection – 2011)

Nothing But The Blues
Why Are You So Mean To Me – Albert King (Memphis Blues Festival 1975 – 1975)
Nothing But The Blues – John Verity (Where’s The Love – 2019)
Don’t Hang Me Out To Dry – Savoy Brown (City Night – 2019)
Needle & Spoon – Foghat (Last Train Home – 2010)
Couldn’t Keep It To Myself – Big Daddy Wilson (Deep In My Soul – 2019)
Regal Blues – The BB King Blues Band (The Soul Of The King – 2019)
San Francisco Bay Blues – Hot Tuna (Hot Tuna live at Ventura Theatre – 2011)

I Tried To Tell Ya
Another Sleepless Night – Michele D’Amour & The Love Dealers (Heart Of Memphis – 2019)
Pocket Full Of Money The B.B. King Blues Band (The Soul Of The King – 2019)
The Fishes & Five Loaves Of Bread – R.K. Turner (Coming From My Kitchen – 2019)
Alimony Blues – Duke Robbilard (Blue Mood – 2004)
I Tried To Tell Ya – Albert Castiglia (Masterpiece – 2019)
Velvet Curtains (Treme Trippin’) – Wily Bo Walker (Ain’t No Man A Good Man – 2019)
Hoochie Coochie Man – Billy Preston & Johnny Guitar Watson (Recorded live in Germany 1990)

Austin Calling
Get Lost With Me – Eric Johanson & Tiffany Pollack (Blues In My Blood – 2019)

Like It This Way
Last Thing I Do – Ana Popovic (Like It On Top – 2019)
Like It This Way (Live) – Joe Louis Walker (Viva Las Vegas Live – 10 May 2019)
Paying The Cost To Be The Boss – The BB King Blues Band (The Soul Of The King – 2019)
Watch It Die – Samantha Fish (Kill Or Be Kind – 2019)

Michele D’Amour & The Love Dealers are no strangers to the show and they showed why with the opening track from their latest album ‘Heart Of Memphis’, which they recorded at Memphis’s legendary Royal Studios. Then there were some very nice acoustic blues from R.K. Turner on his current his debut, solo album release ‘Come From My Kitchen’, followed by some electric blues from the much esteemed Duke Robillard and a swinging little number he recorded for Stony Plains records in 2004 . . . called ‘Alimony Blues’.

Among the new releases was Albert Castiglia with his new album ‘Masterpiece’, which was recorded in Texas and produced by Mike Zito. Somewhere, nearer to home, was the most excellent Wily Bo Walker, who seems endlessly busy writing and recording, and is now producing the music and soundtrack album for a new London theatre production, opening next year. Meanwhile, sometime later this year, he’s got a new album due for release titled ‘Ain’t No Man A Good Man’, and he’s given us a taster from it, called ‘Velvet Curtains’.

The ever smiling Wendel Williams was in touch last week all the way from Texas and suggested taking a listen to that version of ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’, recorded live in Germany back in 1990, featuring the wonderful Billy Preston on keyboards and vocals, along with the equally wonderful Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson guesting on guitar. . . . so we did . . . and it proved a timely intro to this week’s ‘Austin Calling’, where we sample some blues from in and around the city. This week, we featured guitarist Eric Johanson who opening for Tab Benoit on stage at Austin’s famous venue, Antone’s. We’ caught up with Eric here now with and fellow New Orleanian, Tiffany Pollack, on a track from their ‘Blues In My Blood’ album together . . . ‘Get Lost With Me’.

If you were in town for Ana Popvic’s London gig this past week, then you too will have had a great night and it prompted another play for her number ‘Last Thing I Do’. There was a reminder of another gig too, with the news that Joe Louis Walker is this year’s Blues Music Awards winner and has a new live album out called ‘Viva Las Vegas’. It was at Woolwich’s Tramshed that I first saw him perform many moons ago and he’s still sounding just as good!

As our blues time together started running out, there was just time to squeeze in one more by The BB King Blues Band and get ready to play out with a new release from Samantha Fish called ‘Watch It Die’ from her upcoming album ‘Kill Or Be Kind’. But, before that there was a big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and the hope that we will meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then, remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5 fm on 14 May 2019
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 16 May 2019

Gimme Little Sign . . .

Listen here to the latest edition of Cruising with The Commissioner:

Well, the month of May has arrived with some unpredictability, particularly from the weather. We have enjoyed some really sunny days, which encouraged us to resume our alfresco dining on the South Terrace. Not for too long though, because we’ve been catching up with some excellent music too, although not all of it would naturally fit into the rock, soul and ‘real’ rhythm and blues categories of Cruising with The Commissioner. But, our musical postman has made a few welcome visits with a smile and some much awaited music . . . . and there are more on the way.

So, ‘come the hour’, we rolled out the trusty Cruise Mobile, turned up the radio and called by for the friendly faces. Then, our musical adventure started in earnest with Jimmy McCracklin and his 1957 Irma 45 ‘Savoy Jump’. Then, as if that weren’t enough, we kept rolling down the road with doo wop group the Chords, or the Chordcats, as they are shown on the label of their 1954 Cat 45, ‘Hold Me Baby’.

Cruising with the warm breezes . . . . .
Savoy Jump – Jimmy McCracklin
Hold Me Baby – The Chordcats
Move With You Baby – Big Amos
Mary Lou – Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks
Fever – Gene Harris & The Three Sounds
Go Away – The Hesitations

Girls & Guitars
I’m A Woman – Ellen McIlwaine

Cruising with the crew . . . . .
Gimme Little Sign – Maxine Harvey
All Along The Watchtower – The Brothers & Sisters Gospel Choir
Mr Blue Sky – The Spectres
Everyone But The Right One – Helen Shapiro
Watching The River Flow – Joe Cocker
So Deep In Love – Eddy Giles
Dang Me – Sam Hutchins
Baby Boy’s In Love – Jimmy Holliday
Take My Love (I Want To Give It All To You) – Little Willie John
Tune Up – Junior Walker & The Allstars

Now, not for the first time, we did some virtual travelling down to Nashville, for our ‘Girls & Guitars’ feature. That’s where Ellen McIlwaine was born, although she was raised in Japan, where she heard people like Ray Charles, Fats Domino and Professor Longhair. On moving to back to America, she bought a guitar and began a music career that has included recording a number of albums to date. We took a track from her 1998 album ‘Women In (E)Motion’, which shows off her fine slide guitar work and her adaptation of a Muddy Waters number, which she calls ‘I’m A Woman’.

Eventually, Junior Walker & The Allstars brought us all the way home, when we had to park up the Cruise Mobile for another week. But, all being well, we’ll be back again next week to call by for you once more to go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . until then . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 14 May 2019

You Got It . . .

Listen here to this week’s Through To Midnight:

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Well, it’s becoming a habit now on Wednesday nights . . . with the weekend definitely coming into view . . . there’s an invitation to relax in your favourite chair with a large glass of your favourite elixir and take a vaguely supervised musical journey Through To Midnight. The great James Brown was on hand to get things started in style and followed by a whole bunch of those sounds you won’t hear on ‘ordinary radio’. Some were new releases, like Eli Paperboy Reed with ‘News You Can Use’, from his latest album ‘99 Cent Dreams’, Canadian band, Brett Spalding & The Psychic Spies, with something from their latest album ‘Living To Play’ and James Martin turned up with his cover of ‘So Swell When You’re Well’.

We also heard new releases from Crescent City musician, Luke Winslow-King, with his lovely number ‘Going To New Orleans’ and the unmistakeable rich baritone voice of Big Daddy Wilson on his soulful and reflective ‘Mississippi Me’. Another distinctive voice with a new release too . . . Rob Thomas with his latest release ‘We Were Beautiful’ which definitely qualifies to be here as among the ‘good stuff.

Ricky Lee Jones was in the spotlight for our Girls & Guitars feature this week and sporting her new release ‘Lonely People’, while our Doo Wop Delight spot was reserved for Aaron Neville with one of his early recordings, ‘Everyday’. We found Van Morrison Under The Covers this week with three covers of his songs by other artists, starting with Georgie Fame’s take on ‘Moondance’, followed by a very special version of Van’s classic ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ and rounded off by Dexy’s Midnight Runners with a great favourite from the Van Morrison songbook . . . . ‘Jackie Wilson Said’.

So, plenty to enjoy . . . and a reminder that you will only hear the good stuff here, because DIFFERENT it is . . . USUAL it ain’t!

Midnight At The Oasis
So Tired Of Standing Still – James Brown
Forget Me Nots – Patrice Rushen
News You Can Use – Eli Paperboy Reed
Hear No Evil – Buddy Miles
Family Affair – Sly & The Family Stone
Midnight At The Oasis – The Brand New Heavies
Put Your Hands On It – John Fohl
Doin’ The Blah Blah Blah – Charlie Wood
Drive By – Brett Spalding & The Psychic Spies

Under The Covers
Moondance – Georgie Fame
Brown Eyed Girl – Caroline Jones
Jackie Wilson Said – Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Abracadabra
Ride Like The Wind – Harambee
Dixie Chicken – Little Feat
I Wanna Be With You – Winfield Parker
So Swell When You’re Well – James Martin
One For The Highway – James Booker
Going To New Orleans – Luke Winslow-King
Velvet Windows – (Treme Trippin’) – Wily Bo Walker
Abracadabra – Robin McKelle
Santa Fe – Jackie De Shannon
You Got It – Berk & The Virtual Band
We Were Beautiful – Rob Thomas

Girls & Guitars
Lonely People – Ricky Lee Jones

Doo Wop Delight
Everyday – Aaron Neville

Try It
Mississippi Me – Big Daddy Wilson
Learning To Fly – Lizanne Knott, Jesse Terry & Michael Logan
Caravan Of Love – Terry Callier
Try It Baby – Earl Van Dyke

Well, a big thanks for listening to the show . . . and here’s hoping we’ll meet again, same time, same place next week, to go Through To Midnight. Until then, remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5 fm on 8 May 2019

Can’t Take It With You . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:

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Well, this week The Blues Came Calling with a big bluesy welcome from here and with thanks to John Clifton, who opened the show with a track from his latest album, ‘In The Middle Of Nowhere’, featuring John’s outstanding harp playing, taking us back to the Juke Joint days of old with ‘If It Ain’t Me Baby’.

Our ‘album of the week’ came from The Cash Box Kings, with plenty of treats to choose from on their new release, ‘Hail To The Kings’ and we started with the excellent ‘I’m The Man Downstairs’. There were plenty of choices to follow too from the new releases by Bonita & The Blues Shacks, Tony Campanella, The Lucas Haneman Express, The Kerry Kearney Band, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Annika Andersson & The Boiling Blues Band, Lena & The Slide Brothers

A few upcoming gigs got a mention, including a London gig by the much celebrated Bernie Marsden, where he will be playing a tribute to Peter Green (so we did too with Bernie’s version of ‘Watch Out’.). The fans of blues duo Larkin Poe already know that they’ve got some UK dates coming up in June, so it was a good excuse to hear them ‘playing for change’ in the street on Ocean Front Walk, in Venice, California with their take on Robert Johnson’s ‘Come On in My Kitchen’. Also look out for Danielle Nichole, who is coming to the UK soon and she’s got some gigs in and around London, where you can catch her on stage with numbers that might include ‘Burning For You’.

There was also something from a couple lads from down the road in Dartford who got inspired the blues, and went on to front a band called the Rolling Stones. In 2016, they recorded the Little Walter classic ‘Just Your Fool’, which appears again on their latest 3 CD compilation ‘Honk’ and that was all the excuse needed to include it on this week’s playlist.

This week’s ‘Pinetop’s Pick’ dipped back into the early Fleetwood Mac catalogue, featuring Jeremy Spencer. We ventured back further to 1948 for some fine boogie woogie courtesy of Viviane Greene with ‘Jades Of Green’. Then, our ‘Austin Calling’ feature focused on someone who’s on the upcoming events schedule at Austin’s famous venue, Antone’s. This is Carl Weathersby, who was a long time member of Albert King’s band and has since carved out a solo career for himself, with numbers like ‘Ernestine’.

You Can’t Hide
If It Ain’t Me Baby – John Clifton (In The Middle Of Nowhere – 2019)
You Can’t Hide – Bonita & The Blues Shacks (Sweet Thing – 2019)
My Motor’s Running – Tony Campanella (Taking It To The Street – 2019)
To Be Brave – The Lucas Haneman Express (Catch The Westbound – 2019)
Creole Woman – Kenny Kearney Band (Smokestack Serenade – 2019)
I’m The Man Downstairs – The Cash Box Kings (Hail To The Kings – 2019)

Pinetop’s Pick
I’ve Lost My Baby – Fleetwood Mac (Mr Wonderful – 1968)

Watch Out
Watch Out – Bernie Marsden (Green & Blues – 1995)
Late Night Watchdog – Lena & The Slide Brothers (IV – 2019)
Full Moon On Main Street – Annika Andersson & The Boiling Blues Band (Reborn – 2019)
Just Your Fool – The Rolling Stones (Honk – 2019)
I Want You – Kenny Wayne Shepherd (The Traveller – 2019)
The Hurt – Colin Linden (Rich In Love – 2015)

Visit The Blues
Like BB King – John Verity (Where’s The Love – 2019)
Back Off – The Cash Box Kings (Hail To The Kings – 2019)
I Visit The Blues – Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul (Summer Of Sorcery – 2019)
Jades Of Green – Viviane Greene (Classics 1947-55 – 2006)
You Know That You Love Me –  – 2019)
Come On in My Kitchen – Larkin Poe (Playing For Change – 2018)
Haunting Me – Black Cat Biscuit (That’s How The Cookie Crumbles – 2019)
Swear You’re Cheatin – Sunday Wilde & The One Eyed Jacks (Sunday Wilde & The One Eyed Jacks – 2019)
Wrong Number – The Cash Box Kings (Hail To The Kings – 2019)

Austin Calling
Ernestine – Carl Weathersby (Leaving Mood – 2011)

Deep In My Blues
Burning For You – Danielle Nichole (Cry No More – 2018)
Mississippi Me – Big Daddy Wilson (Deep In My Soul – 2019)
Levy Girl – Shane Dwight (No One Loves Me Better – 2019)
You Can’t Take It With You – Snowy White & White Flames (The Situation – 2019)
Ali Shuffle – Chris Bell 100% Blues (Baptised By The Blues – 2017)

John Verity has been very active on the blues circuit of late and he’s got a new EP on release titled, ‘Where’s The Love?’ with a little homage to BB King and it is good to see Steve Van Zandt back in the saddle as band-leader on his latest album ‘Summer of Sorcery’ along with The Disciples of Soul delivering the excellent, ‘I Visit The Blues’. Then, capturing that vintage sound of 50s Chicago blues came Boston guitarist and vocalist Peter Poirier with his debut album, ‘Empty Arms’, followed by Belgium band Black Cat Biscuit, turned up with their latest album ‘That’s How The Cookie Crumbles’, delivering plenty of new songs with blues, jazz and boogie flavours.

North Carolina’s Big Daddy Wilson was back with a new album ‘Deep In My Soul’ which shows off his fine baritone voice very with some nice horns on some old style soul, blues and gospel style songs, including the very mellow ‘Mississippi Me’. Another choice came from Shane Dwight with a distinct flavour of the bayous on ‘Levy Girl’ from his latest release ‘No One Loves Me Better’. After many years on the blues scene, it was a joy to see a new album from Snowy White titled ‘The Situation’ and bringing a smile here with some wry humour on his number, ‘You Can’t Take It With You’.

All too soon, with our blues time together was running out, we played out with a great instrumental from Chris Ball and his amusingly titled ‘Ali Shuffle’ . . . but before that, there were big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and the hope that we meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then, this is yours truly, Dennis Roberts, saying . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 7 May 2019
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 9 May 2019

Is It True . . .

Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:

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Well, it’s been a busy week in the Grand Duchy, but we did find time to dash into the Cruising Library and did our best to focus our thoughts on our quest for great music to include in our playlist for this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner. It may have been a little harder to concentrate, but we did find some forgotten gems and a few surprises along the way.
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There were several ‘thank you’s this time around to those who have brought us some great music recently, or pointed us to tasty treats in prospect. Our good pal Johnny Alpha got an honorable mention for pointing us to a particular Tom Waites’ song. Band leader Marc Stone, got mentioned in dispatches for tipping us off about  Swedish band ‘Louisiana Avenue‘ and there were a couple of other Swedish entries in our playlist from The Beat From Palookaville and Johan Blohm & The Refreshments.

We doffed our figurative caps to Thom Hickey and his Immortal Jukebox blog for reminding us about the great Big Joe Turner. There was respectful nob in the direction of Matt The Cat for his Juke In The Back Show  and an excellent feature on Big Jay McNeely.

The UK was well represented by long-time Cruising favourites, Mike Sanchez & His Band, along with the wonderful Diz Watson of Diz & the Doormen. But, before all that, we kicked off down the road with The Big Jamboree doing Big Jamboree . . . followed by Tyler Yarema exploring one of those great mysteries of life . . .’Why Did God Make Boogie Woogie’ . . . .

Big Jamboree
Big Jamboree – The Big Jamboree
Why Did God Make Boogie Woogie – Tyler Yarema
Telephone Call From Istanbul – Iquattrocentocolpi
Louisiana Avenue – Oh Mama
Is It True – The Beat From Palookaville
Babes & Buicks – Mike Sanchez & His Band
Miss Bombilla Brown – Diz Watson
All That Wine Is Gone – Big Jay McNeely
Bump Miss Susie – Big Joe Turner

Girls & Guitars
Get Liquored Up With Me – Sarah & The Tall Boys

A Little Too Late
I Wanna Know Why – Roland Cooke
Long Way – Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes
Now, Baby Ain’t That Love – Phil Bo (Shane)
Lana Lee – Johan Blohm & The Refreshments
A Little Too Late – The Wanderers
Sugar Mama – The Orbits
Shout – The Isley Brothers

Our Girls & Guitars feature this week, focused on Sarah & The Tall Boys, a band led by singer and guitarist Sarah Potenza, who started out in Chicago and later moved base to Nashville. But, Sarah and her band didn’t forget their roots, because in 2011 they went back to record a live album in Chicago that included our choice . . .‘Get Liquored Up With Me’.

Among those getting cheery thanks this week, was the lovely Susan Bowman. She is a big fan of New Orleans band leader Johnny Sketch, so we dug out his album out, simply called ‘Sketch’, and we dedicated a track from it titled ‘Long Way’.

Now, we were fighting time towards the end of the show and we only just managed to squeeze the last three choices . . . all from vocal groups . . . New Yorkers, The Wanderers, Mississippi group, The Orbits and, finally, The Isley Brothers. Each had their own story about these recordings, but the Cruise Mobile nearly didn’t make it back in time. The Isleys ensured finished with a flourish, just as we parked up the Cruise Mobile and got to say a very fast farewell. So, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 7 May 2019

Lite Me Up!

Listen here to this week’s Through To Midnight:

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‘Lite me up’ seemed just the right titled for this week’s show, with some great up-tempo numbers to get you up and doing more than walking about. The playlist had its good share of new releases from the likes of Eli Paperboy Reed & The Pepper Pots, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Meg Williams, Bonita & The Blues Shacks, Lee Fields & The Expressions and Joanne Shaw Taylor, who was the focus of our Girls & Guitars feature.

This week’s ‘Under The Covers’ feature brought a trio of songs of Tom Waits heard again through the covers by others . . . . and starting with Bob Seger with his take on ‘New Coat Of Paint’, followed by a very fine version of ‘Jersey Girl’ by Hell Blues Choir and ending with ‘Jockey Full Of Bourbon’ by Adam Dorfman. Singing duo Mel & Tim turned up for our Doo Wop Delight with an old 50s favourite ‘What’s Your Name’.
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The playlist had a few more covers of familiar songs by other artists, often with unusual arrangements, which make them well worth a listen. But, when our time eventually ran out, the show played out with Booker T & The MGs with ‘Behave Yourself’. . . which some might think most appropriate, given our commitment to being different and unusual!

Let’s Get Up A Walk About
Your Love – Saskwatch
Hooked On Your Love – Maysa

Let’s Get Up A Walk About – Charlie Wood
There Ain’t No Man That Can’t Be Caught – Eli Paperboy Reed & The Pepper Pots
Second Hand Man – Robert Randolph & The Family Band
King Of The New York Streets – Dion
Light Flight – Pentangle
I Feel A Heartache Coming – Meg Williams
Make Me Yours – Bonita & The Blues Shacks
A Promise Is A Promise – Lee Fields & The Expressions 
 
Under The Covers
New Coat Of Paint – Bob Seger
Jersey Girl – Hell Blues Choir
Jockey Full Of Bourbon – Adam Dorfman
 
Feeling Alright
I Want To Know – Georgie Fame
Feeling Alright – Joe Cocker
Brown Eyed Handsome Man – Mollie O’Brien
I’ll Take You There – The Staple Singers
All Along The Watchtower – Steve Franco & Mr Boogieman
Gimme Some Sunshine – James King & Anders Lewen
 
Girls & Guitars
Reckless Heart – Joanne Shaw Taylor
 
Who Dat 
Who Dat – Grady Champion
Chuck E’s In Love – Ricky Lee Jones
 
Doo Wop Delight
What’s Your Name – Mel & Tim
 
Can’t Go Wrong
I Can’t Go Wrong – Keith
The Brighter Song – Laura Nyro
Stone Soul Picnic – The 5^th Dimension
Peace Of Mind – Jenn Cleary
California Dreaming – Bobby Womack
Build Me Up Buttercup – Higgs & Cutill
Behave Yourself – Booker T & The MGs

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5 fm on 1 May 2019