Click here to listen on our Tune In link
Click here to listen on our home link
2
Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:
.
Well a big bluesy welcome to another edition of The Blues Come Calling and we’re back with an armful of great blues . . . some old, some new, and some forgotten . . . but definitely all blues. Among the treats were new releases from Clare Free’s album ‘Be Who You Are’, King King’s new single’‘(She Don’t) Gimme No Lovin’, together with Katie Bradley & Chris Corcoran’s ‘C’est La Vie’.
One of the notable new releases came from Bobby G, who waited until his 73rd year to make his debut album, ‘Still Standing’, then there was Carolyn Wonderland and her new album’s titled ‘Moon Goes Missing’, plus Buddy Guy’s new single ‘Sick With Love’.
If you’re a regular listener to the show, you’re sure to have heard some tracks here before from Marc Stone and his album ‘Live In Europe’, but it was his affection for the music of Freddie King that attracted us to Marc’s duet with Christof Waibel on ‘Love Her With A Feeling’ . . .
A Good Time With The Blues
I Won’t Lie – Clare Free (Be Who You Are – 2010)
(She Don’t) Gimme No Lovin’ – King KIng (Exile & Grace – 2017)
A Good Time With The Blues – The Phantom Blues Band (Inside Out – 2012)
Love Her With A Feeling – The Marc Stone Duo (Live at Wirtschaft, Dornbim, Austria – 2013)
C’est La Vie – Katie Bradley and Chris Corcoran (C’est La Vie – 2017)
Movin’ On – Bobby G & Curtis Grant & The Midnight Rockers (Still Standing – 2017)
Pinetop’s Pick Saturday Night Boogie Woogie Man – Diz Watson
Everything Means Nothing
Sick With Love – Buddy Guy (Sick With Love – 2017)
Tell Me How About It – Sleepy John Estes (Legendary Country Blues Artists – 2007)
When It Don’t Come Easy – Vanessa Collier (Meeting My Shadow – 2017)
Cookies Gonna Kill Me – Big Daddy Wilson (Neckbone Stew – 2017)
Around Midnight – Si Cranstoun (Old School – 2017)
Everything Means Nothing – Karen Lovely (Fish Outta Water – 2017)
Every Time You Go – Carolyn Wonderland (Moon Goes Missing – 2017)
For the fans of scratchy blues, we dug out Sleepy John Estes’, ‘Tell Me How About It’, but for the ‘gig-goers’, we had a pre-view of the forthcoming 2017 Blues Caravan with Vanessa Collier, Big Daddy Wilson and Si Cranstoun, who bring together a fascinating variety of styles, as our choices showed.
Then, Carolyn Wonderland’s new album, ‘Moon Goes Missing’, delivered a particular favourite track ‘ Every Time You Go’ . . . . which, sadly, brought us the end of this week’s show. So, it’s time to collect up the records and CDs, wave you a cheery farewell and head for the door, but not before wishing you a great week ahead and hoping we’ll meet together again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then, . . . remember . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 25 June 2017
Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:
.
Well, as we prepared for this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner, the temperatures around the Grand Duchy soared and we were grateful for the inviting environs of the Cruising Library, which offered a few degrees of relief and endless rummaging opportunities. So, we put our time to good use and emerged with an armful of treats for our playlist, plus a few suggestions from some friendly faces, like Matt The Cat with a gem by 50s vocal group The Royals, The Shake with something from New Orleans own Bruce Cloud, Jamie Dell’Apa with Bobby Darin’s ‘Mighty Mighty Man’, then
Cruising Crew members Pete & Diane for spotting a doo wop track playing on a restaurant sound system by Pennsylvania group, The Dreamlovers.
This week’s choices were peppered with reminders of an excellent gig by Mike Sanchez & his excellent band, who gave us a rocking good time at London’s famous 100 Club this week. The evening was full of great R&B numbers which had the crowd stomping and cheering and the the dancers looking even more dangerous than The Cruisettes. But, we kicked off the show with Ernie Freeman and his 1958 Imperial 45 ‘Jamboree’ . . .
All Night Long
Jamboree – Ernie Freeman
Mighty Mighty Man – Bobby Darin
Highway 60 – Mike Sanchez & His Band
All Night Long – The Royals
Staring Down The Barrel Of The Blues – Tommy Dardar
Lucky Is My Name – Bruce Cloud
Yama Yama (Pretty Mama) – Mike Sanchez
Safronia B – Calvin Boze
Fever – Trini Lopez
All Shook Up – Eddie Cooley & The Dimples
Girls & Guitars
Winds of Change – Debbie Bond
Wow Wow Wee
Silk Satin & Lace – Ray Scott
Cricket Champions – Lord Kitchener
When We Get Married – The Dreamlovers
Wow Wow Wee – The Angels
I Know – Lulu Reed
Everybody’s Got A Buick – Mike Sanchez & His Band
Forty Cups of Coffee – Bill Haley & His Comets
Rock Around The Clock – Li’l Millett
This week’s Girls & Guitars feature focused on American blues singer and guitarist, Debbie Bond. She’s out on tour now promoting her new single called ‘Winds of Change’ . . . which just happened the our choice this time round.
Long time members of the Cruising Crew will know that I have a soft spot for some big band calypso, especially by Lord Kitchener, who was one of those to leave the Caribbean to settle in the UK and he brought with him his enthusiasm for cricket, which was demonstrated well on our choice, ‘Cricket Champions’.
Long before we were ready, Mr Merlot was raising his eyebrows and nodding towards the clock, so we reluctantly, turned the Cruise Mobile for home with Bill Haley and ‘Forty Cups Of Coffee’ and then a familiar title, ‘Rock Around The Clock’, but probably not the version we played by New Orleans own Li’l Millett.
Then we were home safe and sound, the Cruise Mobile’s parked up and polished, all ready for next week when we hope you’ll join us again to go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 21 June 2017
Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:
.
Well, a big bluesy welcome to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling, which we started with a big pile of great tracks to play and, sadly, we never got to fit them all into our hour together. So, there’s already good stuff lined up for next week. But, with great enthusiasm, we kicked off this week’s show with Sean Webster, who was on our giglist recently, doing a stunning set that featured many of the tracks from his new album ‘Leave Your Heart At The Door’. We also caught up with The John Doe Trio on a local gig, where they did a superb set that got enthusiastic applause for numbers you can find on their latest album ‘Stranger’.
There were plenty of new releases for our playlist this week, including The Gordon Meier Blues Experience, whose ‘Magic Kingdom’ album shows off some good examples of Gordon’s big influences . . . Freddie King and Magic Slim. Micki Free was back with a track titled ‘Mojo Black Coffee’ from his latest album ‘Tattoo Burn’. Debbie Bond made a welcome return with a new single, ‘Winds of Change’, to coincide with the start her latest UK tour, and another lady of the blues, Karen Lovely, arrived with her fourth studio album “Fish Outta Water”, featuring a real mix of song styles, including blues, roots, soul, and a little Americana. . . . as a sample, we played ‘Nice & Easy’ . . . and it was!
For the fans of scratchy blues, we dug out ‘Stack O’Dollars Blues’ by St. Louis blues singer and guitarist, Charley Jordan. It was one of the tracks he recorded for Vocalion and Decca Records between 1930 and 1937, while he was supplementing his musical career working a bootlegger!
Just Keep Ridin’
Give Me The Truth – Sean Webster (Leave Your Heart At The Door – 2017)
Just Keep Ridin’ – The Gordon Meier Blues Experience (Magic Kingdom – 2017)
That’s What The Blues Is All About – Albert King (Stax Classics – 2017)
Crosscut Saw – Otis Rush (Tops – 1988)
She Just Wants To Dance – Keb Mo (Keb Mo – 1994)
Stack O’Dollars Blues – Charley Jordan (The No.1 Blues Album Ever -2012)
Mojo Black Coffee – Micki Free (Tattoo Burn – 2017)
Pinetop’s Pick
Mama Talk To Your Daughter – Doc K’s Blues Band
Winds of Change
Love Is A Lie – Beth Hart (Fire On The Floor – 2016)
Teasing Little Woman – John Doe Trio (Stranger – 2016)
My Baby’s Hot – Rick Vito (Rattlesnake Shake – 2007)
Nice & Easy – Karen Lovely (Fish Outta Water – 2017)
Winds of Change – Debbie Bond (Winds of Change – 2017)
Hands Off – Rory Gallagher (Old Grey Whistle Test Blues – 2011)
It’s a treat to see Albert King’s legacy being kept alive with the release of a collection of 
his ‘Stax Classics’, appropriately called ‘Stax Classics’ and featuring some of Albert’s best known numbers, along with some other fine choices from his time with Stax, like our choice, ‘That’s What The Blues Is All About’. Of course, Albert’s version of ‘Crosscut Saw’ is on that album too and it’s a song that been much covered over the years, even before Albert cut it. A particular favorite is the version by fellow left hander, the legendary Otis Rush, so we found that too.
Beth Hart is just starting her tour of Europe and America which will round off with UK dates in October & November, so a good chance to see her live, if you’ve not seen on stage before and, as an incentive, we played ‘Love Is A Lie’ from her album ‘Fire On the Floor’. Now, the new album by Taj Mahal & Keb Mo is excellent stuff, but it’s in danger of being overplayed here, so I thought we might give it a friendly nudge with an early track from Keb Mo, ‘She Just Wants To Dance’.
Well, we heard some nice slide guitar work from Rick Vito on ‘My Baby’s Hot’ and we could go on a lot longer, but we started to run out of time. So, too soon, it was time to say our fond farewells, ever hopeful that we’ll meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. In the meantime we played out with out with something from the much missed Rory Gallagher and a number he performed for the Old Grey Whistle Test, ‘Hands Off’’ . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 18 June 2017
Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:
.
Well, cheery greetings to one and all, especially all those seeking some temporary escape from the weirdness of everyday events . . . and there’s been plenty around lately! So, it was a temptation that we couldn’t resist to include Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘Vote For Mr Rhythm’ (which might have served us well, if we had all taken her advice) and the very appropriate early number from James Brown, ‘Bewildered’.
There have been many celebrations of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles Sergeant Pepper album and it was an excuse to include a couple of unlikely tributes to the fab four, including Lonnie Donegan, whose skiffle inspired The Quarrymen, returning the compliment with a cover of a Beatles number.
But, we were not distracted (much) by current events. So, we came armed with some tasty treats from the Cruising Library and ensured that the trusty Cruise Mobile was in the right place, at the right time to enable the faithful to jump aboard and throw caution to the four winds as we set off on another Cruising with The Commissioner. Indeed, we roared off on our musical adventure in the company of Big Al T Ork and his fine interpretation of Edwin Starr’s 25 Miles, followed by a much sought after 1957 Herald 45 from Pork Chops with the re-assuring message . . . ‘Everything’s Cool’. . . . (and let’s hope they’re right) . . . .
.
Everything’s Cool
Twenty Five Miles – Big Al T Ork
Everything’s Cool – Pork Chops
Drive It Home – The Clovers
Vote For Mr Rhythm – Ella Fitzgerald
Everyday I Have To Cry Some – Bon Scott & The Valentines
.
Girls & Guitars
I Just Wanna Make Love To You – Francesca De Fazi
.
Bewildered
It Ain’t Right – Little Walter
Bewildered – James Brown
Peanuts – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Be Bop-A-Lula – Gene Vincent
Snake Eyes – Alvin ‘Red’ Tyler & The Gyros
I Must Be In Love – The Rutles
You Won’t See Me – Lonnie Donegan with Chas & Dave
You Can’t Hide – Freddy King & Lulu Reed
Knock Knock – Carol Fran
Gotta Lotta That – Gene Summers
It Don’t Take But A Few Minutes – The Refreshments
.
Our Girls & Guitars feature put the spotlight on 
Italian, Francesca De Fazi, who is a guitarist and singer with a style that has been compared by some to Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. She’s produced a couple of albums that include some fine blues and on this occasion, we chose a track from her 2013 album called ‘Roman Woman Blues’ and her rather good take on ‘I Just Wanna Make Love To You’.
Sadly, all too soon our Cruising time was almost up and we had to turn for home, which we did in the company of The Refreshments and a rocking version of Chuck Berry’s ‘It Don’t Take But A Few Minutes’. We arrived back home, parked up the Cruise Mobile and after a quick polish, we were ready to come back again next week . . . . same time, same place, with a seat saved especially for you. So, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner remember . . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 14 June 2017
Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:
.
Well, a big bluesy welcome to this week’s edition of the Blues Come Calling and we opened this show with an acknowledgment that we had plenty of great blues for this week’s playlist, but possibly not enough time . . . and so it was. But, we did manage to fit in some more excellent new blues, like Steve Van Zandt with something from his new album, ‘Soulfire’, with some typical firey playing from Steve on the very appropriate choice from that album . . . is ‘Blues Is My Business’. Kenny Wayne Shepherd enthusiasts have been waiting on his new album ‘Lay It On Down’, due for release in July. So, as a taster of what’s to come, we played the opening track ‘Baby Got Gone’. Keeping up the flow of new releases were Swindon band, Barrelhouse, with a little touch of Chicago blues from their new album ‘Moonshine’.
.
UK bluesman, Sean Webster, is on tour around the UK and Europe currently promoting his new album, ‘Leave You Heart At The Door’ . . . and excellent it is too, but before all that, we kicked off with Australian band Indiana Phoenix, led by Brian Cain on vocals & harp, with ‘As Long As Its Blue’ from his 2009 album, ‘Downunder’.
.
As Long As Its Blue
As Long As Its Blue – Indiana Phoenix (Downunder Blues & Roots Vol.6 – 2009)
Blues Is My Business – Little Steven (Soulfire – 2017)
Baby Blue – Sanne Salomonsen (Baby Blue – 2017)
Bumble Bee – Dani Wilde (Live at Brighton Road – 2017)
Avalon Blues – Mississippi John Hurt (American Epic – 2017)
Baby Got Gone – Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Lay It On Down – 2017)
.
Pinetop’s Pick
Give Me Back My Wig – Luther Allison (Live in Chicago – 1999)
Start Again
Believe In Me – Clare Free (Dust & Bones – 2012)
Snatch It Back – Barrelhouse (Moonshine – 2017)
Too Much To Lose – The Kentucky Headhunters (Songs From The Grass String Ranch – 2000)
State Line Blues – Lew Jetton & 61 South (State Line Blues – 2000)
Start Again – Sean Webster (Leave Your Heart At The Door – 2017)
Hott Mott’s Theme – Vin Mott (Quit The Women For The Blues – 2017)
The ladies of the blues were well represented this week, including Danish singer Sanne Salomonsen with the title track from her first studio album for six years, ‘Baby Blue’, followed by the welcome return of our own Dani Wilde, with one the acoustic tracks on her new album ‘Live at Brighton Road’. Clare Free is another UK lady of the blues who’s back on the road gigging again after a well-earned break and picking up where she left off, reprising numbers from her ‘Dust & Bones’ album, like ‘Believe In Me’.
Now, if you’ve been watching the TV series ‘American Epic’, there’s every chance you’ll have seen a clip of Mississippi John Hurt singing a song about his home . . . ‘Avalon Blues’. So, not missing the opportunity, his record company have issued a compilation of his best known material, which made it easy to find that one.
The Kentucky Headhunters will be gigging in the UK later this year, doubtless featuring their latest album ‘On Safari’, but after a bit of rummaging in the archives we came up with a rather fine blues ballad from their delightfully titled 2000 release ‘Songs from the Grass String Ranch’. Then, picking up the pace came Lew Jetton & 61 South with a 2000 vintage track ‘State Line Blues’ and his fans will be please to hear that he’s gearing up to release a new album later this year, so we’ll watching out for that. Then, we found ourselves with barely enough time to say our fond farewells before playing out Vin Mott and his band and ‘Hott Mott’s Theme’.
So, with thanks for taking a listen to this week’s show, we wish you well and, until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . remember . . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 11 June 2017
Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:
.
Well, the sun has been around the Grand Duchy just lately to cheer the days, just when we needed some good cheer. We’ve had to vigilant about electioneering callers and ever more wistful about the halcyon days when you could vote for Bill Boaks or Screaming Lord Sutch. Back then, you could still be clear about the difference between fantasy and reality. Of course, then, there was no new series of House of Cards to blur the edges and unnerve you even more! But, rest assured, none of this distracted us from our preparations for this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner.
Our rummaging in the Cruising Library turned up some more forgotten gems that we dusted off and much enjoyed hearing again. There were some new additions to bring to your ears and some excellent suggestions from others to make it another eclectic mix of music to take with us, wherever the Cruise Mobile chose to go.
There was a respectful nod in the direction of Thom Hickey and his Immortal Jukebox, for his little profiles of Arthur Alexander and Carl Mann, both of whom made a welcome return to our playlist this week. There was another respectful nod, this time, in the direction of Jamie Dell’Apa for bringing us The Gaylettes with a little taste of the Caribbean on that famous Trojan label and our good pal Johnny Alpha also got an honorable mention for pointing us to those early rock & roll recordings by Trini Lopez and we were easily tempted to play another! Inspired by Matt The Cat’s feature on Little Willie John, we pulled out one of his numbers that doesn’t get the plays it deserves.
Say Yeah
Go Bully Some Other Gal – Little Rachel & The Hogs of Rhythm
Groovin’ – Ben E King
Shake! Shake! – Jump4Joy
Mona Lisa – Carl Mann
Your Lover Man – The Fabulous Fleetones
Say Yeah – Sammy Salvo
Everyday I Have To Cry – Steve Alaimo
Go On Home Girl – Billy Swan
Anna – Arthur Alexander
New Orleans Piano – Eddie Zip
Don’t You Just Know It – C.J. Chenier
Girls & Guitars
High On Your Love – Dani Wilde
Sticking With You
Here Comes That Feeling – The Gaylettes
Who Put The Benzedrine in Mrs Murphy’s Ovaltine – Harry Gibson
Sinner Not A Saint – Trini Lopez
Love Letters In The Sand – Diz & The Doormen
I’m Sticking With You Baby – Little Willie John
Sister Jenny – Johnny Fuller
Mary – The Tick Tocks
.
Our Girls & Guitars feature this week turned the spotlight on UK lady of the blues, Dani Wilde, who’s been on our giglist before now and has a new album out called ‘Live at Brighton Road’ which included our choice for the playlist . . . ‘High On Your Love’.
Now, wherever it goes, the Cruise Mobile seems to find its way rather easily to New Orleans. This week, there was some very fine New Orleans piano from Eddie Zip, a zydeco version of a Huey ‘Piano’ Smith number by C.J. Chenier & The Red-Hot Louisiana Band and the much admired Diz Watson and The Doormen doing a New Orleans flavoured version of a Pat Boone hit, just as Mr Domino might do it.
There was a particular moment of breathless enthusiasm on our cruise, when we played a great favourite by Harry ‘The Hipster’ Gibson. It was probably his most celebrated recording and the one that ‘killed off’ his career back in more sensitive times . . . but you’ve just got to love a song called ‘Who Put The Benzedrine in Mrs Murphy’s Ovaltine’.
Our cruising adventure could have happily continued much longer, but the sands of time were running out and Mr Merlot was predictably pedantic about our timekeeping. So, we turned the Cruise Mobile for home with the help of The Tick Tocks and ‘Mary’. Then, it was all over. We we’re parking up the Cruise Mobile, giving it a quick polish so its ready for the next time we can all go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 7 June 2017
Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:
.
Well, a big bluesy welcome to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling . . . and there’s plenty of good stuff to choose from, with new releases very much in evidence. But, we are not content without our customary rummage in the archives for a few ‘seasoned’ favourites and forgotten gems.
Among the new releases on our playlist this week were Vin Mott and his band with some scorching and growling blues harp from Vin himself. There was more fine blues harp from one of the UK’s premier harp players, West Westo with something from his new album ‘West Street’. Texan Micki Free was in there too with his latest album ‘Tattoo Burn’, which has been getting plenty of attention around here lately.
The girls were ably represented by Robbin Kapsalis of Washington DC based band, Vintage #18, whose new album ‘Grit’ doesn’t fit solely into the blues genre, but our choice, ‘Diamonds Are Optional’, definitely does. There was another taster from Dani Wilde’s new album ‘Live at Brighton Road’ with some family support from Will Wide on harp and we welcomed Seattle band Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers with their third album due for release on June 21 ‘Lost Nights at the Leopard Lounge’. . . where the choice was made easy for us, because one track’s called ‘When The Blues Come Calling’.
There were some nice acoustic tracks included along the way, including Shortstuff with a John Mayall original from their debut album, ‘Big Blue’. Von Johin turned up with his take on the much recorded ‘Cocaine Habit Blues’. Then, for fans of rag time numbers, there was Adam Franklin with ‘Save That Roach For Me’ (and nothing to do with Rent-a-Kill). But we kicked off with an old favourite from the weird beards themselves, ZZ Top . . .
Six Feet Down In The Blues
La Grande – ZZ Top (Rancho Texicano – 2004)
Freight Train – Vin Mott (Quit The Women For The Blues – 2017)
Six Feet Down In The Blues – Micki Free (Tattoo Burn – 2017)
Pimpin’ Green – Marc Stone (Trickeration & Rascality – 2010)
Sitting In The Rain – Shortstuff (Big Blue – 2017)
Hideaway – Jeff Healey (See The Light – 1988)
Diamonds Are Optional – Vintage #18 (Grit – 2017)
Pinetop’s Pick
Rock Island Line – The Prisoners of Cumins Farm
Don’t Start Me Talking
You Should’ve Listen To Your Mother – Wes Weston (West Street – 2017)
Save That Roach For Me – Adam Franklin (Till I Hear You Talkin’ – 2012)
Living The Blues – Marcus Malone (Stand Or Fall – 2014)
Cocaine Habit Blues – Von Johin (Von The Revelator – 2010)
Don’t Quit Me Baby – Dani Wilde (Live at Brighton Road – 2017)
When The Blues Come Calling – Michelle D’Amour & The Love Dealers (Lost Nights at The Leopard Lounge – 2017)
Don’t Start Me Talking – Gary Moore (After Hours – 1992)
Snap – Guy Verlinde & The Houserockers (How How How – 2017)
We travelled down to New Orleans to meet guitarist, singer and local radio presenter Marc Stone, who happens to have a great new album out at the moment called Live In Europe, which we’ve played here before, but I was intrigued to find what went before that. So, a rummage in the archives produced a 7 years old album, by Marc, delightfully titled album ‘Trickeration & Rascality’. Then there was Detroit’s Marcus Malone who was on our giglist this week and delivering a stunning set too, including our choice, appropriately titled ‘Living The Blues’.
Just to prove that I do listen to your feedback and suggestions, there was something by Gary Moore in this week’s selection and his take on Sonny Boy Williamson’s ‘Don’t Start Me Talking’. By then, we were very tight on time, so we played out with Guy Verlinde & The Houserockers with ‘Snap’, as we said our fond farewells, ever hopeful that we’ll meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 4 June 2017
Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:
.
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 (King) 1961
Tiphe Tina – The Jolly Jax (Cookin’) 1968
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
.
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 recent 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 Cruising Radio
on 31 May 2017
Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:
.
Well, a big bluesy welcome to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling and they came calling loud and clear. So, there was plenty of good stuff to choose from, including a preview of Dani Wilde’s new album, ‘Live at Brighton Road’, The Tanya Piche Blues Band’s ‘Wolf Woman Blues’. Micki Free with ‘Tattoo Burn’ and Jim Gustin & Truth Jones’ ‘Memphis’. There were some new faces too, like Dominic Schoemaker, who hails from Luzern and was causing a stir on the Swiss Blues scene even before his debut album ‘Downtown Stories’.
We pulled out a number from Canadian bluesman Anthony Gomes and those who know his electric blues rock style may have been surprised at our choice of a very nice acoustic track titled ‘Hamhock Booty’ from his 2014 album ‘Rebel Blues’. For the fans of scratchy blues, we featured Alden Bunn (better as Tarheel Slim) with his 1951 Apollo 45 called ‘Baby I’m Going To Throw You Out’. But, before all that, we kicked off the show with our sad tribute to the late Gregg Allman . . . . his music and the memories live on . . .
.
Cuttin’ In
Midnight Train – Gregg Allman (w. James Cotton) (Modern Blues – 2016)
Cane Sugar Sweet – Steve Kozak Band (It’s Time – 2017)
Hamhock Booty – Anthony Gomes (Rebel Blue – 2014)
Cuttin’ In – Mike Sanchez (Just Can’t Afford It – 1999)
London And L.A.- Tanya Piche Blues Band (Wolf Woman Blues – 2017)
Awesome Sauce – Patty Reese (Let The Sun In – 2017)
I’m Gonna Play The Honky Tonks – Professor Louis & The Cromatix (Crowin’ The Blues – 2017)
Baby I’m Going To Throw You Out – Tarheel Slim (Apollo 45 – 1951)
.
Pinetop’s Pick
The Night Time Is The Right Time – The Animals & Sonny Boy Williamson
Deeper Than Black
Memphis – Jim Gustin & Truth Jones (Memphis – 2017)
Killer Diller Blues – The Alabama Shakes
Deeper Than Black – Dani Wilde (Live At Brighton Road – 2017)
Tattoo Burn – Micki Free (Tattoo Burn – Redux – 2017)
Shaker Down Below – Boogie Patrol (Man On Fire – 2017)
Alley Cat – Dominic Schoemaker (Downtown Stories – 2017)
Now, if you’ve seen the TV show ‘The American Epic Sessions’, you’ll have
heard 
some contemporary musicians playing their versions of American blues classics. One of those bands featured is The Alabama Shakes, which was a good excuse to hear their version of Memphis Minnie’s ‘Killer Diller’. But, the Shakes didn’t have it all their way, because Professor Louis & The Cromatix were also tapping into the ‘seasoned’ gems with their take on Marie Adams’ ‘I’m Gonna Play The Honky Tonks’.
There were also some very welcome visits to the playlist from The Steve Kozak Band, some steamy and sultry stuff from Maryland’s own Patty Reese and some excellent stuff there from Boogie Patrol. Their number, ‘Shaker Down Below’, had all the hallmarks of Paul Butterfield in his prime. So, if that sounds good to you, go check out their latest album ‘Man On Fire’.
As ever, all too soon, the end of the show crept up on us and before we were ready, we were having to say our farewells. So, with a big thanks for listening to this week’s show, let’s look forward to meeting again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 28 May 2017
Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:
.
Well, it’s not been a good week for cheery news, so we took refuge in the Cruising Library and tried to focus our thoughts on our quest for great music to include in our playlist for this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner. It proved to be just a little harder to concentrate, but we did find some forgotten gems and a few surprises along the way.
.
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 suggesting Big Joe Turner, while Big Jay McNeely was the subject of an excellent feature by Matt The Cat on his Juke In The Back Show this week.
The UK was 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, they 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 our Ambassador to The Islands, Susan Bowman. She is a big fan of New Orleans band leader Johnny Sketch, who happens to have a new album out, simply called ‘Sketch’, so 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 ack 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 Cruising Radio
on 24 May 2017
