Yes, indeed . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Like the sunshine, we can’t get enough of good music. . . . . and this week we came toting a playlist bursting with some of the best in rock, soul and real rhythm and blues, as you’d expect when we go Cruising with The Commissioner.

There’s been plenty of action to occupy us this week . . . . our gig list included another pilgrimage to the Royal Albert Hall for a sell out show from Mark Knopfler, as well as a visit to London’s 100 Club for a steamy set of rock/blues from the most excellent King King. We also heard from our good pals Joe Duckworth, Arfa Pinetop, The Auburn Phantom, and we even got a message from our pal Jazzy G who’s promised his first Three From Me . . . . just as soon as he gets back from sipping G&Ts while cruising the lakes in Switzerland. Not to be outdone, our good pal The Spinmeister revealed that he was heading across the Atlantic to visit New York. But, before he started his journeying, he turned up at Cruise Control with a few New York related tracks for his Three From Me . . . . which proved to be more bon homme than bon jovi.

We still found time to roll out the Cruise Mobile to call by for the Cruising Crew to join our weekly musical adventure, which we kicked off with The Isley Brothers and ‘Yes, Indeed’ and there was just time to extend the warmest of welcomes to one and all, before we got up to full cruising speed with Bobby Marchan and ‘ Snoopin’ & Accusin’ and even more:

Cruising for the horizon . . . . .                                
Yes, Indeed – The Isley Brothers
Snoopin’ & Accusin’ – Bobby Marchan
Somebody’s Got To Go – The Tick Tocks
I’m Doing Fine Now – New York City
Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy – The Tams
Just One Look – Martha & The Vandellas
All Or Nothing – Chris Farlowe
Hallelujah I Love Her So – Jerry Lee Lewis
When Love Comes To Town – Melanie Mason
Champagne & Reefer – The Charlie Morris Band
Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits

Three From Me . . . . . with The Spinmeister
New York New York – Frank Sinatra
Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan
New York City – John Lennon

Cruising by the tracks . . . . . .
Neon Lights – The Sahara Hotnights
Love Train – Jackie Wilson
Mystery Train – Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Trainsville – George Barnes
The Train Kept A-Rolling – Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
Come On Train – Don Thomas
Midnight Train To Georgia – Cissy Houston
Bristol Express – The Eagles
Southbound Train – Muddy Waters
She Caught The Katy – Taj Mahal
Honky Tonk Train Blues – Meade Lux Lewis

Killer Diller Korner . . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Take Me Back – David Clayton Thomas & The Shays

Cruising for home . . . . . .
What Am I Supposed To Do – King King
Come Back & Finish What You Started – Gladys Knight & The Pips
Both Ends Against the Middle – Jackie Moore
Slow Fizz – The Sapphires
My Oh My – Billy Floyd
Oh Mom (Teach me How To Uncle Willie) – The Daylighters

Our Girls & Guitars feature focused on Melanie Mason who’s gained a good reputation on America’s blues-rock scene as a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and band leader. So, we played her cover of ‘When Love Comes To Town’. We also found some great covers for this week’s show, including a version of Doris Troy’s ‘Just One Look’ from Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, along with a cover of a Small Faces song from the enduring Chris Farlowe (which will have pleased at least one member of the Cruising Crew . . . . and maybe more).

Not only did our good pal Johnny Alpha guide us around the music at Killer Diller Korner, but, he offered some extra joy with the posting of his latest Killer Diller Show on the web . . . . together with a challenge to us to follow his train theme . . . . which we couldn’t resist!

Well, we’ve ran out of time before we ran out of music. So, there’s plenty in the pending tray for next week and, as we parked up the Cruise Mobile, we were already planning to call by around the same time, same place next week so we can all go Cruising with The Commissioner.

So until next week . . . . have fun!

We got a good thing going . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, we may be waiting patiently for the full blast of summer here in the Grand Duchy, but there’s always the warmest of welcome for one and all when we turn up in the Cruise Mobile. We very much hope that you’ve had a groovy week in your corner of the universe and that you have managed to fit in your full fun quotient, as prescribed for going Cruising with The Commissioner.

We’re only four weeks from mid summer’s day and the forecasts are making us think of having our summer party indoors. The Cruisettes are in charge of food and Mr Merlot is in charge of the ‘refreshments’, including the chilled champagne . . . . which is a reminder that the controversy continues about our musical choices relating to illicit substances. We were quick to play ‘Champagne and Reefer’, because we suspected the sniffer dogs would be around to Cruise Control . . . . but so far, so good!!

The week has been full of social events here, a deal of travelling and some enjoyable encounters with members of the Cruising Crew. A few business matters crept into the diary, but we were ever ready and waiting for Thursday night with another fine playlist, positively bursting with some of the best in rock, soul and real rhythm and blues. Even more great music was guaranteed with the return of our good pal The Majestic. He brought an excellent Three From Me selection that would cost you ‘big bucks’ if you wanted your own copies.

Last week we featured a selection of covers of American R&B hits by UK bands . . . . and we just couldn’t resist it . . . . (against the odds) we tracked down the originals on the shelves of the Cruising Library for our mutual listening pleasure. Indeed, not getting too far away from UK covers, our Girls & Guitars feature this week, put the spotlight on American singer and guitarist Barbara Lynn, who may be better known as a singer than a guitarist. But, if you listen to many of her recordings, you can hear her guitar work in there somewhere and this offered us an opportunity to dig out a cherished 45 that’s been in the Cruising Library for long time. The song will be well known, because it was covered in the UK by the Rolling Stones for their ‘Out Of Our Heads’ album, but we featured Barbara Lynn’s 1964 original of ‘Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Going). But, to start our cruise, we hit the accelerator hard with Little Richard’s high powered ‘Tutti Frutti’ . . . . and more:

Cruising for the blue horizon . . . . .
Tutti Frutti – Little Richard
Baby Baby Every Night – Etta James
Shame Shame Shame – Smiley Lewis
Poison Ivy – Willie Mabon
My Wife Can’t Cook – Lonnie Russ
Meet Me Halfway – Arbee Stidham
The Last To Know – Pat Lewis
You Don’t Love me – The Epitome of Sound
Take This Hurt Off Me – Don Covay
You Can Love Yourself – Papa George & Micky Moody
House of The Rising Sun – Mary Travers & BB King
Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy – Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters

Three From Me . . . . . with The Majestic
Human – The Ad-Libs
Hey Little Fool – Big John and the Fabulous Blends
The Time Has Come – Frank Foster and the L.A. Untouchables

Cruising with the top down . . . . .
Tell Me Why – The Mavericks
Big Time Operator – Charlie Rich
Air Travel – Ray & Bob
Michael (The Lover) – The CODs
Just A Little Bit – Roscoe Gordon
It’s Alright – The Impressions
I Can’t Stand It – The Soul Sisters
Oh! Baby (We Got A Good Thing Going) – Barbara Lynn
Just One More Day – Otis Redding
Oh My Love, Sweet Love – The Hill Sisters
Ain’t That Love – Ray Charles
Champagne & Reefer – Muddy Waters

Killer Diller Korner . . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Oo-Ma-Liddi – J.J. Jackson & The Jackaels

Cruising for home . . . . . .
Love Me Two Times – The Doors
Lie To Me – Joe Cocker
Here T’Is – The High Numbers
Don’t Start Crying Now – Slim Harpo
Lovely Ladies – Jimmy Hughes
Your Wish Is My Command – The Inspirations
I’m On My Way – Barbara Dane
I Got Tore Up – Don Julian & The Meadowlarks
Boot ‘Em Up – The Du Droppers

Our good pal, Johnny Alpha, was along for the ride again this week, as we cruised through the sounds around Killer Diller Korner, and for the devotees of his choices in music, you can catch the latest Killer Diller Show online which features ‘train songs’. He’s given us a friendly challenge . . . . to find even more ‘train songs’ for next week’s Cruising with The Commissioner . . . . and we are minded to rise to the challenge!

We played our tribute to Ray Manzarek, keyboard player of the Doors, who formed the band with Jim Morrison in 1965 and sadly passed away this week. But, on a more cheery note, we joined in the celebrations this week for the birthdays of Joe Cocker and Pete Townsend. Our small contribution to those celebrations came with Joe’s version of ‘Lie To Me’ and the old Bo Diddley classic ‘Here ‘t Is’ from Pete’s time in The High Numbers.

Sadly, all too soon a few familiar places started coming into view, which meant that we were heading for home, but we did it in style with the Du Droppers and ‘Boot ‘Em Up’. But rest assured there’s still a rather full pending tray here, with plenty of juicy gems for when went we next call in the Cruise Mobile . . . . same time same place . . . . just so we can all go Cruising with The Commissioner. In the meantime, why not give us some feedback or a few favourite tunes for a future show, or check out some of the other radio shows we enjoy here, including the Tuesday Night Mafia on Wireless FM.

Until the next time we go Cruising with the Commissioner, remember . . . . have fun!

Gotta keep rolling . . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, Thursday night came around again and we packed plenty into the week since we last called by for you in the Cruise Mobile. So, we were pleased to get back to Cruise Control in time to ensure we were primed, poised and positioned to present some great rock, soul and real rhythm and blues on another romp through the records we enjoy, which (for want of a better title) we call Cruising with the Commissioner.

It has been a lively week and our gig list included a blues jam with some luminaries from UK blues bands like The Hoax and Dr Feelgood. The evening’s set list sent us searching for the originals for our playlist, including See See Baby, performed with great gusto by Jon Amor on the night with echoes of the original by Texas Cannonball, Freddie King. We got some powerful vocals and keyboards by Pete Gage on ‘Seventh Son’ and we played Willie Mabon’s version. All of which was a reminded of some fine performance at the blues jam and much appreciated by a very enthusiastic crowd.

We have kept our musical postman pretty busy lately and all in a good cause too, because amongst the many gems that he has delivered were several excellent collections, which feature some fine R&B and Northern Soul favourites . . . . some of which we squeezed into this week’s show!

Now the other week, we apparently courted controversy, by playing a song titled ‘Save That Roach For Me’. One or two members of the Cruising Crew suggested that this may have been interpreted as encouragement for the use of illicit substances. So, to avoid any misunderstanding on this subject, we found something appropriate from the most wonderful George Melly and we played it, we pictured George in striped chef’s trousers, brothel creepers, a crumpled and delicately stained blue blazer, a fedora and the requisite smoking item in his hand, giving forth with ‘If You’re A Viper’.

But to set us off at a fine pace, we had the company of Jackie Wilson with his classic, ‘Reet Petite’ and getting us up to full cruising speed was Solomon Burke and ‘Be Bop Grandma’. After that, there was no turning back! So, kick back, relax and enjoy our cruise, as we invite you to feast your eyes and ears on this selection:

Cruising to the city limits . . . .               
Reet Petite – Jackie Wilson
Be Bop Grandma – Solomon Burke
Hungry Man – Rick Vito
Time To Boogie – Jamie Oldaker
She Put The Hurt On Me – Doug Sahm
I Would If I Could – The Sweet Three
Don’t Fight It – Wilson Pickett
Lonely Girl – Gloria Edwards
Tie Me Tight – Bob Kayli
Mind Over Matter – Sahara Hotnights
If You’re A Viper – George Melly

Three From Me . . . .  with The Auburn Phantom
Milestones – Charlie Parker
Now Or Never – Billie Holiday
Impromptu – Django Rheinhart

Cruising in good company . . .
Marrakesh Express – Crosby Stills & Nash
Big Time Operator – Zoot Money & His Big Roll Band
Air Travel – Chris Farlowe
Michael (The Lover) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
It’s Alright – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
Just A Little Bit – The Undertakers
I Can’t Stand It – The Spencer Davis Group
See See Baby – Freddie King
Seventh Son – Willie Mabon
Ain’t That Love – Little Stevie Wonder
Jigsaw Puzzle Blues – Fleetwood Mac
Ice Cream Man – John Brim

Killer Diller Korner . . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Girl In the Mini Skirt – Era Of Sound

Cruising for home . . . . .
Ride Like The Wind – Christopher Cross
Hole In My Shoe – Traffic
Elija Rock – Earl Thomas
Nothing But Soul – Junior Walker & the Allstars
Worth Every Tear I Cry – Dee Dee Warwick
Armed & Exremely Dangerous – Merry Clayton
I Love To Rock ‘n’ Roll – Eddie Bo
Gotta Keep Rolling – Roscoe Gordon
Bim Bam – Don & Dewey

We received a nod and a nudge from a number of the Cruising Crew, who have hinted (politely) at the myriad joys to be had from sampling some great UK covers of soul and R&B numbers. In the interests of our continuing personal safety, we decided to indulge them with a little selection that included some very worthy contenders, along with the prospect of playing the originals next week, if the celebrated order of the Cruising Library permits.

When it comes to music, we are rarely surprised at the cosmopolitan tastes of the Cruising Crew and just recently, we discovered a couple of jazzers in our midst. But perhaps the real surprise was the revelation that our good pal The Auburn Phantom was a latent jazzer! Now, you wouldn’t anticipate that if you listened to the playlists for his Tuesday night show  on Wireless FM, but he gave us his first Three From Me selection this week. Although he persuaded the cruising orchestra to wear shades, corduroy trousers and sloppy jumpers, despite his further enticements, that was as close as they got to a hip trip

For our Girls & Guitars feature this week, we focused on singer and guitarist Maria Andersson. She’s a member of the Swedish, all girl, rock band, Sahara Hotnights, which was formed around 1991 “due to boredom”, so they say. In their first 5 years, they issued 11 singles and three albums and we took a track from their third album, ‘Kiss & Tell’ and a track that has been played quite a bit here at Cruise Control, ‘Mind Over Matter’.

A few birthdays cropped up this week and for those amongst the Cruising Crew, who are knowledgeable on these matters, it came as no surprise when we revealed that it was Dave Mason’s birthday this week, which proved to be a good excuse to play the song he composed for Traffic and that got them to number 2 in the UK charts in 1967 “Hole in My Shoe”. Doubtless, there was another great night this week for the birthday of Stevie Wonder and we marked the occasion with a dip back into his early album ‘A Tribute To Uncle Ray’, where he sounds very youthful indeed on his version of Ray Charles’ ‘Ain’t That Love’. Fleetwood Mac’s Danny Kirwan also got an honourable mention for his birthday and his guitar work on the old Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang number, ‘Jigsaw Puzzle Blues’.

Well, we kept rolling as long as we could, but sooner than we hoped, some familiar places came into view, and we knew we were running out of road. But we squeezed in Roscoe Gordon’s ‘Gotta Keep Rolling’ and managed to finish with a flourish with  a tear ‘em up number from Don & Dewey titled ‘Bim Bam’. However, sadly, the time came to park up the Cruise Mobile for another week, in the hope that one and all enjoyed our playlist and will be tempted to come back same time same place next week. About then we’ll call by with another invitation to go Cruising with the Commissioner and until then . . . . have fun!

Let’s do it again . . . .

Listen to this week’s show here:

Well, here’s hoping that you have been thriving in the past week and arrived in good spirits for another venture beyond the bland and predictable. The weather has certainly been unpredictable here in the past week . . . .veering from tropical sunshine to tropical rain storms, biting winds and even hailstones . . . . and all in one day! Nearly, as unpredictable (but nowhere near as enjoyable) as that carefully constructed caldron of chaos that we call Cruising with The Commissioner.

Our ventures to various music emporia this past week have produced an exceptional  haul of fine additions to the Cruising library and our musical postman has also brought us much joy this week, with some sought after items to add some addition lustre to the Cruising Library. Needless to say, these will be liberally scattered across our playlists over the weeks to come and we’ll rely on your feedback to check whether these were well received. Certainly, last week’s special feature from Stevie Wonder attracted plenty of comments . . . . from near ecstasy to indifference. But, this week we are still remembering a Sunday night special gig by DJ Wheeliebag, with a Cinco De Mayo celebration and a little voodoo too.

Well, Frankie Valli was celebrating his 79th birthday during the week and we saluted him by playing the Four Seasons version of ‘Peanuts’ . . . .and Frankie is still going strong and, indeed, scheduled to appear in concert next month at the Royal Albert Hall, where we’re looking forward to seeing him live.

Well, Wales may keep a welcome in the hillside for him, but one of the joys this week in the Grand Duchy has been another visit from our good pal Johnny99 . . . . because he knows where the welcome is even warmer! He dropped by with another Three From Me and his beaming smile . . . . and at the end of his visit to Cruise Control, we understood why!

Well, we threw open the door of the Cruise Mobile and invited one and all to join us on a musical adventure through some of the best in rock, soul and real r&b . . . .  and we took off with Ruth Brown’s 1958 single on Atlantic called ‘This Little Girl’s Gone Rockin’ and we went cruising in style then with the welcome return of Louis Jordan & The Tympany Five and their 1946 hit Choo Choo Ch Boogie. But check out the rest of the playlist here:

Cruising with the radio up . . . .                                                     
This Little Girl’s Gone Rocking – Ruth Brown
Choo Choo Ch Boogie – Louis Jordan
Hot Dog, Buddy, Buddy – Bill Haley & His Comets
Ay La Bah – Dolly Cooper
Don’t Start Me Talking – Johnny Darrow
She’s A Heartbreaker – The Chandeliers
Must Be Love – Tommy Williams
Uptight  (Everything is Alright) – Billy Preston
Tears Of A Clown – The Beat
Payments Are Due – Kirsten Kelly & The Modern Day Drifters
In New Orleans – Leadbelly

Three From Me . . . . with Johnny99
25 or 6 to 4 – Chicago
Everlasting Love – The Love Affair
Sweet Soul Music Arthur Conley

Cruising for the coast . . . . .
High Expectations – The Hoax
Hideaway – Jeff Healey
Peanuts – The Four Seasons
Let The Daddy Hold You – Otis Blackwell
Bongo Man – Bongo Byfield
Your Mama Put The Hurt On Me – The Impacs
Georgia On My Mind – The Spencer Davis Group
I Never Found A Girl Like You – Al Green
Walk On In – Merry Clayton
I’ll Do The Same For You – LaVern Baker
Let’s Do It Again – The Staple Singers
One Steady Roll – Bob Brozman

Killer Diller Korner . . . . with Johnny Alpha

Cruising for home . . . .
Don’t Believe A Word – Thin Lizzy
Long Train Runnin’ – The Humdingers
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever – Marvin Gaye
I’ll Be Doggone – Sam & Dave
Take A Trip – Jimmy Vick & The Victors
Laura Lee – Bobby Charles

Call us indulgent if you will, but we went searching for something for those amongst the Cruising Crew who like a little scratchy blues. Now, if we mention the ‘House Of The Rising Sun’ it’s most likely to inspire immediate thoughts of the chart hit by The Animals, or possibly the recording by Bob Dylan. But the song has a history that can be traced back to an 18th century ballad that English emigrants took to America where it was adapted to its later New Orleans setting. The oldest known existing recording appeared on Vocalion Records in 1934, but it has yet to appear in the Cruising library. But, with encouragement from our good pal Arfa Pinetop, we have found a version by Leadbelly which he recorded in February 1944 and called “In New Orleans”.

Well, we continue to wonder if our good pal, The Auburn Phantom, knew what he was starting when he suggested our Girls & Guitars feature. It has proved to be a surprisingly rich source of good music and this week we turn the spotlight on Texan Kirsten Kelly, an American singer and guitarist who released a track on Arista Records in 2010 called ‘Payments Are Due’, which has a definite country rock feel, but we thought you would like it.

We got the sad news this week about the passing of much-respected American guitarist and singer, Bob Brozman. He gained a worthy reputation for his slide guitar playing and resonator guitar work and we paid tribute to him with his excellent ‘One Steady Roll’ (which for the devotees, he played on 2 tricone guitars).

Well, like the sunny days, we much enjoyed putting together the playlist this week, but all too soon we were running out of time and turning the Cruise Mobile for home. But, we ended in style with one of the celebrated performers from around New Orleans, Bobby Charles, and his Chess 45, ‘Laura Lee’.

As the Cruise Mobile glided effortlessly to a halt, to return us all safe and sound, back where we started, we managed to be of good cheer, because we knew there were only 7 days to while away, before we could do it all again. So, be ready next week when we call by for you (same time, same place) and we’ll treat you to another healthy dose of our favourite elixir of rock, soul and real rhythm and blues.

So, until the next time we go Cruising with the Commissioner . . . . . remember to . . . . have fun!

 

Now dig this . . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, here’s hoping that all is well with you in your corner of the universe (you see we are not just international, but intergalactic too)! The events on the international scene have been unnerving here at Cruising with The Commissioner and we watch with concern, but the arrival of sunshine and the green leaves of summer have brought some overdue cheer to the Grand Duchy and we have been in good spirits, as a result.

It has been a busy time here in the Grand Duchy and the social diary has been pretty full this past week with plenty of encounters and a gig or two. Our encounters included a number of the Cruising Crew, such as The Shake, Johnny Alpha, Joe Duckworth, The Vikster, Mi Amigo, The Spinmeister (back with tales of his latest trek across Africa) and a newcomer, Jazzy G, with whom we enjoyed a May Day celebration and some fine dining.

Our gig list this week included included a great evening out in the company of Mike Sanchez and his band, which featured one of our favourite baritone sax players, Nick Lunt. Mike gave the audience a high-energy setlist packed with some great rock and real rhythm and blues tunes. The evening was made even more enjoyable by meeting up with two of the Cruising Crew, who took the opportunity to champion the virtues of ‘Georgia Slop’, which we remembered to include in this week’s playlist.

Our musical postman has been doing his bit to add to our joy quotient and has brought a series of juicy gems into Cruise Control, which will be liberally sprinkled across future playlist, but we started the Cruising revels with The Jodimars and their 1955 single for Capitol Records called ‘Well, Now Dig This’ and pausing only to change records decks, we got up to full cruising speed with Big Al Downing and his Columbia 45, ‘Georgia Slop’. But see what else was on the playlist:

Cruising out of town . . . . . .                                                   
Well, Now Dig This – The Jodimars
Georgia Slop – Big Al Downing
Lillie Mae – Smiley Lewis
Everybody’s Got A Buick – Mike Sanchez & His Band
Elija Rock – Jean Shy
Some Kinda Earthquake – Duane Eddy
Um Um Um Um Um Um – Major Lance
Streamline Train – Jessie Mae Hemphill
Made The Hard Way – Jimmy Dawkins
The Liquidator – Harry J All Stars

Three From Me . . . . . . with Mrs TC
Bless You – Tony Orlando
Don’t Give Up On Me – Solomon Burke
Tennessee Girls – Kevin Montgomery

Cruising with Stevie Wonder
Used Ta Be My Girl – The O’Jays
My Girl – The Temptations
Bye Bye Baby – Mary Wells
Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
Bye Bye Love – The Everly Brothers
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Jazzmo Brown From Memphis Town – Bessie Smith
You Got Me Dizzy – Jimmy Reed
Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry
Higher And Higher – Jackie Wilson

Killer Diller Korner . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Istambul – Bruno & The Gladiators

Cruising with warm breezes . . . . .
Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane
The First Cut Is The Deepest – P.P. Arnold
She Put The Spell On Me – Otis Redding
Mellow Moonlight – Roy Docker
Ain’t No Big Deal On You – Little Milton
Fruit Boots – The Big Dani Perez R&B Band
Love Bandit – The Cadets
You’d Better Stop – LaVern Baker

As always, we are very grateful for the feedback from folks out there in Cruising land. From the comments on last week’s show, it seems our feature on the Embassy Record label went down well with a number of the Cruising Crew. This week also brought a special treat, because our good pal Pete Hall sent us a copy of a two-hour UK radio show hosted by Stevie Wonder, which he pulled out of his incredible archives. Needless to say, we brought the full weight of the Cruise Control editing team to the task of pulling out highlights, which started with The O’Jays and their 1978 chart single for the Philadelphia International label ‘ Used Ta Be My Girl’ . . . . and it ranged across familiar genres and time zones. Great stuff!

This week’s Girls & Guitars feature focused on Jesse Mae Hemphill. . . . . who was an American electric guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist specializing in the primal, North Mississippi hill country blues. As a native of Mississippi, she began playing the guitar at the age of seven, but didn’t get to record anything until 1979. So, we chose a ‘train song’ from her Hi Tone album ‘Shake It Baby’, which she called ‘Streamline Train’ . . . . and it was worth the effort.

There were birthday celebrations somewhere this past week involving guitar man, Duane Eddy and, as our small contribution to those celebrations, we played one of his early hits, hit ‘Some Kinda Earthquake’. We were reminded of this by our feature on Embassy Records last week, where we featured a cover of this number.

On a sad note, we paid tribute to blues singer/guitarist, Jimmy Dawkins, and Harry Johnson reached Cruise Control this past week . . . . . and if the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, then you’re most surely familiar with him as Harry J, of the Harry J All Stars, both of whom passed on recently, but not without leaving some fine sounds from which to choose respective tributes.

Mrs TC was deflected from her enthusiasm for yours truly to repatriate the piles of records and CDs around Cruise Control, but while we weren’t looking, she sneaked back in to play on our decks and left us a Three From Me selection. But, our attentions were later deflected by a sudden state of high panic, when Mrs TC demonstrated her skills (or lack of them) with a sharp knife, adding something unintended to the ingredients of the recipe of the day! As a result of the need for emergency health care, we missed a gig by our good pal Max Quirk.

All too soon, our feast of rock, soul and ‘real’ rhythm and blues was over and we had to park up the Cruise Mobile for another week. But, not without thanking everyone for their good company on our cruise, including our good pal Johnny Alpha for his Killer Diller Korner and Pete Hall for the very well received Stevie Wonder feature. It’s always fun here to have the opportunity to play the music we enjoy and, if you’ve enjoyed it too, then we hope you’ll be enticed back again next week, when we’ll call by in the Cruise Mobile (same time same place) to take you Cruising with The Commissioner.

But, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner remember . . . . have fun!