It’s been a long time . . . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, we arrived at Thursday night in very good spirits after a busy week, which included some most excellent music and some encounters with friendly faces that we haven’t seen for a long time. Mid-summer came and went without the essential ingredient of prolonged sunshine and we’re rather hoping that our summer may be lurking around the corner in July. So, cheered by events and people, if not weather, we extended the warmest of welcomes to one and all and tried to demonstrate that we were poised, primed and properly prepared to take the Cruising Crew on another musical adventure, through some of the best in rock, soul and real rhythm & blues.

We got the Cruise Mobile tuned up nicely and we headed for the horizon with Tiny Bradshaw and his 1950 hit ‘Well Oh Well’, followed by Shirley Gunter & The Flairs with their 1954 Flair recording, ‘Oop Shoop’.

Georgie Fame was celebrating a birthday this week and we included a duet by him and Beverley Skeete, which he performed with Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings at ‘Blues on the Farm’ this week. So, we joined the celebrations and found time to raise a glass of some fine wine to wish a happy birthday to our good pal DJ Wheeliebag. When we asked for ideas on a track to celebrate the occasion . . . . Steve Coleman suggested Etta James’ ‘Good Rocking Daddy’ . . . which seems most appropriate for DJ Wheeliebag.

We pulled together some highlights from our long weekend at ‘Blues on The Farm’ and something to mark the return of Frankie Valli to London’s Royal Albert Hall this week for a number of full house shows. When you realise that The Four Seasons had their first hit in 1962, it’s pretty impressive and enduring stuff, which still appeals to all ages, judging by the audience for his shows.All this and a ‘Three From Me’ from Lil-Sis, as well as a guided tour around Killer Diller Korner with Johnny Alpha . . . . good stuff . . . . and so much more, but check it out for yourself:

Cruising down the road apiece . . . .                                                    
Well Oh Well – Tiny Bradshaw & His Orchestra
Oop Shoop – Shirley Gunter & The Flairs
Lonelyology (For Your Love) – Lee Dorsey
Good Rocking Daddy – Etta James
Turn On Your Lovelight – Bobby Bland
I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me) – Bobby Bland
Keep On Growing – Sheryl Crow
Walking By Myself – Wolfie Witcher
It Won’t Be Long – The James Hunter Six

Three From me  . . . . with Lil-Sis
Valerie – Revolvin’  Door
Gangster – Skaper
News Of The World – The Jam

Cruising to Blues on The Farm . . . . .
It’s Been A Long Time – The Revolutionaires
Melody – Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings
The Mighty Incinerator – Giles Robson & The Dirty Aces
There’s Only You – Zoe Schwarz & Blue Commotion
Leave Me Alone – Mud Morganfield
Ain’t No Life In the City – The Bushman Brothers
Better Woman – Jo Harman
It Should’ve Been Me – Chris Farlowe

Killer Diller Korner  . . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Waiting ‘Round To Die – Townes Van Zandt

Cruising for home . . . . . .
Further On Up The Road – Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland
Who Will The Next Fool Be – Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland
Never Like This Before – William Bell
You’re Ready Now – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Heaven Must Have Sent You – The Elgins
Ain’t No Big Deal – Little Milton
Twist It Up – Herbert Hunter
Lillie Mae – Roomful Of Blues
Respectable – The Isley Brothers

We paid tribute to Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, as he took his final trip further on up the road this week. He leaves behind an extensive catalogue of recordings and we delved into it for a few gems to demonstrate his legacy. We included his first chart 45 from 1957, ‘Further On Up The Road’, his much covered ‘Turn On Your Lovelight’, his 1974 Dunhill 45,’ I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog (The Way You Treated Me)’ and his soulful cover of Charlie Rich’s country ballad ‘Who Will The Next Fool Be’.

Our ‘Girls & Guitars’ feature put the spotlight on American Singer/guitarist Sheryl Crow, who has an impressive list of collaborations with the great and the good in music, including Eric Clapton, Kid Rock, Stevie Nicks and The Counting Crows. But, settled for a solo track, ‘Keep on Growing’.

Well, the road may go on forever, but time eventually caught up with us on this week’s cruise, so we headed for home in the company of The Isley Brothers and one of their early hits, ‘Respectable’. Then, as the Cruise Mobile has glided effortlessly to a halt, our thoughts were already turning to the juicy gems we might include in next week’s playlist. We very much hope you enjoyed this week’s selection and, if its ok with you, we’ll call by for you once again next week, same time, same place, so we can the pleasure of your company once again to go Cruising with The Commissioner.

So, until then . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

A mid-summer cruising special . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, we were not sure what weather to expect for our Mid-Summer Special, but warm rain was the best on offer here . . . . . we won’t believe summer has arrived until we get some warnings of imminent hosepipe bans. Nevertheless, we rolled out the Cruise Mobile and set off in good spirits to call by for the Cruising Crew . . . . and they turned out in goodly numbers . . . .  lured, no doubt, by the promise of another adventure, across musical frontiers , in and out of time zones, and jumping genres . . . . . which is just what you’d expect when we go Cruising with the Commissioner!

Mr Merlot came dressed most appropriately in a colourful Hawaiian shirt, knee length shorts and rope sandals, with The Cruisettes looking resplendent in their polka dot tops and hot pants. So, with the pink champagne on ice and a few tasty nibbles in the hospitality lounge, we were ready to ensure a warm Mid-summer welcome to one and all.

The playlist included suggested items from the Cruising Crew, including a couple of 45s from fellow Wireless FM DJs The Shake and Max Quirk. Max was on our gig list this week and he was whipping up something special with a rather fine selection of 45s, including one from The Friends of Distinction with a familiar tune for those who catch the end of our Cruising show . . . . ‘Grazing in The Grass’.

Our Three From Me selection this week was provided by another Wireless FM DJ, The Auburn Phantom, who just happen to include something appropriately summery. So, we cleared the decks and got the Cruising Orchestra assembled to welcome him back with a flourish.

We set off at a fair speed in the Cruise Mobile with Martha Reeves & the Vandellas and what we’ve been waiting for here in the Grand Duchy . . . . . a Heatwave! Then we got up to full cruising speed with Jamie Coe and his 1959 debut release, ‘Summertime Symphony’. For the rest of the good stuff, take a look at our playlist:

Cruising for the sunshine . . . . .                                     
Heatwave – Martha & the Vandellas
Summertime Symphony – Jamie Cole
Hot Banana – Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers
Red Hot Love – Billy Williams
Red Hot – Billy Lee Riley & His Little Green Men
Dancing In The Street – LaBert Ellis
Bikini – The Bikinis
Grazing In the Grass – The Friends Of Distinction
Surfin’ USA _ The Beach Boys
Summer Rain – Al Wilson
Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Marie Knight – Didn’t It Rain

Three From Me . . . . . with The Auburn Phantom
I Just Caught A Face – The Basement
Summer Breeze (Part 2) – The Isley Brothers
Jig Saw Puzzle Blues – Fleetwood Mac

Cruising with the heat from the street . . . .
Sunshine of Your Love – Santana (with Rob Thomas)
Summertime – Janis Joplin with Big Brother & The Holding Company
Keep Searchin’ (Follow The Sun) – Del Shannon
Summer In the City – Joe Cocker
Daydream – The Lovin’ Spoonful
Walk in the Sunshine of Love – Etta James
Good Day Sunshine – Roy Redmond
Sunshine Day – Osibisa
Sunny – Giuliano Palma & the Bluebeaters
Let The Sunshine In – The Peddlers

Killer Diller Korner . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Vivre Avec Toi – Les Miserables

Cruising for the sunset . . . . .
Long Nights Of Summer – Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera
Sunshine Day – Jethro Tull
The Boys Of Summer – The Ataris
Summertime Blues – The Who
The Sun Is Shining – Jimmy Reed
Long Hot Summer – The Tom Robinson Band
Waiting On A Sunny Day – Bruce Springsteen
Automatically Sunshine – The Supremes
Mr Blue Sky – ELO
Baby Come Back – The Equals

The chatroom got pretty crowded this week with most of Wireless FM’s Tuesday Night Mafia and some other esteemed members of the Cruising Crew. They got to hear this week’s ‘Girls and Guitars’ feature which showed us practicing a little slight of hand, because we were featuring Sister Rosetta Tharpe with Marie Knight and a most appropriate 1947 Decca release . . . . ‘Didn’t It Rain’.

Well, we did our best to celebrate mid-summer in style and our playlist certainly raised the spirits of The Cruisettes who went on to party into the late hours with Mr Merlot . . . . and in the end I stopped by to join them too.  If it all sounded good to you, I hope we can look forward to your good company again next week, when we’ll call by again with the Cruise Mobile all ready to take you Cruising with the Commissioner. . . . by then we’ll be about to report on our long awaited visit to ‘Blues On The Farm’.

And if you can’t wait till then . . . . why not check out our website and some of the other radio shows we enjoy, including the Tuesday Night Mafia on Wireless FM.

So, till we meet again here on Cruising with the Commissioner . . . . have fun!

I’m on my way . . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, here’s hoping that the spirits have been with you this week and that all is well in your corner of the world (or beyond . . . . in case there’s been an intergalactic growth in our audience). Around the Grand Duchy it has been a pretty busy time, with business, social and family events, all of which seemed to go well and got us tee’d up nicely for this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner.

One of the sunny days coincided with a gig of London band Supurbia. So, we enjoyed the journey and the prospect of a little soft rock at Camden’s Dublin Castle. They were playing to an enthusiastic audience and at the after show party, lead guitarist, Steve, said if we played a track from them on the show he’d wash the band’s socks for a month . . . . of course he was careful not to specify which month . . . . probably a wise move.

Our Girls & Guitars feature this week focused on UK singer/guitarist Chantel McGregor . . . . . and I’m very grateful to the esteemed Arfa Pinetop for pointing us in her direction.

We were very pleased to welcome back The Vikster with another Three From Me selection . . . . which brought Paul Thorn back to our playlist and introduced us to the humour of Eliot Mason. So, we were very appreciative indeed.

Our musical journey started with some excellent ‘real’ R&B from Floyd Dixon & His Band with ‘Roll Baby Roll’ and we reached our optimum cruising speed with the help of Shirley Gunter & The Flairs and ‘Oop Shoop’.

Cruising for the coast . . . .                                                 
Roll Baby Roll – Floyd Dixon & His Band
Oop Shoop – Shirley Gunter & The Flairs
You Tickle Me Baby – The Royal Jokers
Annie Don’t Love Me No More – The Hollywood Flames
Well Alright – Little Richard
Yeah Man – Sam Cooke
Ain’t It Baby – Kenny Gamble & the Romeos
I’m On My Way – Winfield Parker
All Night Worker – Dino & The Deltones
Help Me – Chantel McGregor
Don’t Lie To Me – Tampa Red

Three From Me  . . . . . with The Vikster
Taped The Wrong Side – Elliot Mason
Black Rainbow – Paul Thorn
Million Dollars – Bare Naked Ladies

Cruising down the road apiece . . . .
You Turn My Head – Supurbia
Feelin’ Free – Pacific Drift
Never Let Go – The Spirit of John Morgan
Mojo Boogie – Johnny Winter
Don’t Start Me Talking – Rory Gallagher
I Fought The Law – The Jolly Boys
Raindrops, Love & Sunshine – Robert John
Reelin’ & Rockin’ – Dave Clark Five
Chills & Fever – Tom Jones

Killer Diller Korner  . . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Chicago – The Phantom Brothers

Cruising for home . . . . .
Turn On Your Love Light – Kenny Rossi
They’re Red Hot – Hugh Laurie
Strange Things Happening Everyday – Liz McComb
Cops & Robbers – Boogaloo & His Gallant Crew
Teach Me – Gorgeous George
I’m Not In Love With You Anymore – Stella & the Gazelles
Just A Little Misunderstanding – The Contours
Oh Baby Don’t You Weep – Luther Ingram
Rockin’ Is Our Business – The Treniers

Our Cruising time travel facility was well used to shift us in and out of time zones and to take us back to 1940 for something from Hudson Woodbridge, or Tampa Red as we know him. He is credited as writing many classic blues songs, such as ‘Crying Won’t Help You’, ‘It Hurts Me Too’ and ‘Love Her With A Feeling’, but on the 10th of May 1940 he recorded another song that would go on to be covered by a bewildering number of artists, including Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones . . . . . and it was Tampa Red’s version of ‘Don’t Lie To Me’ that we went looking for in the Cruising Library . . . . and we found it!

We added our small tributes to a couple of folks celebrating birthdays this week, including Tom Jones and Hugh Laurie. We picked a couple of covers by each of them . . . . ‘Chills & Fever’ and ‘They’re Red Hot’, respectively. We also found time to cue up some dance-floor favourites from Gorgeous George, Stella & the Gazelles, The Contours and closed that set with the sound of Luther Ingram.

But, all too soon, we discovered that whilst the road goes on forever, we were running out of time for our cruise and had to bring the Cruise Mobile back home with ‘Rockin’ Is Our Business’ by The Treniers.

As soon as the Cruise Mobile rolled to a standstill, we were busy clearing up before heading off with Mr Merlot and The Cruisettes for the after show party and cheered even more by the thought that we’ll be back for more next week . . . . and the delights of our Mid Summer Special.

So, if you’re around, same time same place next week . . . we’ll call by for you and once again we can go Cruising with the Commissioner . . . . and until then, remember to . . . . have fun!

That’s all I need . . . . .

Listen to this week’s show here:

Well, there appear to be all the signs around the Grand Duchy that perhaps summer has arrived at last and very welcome it is too. This seems to have been accompanied by plenty of accumulated outside activities, all of which have been pursued with renewed vigour and good humour. Our musical postman has been busy too, bringing us some most welcome gems to grace the decks at Cruise Control in preparation for a place in the playlists of Cruising with the Commissioner.

So, we arrived at Thursday night in mighty good spirits and eager to bid a hearty welcome to one and all amongst the Cruising Crew. We extended an enthusiastic invitation to jump aboard The Cruise Mobile, as we set off on this week’s musical adventure, across musical frontiers, in and out of time zones and jumping genres and all in the interests of bringing you some of the best in rock, soul and real rhythm and blues.

This week we were joined by our good pals Arfa Pinetop and Johnny Alpha, while our Girls and Guitars feature focused on Suzie Quatro, who coincidently celebrated a birthday this week. We could have picked something from her early US recordings in the 60s with The Pleasure Seekers, but we settled on one of her Mickie Most produced UK recordings from the 70s. This was a track that we know better by the Dave Clark Five,’Glad All Over’.

We started our cruise in fine style with Thurston Harris and ‘In The Bottom Of My Heart’ and followed up with Lucky Carmichael and his 1964 Loma release ‘Hey Girl’, but check out the juicy gems in the rest of our playlist:

Cruising for fun . . . .                                                                                                        
In The Bottom Of My Heart – Thurston Harris
Hey Girl – Lucky Carmichael
Possum Belly Overalls – June Bateman with Noble Thin Man Watts and his Band
Shimmy Shimmy – The Orlons
Shufflin’ Home – Sil Austin
Soul Motion – Johnny Williams
I’m The Man – Albert Washington & The Kings
He’ll Have To Go – Frankie Miller
Never Let Me Go – Eddie Holman & The Larks
Go Home Girl – Gary US Bonds
One Night – Etta James
Glad All Over – Suzie Quatro

Three From Me . . . . . with Arfa Pinetop
Mickey’s Monkey – The Fantasies
You Are My Sunshine – Leroy Jones & Lucille Johns
Loddy Lo – Leroy Jones
 
Cruising in good company . . . . .
Who Thought – The Proper Ornaments
Don’t Be Misled – Five Day Rain
Flowers Of Evil – Mountain
Hole In My Shoe – Rick Vito
Hallelujah I Love Her So – Humble Pie
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry – Bob Dylan
I Will Get Along Without You Now – The Melodians
Living With The Blues – Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

Killer Diller Korner . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Ve Con Él – The Brisks

Cruising for home . . . . . .
Johnny B. Goode – Big Daddy ‘O’
Seven Nights To Rock – Moon Mulligan
That Man – Nappy Brown
Here She Comes – The Tymes
You Succeeded – Sandra Phillips
Baby Drop A Dime – Inez & Charlie Foxx
Stompin’ Our Feet With Joy – Junior Watson
That’s All I Need – Mike Sanchez
Bloodshot Eyes – Wynonie Harris

Our stop at Killer Diller Korner this week gave Johnny Alpha an opportunity to bring us a rare and collectable track from Spanish group The Brisks. Fortunately, Johnny’s linguistic skills coped better than ours in introducing ‘Ve Con Él’.

This week’s playlist included the song ‘He’ll Have To Go’, which was one of the hits for veteran American country singer, gentleman Jim Reeves. . . . . . but our rummaging in the Cruising Library revealed a version of the song by one of Scotland’s great rock voices . . . . Frankie Miller. Our good pal Johnny99 played something by Frankie Miller on a recent Three From Me selection and we’ve been hearing his song ‘Jealousy’ on the latest King King album too.

Well, we had to put all the breakables out of reach for this week’s Three From Me guest, the most esteemed Arfa Pinetop. He arrived with the spoils from one of his sorties around the second hand record shops and some long lost releases by the US Hit Records label. It all went well in the end, although there were plenty of humourous asides that had to edited out on the advice of the defamation lawyers.

The Cruisettes were pretty active in strutting their stuff during the show and all too soon we ran out of time. But, we finished with a flourish in the company of Wynonie Harris and his ‘Bloodshot Eyes’, a condition known only too well to certain of the Cruising Crew. So, we dusted down the Cruise Mobile and set about getting it all ready for the same time, same place next week, when we’ll be calling by to take you Cruising with The Commissioner.

In the meantime, why not visit our website at cruising with the commissioner.wordpress.com and give us some feedback or a few favourite tunes . . . and maybe catch up with a few of the other radio shows we enjoy, including the Tuesday night mafia here on Wireless FM.

So until next week’s Cruising with the Commissioner . . . . have fun!