I feel good . . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, here’s hoping that all is well with you and yours and that we find you in good spirits for our musical adventure. Here in the Grand Duchy there has been a good deal of heat in the street (and other places) which has brought a relaxed and restful atmosphere, as well as a bit of bashing for the ice maker. Although it may not have been too comfortable for those producing royal off-springs, we each make the best of it!

The week has been littered with celebrity celebrations, a few of which we gave a respectful nod to in our playlist choices. We were joined again by Johnny Alpha, who brought us another gem from his impressive record collection. In addition, our good pal Johnny99 returned this week with a Three From Me that provided a guided tour of some of London’s pub rock bands, as well as a glimpse into Johnny99’s past choices from his social diary. We even found time for a bit of scratchy blues from Doctor Peter Clayton and a recording made on the 1st July 1941 in Chicago, with Blind John Davis on piano and Robert Lockwood on guitar. This was an early version of the much covered song ‘Confessin’ The Blues’.

We are indebted to our good pal The Spongeman for his most generous assistance in broadcasting this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner. He has already gained plenty of goodwill points and we will have to find something worthy for him to redeem them!

We had the Cruise Mobile all polished up and purring nicely and launched ourselves on our musical adventure with dance master Bobby Freeman and ‘Shimmy Shimmy’, followed by Bobby Day and his biggest hit, ‘Rockin Robin’. After that, we were heading for the horizon and enjoying our cruise. We’ve featured some other well known artists along the way . . . . . and discovered some that we might otherwise have missed, along with plenty of other tasty treats in our playlist, as you can see:

Cruising for the blue horizon . . . .                                    
Shimmy Shimmy – Bobby Freeman
Rockin’ Robin – Bobby Day
I Feel Good – Shirley & Lee
The Oogum Boogum Song – Brenton Wood
The Power Of Love – Joe Simon
If You Want Me To Stay – Sly & The Family Stone
Let’s Do It Again – The Staple Singers
Ooh Baby Baby – Linda Ronstadt
You’d Better Move On – Chuck Jackson & Mark Knopfler
Up From The Skies – Ellen McIlwaine
If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me) – Cynthia Richards
Confessin’ The Blues – Doctor Clayton

Three From Me . . . . with Johnny99
Heat Treatment – Graham Parker & The Rumour
Surrender To the Rhythm – Brinsley Schwarz
Back In the Night – Dr Feelgood

Cruising with the best of friends . . . .
That Stuff – Supurbia
The Stealer – Mountain
The First Cut Is The Deepest – Cat Stevens
Stormy – Santana
It’s My Life Baby – Johnny Winter
A Lousy Husband (But A Real Good Dad) – Todd Sharpville

Killer Diller Korner . . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Hoochie Koochie – Dora Hall

Cruising for home . . . .
Rip This Joint – The Rolling Stones (from Exile On Mainstreet) 2010
You Can’t Sit Down – The Phil Upchurch Combo
It Will Stand – The Showmen
You’ve Got Me Dangling On A String – The Chairman of The Board
Baby What Happened To Our Love – The Ringleaders
That’s When The Tears Start – Darlene Love
It’s Gonna Be One Of Those Nights – Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen
Baby You Got What It Takes – Peaches & Herb
The Hucklebuck – King Curtis
Hoochie Coochie Coo – Lloyd Price
Blues For Salvador – Santana

Our Girls & Guitars spot this week featured Nashville born, Ellen McIlwaine, who found herself in Greenwich Village in the mid 60s playing with a young Jimi Hendrix at the Cafe Au Go Go and opening for people like Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee and Big Joe Williams. We found a 2001 track of hers with an echo of her former musical fellow-traveller, Jimi Hendrix, and his ‘Up From The Skies’.

There was plenty of dancing being demonstrated at Cruise Control during the show, with some Northern soul favourites and some seasoned ‘real’ R&B numbers, including King Curtis’s version of The Hucklebuck there. All too soon we had to turn the Cruise Mobile around and start heading for home, but we did get back safe and sound in the good company of Lloyd Price and his take on ‘The Hoochie Coochie Coo’. Then we had a special treat in the form of Carlos Santana to play us out with his intense and inspired recording of ‘Blues For Salvador’.

So, as we braced ourselves to say our sad farewells for another week, we were hoping that there were sufficient ‘goodies’ in our playlist to entice you back next week, when we will call by for you, same time, same place, to go Cruising with The Commissioner. If you can’t wait till then . . . . take a look at our website and the other radio shows that we enjoy, including the Tuseday Night Mafia here on Wireless FM.

So, until we meet again to go Cruising with the Commissioner . . . . . . . have fun!

Out of sight . . . . . where’s The Shake?

Listen here to this week’s Out of Sight Show . . . . with The Commissioner:

Well, every once in a while we get a chance to sit in on someone else’s radio show and this week was one such occasion, when our good pal, The Shake, made the call.. It is (inevitably) a bit tense, since you’re taking responsibility for someone else’s show, but The Shake has a cavalier streak and let’s you loose with few restrictions.
 
So, when Tuesday night at 7:30pm rolled around, we started off with an apology to the astute and well-informed amongst the listeners who will have spotted that it was not The Shake in their ears. Before they got to fretting unduly that The Shake was being held for ransom by some devout sect of musical euro sceptics, we assured them that he’s was out on the town . . . . but possibly returning later, doubtless, to check that The Shake Shack is still standing.

Then we opened this Out of Sight Show with a rather nice piece of Hammond organ from Wynder K Frog and his version of Sunshine Superman. As we restored some equilibrium, we moved on briskly with a few covers of Beatles numbers, kicking off with Ella Fitzgerald and her rather excellent version of Savoy Truffle. The full playlist looked like this:
 
The Disadvantage of You – The Answer
Sunshine Superman – Wynder K Frog
Savoy Truffle – Ella Fitzgerald
Hard Days Night – Ramsey Lewis
And I Love Her – Reggie Milner
You’re Absolutely Right – The Apollas
I’m Into Something Good – The Cookies
And That Reminds Me – The Dolls
Reflections Of My Life – Marmalade
Go Back – Crabby Appleton
Just One More Chance – The Outer Limits
Stormy – Classics IV
Summer Breeze – Seals & Croft
Saturday In The Park – Chicago
Oo Ma Liddi – J.J. Jackson
Uh Huh – Paul Anka
Somebody’s Always Trying – Ted Taylor
Bad Man Of Missouri – Jimmy Ricks & the Suburbans
Bikini Sunset – The Volcanos
Afrodisiac – Wasa Express
Stoned Soul Picnic – Laura Nyro
Autumn Song – Steamhammer
Along Comes Mary – The Association
Feelin’ Free – Pacific Drift
Thinkin’ – Banchee
Radio Nowhere – Bruce Springsteen
Competition Ain’t Nothing – Carl Carlton
Mextet – Chico Lopez

Well, all too soon, the Out of Sight clock told us we had to wind down, pack up and head off. Which is just what we did, in the hope that we had not broken anything and not made a mess for the Shake’s return next week.

With a small plug for Thursday night’s Cruising with The Commissioner on Wireless FM, we said our goodbyes and wished everyone well . . . . adding the customary recommendation from The Commissioner to . . . . have fun!

Let it rock . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, we very much hope that all is well in your corner of the universe (and beyond, if you’re picking up FM waves out there somewhere). After many weeks of gentle (and not so gentle) references to the absence of summer, it has arrived turbo charged and even melting some parts of ‘the road to hell’. But, we’re not complaining, merely using the excuse to quaff a few chilled glasses of something good and, if you feel in the mood, we recommend you do the same, while relaxing and enjoying this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner.

While we were resting rather easy here in the Grand Duchy, our sunny days got brighter still, with the arrival of a very cheery DJ Leyton Rocks. He regaled us with stories of his latest adventures as an aspiring movie mogul. We made him sufficiently welcome for him to take position in the executive recliner and adjust the microphone to deliver his latest Three From Me.

So, when Thursday rolled around, we were well prepared . . . . we had the Cruise Mobile ready, with its top down and purring nicely, along with a pile of fine records to ensure a joyous journey and a long list of birthdays to celebrate. So, we called by for the Cruising Crew and whisked them off 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, starting with TV Slim and ‘Flat Foot Sam Meets Jim Dandy’.

Cruising for the horizon
Flat Foot Sam Meets Jim Dandy – TV Slim
Jumping From Six To Six – Colin James
I Get The Blues When It Rains – Alonzo Stewart
Loud Mouth Lucy – Roy Gaines
Tear For Tear – Gene Chandler
Games People Play – Bettye LaVette
The Spider & the Fly – Kenny Wayne Shepherd & James Cotton
You’re Gonna Need Me – Albert King
Gangster Of Love – Chris Farlowe
Shake Your Hips – Joan Osborne
Summertime Blues – Big Bill Broonzy & His Rhythm Band

Three From Me . . . . . DJ Leyton Rocks                                                        
Find Out What’s Happening – Tiffany & The Thoughts
Anniversary Of Love – Ice
Summertime – David Hess

Cruising with friends . . . . .
Don’t Be Misled – Five Day Rain
Kinda Wasted Without You – Roger Nichols & The Small Circle of Friends
Under Your Spell – Bob Dylan
Tumbling Dice – Linda Ronstadt
Mr Spaceman – The Byrds
Coming Into Los Angeles – Arlo Guthrie
Third Finger, Left Hand – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Private Number – William Bell & Judy Clay
Summertime Blues – Dion
Frenzy – Screaming Jay Hawkins
Wham – Lonnie Mack

Killer Diller Korner . . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Mogambo – Sounds Incorporated

Cruising for home . . . . . .
Nothing I Can Do – Al Hill & The Love Butlers
Rockin’ Robin – Rod Piazza & The Blues Instigators
Shake & Finger Pop – Junior Walker & The All Stars
All Night Worker – Rufus Thomas
What Did I Do Wrong – Paul Flagg
Do I Make Myself Clear – Sugar Pie DiSanto & Etta James
That’s Me Boy – The Memphis Soul Band (ft. Ingfried Hoffman)
Let It Rock – Chuck Berry
To Prove My Love To You – Joe Jones
Do Lord – Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins

Bettye Lavette’s was on our giglist this week, as she was in town on her current tour. She did a really soulful set which was dripping with emotion, and she was very well received by the London crowd. She was backed by a really great four-piece band, led by Al Hill, who I remember seeing with her many years ago on one of those late night TV music shows, where he opened up for her with his own number ‘Nothing I Can Do’. So, I was a bit disappointed that he didn’t do the same this time, but we went a-rummaging in the Cruising Library and found that track on the album ‘Willie Mae’ by Al Hill and The Love Butlers . . . . . and I think it was worth it!

Well this week’s Girls & Guitars feature, threw the spotlight on Kentucky born singer/songwriter and guitarist, Joan Osborne, who started recording in the late 80s. Her catalogue ranges across country, rock, soul and R&B, so there’s plenty to choose from. We picked a track from her own 2012 album ‘Bring It On Home’ and her cover of the old Slim Harpo number, ‘Shake Your Hips’ . . . . and we encouraged everyone to do just that!

All too soon our time ran out and we had to turn the Cruise Mobile for home. Taking us all the way home was Mr Excitement himself, Jackie Wilson, with Linda Hopkins and their 1963 Brunswick release ‘Do Lord’. Then, as the Cruise Mobile 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!

On track for the chicken shack . . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, all in all, it’s been a great week here the Grand Duchy . . . . . excellent weather, some notable sporting achievements, a pending royal birth and some outstanding gigs that we were very pleased to get into our giglist. Yours truly and The Cruisettes took advantage of the moments to do some ‘goodwill’ work, including a most enjoyable visit to the leafy countryside of Berkshire, where we were made very welcome on our first visit to ‘Blues on The Meadow’. Full marks to the organisers for a relaxed and well-organised event, where the sun came out to give us a much bigger smile than we’ve seen of late, which was a fitting accompaniment for an excellent event of good company and great music. The programme was bursting with great sets, from the opening with Red Butler (who are definitely ones to watch), the excellent Brass Knuckle Blues Band, the full-tilt set from Big Boy Bloater and some fine music from The Mustangs and Connie Lush & Blues Shouter, but as the sun faded, it was The Robin Bibi Band who arrived to deliver a fitting finale to a great day.

So, we arrived at Thursday night in good spirits, with a stack of great music. We had the Cruise Mobile all tuned up and seats reserved for those who, like us, enjoy some of the best in rock, soul and ‘real’ rhythm and blues. . . . kicking off our cruise with Amos Milburn and his 1956 Aladdin recording, ‘Chicken Shack’ and without taking our eyes off the road, we quickly followed up with Colin James and his very fine recording of ‘Rocket To the Moon’. . . . . and much more:

Cruising wherever the road takes us . . . . .                                                     
Chicken Shack – Amos Milburn
Rocket To the Moon – Colin James
House Of Blue Lights – Ella Mae Morse and the Freddie Slack Rhythm Section
Doing The Blah Blah Blah – Charlie Wood
Baby That’s Love – Gene Chandler
That’s A Pretty Good Love  – Laura B & The Moonlighters
Dance To the Locomotion – Teddy Randazzo & The Dazzlers
I Ain’t The Same – Brittany Howard & The Alabama Shakes
Tornado – Poison Gardner & His All Stars

Three from me  . . . . . with Joe Duckworth
The Spider & the Fly – The Rolling Stones
Honky Tonk Woman – The Rolling Stones
I Just Want To Make Love To You – The Rolling Stones
 
Cruising with the warm breeze . . . .
Lover Of The Bayou – Mudcrutch
Walk In My Shadow – Red Butler
Satisfy Suzy – The Brass Knuckle Blues Band
Sweet & Brown – Big Boy Bloater & The Limits
Only A Mad Man Can Fly – The Robin Bibi Band
Ain’t Got No Home – The Band
Jimmy Mack – Bettye LaVette
Ain’t That Love – Brenda Lee
I Don’t Hurt Anymore – Fontella Bass

Killer Diller Korner
The Worm – Bill Doggett
 
Cruising for home . . . .
Cheaper To Keep Her – Dan Aykroyd & The Blues Brothers
You’re So Fine – The Falcons
Somebody’s Always Trying – Ted Taylor
Fever – Pete Bennett & the Embers
Now That the Magic Has Gone – Joe Cocker
The Girl That Radiates That Charm – Cold Blue Steel
Go Go Power – Sugar Pie Di Santo
I Need Somebody – Little Milton
Louella  – Marcia Ball
Keep On Running – Grant Smith & The Power

Now the week has been littered with notable birthdays . . . . and if you had one this week accept our best wishes . . . . and they also went out to Robbie Robertson, Gene Chandler (the original Duke of Earl), Dan Aykroyd and more . . . . but some we will have to offer belated congratulations in next week’s show.

We found Joe Duckworth recounting seeing the Rolling Stones on their Glastonbury gig and he chose some of the tracks they missed for his Three From Me. We also heard from The Spinmeister, with tales of the Bruce Springsteen concert at the Olympic Stadium and our good pal DJ Leyton Rocks told us that he could hear the concert clearly from his nearby Leyton lair. Indeed, our Girls & Guitars feature threw the spotlight on singer/guitarist Brittany Howard of The Alabama Shakes . . . . who were supporting Bruce Sprinsteen on his London date and we picked their ‘I Ain’t The Same’ to show off Brittany’s talents.

Sadly, we ran out of time, but we never ran out of road or good music, so there’s plenty for next week and, if you’ve enjoyed our playlist, perhaps you can be enticed back again next week for another journey with some of the best in rock, soul and ‘real’ rhythm and blues. Rest assured, we’ll be polishing up the trusty Cruise Mobile, so that we can call by for you, same time, same place,next week . . . all ready to go Cruising with The Commissioner. So, until then . . . . have fun!

Go your own way. . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, it seems to be the time for music festivals, holidays . . . . oh  . . . . and some celebrations across the Atlantic. So, we were very pleased to see the sun come out of hiding and provide a hint of what summers used to be like! Of course, there’s every chance that it will be only a fleeting visit and we will be left to muse over the media management of the ‘silly season’. Here in the Grand Duchy, we’ve already noted ominous predictions of electricity blackouts due to consumption outstripping production, public bodies going bankrupt due to reducing resources, and the legacy of the baby boomers that no-one had planned for. So much for long-term economic planning and prudent governance!!!

So, it was a good time to get sensible, get positive and get moving! With practiced style and finesse, we rolled out the Cruise Mobile and set about pulling together a cruising playlist that was just soaked in some of the best in rock, soul and ‘real’ rhythm and blues. . . . . all ready to take you on our weekly adventure across musical frontiers, in and out of time zones and jumping genres, otherwise known as Cruising with the Commissioner.

Now you’ve been most kind in your feedback on the show and in offering the occasion suggestions for our playlists. There’s a real body of knowledge amongst the Cruising Crew about the music we enjoy and it remains a re-assurance to know you’re out there. Indeed, from time to time, we have called on this rich vein of knowledge to resolve some curiosity or mystery about a song, an artist or something similar and we did it again this week. We played something from an album called Jump & Shout, which is a rather fine collection of obscure R&B tracks from the early 60s and it featured Ramona Parks. We admitted to knowing nothing about Ramona Parks and said we’d be mighty obliged if anyone out there in Cruising Land could enlighten us.

This week, we needed little encouragement (though we can be persuaded to accept more) to enthusiastically launch ourselves into this endeavour, which we kicked off with a fine piece of ‘real’ R&B from Little Mummy and ‘Won’tcha Be My Girl’. Then with breathless brevity we joined The Egyptians with their 1958 Danae 45, ‘Flipping Their Top’ . . . . . and it all went smoothly after that.

Cruising with the wind in our hair . . . . .
Won’tcha Be My Girl – Little Mummy
Flipping Their Top – The Egyptians
What Did I Do – George Hughley & The Cana Rockers     
Got To Find A Way – Otis Clay
I’ve Gotta Sit Down – Herbert Hunter
Ain’t It Baby – The Miracles
Got To Find A Way – Cajun Hart
Theme From Dixie – Duane Eddy
Up Above My Head (I Hear Music in The Air) – Ruthie Foster
California Dreaming – Bobby Womack
Playin’ With The Strings – Lonnie Johnson

Three From Me  . . . . . with Mrs TC
Reste – Claude Francois
Don’t Believe A Word – Thin Lizzy
Baby, I Love You – The Ramones

Cruising down around the bend . . . .
Why Can’t We Live Together – Nawfel
Sweet Jane – Enrico Ruggeri
Boom Boom – John Lee Hooker
Think – Aretha Franklin
Sooth Me – Sam & Dave
Shake A Tail Feather – Ray Charles & The Blues Brothers
Cheatin’ In The Next Room – Z Z Hill
Signed, Sealed & Delivered – The Soul Children
I’m In Love – Benny Spellman
Save The Last Dance For Me – The Heptones
 
Killer Diller Korner . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Who Knows – Marion Black

Cruising for home . . . .
Go Your Own Way – Sjonni Brink & The Flavors
How Come – Ray La Montagne
Pretty Thing – Bo Diddley
Sugar Babe – Buster Brown
Much Too Much – The Hollywood Flames
Little By Little – Dusty Springfield
Soul Mate – Ramona Parks
Boppin’ With The Blues – Powder Blue

Well, our ‘Girls and Guitars’ feature this week focused on Texas blues guitarist and singer, Ruthie Foster, who has a recording career that started in 1997. But we took a track from her 2011 album ‘Live at Antones’ and played her version of ‘Up Above My Head (I Hear Music In The Air)’. There was more music in the air, when Mrs TC took over Cruise Control (after some protracted negotiations), while Mr Merlot joined me in making a hurried exit to go foraging for vittles as she delivered her latest Three From Me.

Flicking through the TV channels during the week, revealed a repeat showing of the first Blues Brothers film, which is highly rated here at Cruise Control. So, with little encouragement, we took the opportunity to reprise a few of the great musical moments from the film and we could have lifted just so many more, but there will be other occasions!

All too soon, we were running out of time on our cruise. So, we decided to go out in style with a track from The Powder Blue Band, a Canadian R&B band who had great success at home in the late 70s. Now, it may have surprised some, but we arrived back safe and sound from our cruise . . . . and the Cruise Mobile has glided gentle to a stop, we prepared to say our sad farewells for another week. As ever we trusted that there were some ‘goodies’ in our play list that might entice you back next week, when we can call by for you, same time, same place, to go Cruising with The Commissioner.

So, until we meet again to go Cruising with the Commissioner . . . . remember . . . . . . have fun!