Drive my car . . . .

Listen here to this week’s show:

Well, the days of 2013 are fast disappearing and perhaps you too are basking in the warm glow of satisfaction, assured that all your seasonal shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped and the cards sent. If not, then be warned, this is the time of year when it seems the ditherers of the nation gather in slow moving, hesitant and ponderous throngs around the shops, convinced that endlessly sharing their indecision with others, often in mind numbing detail, is satisfaction itself.

We know this is always a busy time for our musical postman and these past days, he has made more than a few visits to Cruise Control and has taken a few precious moments for some cheery chatter as he stopped with a few welcome additions to the Cruising Library.

The social diary has included some delights this week and our giglist featured the enthusiastic Mike Sanchez and his band. He always puts on a good show and this was no exception. He was rocking a jammed 100 Club in London’s West End with some vintage 50s R&B and a truly high energy performance. Great music and a great band, so we thought we should include his version of the John Fred & The Playboys number ‘Shirley’ . . . . which is what we did!

With meticulous care, we prepared for our weekly adventure, across musical frontiers, in and out of time zones and jumping genres and we set off with some rocking New Orleans R&B from Little Richard, who was celebrating his 81st birthday this week . . . .

Cruising for the horizon . . . . .
Ready Teddy – Little Richard
Betty Harris – Mojo Hannah
Shimmy Shimmy – Bobby Freeman
Strong Love – The Spencer Davis Group
Watch Your Step – Eddie Angel & The Hi-Rizers
I’ve Been Hurt By Love – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
Self Discipline – Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band
Angels Watching Over Me – Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels
She Just Wants To Dance –  Gaye Adegbalola
Motherless Child – Barbecue Bob
Try My Love Again – Shary-An
Free Nelson Mandela – Afro Sound Machine

Killer Diller Korner . . . . . with Johnny Alpha
Cut You A Loose – Ricky Allen

Cruising with the crew . . . . .
For Your Love – Fleetwood Mac
Curly – The Move
Never An Everyday Thing – Granny’s Intentions
Drive My Car – Professor R.J. Ross
Gimme Little Sign – Memphis Black
Shirley – Mike Sanchez & His Band
Marie – Otis Spann
It’s A Mean Old World – Otis Rush & His Band
Dum Dum – Brenda Lee
Witchcraft – The Floorettes
I Got A Man – Annie Williams
Grandma’s House – Chris Kenner
My Love – Hayward Lee
Rocket To the Moon – Travelling Brothers

This week we dug out another much cherished compilation album from the shelves of the Cruising Library. This time the album was called ‘Chicago The Blues Today’ and picked out a fine piece of piano blues from Otis Spann and another from Otis Rush and his band . . . . and it brought back a memory or two.

Well, this week’s Girls & Guitars feature focused on singer and guitarist, Gaye Todd, who was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia and started moonlighting from her teaching job to become a full-time musician and founding member of Saffire – the Uppity Blues Women.

Our adventure into scratchy blues this week featured one Robert Hicks, better known as Barbecue Bob. He was an early American Piedmont blues musician who recorded some 68 sides during his career. We picked something he recorded in 1927 and covered by Eric Clapton in 1994 . . . . . ‘Motherless Child’.

Even though there was plenty of road ahead and many more records to play, we were beaten by the clock on this week’s cruising adventure. So, as the Cruise Mobile rolled gently to a stop, we set about collecting up the records and CDs and putting them away. If it all goes to plan, we’ll be rummaging deep over the next couple of weeks for some seasonal tracks for our Xmas eve special, but, as usual, we’ll be back next week to call by for you, same time, same place. In the meantime, why not leave us some feedback and comments here on our website. . . . . but, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . . have fun!