Cruising with the top down . . . .

Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:

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Well, around the Grand Duchy, the summer sunshine has brought a timely distraction from some of the news this week. There’s been a notable enthusiasm to indulge in a few alfresco lunches while ‘the going is good’, along with a few refreshingly chilled ‘cordials’. Naturally, this has not distracted us from our customary rummaging in the Cruising Library for forgotten gems, or our listening in to some of our favourite radio shows.

Our rummaging this week turned up a little 45 that arrived here a few years back, after hearing it at one of DJ Wheelie Bag’s fun filled gigs. So, a big thanks him for poiting us to this 1953 Flair 45 by Little Johnny Jones and the Chicago Hound Dogs. Of course, the aficionados know they were really Elmore James’ band being fronted by piano man Johnny Jones to deliver ‘Dirty By The Dozen’. But before that we headed off on our cruise with the very appropriately titled, Juke Box Drive by Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s . . . and we’re following fast with Lafayette’s own, Johnny Chauvin & The Mojo Banda and little something for those down in Baton Rouge, who’ve been having a tough time just lately and deserving of a little help from their friends.

Juke Box Drive
Juke Box Drive – Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s
With A Little Help From My Friends – Johnny Chauvin & The Mojo Band
Aw Who – Bat Carrol
Highway 60 – Mike Sanchez
What’s On Your Mind – The Four Bars
Dirty By The Dozen – Little Johnny Jones and the Chicago Hound Dogs

Girls & Guitars
How Come – Suzie Vinnick

It’s Alright
Bump Miss Suzie – Buddy Blue & His Band
Honolulu Vice – Los Straitjackets
Sell The Pussy – The Mighty Sparrow
Boys – The Shirelles
Cry To Me – Professor Longhair
The Man That Said No – Bettye Swan
Somebody Help Me – Jackie Edwards
It’s Alright – Adam Faith
Let’s Be Friends – Ray Scott
You Never Had It So Good – The Checkers

Our Girls & Guitars feature focused on Canadian Suzie Vinnick, who originally hailed from Saskatoon, but settled in Toronto and has since produced over a dozen albums, including her 2006 release titled ‘Angel In The Sideline’, which is where we found our choice ‘How Come’ . . . and it seemed to fit rather well into our emerging ‘Suzie’ theme.

As usual, the Cruisettes made an unnerving appearance and while no one was looking, Mr Merlot and yours truly tried some vaguely co-ordinated footwork too. But, it wasn’t to last, and all too soon we were having to turn the Cruise Mobile for home. So, we headed back in the good company of The Checkers and their excellent piece of 1953 doo wop,’You Never Had It So Good’ . . . and maybe we haven’t!

We arrived back home in one piece, polished up the trusty Cruise Mobile ready for our next cruising adventure and gave a cheery wave to one and all . . . ever hopeful we can tempt you back again, same time, same place, next week, when we’ll be rolling by in the Cruise Mobile 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 31 August 2016

Well, now dig this . . .

Listen here to this week’s Rocking Tonight:

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Well, a cheery welcome to Rocking Tonight, and we arrived armed with plenty of rocking treats for our playlist, plus some recent fond memories of moments from our recent giglist. This inspired a choice from the very welcome new album by Bristol rockers, ‘Redhouse’ and if you’ve not caught them live on stage, then you’ve missed their enormous sense of fun and their rocking setlist that gets the crowd cheering and dancing from the start. Another joy on the giglist was catching The Cadillac Kings with a most excellent setlist, which happened to include a touch of Louisiana with ‘Cadillac Shake’.

To get it all kicked into gear, we had Cuddly Dudley’s UK cover of Little Willie John’s, Let’s Rock. Cuddly Dudley was a familiar face on UK TV’s ‘Oh Boy’ show and was heralded as “Britain’s first black rock & roller” . . . and we went on rocking in company with The Jodimars and ‘Now Dig This’ . . .

Rockin’ shoes . . .
Let’s Rock While The Rockin’ Is Good – Cuddly Dudley
Well, Now Dig This – The Jodimars
Hoy Hoy – The Collins Kids
Hurricane – Joe Maphis
Hip Shakin’ Mama – Jackie Lee Cochran
Fishnet Stockings – Redhouse
Look At That Cadillac – The Stray Cats
(My Baby Don’t Love Me) No More – Sandra Thompson
Rockin’ Shoes – The Ames Brothers

Remember when . . .
Golly Gee – Sonny & The Sunglows
Untrue – Don Julian & The Meadowlarks

She loves to rock . . .
She Loves To Rock – The Stargazers
Gumbo – Eddie Cochran
Shout Bamalama – Otis Redding & The Pinetoppers
Get Rich Quick – Little Richard
Silent Lips – Georgia Gibbs
You Got Me Reelin’ & Rockin’ – Daddy’s Rebels
Cadillac Shake – The Cadillac Kings
All Right – Larry Paul
I Thought I Told You Not To Tell ‘Em – Marie Knight
Looka Looka Looka – Bobby Brookes
She’s Mine – Johnny Strickland

For those who are fans of 50s vocals groups, I went digging deep in the archives for some celebrated doo wop songs, one of which really became a bit of an earworm and it was inspired by hearing a great cover of ‘Golly Gee’ by Doug Sahm, but the original hit was by Sonny & The Sunglows and we followed that with a 1957 Dootone recording by Don Julian And The Meadowlarks called “Untrue”.

If you happen to have an album called Ooby Dooby Rockabilly Hits Vol 4 then you’ll already know our closing tune from Johnny Strickland with ‘She’s Mine’. So, after an hour of Rocking Tonight, the sands of time ran out rather faster than we expected , but before we went our separate ways, it was time to assure everyone that we’ll be back, same time, same place, with another pile of tasty tunes to tantalise your musical taste buds and get us Rocking Tonight . . . but until then . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 30 August 2016

Mellow down easy . . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:

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Well, the weather in the Grand Duchy has been great this week and so have the new blues releases that have appeared here over the past days. These included the excellent forthcoming release by Aynsley Lister, ‘Eyes Wide Open’, and a very nice Malaco album, ‘One Of A Kind’, featuring Grady Champion and some well known blues names guesting along with him. Then there was an early preview of the new album by Mississippi’s own Lisa Mills, ‘Mama’s Juke Book’, from which we took ‘Never Been to Spain’.
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But, we came in swinging on this week’s Blues Come Calling, courtesy of JJ Thames and, ‘I’m Leaving’, a track from her new album ‘Raw Sugar’ released this week . . . .

Close To You
I’m Leavin’ – JJ Thames (Raw Sugar – 2016)
Hipshake – Becky Barksdale (Out Of The Blue – 2003)
Waiting On Daylight – Bart Walker (20 Years Anniversary – 2014)
Close To You – The King Brothers (Get Up & Shake It – 2016)
I Believe I’ll Make A Change – The Sparks Brothers (The Sparks Brothers – 994)
I’m Your Witchdoctor – Mark Doyle & The Maniacs (Pushin’ – 2012)
Never Been to Spain – Lisa Mills (Mama’s Juke Book – 2017)

Pinetop’s Pick
I Want To Be Loved – Doc K’s Blues Band (Doctor K’s Blues Band – 1968)

Blues Mobile
All Of Your Love – Aynsley Lister (Eyes Wide Open – 2016)
What Can I Do – B.B. King (The Great B.B. King – 1960)
Thin Line – Grady Champion (ne Of A Kind – 2016)
Mellow Down Easy – Little Feat (Rooster Rag – 2012)
Blues Mobile – Kenny Neal (Blood Line – 2016)
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Well, there always seems too much good stuff to fit into our hour of the blues, but somehow we manage it and this week was no exception. But, before our time was up, we found time for the latest album by Kenny Neal, ‘Blood Line’. Sadly, this week we heard from Debbie Davies that Kenny’s family have been badly affected by the Louisiana floods, so we spared a kind thought for them as we played out with Kenny and ‘Blues Mobile’. So, until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 28 August 2016

 

Having a ball . . .

Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:

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Well, we’ve enjoyed plenty of good company here over the past week and some warm weather to make it all a sheer delight, but we didn’t forget our duties to seek out the ‘toons’ for our Cruising with The Commissioner playlist . . . and there was plenty of good stuff too!

So, we rolled by in the Cruise Mobile at the appointed hour ready, as ever, to whisk you off on a musical adventure to who knows where with you know who! Along the way, there was a little co-ordinated mischief on the part of Jamie Dell’Apa, The Vikster and Arfa Pinetop, who all conspired to suggest choices with nonsense titles and lyrics. . . . and they did pretty well! But before that, we welcomed back our favourite Bristol rockers, Redhouse, to our playlist and kicked it all off with the sound of Hoochie & The Coochie Coos with ‘Skee-Mo’ . . . .

Juiced . . .
Skee-Mo – Hoochie & The Coochie Coos
Juiced – Billy Love
(Wake Up) Miss Rip Van Winkle – The Tibbs Brothers
Barefoot Suzie – Waymon Brown
Satisfy Suzie – Lonnie Mack
Highway 60 – Johnny Guitar Watson
It’s Nobody’s Fault – Christine Kittrell

Girls & Guitars
New Coat Of Paint – Ana Popovik

No more room . . .
Hula Hula Bang Bang – The Hula Girls
Hanky Panky – Jay Brown & the Jets
Riot In Cell Block No 9 – Redhouse
Gonna Have Myself A Ball – Lance Roberts
Ain’t No More Room – The Kittens
Wiggle Waggle Woo – Sticks McGhee
Iddily Biddily Be – Ray Johnson
Rubber Biscuit – The Chips
Say You’ll Be Mine – The Ecuadors
When She Walks – Bob & Earl
Skinny Ginny – Dossie (Thunderbird) Terry
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Our weekly focus on Girls & Guitars, featured Serbian born blues guitarist and singer, Ana Popovik, who has a new triple album out now called, appropriately Trilogy and it includes a Tom Waites song that we’ve heard Tom Waites, himself, and that celebrated Austin band The Sidemen. The song was ‘New Coat of Paint’ and we hope you enjoy what Ana Popovik does with the song.

This week we also featured vocal group, The Ecuadors, who appeared on the Argo label back in the late 50s and were a sort of super group of their day, because they included names like Etta James, Harvey Fuqua, Billy Davis and on this occasion Chuck Berry. They had their own 45 release in 1959 which included ‘Say You’ll Be Mine’.

The minutes ticked by too fast for our liking and that was confirmed when Mr Merlot raised a theatrical eyebrow and glanced at the clock. So, when we turned for home on our cruise we did it with Dossie Terry and ‘Skinny Ginny’. Then we were parking up the trusty Cruise Mobile and giving it a quick polish, ready for our next cruising adventure, same time, same place, next week. We’ll be rolling back in the Cruise Mobile 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 24 August 2016

Rocking once more . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of Rocking Tonight:

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Well, there was a distinct frisson of excitement as the time ticked by and the playlist took shape. The music had to be rocking just right to entice folks to get on their dancing shoes for an hour of Rocking Tonight. The ‘toons’ were selected with great care to provide a mix of the familiar and the obscure, some delights and a few surprises.

There were some songs suggested by some of our friendly faces, some ‘alternative’ versions of well known ‘toons’, some forgotten artists, some interesting details and the occasional moment where ‘one thing led to another’. But, it all kicked off with The Coverbeats and a rocking little instrumental called ‘Sax Boogie’ to get your feet moving yet . . . . and to be doubly sure, there was Paul Hampton and his 1958 Columbia single ‘Rockin’ Doll’.

Stay loose
Sax-Boogie – The Coverbeats
Rockin’ Doll – Paul Hampton
Silk Satin & Lace – Ray Scott
Diddle I – Toreadors Trio
Be My Girl – Frankie Brent
Stay Loose Mother Goose – Freddy Bell & The Bellboys
No Mama, No Papa – Dakota Staton
You’re It – Merlene Garner
Promise – Joan Temple

Remember then
Teardrops Follow Me – The Del-Satins
Sugar Baby – The Jacks

Frantic
Hop Skip & Jump – The King Brothers
Frantic – Dickie Pride
Once More – Bill Forbes
Tears Of Misery – Ral Donner
Watch My Smoke – Vince Anthony & The Blue Notes
I Was Gone – Eddie The Chief Clearwater
Choo Choo Cha Boogie – Maria Vincent & The Millionaires
Dix A Billy – Lavern Baker
Ring A Ding – Craig Douglas
Hey Mama Boom A Lacka – Larry Collins
Sweet Little Rock & Roller – Chuck Berry

For those who remember The Collins Kids, I dug out a little Columbia 45 released in September 1962 by Larry Collins, guitarist and singer, who gained his early success on American TV and records with his sister as The Collins Kids . . . by then, our time was almost up, so we headed for home in the company of the merry Mr Berry and a song issued by Chess records in 1958 ‘ Sweet Little Rock & Roller’.

Then, there was nothing left to do but collect up the records and CDs and hope there were plenty of tasty toons in this week’s playlist to tempt you back again same time same place next. So, until the next time we go Rocking Tonight, as always, . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 23 August 2016

 

Blues is in air . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:

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Well, here we are in the midst of the holiday season and with unusually good weather too. So, if you were in any doubt about whether we would be back with another edition of The Blues Come Calling, those doubts disappeared quickly at the appointed time, when we came bursting back across the airwaves this week.

There were plenty of new releases to enjoy this week, along with some very welcome revisits from recent artists on our playlist, including Medway band, The Bad Pennies, and Davy Knowles. Indeed, it was Davy’s very fine gospel inspired number “Oxford, MS” that became a bit of an earworm and I was hoping that playing it again would be the remedy. The Boom Guitars got a play along with US blues trio Slim Jr., but, if you like a no-nonsense blend of acoustic blues plus a little humour, then we introduced the new album by South West England duo, The Sons Of The Delta, ‘Red Hot At Peppers’ which delivers just that. Before all that, it all kicked off with the much revered Johnny Mars with a track called Mighty Mars’ . . . .　
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Red Hot & Blue . . .
Mighty Mars – Johnny Mars (Chicago Blues 2 – 1998)
Please Baby – The Bad Pennies (Turned Up Again – 2016)
My Special Friend – Baby Boy Warren (Stormy Weather Blues 1949 – 2015)
Bad Penny – Haymarket Squared (Preview track – 2016)
Oxford MS – Davy Knowles (Three Miles From Avalon – 2016)
Skinnybone – Sons Of The Delta (Red Hot At Peppers – 2016)
2.00 AM – Bob Tognoni (Birra for Lira – 2015)

Pinetop’s Pick
Wiggle Waggle Woo – Stick McGhee (Classics 1951-59 – 2006)

Looking Back . . .
Looking Back – Johnny Guitar Watson (Escort 45 – 1962)
Hoodoo Moon – The Kingbees (Hoodoo Moon – 2013)
Rooster Blues – Boom Guitars (The Fortress Session – 2016)
Act Like You Love Me – Slim Jr (Further Up the Road – 2016)
Hook Line & Sinker – Shonn Hinton & Shotgun (Long Live Shotgun – 2016)
J.B.’s Stomp – J.B. Hutto & The New Hawks (Live at The Shaboo Inn 1979 – 2007)
Motherless Children – Eric Clapton (461 Ocean Boulevard – 1974)
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Well, no one can say your feedback goes unheeded here, because J.B. Hutto was there this week, because he was one of the artists suggested for our playlist . . . and duly delivered! Meanwhile, last week’s Pinetop’s Pick, ‘Motherless Children’ by Blind Gussie Nesbit must have been a delight for lovers of scratchy blues, but it inspired me to dig out the more modern version. So, we closed this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling with Eric Clapton’s 1974 version from his 461 Ocean Boulevard album.

So, until the next The Blues Come Calling, a big thanks for your company this week and remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 21 August 2016

All around the world . . .

Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:

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Well, the Grand Duchy has been bathed in sunshine this past week, which had the potential to make life cheery and relaxing as we approached our latest Cruising with The Commissioner. However, you might have to forgive a little deflection from our usual rummaging and listening activities. The cause has been a worthy, but (as it transpires) an all-consuming enterprise of digitalising the contents of the Cruising Library and checking the contents to ensure order and accuracy. On more than one occasion, this has brought to mind a well-worn phrase about ‘the road to hell being paved with good intentions’, so (in the interest of retaining our loose grip on sanity) we are taking this in stages.

With this background, there was a notable measure of surprise when we finalised our playlist in good time for this week’s cruise. On reflection, our ‘other enterprise’ did pay some passing dividends, because it revealed plenty of tracks that had been forgotten, or maybe never played before. So, a few of those crept into our playlist, along with a couple of original U.S. songs that made little or no dent in the charts when first released, but gained much acclaim (and royalties) when they re-appeared via a couple of British ‘beat bands’.

But, before any of those, we kicked off on our Cruising adventure in the company of UK sax man Pete Thomas and a little number that we assume to be a tribute to US sax man, Lee Allen, called ‘Cookin’ with Mr Lee’ . . . and it all rolled on from there . . .

Cruising and cooking . . .
Cookin’ With Mr Lee – Pete Thomas
Jerry Jerry – Million Dollar Tones
Rockin’ The Joint – Esquerita
Red Tape – The Chavelles
Ooky Ook – The Penguins
All Around The World – Li’l Millet & His Creoles
Devil In His Heart – The Donays

Girls & Guitars
Mojo Mama – Laurie Morvan & Her Band

Cruising with big wheels . . .
Telephone Baby – Werly Fairburn
Let’s Go To Hawaii – The Vibrants
Pretty Flamingo – Tommy Vann & The Echoes
Anna – Arthur Alexander
Mr Big Wheel – Christine Kittrell
A Night With Daddy G – The Church Street Five
Big Game Hunter – Steve Gibson & The Red Caps
Mr Blues – Damita Jo Sugar Bee – Cleveland Crochet & All The Sugar Bees
Tear Stained Letter – Jerry Williams
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One of our ‘rediscoveries’ in this week’s rummaging in the Cruising Library was something that our good pal Pete Hall pointed us to a while back. This features The Church Street Five along with sax man Gene Barge with their first 45 called “A Night with Daddy “G” (Daddy G being Gene Barge), which re-appeared later as Gary US Bonds hit single “Quarter to Three”.　

Guitarist and singer, Laurie Morvan, was our Girls & Guitars feature this time around and to show off her talents, we chose the bluesy ‘Mojo Mama’ from her 2011 album ‘Breathe Deep’.

After a fairly haphazard route, we found ourselves heading for home with some rocking Cajun tunes, accompanied by something of a masterclass in mayhem and madness, with The Cruisettes turning up and enticing Mr Merlot into some dangerous dancing. So, to the great relief of our insurers, we arrived back from our cruise safe and sound and ever mindful that if you enjoyed the music and excitement along the way, you might be tempted back again, same time, same place, next week. If so, we’ll be rolling by in the Cruise Mobile 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 17 August 2016

Rock while the rocking’s good . . .

Listen here to this week’s Rocking Tonight:

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Well, it seems no time at all since I was last here with a pile of some of the best rocking ‘toons’ for our weekly  appointment to go Rocking Tonight. There may have been many other events to claim our attentions, but when the appointed time arrived, the little red neons were blinking in the studio and there were plenty of rocking treats lined up for our playlist . . . so all was good!

There were a few forgotten gems amongst our choices, including a 1961, Capitol Records release which was the first single by their (then) new signing . . . Robin Clark. At the time, she was the youngest artist ever signed to a major record label in the United States and that single was the novelty song “Daddy, Daddy (Gotta Get A Phone In My Room)”, but if you flipped it over, you found a little gem called ‘Love Has Come My Way’. But, before that got an airing, we kicked things into gear with the wonderful Little Willie John, inviting us to rock while the rockin’s good . . . . no hesitation there . . . then Joe Tex with a song title that barely got squeezed on to the record label . . . ‘Hand Shakin’, Love Makin’, Girl Talking Son Of A Gun From Next Door’. . . .

Razzle dazzle . . .
Let’s Rock While The Rockin’s Good – Little Willie John
Hand Shakin’, Love Makin’, Girl Talking Son Of A Gun From Next Door – Joe Tex
Cuttin’ Out – The Wonders
Love Has Come My Way – Robin Clark
Poor Me – Chip Fisher
Ridin’ In Style – The Kat Kings
Down The Road Apiece – Merrill E Moore
Razzle Dazzle – Ella Mae Morse
That’s All You Gotta Do – Brenda Lee
Hey Miss Ruby – Shane Fenton & The Fentones
Believe What You Say – Adam Faith
Boppin’ The Blues – Ricky Nelson

Remember then . . .
It’s You – The Turks
So Why – The Bopchords

Rockin’ the jukebox . . .
Rockin’ The Jukebox – Bob King
Let’s Go – The Routers
Changing All Those Changes – Buddy Holly
Brown Eyed Handsome Man – Chuck Berry
Money Honey – The Drifters
Kissin’ Tree – Johnny Preston
Kissin’ Time – Bobby Rydell
It’ll Be Me – Jerry Lee Lewis

Our playlist had a good mix of familiar names and a few that may have been (hopefully) a pleasant surprise. But, as the sands of time ran out faster than we expected, we headed for home in style in the good company of The Ferriday Fireball, Jerry Lee Lewis and a song of his that Cliff Richard covered successfully in the UK ‘It’ll Be Me’. . . . . and be assured, the next time we go Rocking Tonight, It’ll Be Me here with another pile of tasty treats to tantalise your musical taste buds. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 16 August 2016

Back up against the wall

Listen here to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling:

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Well, if you were in any doubt, we we’re back at the appointed time with another edition of The Blues Come Calling and when there’s plenty happening, we have to be on our toes . . . and we certainly had to be this week. But, there was just enough time to review some of the new releases and search out some old favourites.

The new releases continue to be impressive and it’s a long time since we’ve played something by Davy Knowles on the show (which maybe our fault), but we were very pleased to remedy that this week with a preview track from his upcoming album, ‘Three Miles From Avalon’. The album is scheduled for release on 14 October and it includes the very fine gospel inspired number  called ‘Oxford MS’ which we slipped into our playlist. But, we kicked off the show with Gary Hoey and ‘Back Against the Wall’ . . . with plenty more to follow . . . enjoy!

Say what . . .
Back Up Against The Wall – Gary Hoey (Dust & Bones – 2016)
You Upset Me Baby – Joe Bonamassa (Blues Deluxe – 2003)
Say What – Stevie Ray Vaughan (Blues You Can Use – 2016)
You Made Me Laugh – Jimmy Vaughan & Omar Kent Dykes (On The Jimmy Reed Highway – 2007)
Santa Fe Steamer – David Vest (Roadhouse Revelation – 2014)
Oxford MS – Davy Knowles (Three Miles From Avalon – 2016)
I’ve Got To Use My Imagination – The Rides (Pierced Arrow – 2016)　

Pinetop’s Pick
Motherless Children – Blind Gussie Nesbit (Doctor Peter Clayton 1935-42 -1993)

Mojo working . . .
Woman Loves A Woman – Michael Coleman (Modern Blues Classics – 2015)
I’m Not Ashamed To Sing The Blues – Salvo Rizzuto (Tempted – 2012)
Don’t Take Me Down – The Jordan Patterson Band (The Back On Track Recording Project -2016)
Got To Find My Baby – Doctor Peter Clayton (Doctor Peter Clayton (1935-43) – 1993)
Empty Arms – The Bad Pennies (Turned Up Again – 2016)
Pig’s Boogie – Nicky Hopkins (The Tin Man Was A Dreamer – 1972)
Got My Mojo Working – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Got To Get You Into Our Life – 2004)

It was a joy to catch up with one of the Medway Delta blues bands . . . . The Bad Pennies. We chose a little something from their current album ‘Turned Up Again’ . . . and the excellent ‘Empty Arms’. By comparison Harlesden, North West London’s home of the blues, can boast a celebrated local son, in the form of piano man Nicky Hopkins . . . and if you’ve not heard him playing in his own right, we pulled out his excellent ‘Pig’s Boogie’.

It so happened that we closed the show this week with one of the bands that Nicky was a member of . . . . Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, who were possibly not at the forefront of the UK blues scene, but cooked up a great version of ‘Got My Mojo Working’.

So, with a big thanks for your good company this week, and until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 14 August 2016

A little you . . .

Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:

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Well, the weather has been very kind to us this week around the Grand Duchy and we’ve enjoyed a visit or two from some friendly faces too. Indeed, we would have spent a little more time enjoying the sunshine, if we hadn’t been chasing down a few elusive ‘toons’, but it proved worthwhile (if a little frustrating along the way).

So, we arrived at the appointed hour with a big cheery welcome to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner and a playlist that brought even more satisfaction here than usual. We had a small smile when we came to play  Morgan Clarke and Benny’s Five with ‘Hawaiian Boogie’ . . . . as Mr Merlot and your truly imagined the lovely Susan Bowman doing a few steps to keep us company.

Amongst the ‘toons’ we found in our rummaging was by The Niteriders, with their most excellent St. Loo and Billy Mure with ‘Crackerjack’. So, a big thanks to our good pal Jamie Dell’Apa for pointing us to those. But, before any of that, we the Cruise Mobile took off on this week’s adventure with the windows down, the radio turned up and blasting out some fine R&B from saxman Joe Houston with Joe’s Twist . . . . and plenty more . . .

Walk right in . . .
Joe’s Twist – Joe Houston
Cat’s Eyes – The Ted Taylor Four
She Walks Right In – The Big Town Playboys
St Loo – The Nightriders
A Little You – Dakota Staton
Plenty Good Room (In My House) – Guitar Slim
Dew Drop Inn – Esquerita

Girls & Guitars
You Ain’t Nothing But Fine – Elizabeth McQueen & The Firebrands

Hold it . . .
New Coat Of Paint – Tom Waits
Bright and Early – Vicki Nelson
Hawaiian Boogie – Morgan Clarke & Benny’s Five
Stubborn Old Me – Al Adams
Hold It – Duane Yates & The Capris
Come Back To Me – Marie Williams
Crackerjack – Billy Mure
Goodbye Bo – The Royal Playboys
Rock & Roll Opera – Lee Lawrence
Linda Lu – Al Saxon
Big Boys & Pink Ladies – The Kingbees

Our Girls & Guitars feature this week focused on Elizabeth McQueen. She grew up around Austin in Texas, where she learned to play guitar and started her music career, and then moved to Washington, D.C. She released her album ‘Happy Doing What We’re Doing’ in 2005, which is where we found her little gem ‘You Ain’t Nothing But Fine’.

Things were going so well, but just when we thought we were safe, The Cruisettes turned up and mayhem ensued! So, with Mr Merlot putting all the breakables out of reach, we were very grateful (on this occasion) that we’re heading home by then on this week’s cruise. By luck, or skill, we did get home safe and sound in the end, in the good company of The Kingbees, with the intriguingly titled ‘Big Boys & Pink Ladies’ . . . . and we chose to ask no more about that!

As ever, we parked up the Cruise Mobile for another week. Gave it a quick polish ready for our next adventure, when we’re rather looking forward to some more of your good company. So, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising radio
on 10 August 2016