Holding on to the blues . . .

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

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Well, another big bluesy welcome from here and we’re back with a whole hour of the best of the blues . . . . because this is The Blues Come Calling. It’s been a fascinating week for previews and new releases, but we’ve also been dipping back in our blues library for some favourites, including our opener this week from Lazy Lester with ‘Alligator Shuffle’,

There was welcome news to please the fans of the late Jeff Healey, because there’s a new album coming with some new studio tracks and some live tracks. The album’s called ‘Holding On: A Heal My Soul Companion‘ . . . and we included a track from the album as a taster.

Mike Zito was back with another track from his new album ‘Make Blues Not War’ and the news that we may see him again soon as a member of The Royal Southern Brotherhood. We also dished up another helping from Portland Oregan band, The Rose City Kings with the title track of their latest album ‘A Love So Strong’. Then there was a treat for lovers of rolling piano boogie, with a number from piano maestro Davide Falconi and his Hot Boogie Trio.

Holding On
Alligator Shuffle – Lazy Lester (The Most Essential Louisiana Blues – 2014)
I Can’t Get My Hands On You – Jeff Healey (Holding On: A Heal My Soul Companion – 2016)
Bad News Is Coming – Mike Zito (Make Blues Not War- 2016)
I Got Mine – Pink Anderson
A Love So Strong – The Rose City Kings (A Love So Strong – 2016)
Johnnies’s Boogie – Davide Falconi’s Hot Boogie Trio (Into The Boogie – 2014)

Pinetop’s Pick
Packin’ My Bags – Errol Linton

Nothing But The Blues
The Blues, The Whole Blues & Nothing But The Blues – (The David Bromberg Band – 2016)
I Can Hear Your Heartbeat – Seppo Valjakka (Taking It Back – 2005)
Satisfaction Blues – Rufus & Ben Quillian (Please Warm My Weiner – 2005)
Hoodoo Man – Colin James (Blue Highway – 2016)
All The Way Down – Doghouse Blues Band (Everyday – 2016)
Love Gangster – Beth Hart (Fire On The Floor – 2016)
Birth Of The Blues – Deep Blue Sea (Hell Must Be Empty – 2016)

One of the joy’s of the week was the latest album by Philadelphia’s David Bromberg and his band, with its title track, a favourite song of mine by Jimmy Witherspoon. Another joy was rediscovering a long-time favourite album by guitarist Seppo Valjakka, ‘Taking It Back’ which is full of great tracks, including ‘I Can Hear Your Heartbeat’. I also included a very fine piece of 30s ragtime by Rufus & Ben Quillian, along with an old Junior Wells favourite from the current album by Colin James.

We had a very welcome addition to our music from Long Island band, The Dog House Blues Band and something else from her latest album by the excellent Beth Hart. All too soon it was nearly time to go, but we did squeeze in ‘Birth Of The Blues’ by Deep Blue Sea, with strong gutsy vocals from Muzz. Then it was time to thank you for your good company and invite you back again, same time, same place, next week. So, until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising radio
on 30 October 2016

Looka-looka-looka . . .

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

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The past week has been a little unpredictable, but with reassuring regularity the Cruise Mobile came rolling by with impeccable timing. The windows were down, the radio cranked up and, as was quickly evident, there was a cracking playlist to take us Cruising with The Commissioner.

Early in the playlist came Dr John reprising Junko Partner on his new album ‘Celebrating Mac & His Music’ and we could not resist digging out another variant of the song, this time from nonagenarian Chuck Berry with that familiar melody on his ‘Man & The Donkey’. Our rummaging in the Cruising Library surprised everyone by coming up with another track by The Texas Topcats that we didn’t know was there . . . so we dedicated ‘Jump My Baby’ to our good pal Wendel Williams and the rest of the band.

We get around a bit on our cruising adventures and this week we headed back to the Hawaiian islands, in the company of Johnny Madara, who co-wrote hits like ‘1-2-3’ for Len Barry, and ‘You Don’t Own Me’ for Lesley Gore, but on the way we gave a knock on the door of someone we know there. But, we set off on our adventure with a little 45 from The Pastels titled ‘Let’s Go To The Rock & Roll Ball’ . . .
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Let’s Go
Let’s Go To The Rock & Roll Ball – The Pastels
Oh Baby – Jimmy Preston & The Prestonians
Come Back Baby – King Perry
Bashful & Blue – Floyd Turnham & His Orchestra
Junko Partner – Dr John & George Porter Jr & Zigaboo Modeliste
Man & The Donkey – Chuck Berry
Jump My Baby – The Texas Topcats

Girls & Guitars
Google Me Baby – Debbie Davies

Lay It On
The Yea Yea Song – The Royaltones
Looka-Looka-Looka – Johnny Mabara
Billy The Kid – The Raves
Just Goofed – The Teen Queens
Lay It On – Eddie Cooley & The Dimples
Priscilla – The Four Jones Boys
Are You Satisfied – Toni Arden
Doodle Doo – The Gaylarks
Can’t Stop Movin’ – Johnny Chef
Tell Me Who – Mike Sanchez & His Band
Do Lord – Big Maybelle

We demonstrated our musical magpies tendencies on this cruise with a little gem by The Gaylarks, ‘borrowed’ from our good pal Jamie Dell’Apa . . . and we ‘borrowed’ again from Neil Pellegrin, who pointed us to The Raves.

Our Girls & Guitars feature took us to Los Angeles, where blues guitarist and singer, Debbie Davies was born and we celebrated her career with a laid back little offering of hers for those who wrestle with social media and its consequences . . . ‘Google Me Baby’.

But, while we were having fun, the end of the show crept up on us and we found ourselves heading for home with Big Maybelle and her powerhouse version of ‘Do Lord’. Then, we were parking up the Cruise Mobile for another week and hoping we can look forward to some more of your good company next week, when you can rely on us to be calling by in the trusty Cruise Mobile . . . same time, same place . . . with a seat saved especially for you. So, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 26 October 2016

Making Blues Not War

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

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Well, a big bluesy welcome from here and it’s been busy here with plenty of new releases to listen to and some rummaging in the archives for some past favourites and, perhaps, a forgotten gem. It all worked out well, so, if you like the blues, then you’re definitely in the right place, because we’ve got a whole hour of them now on The Blues Come Calling.

Featured among the new releases on this week’s playlist were Long Island band, The Dog House Blues Band with their latest album, ‘Everyday’, together with the excellent Beth Hart, with her very fine vocals with a song called ‘Love Is A Lie’ from her new album. Big thanks too for the delights of Oregon’s local band The Rose City Kings and their front man, Dan Berkery, for another great release, ‘A Love So Strong’ which includes our choice, ‘Just Like I Treat You’. But, before those, we kicked off with something from Mike Zito’s new album ‘Make Blues Not War’, followed by a preview of The Rolling Stones with their take on Howlin’ Wolf ‘s ‘Hate To See You Go’ . . .

Blue & Lonesome 
Route 90 – Mike Zito (Make Blues Not War- 2016)
Hate To See You Go – The Rolling Stones (Blue & Lonesome – 2016)
I Need You – Big Dave McLean (Better The Devil You Know – 2016)
Walter’s Jump – Little Walter (Live recording – 1967)
You Lie – Dr John & Warren Haynes (Celebrating Mac & His Music – 2016)
Done Somebody Wrong – The Allman Brothers (Live at Fillmore East -1971)
Just Like I Treat You – The Rose City Kings (A Love So Strong – 2016)

Pinetop’s Pick
Dorothy Mae – Gordon Smith (Takin’ Time/Down On Mean Streets – 2014)

All The Way Down
Tore Down – The King Brothers (Get Up & Shake It – 2016)
When The Welfare Turns It Back On You – Bernie Marsden (Green & Blues – 1995)
All The Way Down – Doghouse Blues Band (Everyday – 2016)
Love Is A Lie – Beth Hart (Fire On The Floor – 2016)
The Waiter – Deep Blue Sea (Hell Must Be Empty – 2016)
Stop Messin’ Around – Aerosmith (Honkin’ On Bobo – 2004)
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This week’s treat in Pinetop’s Pick came from bluesman Gordon Smith and we headed for the end of the show with stunning vocals from Muzz, fronting the band Deep Blue Sea on ‘The Waiter’, which you can find on their newly released album,‘Hell Must Be Empty’. Then, it was our last choice from Aerosmith, with their take on that Peter Green favourite ‘Stop Messin’ Around’.

Then it was time to, reluctantly, collect up the records and CDs and head for the door, but not before thanking you for your good company and hoping you enjoyed this week’s playlist sufficiently, to join us again, same time, same place, next week, with more great blues to share with you. So, until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
 on 23 October, 2016

That’s alright . . .

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

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Well, just lately, the world news seems to range from the bizarre to the decidedly unnerving. So, it was a relief to seek sanctuary in Cruise Control and get submerged in a little rummaging in the Cruising Library and some welcome listening to some old favourites and a few new arrivals (courtesy of our cheery postman), including a new album called ‘The Musical Mojo of Dr John’, from which we chose a collaboration with Tab Benoit.

While shuffling through the albums in the Cruising Library, one compilation, in particular, drew attention because it was issued by Top Cat Records and featured The Texas Topcats, a band that features our good pal Wendel Williams. So, no prizes for guessing it made it’s way into our playlist.

Thanks are also due to several folk who have directly or indirectly suggested choices for this week’s playlist and this week it was our good pals Jamie Dell’Apa and Phil Tyler, both prompted something by Danny Gatton. Our choice came with extra bonus points from Mrs TC, because it featured Danny’s rockabilly guitar and Delbert McClinton’s vocals. But, we kicked of down the road on our cruise with a little Fortune 45 from Tony Lee titled ‘Poppin’ Off’ . . .

Cruising With Topcats . . . .
Poppin’ Off – Tony Lee (Fortune)
Stack-A-Lee – Dr John & Tab Benoit
Sun Medley – Danny Gatton & Delbert McClinton
That’s Cold – The Texas Topcats

Girls & Guitars
Steamy Windows – Erja Lyttinen

Hear Me Now
Gidget Goes Hawaiian – James Darren
Hanky Panky – The Raindrops
Coconut Woman – Laurel Aitken
Susie Q – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith
Give It Up, Or Tell Where It’s At – Vince Monroe with Ernie Holland & His Orchestra
Hear My Plea – Arthur Gunter
Hear Me Now – Billy Lamont
It Should Have Been Me – Little George Benson
Ain’t No Big Deal On You – The Big Town Playboys
Gangster Of Love – Chris Farlowe
Got A Little Woman – Eddie Cooley & The Dimples

Well, we got a little carried away with our playlist and remembered, just in time, to pitch in some choice R&B numbers from UK artists, including The Big Town Playboys and London’s own Chris Farlowe.

There was an international flavour to our Girls & Guitars feature this week, because it focused on Finnish lady of the blues, Erja Lyytenen. She delivers some impressive slide guitar work and vocals that range from near pop numbers through to gutsy old style Chicago blues. We chose a track from her live album ‘Songs From The Road’ and Tony Joe White’s song ‘Steamy Windows’.
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Well, after an eventful cruise, Eddie Cooley & The Dimples brought us home safe and sound from our cruise and just in time to park up the Cruise Mobile for another week. Apart from pacifying our insurers about the dangerous dancing of Mr Merlot and The Cruisettes, we re-arranged the pending tray (which is getting a little more manageable).

So, it’s looking good for our next cruising escapade, when we hope to be ready for some more of your good company, when we swing by in the Cruise Mobile, same time, same place, next week, 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 19 October, 2016

Don’t Start Me Talkin’ . . .

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

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Well, we arrived with a big bluesy welcome and an armful of great new releases and a few ‘seasoned’ favourites from the dark, dusty corners of the archives here. There was the usual assurance that if you like the blues, then this was definitely the right place, because we had a whole hour of them on The Blues Come Calling.
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We lined up three ladies of the blues on our playlist, including Mary Jo Curry and two Finnish blues guitarists and vocalists, Erja Lyytinen and Maria Hanninen. There was a little scratchy blues from Texas bluesman, Little Brother Willie Lane, with his 1949 recording of ‘Howling Wolf Blues’ . . . and Howlin’ Wolf was in there too. But it all kicked off with ’You Can Have It Your Way’ by Thorbjorn Risager . . . who’s back in the UK on tour shortly . . . and well worth checking out . . . . 　

Have It Your Way
You Can Have It Your Way – Thorbjorn Risager (Live at Victoria – 2009)
Sugar Coated Love – Barry Goldberg (Blasts From My Past – 1971)
Steamy Windows – Erja Lyytinen (Songs From The Road – 2012)
Believe It – Marie Hanninen (Not Only But Also – 2009)
Little By Little – Mary Jo Curry (Mary Jo Curry – 2016)
Built For Comfort – Howlin’; Wolf (The London Sessions – 1971)
Howlin’ Wolf Blues – Willie Lane (Rural Blues – 1934-56)
Boogie Woogie Woman – Joe Bonamassa (Live at The Greek Theatre – 2016)

Pinetop’s Pick
Don’t Start Me Talkin’ – Jimmy Rodgers (Blues, Blues, Blues – 1970)

The Devil You Know
Angeline – Big Dave McLean (Better The Devil You Know – 2016)
Make Blues Not War – Mike Zito & The Wheel (Make Blues Not War – 2016)
Night-Time Gardner – Bobby Rush (with Keb Mo) (Porcupine Meat – 2016)
The Supernatural – Bernie Marsden (Green & Blues – 1995)
Just Your Fool – The Rolling Stones (Blue & Lonesome – 2016)

Big Dave McLean made a welcome arrival with a track titled Angeline’ from his new album called ‘Better The Devil You Know’. Great stuff, and we might just be returning to that one! We also slipped in something that’s definitely not released yet and not likely to be out until next month, this was Mike Zito with a song from his forthcoming album ‘Make Blues Not War’. Bobby Rush made an appearance with a funky blues number from his latest album and we were very pleased to hear from Bernie Marsden with one of excellent tracks on his tribute album to Peter Green, ‘Green & Blues’.

Maybe you too notice that, time slips away just a little too easily on this show, so before we collected up the records and CDs and headed for the door, we managed to squeeze in a preview of the Rolling Stones forthcoming album ‘Blue & Lonesome’ and their take on the Little Walter favourite ‘Just Your Fool’. Then it was all over.

So, until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 16 October 2016

No buts, no maybes . . .

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

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Well, the days are getting noticeably shorter here and spooky season is clearly heading our way, judging by the shelves in the shops around the Grand Duchy, but it’s a bit early for us. Instead, we entered the dark corners of the Cruising Library in search of those hidden gems and long lost treasures . . . and our dusty rummaging paid off, because we found some! There were also one or two very fine items that we picked up along the way from listening to our favourite radio shows.

We had a few ‘loose connections’, with a a New Orleans flavour and inspired by song we played recently by Diz & The Doormen. Then, we were doing some exotic cruising to Istanbul and on to the Hawaiian islands to knock on the door of someone we know there! Then there were a few surprises, with something from The Supremes . . . not the Motown group, but the original Supremes, who were students from Ohio’s East High School and recorded a few sides for Ace Records in 1957.

Other surprises came The Four Jones Boys and Slim Gaillard with their takes on Tutti Frutti . . . . but first on our cruising playlist this week was a something prompted by Jamie Dell’Apa . . . . The Blue Dots with their ‘Saturday Night Fish Fry’ . . . .

Cruising into the blue yonder . . . .
Saturday Night Fish Fry – The Blue Dots
Big Fat Mama – Chuck Higgins & The Mellotones
Little Demon – Screaming Jay Hawkins
Go On Fool – Smiley Lewis
No Buts, No Maybes – Professor Longhair
Bluecoat Man – Eddie Boyd
She Walks Right In – Diz & The Doormen
Soothe Me – The Sims Twins
That’s All I Need To Know – Sam Cooke
Shake A Hand – Little Richard

Girls & Guitars
She Just Wants To Dance – Gaye Adegbalola

At Grandma’s House
Istanbul – Bruno & The Gladiators
Hawaiian Rock – Tommy Sands
Zip Boom – The Columbus Supremes
Tutti Frutti – The Four Jones Boys
Tutti Frutti – Slim & Slam
Grandma’s House – Chris Kenner
Rocket To the Moon – The Traveling Brothers
Black Diamond – Roy Brown
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Our Girls & Guitars feature focused on singer and guitarist, Gaye Todd, (known now as Gaye Adegbalola) who was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia and began a teaching career, while moonlighting as a musician. She went on to become a full-time performer and founding member of Saffire – the Uppity Blues Women, and we played a fine piece of blues from her, called ‘She Just Wants To Dance’.

After an eventful cruise, Roy Brown brought us home safe and sound and just in time to park up the Cruise Mobile for another week. Apart from the tidying up after the Cruisettes’ dangerous dancing, we realised we needed to do something about the pending tray which was looking like a dangerous structure. But, hopefully, we’ll be ready for more of your good company, same time, same place, next week, when we swing 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 12 October, 2016

Penny loafers & bobby socks . . .

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

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Well, a big cheery welcome to another Rocking Tonight. We come to you again with arms full of rocking gems rescued from those dusty boxes in the corner. So, if you like some good rocking sounds, then you’re in luck, because there’s a whole hour of them here. We dipped in and out of the decades and may have had a few surprises along the way, including something from UK vocal group The Four Jones Boys with their cover of a famous song by Little Richard.

The girls were well represented with Alma Cogan, Noreen Corcoran, Ruth Brown, The Acorn Sisters and not forgetting Sylvia from the chart toppers, Mickey & Sylvia, who kicked the whole thing off with their 1957 45, ‘There’ll Be No Backing Out’. . . . and following up came a summertime serenade from Freddy Cannon with his 1962 Swan 45 ‘June, July & August’ . . . .

No Backing Out
There’ll Be No Backing Out – Mickey & Silvia
June, July & August – Freddy Cannon
Route 90 – Clarence Garlow
Just A Gigalo – The Slammers Maximum Jive
Stairway Of Love – Alma Cogan
Tutti Frutti – The Four Jones Boys
Blue Days Black Nights – Bob Luman

Doo Wop Stop
Heavenly Baby – Allen & Allen
Penny Loafers & Bobby Socks – The Southlanders

Cheer Up
Love Kitten – Noreen Corcoran
Cheer Up – The Five Fleets
Flat Top Cat – John Lewis & His Trio
Nervous – The Jets
Transfusion – Nervous Norvus
Don’t Be Angry – Nappy Brown
Fools Fall In Love – The Drifters
Why Me – Ruth Brown
Real Gone – The Acorn Sisters
Hey Little Lucy – Conway Twitty
Lovin’ Up A Storm – Jerry Lee Lewis
Every Little Girl – Dale Hawkins
Bye Bye Johnny – Chuck Berry

The time just flew by and all too soon it was looking like time to be winding up, but we managed to fit in Dale Hawkins’ nice little stroller, ‘Every Little Girl’ and then we were heading for the end of the show and doing it in great style in the company of Chuck Berry with the appropriately titled Bye Bye Johnny

Then it was all over . . . the rocking had to stop, at least until the next time, because well be back again next week with more arms full of great rocking numbers. So, until the next time we go Rocking Tonight . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising radio
on 12 October 2016

Got a mind to travel . . .

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

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Well a big bluesy welcome to another edition of The Blues Come Calling and we arrived with the usual armful of great blues. This week it including some welcome returns from Nikki James, Maria Hanninen and Fiona Boyes, along with some ‘seasoned’ blues from Delta Bluesman, Freddie Spruell, Eddie Boyd and Eddie Taylor. There were plenty of other treats like Val Starr & The Blues Rocket with their latest album, ‘Woman On A Mission’ and for those who like a little slide guitar, there was New Orleans slide guitarist and singer, Luke Winslow-King.

King King were back previewing their new Live album and there was a little Southern flavour from Johnny Neel, Tommy Lepson & Dave Chappell, who happen to blend together very nicely on their album ‘East Coast Sound’, but we got it all off to a swinging start with Coco Montoya with ‘I Got A Mind To Travel’

Let’s Go Riding
I Got A Mind To Travel – Coco Montoya (Songs From The Road – 2014)
Two Finger Handshake – The Alligators (Live At Lou’s – 2001)
I’m Your Child – Nikki James (The Album – 2015)
Let’s Go Riding – Freddie Spruell (Muddy Waters Blues – 2015)
Back To The River – Arrappaa Orchestra (On The Loose – 2015)
Nothing Without You – Johnny Neel, Tommy Lepson & Dave Chappell (East Coast Sound – 2016)
Bluecoat Man – Eddie Boyd (The Blues Is Here To Stay – 2013)

Pinetop’s Pick
Little Bitty Pretty One & Rockin’ Robin – Rod Piazza

Ride ‘Em On Down
Bad Shoes Blues – Val Starr & The Blues Rocket (Woman On A Mission – 2016)
Act Like You Love Me – Luke Winslow-King (I’m Glad Trouble Don’t Last Always – 2016)
Devil You Know – Fiona Boyes (Professing The Blues – 2016)
Ride ‘Em On Down – Eddie Taylor (Big Town Playboy – 2016)
Backseat Boogie – Mr Boogie Woogie (Absoo-Boogin’-Lootly – 2007)
Wait On Time – King King (King King Live – 2016)
Bayou Vista Blues – New Rock Ensemble (World Travel Series – 2011)
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Well, if you’ve been watching the media you’ll know that the forthcoming Blues album by The Rolling Stones includes Eddie Taylor’s ‘Ride ‘Em On Down’, so before all the hype really takes hold we dug out Eddie own version.

With a few gems saved for next week’s playlist, we were soon watching this week’s show drawn to a close and the chore of tidying up afterwards. But, if you want more, rest assured, all being well, we’ll be back again, same time, same place, next week. So, until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 9 October 2016

Way down inside . . .

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

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Well, the sunshine still made frequent visits to the Grand Duchy this week to cheer our days . . . . and didn’t they need cheering too! After wrestling with increasingly intermittent internet connections, our internet provider left us with no service for four days. All is still not fully restored, so the ill tempered conversations continue. But, despite that distraction, we still did our customary rummaging in the Cruising Library and didn’t come up empty handed, as you’ll see and hear!

There was some fine UK R&B from Diz & The Doormen and James Hunter and we found some nice popcorn numbers too, including numbers from Bill Haley, The Mustangs and Jimmy Ricks. We even took another trip around the islands, but first on our cruising playlist this week was the welcome return of guitar ace Lonnie Mack with an instrumental called ‘Coastin’ and there was a loose connection or two with the following tracks featuring Bluesmaster Freddy King, New Orleans’ own Tommy Ridgley and Lloyd Price.

Coastin’ . . .
Coastin’ – Lonnie Mack
Double Eyed Whammy – Freddy King
I Got My Eyes On You – Tommy Ridgley
Baby Please Come Home – Lloyd Price
Go On Fool – Diz & The Doormen
Way Down Inside – James Hunter
Chick Safari – Bill Haley

Girls & Guitars
This Boy Is Mine – The MonaLisas

I Don’t Want To Sit Down
Let’s Talk Dirty In Hawaiian – Those Darlin’s
My Sharona – Skaos
Where’s My Money – Willie Jones
But You – Little Grier
Topsy ’65 – The Mustangs
Bad Man Of Missouri – Jimmy Ricks & The Suburbans
Incense – The Anglos
Oh Mom (Teach Me How To Uncle Willie) – The Daylighters
I Don’t Want To Sit Down – O.V. Wright
Lillie Mae – The Good Fellas
I’ll Do It – Shirley & Lee

Our Girls & Guitars feature this week brought some double bubble, because it’s spotlight fell on two girls with guitars, who are twins named Mona and Lisa. They were originally from Austria, and after performing in America, Australia and the UK, they settled in Liverpool, playing local clubs like The Cavern and touring further afield. The MonaLisas have recently produced an EP which includes our choice, a little number called ‘This Boy Is Mine’.

The fun and frolics at Cruise Control are probably best left to the imagination (or maybe even that’s too much). But, the sands of time were running just a little too fast for our liking and too soon, we had to turn the Cruise Mobile for home. However, we did manage to squeeze in Shirley & Lee to take us home with ‘I’ll Do It’. . . and we arrived back safe and sound with an enthusiastic invitation to come back again next week, same time, same place, when we’ll call 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 5 October 2016

Can’t quit the blues . . .

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

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Well a big bluesy welcome to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling. . . and it comes packed with some fine new releases, some scratchy blues and some Chicago blues, all blended (hopefully) into a whole hour of the best of the blues around.

Meanwhile, we’re still enjoying the previews of the new Live album by King King. It’s their first live album, recorded in Glasgow, and featuring some familiar songs from their recent set-lists. Another forthcoming release comes from The Charlie Wheeler Band, called ‘Blues Karma & The Kitchen Sink’ and ‘People Keep Talkin’ was the track of choice (this time around). For those who like down-home rootsy blues, there was something to savour in the recent album by Virginian band Hard Swimmin’ Fish. Their album ‘True Believer’ demonstrates some hints of Howlin’ Wolf, R.L. Burnside, plus some spicy New Orleans flavours and plenty of original numbers too.

We also previewed the new album by Colin James ‘Blues Highways’ with his ‘Bad Road Blues’, but before that, everything got kicked off with a great opener from The Bad Pennies and their ‘Empty Arms’

Get Gone
Empty Arms – The Bad Pennies (Turned Up Again – 2016)
Bad Road Blues – Colin James (Blues Highways – 2016)
Harmonica Girl – Paula Rangall (Blues Harp Woman – 2015)
Get Gone – Hard Swimmin’ Fish (True Believer – 2016)
People Keep On Talkin’ – The Charlie Wheeler Band (Blues Karma & The Kitchen Sink -2016)
Frankie – Mississippi John Hurt (Columbia Original Masters – 1996)
Wrapped Around My Heart – Mary Jo Curry (Mary Jo Curry – 2016)

Pinetop’s Pick
My Next Ex Wife – Little Charlie & The Nightcats (Night Vision – 1993)

Can’t Quit The Blues
Mystified – Vaneese Thomas (The Long Journey Home – 2016)
How Long – Tasha Taylor (Honey For The Biscuit – 2016)
Dollar Bill Boogie – Big Joe Duskin (Cincinnati Stomp – 1995)
Lose Control – King King (Live – 2016)
You Can Have It Your Way – Thorbjorn Risager (Between Rock & Some Hard Blues – 2013)
When The Cat’s Away – Junior Wells (Blues Harp Hero – 2006)
Can’t Quit The Blues – The Lara Price Band (Faces Of The Blues – 2003)
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This week’s digging in the archives came up with a little scratchy blues
from Mississippi John Hurt from 1928. It’s a song that we know it best as ‘Frankie & Johnny’, but it started out being called ‘Frankie & Albert’ or, in this case, just ‘Frankie’. The song was inspired by at least one actual murder in St Louis, involving Frankie Baker who shot her lover Albert Britt when he’d been out dancing with Nelly Bly.

The ladies of the blues got a good look in this week, with tracks from Mary Jo Curry, Vaneese Thomas, Tasha Taylor and Lara Price. We also had an early celebration of Thorbjorn Risager’s welcome return to the UK on another tour soon. So, if that all sounded good to you, perhaps you can be enticed back again next week and maybe give us some feedback to. Until the next time The Blues Come Calling, remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising radio
on 2 October 2016