Blues been good to me . . .

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

.
Well, it may the season to be spooky, but we avoided the temptation to pull out those bluesy numbers about witches, spells and ghosts. Instead, we came loaded with plenty of great bluesy numbers and a big bluesy to welcome to one and all to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling.

We kicked off proceedings with Peter Green, who was celebrating his birthday this week, and one of Fleetwood Mac’s classic numbers, which has popped up again on the new collection ‘The Best of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac’, along with some other great favorites. If you’re a fan of the early Fabulous Thunderbirds recordings then Kim Wilson’s new album, “Blues And Boogie, Vol. 1,” will be a sheer joy, because he’s returned with some great blues harp in that early style. If classic Chicago blues is ‘your thing’, then the latest album from John Primer and Bob Corritore ‘Ain’t Nothing You Can Do’ is good stuff indeed and well worth checking out.

California blues man James Armstrong has just released his fourth album, “Blues Been Good To Me”, featuring a mix of originals and a couple of great covers. We chose the title track from the album, but there’s plenty more, so we may return. Another album that we’re sure to revisit comes from Boston band, Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers. Their second full-length album, ‘Big Road’ has been getting plenty of plays here, since it arrived and not surprising with its great mix of boogie, funky blues and some fine acoustic delta and piedmont blues, all mixed with some great electric side guitar from Erin herself.

Apart from our opener from Fleetwood Mac, there were other ‘returners’ this week, including some more fine acoustic blues from Jim Byrnes’ upcoming album ‘Long Hot Summer Days’ by Jim Byrnes. Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa returned with a real tour de force on a great Freddie King favourite that they recorded live in Amsterdam in 2014.

Anywhere The Wind Blows
Stop Messing Around – Fleetwood Mac (The Best Of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac – 2017)
Edgier – Kim Wilson (Blues & Boogie, Vol. 1 – 2017)
Blues Been Good To Me – James Armstrong (Blues Been Good To Me – 2017)
Anywhere The Wind Blows – Jim Byrnes (Long Hot Summer Days – 2017)
May I Have A Talk With You – John Primer & Bob Corritore (Ain’t Nothing You Can Do – 2017)
Someday After A While (You’ll Be Sorry) – Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa (Live In Amsterdam – 2014)
Voodoo Blues – Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers (Big Road – 2017)

Pinetop’s Pick
Bloody Murder – Mike Henderson & The Bloodhounds (First Blood – 1996)

Hideaway Blues
Hideaway Blues – Fats Domino (The Complete Imperial Singles – 2017)
You Know How I Lie – The McKee Brothers (Moon Over Montgomery – 2017)
Until Then I’ll Suffer – Liza Ohlback (Give You Hell – 2017)
Ain’t That Loving You – Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters (Luckiest Man – 2017)
Albert’s Alley – Bondi Cigars (Down In The Valley – 2001)

The sad passing of the great Fats Domino this week inspired some digging in his catalogue for a little blues. In the end, we chose his self penned number ‘Hide Away Blues’. He cut this at his 1^st recording session on December 10^th 1949 at Cosimo Matassa’s studios in New Orleans and it has reappeared recently on a collection titled ‘The Complete Imperial Singles’ . . . . a good primer for your collection.

The new blues keeps coming and very welcome it is too. This week we chose a track from the newly released second album, ‘Moon Over Montgomery’, by multi-instrumentalists, The McKee Brothers, featuring a mighty impressive array of other top notch players from Los Angeles and Michigan.

There was a treat for those who like their blues smooth and relaxed, and it came from award winning Australian lady of the blues, Liza Ohlback. There’s plenty of variety on her latest album ‘Give You Hell’ and all well worth a listen, but one track really caught my ear . . . the very fine, ‘Until Then I’ll Suffer’. Not straying too far in style and feel, there was a taster of the 25^th album by Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, titled ‘Luckiest Man’ and a big thanks to Stony Plain Records for an early copy. We played ‘Ain’t That Loving You‘ with some lovely vocals from Diane Blue.

While we weren’t watching, time caught up with us. But, we were ready to play out with Australian Blues and Roots band, Bondi Cigars and ‘Albert’s Alley’ from their award winning album Down in the Valley. Then, as we collected up our records and CDs and got ready head for the door, we thanked everyone for their good company on this week’s show and left the invitation to return again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . remember . . . .have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 29 October 2017

So far out we’re in . . .

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

.
Well, it crept up on us from behind, but the social diary this week seems to be jammed with events that leave little time for rummaging in the Cruising library for those lost and forgotten gems that we enjoy together. But, we did get there in the end and didn’t come away empty handed, as you’ll hear on this week’s Cruising with the Commissioner.

We started off with a sad and final farewell to that pioneer of great rhythm and blues and rock and roll, Fats Domino. He’s no longer with us but his music lives on and with great affection we played ‘All By Myself. Then, we headed on down the road with The Five Keys with their 1958 Capitol 45, ‘You’re For Me’, followed by Georgia Gibbs with her great 1957 cover of the Killer’s ‘Great Balls Of Fire’. Then, there was a big thanks to Larry Grogan and his Funky 16 Corners Show for pointing us to The Valtairs with one of their two 45’s for Selsom Records, called ‘The Kokomo’.

We had an adventure with some tippity top rockabilly, which started with Dutch singer Jack Jersey and his 1977 single ‘She Was Dynamite’, which reminded us of a Bob Dylan song given a rockabilly flavour by The Loan Sharks and guaranteed to go down well with our good pals Johnny99 and The Spinmeister. We got plenty of enthusiastic nods and smiles this end for The Di Maggio Brothers with their great rockabilly treatment of ‘Every Breath You Take’, which led neatly to an inventive version of a Pink Floyd number by our favourite Bristol band, Redhouse . . . who we’re due to see very soon for a rather special event.

Down Along The Cove
Neckbones & Hot Sauce – L. Anderson & The Tornadoes
You’re For Me – The Five Keys
Great Balls Of Fire – Georgia Gibbs The Kokomo – The Valtairs
She Was Dynamite – Jack Jersey
Down Along The Cove – The Loan Sharks
Every Breath You Take – The Di Maggio Brothers
Another Brick In The Wall – Redhouse
She’s So Far Out She’s In – The Power Plant ft. Freddie May (Diamond)1967

Girls & Guitars
I Wish I Was In Memphis – Sally-Anne Whitten

Our Favourite Things
Cupid – Sam & Dave
Bird Dog – The Newbeats
Tell Him No – Dean and Marc
It’s My Own Business – The Balham Alligators
Our Favourite Things – Los Pacaminos
There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis – The Tex Pistols
Same Old Story – Dave Ferrato
.
This week’s Girls & Guitars feature focused on Australian, Sally-Anne
Whitten. She hails from New South Wales and has developed a blend of swampy blues, R&B and southern rock, which were well demonstrated with our choice, ‘I Wish I was In Memphis’ from her 2012 album ‘Sell My Soul’.

The Newbeats had many hits, but amongst their catalogue we found their take on a well known Everly Brothers song and it prompted a story about the Newbeats, who were Larry Henley and brothers Dean and Mark Mathis. The Mathis brothers had previously been members of Dale Hawkin’s band and back in 1959, they spent 8 weeks in the charts with their version of ‘Tell Him No’, which was an even bigger hit for Travis and Bob.

Now, our up-coming giglist includes one of our favourite UK Tex-Mex bands and it inspired a little selection of some excellent Tex-Mex numbers by UK bands . . . and good stuff it was too, kicking off with the much revered Balham Alligators with ‘It’s My Own Business’, followed by ‘Our Favourite Things’ from Los Pacaminos and all wrapped up by a UK band called the Tex Pistols with their take on the great Kirsty McColl number, ‘There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis’. More than enough to please our good pals Pete & Diane and the much esteemed Arfa Pinetop. Then all too soon, we had to turn the Cruise Mobile for home in the very good company of New Orleans’ own Dave Ferrato.

When we arrived home from our musical adventure, Mr Merlot was far from happy about missing out on our Doo Wop Stop this week, but fortunately, he had lots of fun and frolics during our UK Tex Mex selection. So,after we parked up the trusty Cruise Mobile, he was there with The Cruisettes smiling and waving a fond farewell. Of course, we are ever hopeful that you enjoy our adventure together enough to come back again next week for another chance to go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 25 October 2017

Check yourself . . .

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

.
As ever, we turned up with plenty of tasty treats for this week’s playlist and all guaranteed to make it an hour of the best of the blues. . . . which is what you always get when The Blues Come Calling. This week we kicked off with Travis Haddix and a great number, ‘Rough Side Drag’, from his new album ‘Company Is Coming’, then it was ‘See See Baby’ from the much played album by Benny Turner ‘My Brothers Blues’.

If you’ve been waiting on the return of Eric Gales to these shores, then you’d better be checking his latest UK tour dates, because he’s back now and it proved a good excuse to revisit his ‘Middle Of the Road’ album, which we did with ‘Change In Me’. Meanwhile, our trawl of the latest blues releases turned up a few gems this week, including some down home acoustic blues from Brooklyn’s Likho Duo with ‘Derby Street Blues’, the great opener to their album ‘Blues & The World Beyond’. Then, we caught up with Van Morrison‘s cover of Bo Diddley’s ‘I Can Tell’, which is now a single taken from his new album ‘Roll With Punches’ and for more about Van, check out Thom Hickey’s ‘Immortal Jukebox’ . ‘I Can Tell’ was not the only Bo Diddley number featured on Van’s album, so I thought we should give a spin to Mr Diddley’s original of version of ‘Ride on Josephine’.

If there happen to be gaps in your collection of Lowell Fulsom recordings, then you really should check out the new compilation titled ‘50 Best Hits’, which has plenty of familiar tracks, including our choice, ‘Check Yourself’. Then, for the scratchy blues fans, we featured something that Sonny Boy Williamson 1 recorded at the Leland Hotel, in Aurora, Illinois some 80 years ago, ‘I’m Tired Of Trucking My Blues Away’.

Ride On
Rough Side Drag – Travis Haddix (Company Is Coming – 2017)
See See Baby – Benny Turner (My Brothers Blues – 2017)
Change In Me – Eric Gales (Middle Of The Road)
I’m Tired Of Trucking My Blues Away – Sonny Boy Williamson 1 (The Ultimate Jazz Archive 13 – 2017)
Derby Street Blues – Likho Duo (Blues & The World Beyond – 2017)
Check Yourself – Lowell Fulsom (50 Best Hits – 2017)
I Can Tell – Van Morrison (Roll With The Punches – 2017)
Ride On Josephine – Bo Diddley (Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger – 1960)

Pinetop’s Pick
Key To The Highway – John Hammond (The Best Of John Hammond – 2006)

Chicago Express
Something I’ve Done – Downchild Blues Band (Something I’ve Done – 2017)
I Put A Spell On You – Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings (My King & Queen – 2017)
Bluesmobile – Mitch Woods & Kenny Neal (Friends Along The Way – 2017)
Wait Til The Last Bullet Falls – Dai & The Ramblers (Bon Bon – 2017)
Come Wit Me – Jarekus Singleton (Refuse To Lose – 2014)
I Don’t Want To Know – Wee Willie Walker (After A While – 2017)
Chicago Express – Mitch Woods & James Cotton (Friends Along The Way – 2017)

The new album by The Downchild Blues Band, ‘Something I’ve Done’ gave us its title track as a taster of the rest of the album and we followed that with something from the forthcoming vinyl box set by Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. It’s titled ‘My King & Queen’, and has the Rhythm Kings behind 43 duets by Georgie Fame and Beverley Skeete, so there’s plenty to savor.

Now, if you’ve been following the new blues releases over the past few weeks, you’re sure to have spotted the new album by Mitch Woods, titled ‘Friends Along The Way’ and as you might guess, in addition to Mitch on piano, it has an impressive list of guests. In the end, we chose Kenny Neal with Mitch Woods track, ‘Bluesmobile’. Then, it was back to the UK for London band, Dai & The Ramblers with their latest release on Just Peachy Records called ‘Bon Bon’, which includes a thoughtful little song, ’Wait ‘Til The Last Bullet Falls’. We caught up with the Blue Dot album ‘After A While’ by Wee Willie Walker along with the Anthony Paul Soul Orchestra, who’s been doing rather well in the blues charts lately.

All too soon, the clock said we were running out of time, so we’re played out this week with another number from that album by Mitch Woods. This time, it featured the great harp playing of James Cotton on ‘Chicago Express’. Before which, we said our farewells and until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 22 October 2017

What does it take . . .

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

.
Well, it’s been strange week . . . unusually warm days and evenings, eerie orange glow skies, to say nothing of recent world events. But, none of that deterred us from our enthusiastic preparations for this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner.

Now, you might be under the impression that we aim for some sort of themed co-ordination in the collection of music for our Cruising playlists, but the reality is that it’s usually a pretty haphazard approach. This week proved to be inspired by a whole series of unrelated influences, that came together like a collection of post it notes . . . . of course Mr Merlot is not surprised at all. 

Last week’s show inspired the opener to this week’s show from Louis Jordan called The Slop. Then, with some squeals from the wheels we headed off down the road with Lucky Carmichael with his 1962 PAM record label ‘Hey Girl’. While looking for something else in the Cruising Library, up popped a 1955 Spark record by ‘Mister Ruffin’, better known as “Riff” Ruffin and a one time guitarist in Elmore James band. So, that went into the playlist too.

Now, those with excellent taste in music, may have caught up with The Shake’s Out of Sight Show, where he did his bit for international relations by playing something from Italian songstress, Caterina Caselli and it inspired us to see what else she may have recorded . . . and there’s a lot, including our choice, her take on ‘Paint It Black’. Our international influences were evident too, with Netherlands band, Dee’s Honeytones and something from their album ‘Hot Damn’.

East Coast band the Starjays were in the mix, as well as, New York, eight-piece Rhythm & Blues band, The Big Heat and they were in very good company this week with Mike Sanchez and his band, who were on our giglist doing some great R&B at London’s 100 Club.

Bring It On Back
The Slop – Louis Jordan
Hey Girl – Lucky Carmichael
Bring It On Back – Mister Ruffin
Oh Baby – Dee’s Honeytones
I’ll Wait – The Starjays
Paint It Black (Tutto Nero) – Caterina Caselli
Will Call – The Big Heat
One More Kiss – Mike Sanchez & His Band
Blue & Lonesome – Jimmie Lee with Jay Franks & His Rockets of Rhythm

Girls & Guitars
Stagolee – Rory Block
 
I Had A Thrill
Bad Boy – Robin Luke
Susie Darlin’ – Robin Luke
Part Of A Fool – Robin Luke
I Had A Thrill – The Cherokees
Baby Droptop – The Fabulous Pearls
What Does It Take – Chuck Carbo
Hum Baby – Little Jerry Williams
No Particular Place To Go – Chuck Berry
.
This week’s Girls and Guitars feature focused it’s spotlight on Princeton born, Rory Block, who honed her craft in the company of some very notable players in and around the clubs and coffee houses of California. She’s released numerous acclaimed albums and we chose a track from her album, dedicated to Mississippi John Hurt with its fine example Rory’s great vocals and nice guitar work.

Our good pal Amigo, came back after last weeks show with some fascinating feedback on our profile of Big Jim Sullivan. Not only did Amigo point us to a missing Welsh connection, but also an obscure Hawaiian connection. So, to calm any protest by Welsh activists, we confirmed that Big Jim Sullivan did indeed play on many Tom Jones recordings and for 5 years in the early 70s, Big Jim performed on stage with Tom Jones at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The Hawaiian connection came from a cover of Marty Wilde’s UK hit ‘Bad Boy’, which featured Jim Sullivan’s guitar work and got covered, with some success, by Hawaiian star Robin Luke. That led us to another little post it note, this time about talent spotter and promoter, Kimo Wilder McVay, who proved to be a fascinating fella.

We managed to fit in our Doo Wop Stop, featuring Philadelphia group The Cherokees, along with The Fabulous Pearls, who recorded ‘Baby Droptop’ for Dootone records back in 1959, but for some reason it didn’t get released back then and we’d love to know why . . . . so if you know, do tell! Then, we found time running out on us, so while Little Jerry Williams was singing ‘Hum Baby’, we turned the Cruise Mobile for home and we got all the way home in the company of Chuck Berry and his quintessential cruising song, ‘No Particular Place To Go’. Then, we parked up the Cruise mobile ready for our next musical adventure. So, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 18 October 2017

We’re all in this together . . .

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

.
Well, a big bluesy welcome to another hour of the best of the blues, which is what you always get when The Blues Come Calling. It all kicked off with a familiar face from around New Orleans, Smoky Greenwell and his very fine version of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Higher Ground’.

Now, our giglist this week had some stunning shows, including the amazing Kara Grainger, who’s been a very welcome visitor to the UK recently and got plenty of encouragement from your truly and the rest of a very enthusiastic crowd, including our regular guest Arfa Pinetop. Another name from our giglist this week was Walter Trout whose enthusiasm and inspired playing at his London gigs led to him breaking guitar strings on three consecutive numbers, but it didn’t stop him delivering a breathtaking set on stage, as well as offering some thoughtful comments on life, love and current events.

We are still enjoying some of the new blues releases and we’ve been playing our way through them, including new albums by The Norman Beaker Band (‘We See Us Later’), Kentucky band Black Stone Cherry (‘Black To Blues’), Laurence Jones (‘The Truth’), Australian band, Kings & Associates (‘Tales From A Rich Girl’), Californian Tommy Castro (‘Stompin’ Ground’) and Chris Daniels & The Kings (‘Blues With Horns’). They all got into this week’s selection.

Higher Ground
Higher Ground – Smoky Greenwell (Classic Smoke – 2005)
Only I Got What The Other Guys Want – The Norman Beaker Band (We See Us Later – 2017)
Breaking Up Somebody’s Home – Kara Grainger (Shiver & Sigh – 2013)
I’m Leaving You – Tail Dragger (Howlin’ At Greaseland – 2017)
Back To New Orleans – Lightning Hopkins (Lightning – 1992)
Sticks & Stones – Tommy Castro & The Painkillers (Stompin’ Ground – 2017)
Greens & Barbeque – Micki Free (Tattoo Burn – 2017)

Pinetop’s Pick
Broken Down Engine – Blind Willie McTell

Truth Be Told
I Want To Be Loved – Black Stone Cherry (Black To Blues – 2017)
Can’t Go On Without You – Laurence Jones (The Truth – 2017)
Truth Be Told – Kings & Associates (Tales Of A Rich Girl -2017)
I Just Wanna Make Love To You – Brigitte Purdy (I Just Wanna Make Love To You – 2015)
Sweet Memphis – Chris Daniels & The Kings (Blues With Horns – 2017)
Stormy Monday – James Booker (The Lost Paramount Tapes – 1997)
Gonna Hurt Like Hell – Walter Trout & Kenny Wayne Shepherd (We’re All In This Together – 2017)
Okie Dokie Stomp – Johnny Winter (Live Bootleg Vol 4 – 2009)

For those who enjoyed our recent dip into the West Tone compilation ‘Howlin’ At Greaseland’, we came back with another of its 10 Howlin’ Wolf numbers, this time from Tail Dragger. We also kept our promise to bring you more good stuff by Brigitte Rios Purdy . . . and we delivered on that promise with her 2015 version of ‘I Just Wanna Make Love To You’.

Now, for those who like their blues ‘seasoned’, we featured Texas bluesman, Lightning Hopkins, with his 1962 recording ‘Back To New Orleans’, which we know better by another name. Pinetop’s Pick this week brought us ‘Broken Down Engine’ by Blind Willie McTell and those who like great rolling piano playing had a real treat with the much admired James Booker and his 1973 version of ‘Stormy Monday’.

Micki Free returned to our playlist this week with ‘Greens & Barbeque’ from his album ‘Tattoo Burn’ and, all too soon, we ran out of time, so as we collected up the records and CDs to head for the door, we said our farewells and played out this week with something from the late great Johnny Winter. So, until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 15 October 2017

Look who’s on the show tonight . . .

Tune in on TuneIn: http://tunein.com/radio/Cruising-Radio-UK-s267047/

@KingsandAssoc @KaraGrainger1 ChrisandKings @waltertrout @Laurencemusic
@BlkStoneCherry @MickiFree @SmokyGreenwell @brigitteriospurdy @ChrisDaniels @TommyCastro

Stand up and say that . . .

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

.
Well, for all those who arrived with perfect timing, as the Cruise Mobile rolled by, there was an enthusiastic invitation to jump aboard and sit back, ready to go Cruising with The Commissioner. For this week’s musical adventure to ‘who knows where’ with ‘you know who’, our playlist included a few Louis Jordan numbers, inspired by the London show ‘Five Guys Named Mo’ and featuring not only Mr Jordan himself, but also names like Si Cranstoun, Titus Turner & Netherlands band, 44 Shakedown.

Well, just lately, the airwaves have carried a few mentions of legendary UK guitarist Big Jim Sullivan and it inspired a little digging in the Cruising Library to find some of his stuff . . . and we did! Indeed, there’s plenty of it, because he recorded with many groups, as well as some solo stuff, but he’s probably best remembered as a very busy session guitarist during the 50s and 60s. So, there’s plenty to choose from . . . . and we pulled out examples of Jim’s work with Marty Wilde’s band, the Wildcats, the renamed Krew Kats, playing with Gene Vincent on a BBC ‘Saturday Club’ session, and as resident house band guitarist on Jack Good’s TV Show Oh Boy.
.
It’s claimed that Big Jim Sullivan was the first to record using a wah wah pedal on records by The Krew Kats, Michael Cox and Dave Berry, as well as getting in early with his fuzz box guitar sound on a PJ Proby recording. Big Jim was very busy in recording studios in the early 60s and he can be heard on over 1000 hits of the day, including numbers by Dusty Springfield, Georgie Fame, Chris Farlowe, The Kinks, Herman’s Hermits, Freddie & The Dreamers, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and many more. If you listen to Amazing Blondel’s first album, you’ll hear more of Big Jim’s playing, as well as on the theme music to Clockwork Orange and on Frank Zappa’s album 200 Motels.
.
For nine years, Big Jim was a member of the James Last Orchestra, but was still recording with others and, not satisfied with being a guitar wizard, Big Jim taught himself to play the sitar and went on to record two albums of sitar music. As the years passed by, Jim started to diversify in record production and collaborated with some other notable names to record album’s under band names like Tiger and Green Bullfrog. Although Big Jim Sullivan is no longer with us in person, his music is still being played.

Knocked Out
Knocked Out – Ernie Fields & His Orchestra
Push Ka Pi Shi Pie – Louis Jordan
Big Bess – Si Cranstoun
Ella Mae – 44 Shakedown
Nosey Joe – Dana Gillespie

Girls & Guitars
That’s My Advice – Val Starr & The Blues Rocket

Cruising with Big Jim Sullivan
Bad Boy – Marty Wilde & The Wildcats
Trambone – The Krew Kats
Summertime – Gene Vincent & The Krew Kats
Stand Up And Say That – The Nashville Five
Out Of Time – Chris Farlowe
Candyman – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes
Yeh Yeh – Georgie Fame Sunshine Superman – Big Jim Sullivan
Who Do You Love – Green Bullfrog

Get Closer
Get Closer – The Starjays
Knock Me A Kiss – Titus Turner
Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie – Louis Jordan

This week’s Girls & Guitars feature threw its spotlight on California girl, Val Starr. She started singing and playing guitar at the age 12 and by the time her family moved to Sacramento, Val was already been singing and playing in local bands. In 2010, she decided to start her own blues band, The Blues Rocket. They’ve released four albums to date and we chose ‘That’s My Advice’ from their 2014 album “Blues Away”.

As East Coast band the Starjays were playing ‘Get Closer’ from their first album called ‘Bang It’s The Starjays’, Mr Merlot was looking anxiously at the clock. So as we turned the Cruise Mobile for home, we heard a little more from Louis Jordan. Firstly, from Titus Turner with his version of a song also recorded by Mr Jordan and then from the great Louis Jordan himself, bringing us home safe and sound with ‘Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie’.

There was plenty more great music that didn’t get played this week, so we’re well prepared for the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 11 October, 2017

Riding in the moonlight . . .

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

.
Well, a big bluesy welcome to another hour of the best of the blues, here at The Blues Come Calling and we came ready with a armful of new releases, as well as a couple of ‘seasoned’ favorites. We kicked off this week with ‘Enough Is Enough’ a track from the excellent new album ‘Stompin’ Ground’ by Tommy Castro & The Painkillers and followed up with Chattanooga native Corey Dennison and his Band with ‘Strange Things Are Happening’ from their new self-titled Delmark album.

If your taste in blues includes classic blues with a blues/rock flavor, then Kentucky band Black Stone Cherry are well worth a listen. We played their take on Muddy Waters’ ‘Champagne & Reefer’ off of their latest album, titled ‘Black To Blues’. Meanwhile, Dave Hunt made a welcome return with his new 6 track EP, titled ‘Shades Of Grey’ and a track that caught my ear . . . this is ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’.

Now, if you’re a Howlin’ Wolf fan, we gave you a couple of tracks from the compilation ‘Howlin’ At Greaseland’ on West Tone Records created by some contemporary West Coast blues players, who are clearly fans of the Wolf too. They’ve recorded 10 of Wolf’s most famous cuts for this album and we chose two.

Well, there’s great voice and it belongs to Brigitte Rios Purdy, who released that track back in 2015 and I’m grateful to DJ Suzy and her Tuesday Indie Blues Show here for pointing me to that one. . . .  a little self penned song by Brigitte about B.B. King’s guitar, Lucille . . . . and there’s more good stuff by Brigitte which we’ll save for another show

It’s Not Me, It’s You
Enough Is Enough – Tommy Castro & The Painkillers (Stompin’ Ground – 2017)
Strange Things Are Happening – Corey Dennison Band (Corey Dennison Band – 2017)
Howlin’ For My Darlin’ – Terry Hanck (Howlin’ At Greaseland – 2017)
I’m A Bluesman – Juke Boy Bonner (Top 40 Blues – 2014)
Lucille Don’t Weep – Brigitte Purdy (Lucille Don’t Weep – 2015)
It’s Not Me, It’s You – Dave Hunt (Shade Of Grey – 2017)
Champagne & Reefer – Black Stone Cherry (Black To Blues – 2017)

Pinetop’s Pick
Seminole Blues – Tampa Red (Anna Lou Blues – 2017)

All That’s Good
All That’s Good – Kings & Associates (Tales Of A Rich Girl -2017)
The Devil’s Daughter – Eric Burdon & The Animals (1983)
Never Good Enough – Laurence Jones (The Truth – 2017)
Riding In The Moonlight – John Blues Boyd (Howlin’ At Greaseland – 2017)
Suranne Suranne – Ten Years After (Ten Years After 1967-1974 – 2017)
El Medio Stomp – Kirk Fletcher (My Turn – 2010)

For the fans of scratchy blues we dipped back into the catalogue of one man band Juke Boy Bonner for his aptly titled number ‘I’m A Bluesman’. Then, our regular guest brought us a gem from Tampa Red. We also took the opportunity to pick a track from the new collection titled Eric Burdon & The Animals, which includes Eric at his bluesy best with ‘Devil’s Daughter’.

To cheer us, the new blues releases keep coming and something that caught my ear this past week was Australian band, Kings & Associates with their new album, “Tales From A Rich Girl”. It’s not all blues, but we played ‘All That’s Good’, a good example of what they can do with a bluesy number. Now, Laurence Jones has been on our giglist a few times, so we were keen to bring you something from his new album ‘ The Truth’ . . . and we did! Another promise met was to return to the new box set from Ten Years After for ‘Suranne Suranne’. Then, a glance at the clock confirmed it was time to collect up the records and CDs and get ready to head for the door, but we found time to play out this week with Kirk Fletcher’s ‘El Medio Stomp’. So, until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 8 October 2017

The party’s going on . . .

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

.
If you were looking for a distraction from the unnerving events and sad moments of this week, then you might have been very pleased to find the trusty Cruise Mobile rolling along at the appointed hour. As ever, it arrived with the windows down the radio right up and a seat saved especially for you. So, after a big cheery welcome there was the customary invitation to jump aboard to go Cruising with the Commissioner.
.
We set off on our musical adventure this week with Swedish band Nosey Joe & The Pool Kings with a rocking little number titled ‘Club Jump’, which heralded not only a European theme to our choices, but a special feature too. This week we decided to feature on one of the UK’s notable independent record labels, Immediate, and a selection of tracks from their single releases.

After Sweden’s Nosey Joe & The Pool Kings, our R&B choices ranged from Netherlands band, Dee’s Honeytones, to the UK’s amazing Si Cranstoun, then another Swedish band, The Beat From Palookaville, followed by German band Cherry Casino & The Gamblers. We went dipping back a few years for something from one of the instantly recognisable voices of the UK 60s, Helen Shapiro, who had her first chart success at the age of 14. If you want to know more about her, check out Thom Hickey’s blog the ‘Immortal Jukebox’, which celebrates her career and her recent birthday. Then, we closed our European choices with UK 8 piece band, The Big Heat, who proved they can do some great swinging R&B that can excites some rhythmic movement, with numbers like, ‘Slowly Losing My Mind’.
.
This week’s Girls & Guitars feature also had a European flavour, with its spotlight on an all girl band from Liverpool, The Liverbirds. They were one of the few female Merseybeat bands of the 60s and featured two singer/guitarists in their line up, Valerie Gell and Pamela Birch, along with bassist Mary McGlory and drummer Sylvia Saunders. During their time together, they released two albums and several singles, one of which got into the German charts, their cover of Bo Diddley’s ‘Diddley Daddy’.
.
Juke Box Jump 
Club Jump – Nosey Joe & The Pool Kings
Big Bess – Dee’s Honeytones
Juke Box Jump – Si Cranstoun
I’m Glad Glad – The Beat From Palookaville
The Party’s Going On – Cherry Casino & The Gamblers

Girls & Guitars
Diddley Daddy – The Liverbirds
.
Cruising with Immediate Records
Hang On Sloopy – The McCoys
The Bells Of Rhymney – The Fifth Avenue
Cara-Lin – The Strangeloves
You Can’t Buy My Love – Barbara Lynn
I’m Your Witchdoctor – John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Out Of Time – Chris Farlowe
First Cut Is The Deepest – P.P. Arnold
Hello Suzie – Amen Corner
Lazy Sunday Afternoon – The Small Faces

Slowly Losing My Mind
Fever – Helen Shapiro
Slowly Losing My Mind – The Big Heat
Rainy Day Women 12 & 35 – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

In the event, we only had time to skim through the musical legacy of the Immediate record label, launched, as it was, in the middle of 1965 with much fanfare and support from some notable artists. The famous first release came via the American label Bang records and featured a re-working of the Vibrations song ‘Hang On Sloopy’ by The McCoys. But the label was also intended to encourage UK artists and the second 45 release on the label appeared in August of 1965, with UK band ‘The Fifth Avenue’, featuring some fine guitar work from Jimmy Page in the folk-rock style of the Byrds.

The label’s 7th single release came from a band started of Brooklyn songwriters who decided to form their own band, The Strangeloves, releasing their 45 ‘Cara-Lin’ which did well in the American charts. In the mid 60s, if you were looking for a black, left-handed guitar player, then Barbara Lynn met all the criteria. Her Jamie 45 ‘You Can’t Buy My Love’ was released by Immediate in the UK in 1965 with much speculation that it was the Sir Douglas Quintet backing her on that one.

As well as mainstream music, Immediate records also built a reputation for recording blues material, with names like Jo Ann Kelly, Savoy Brown, Eric Clapton and Fleetwood Mac. John Mayall also had one single released on Immediate, after being dropped by Decca records. ‘I’m Your Witchdoctor’ was the first studio outing of Eric Clapton as one of the Bluesbreakers and it persuaded Decca to re-sign John Mayall, who then produced the famous Bluesbreakers album with Eric Clapton.

There was plenty of chart action for Immediate records with hits like Chris Farlowe’s ‘Out Of Time’ and P.P. Arnold’s 1967 hit version of the Cat Stevens song ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’. The band Amen Corner were also had several chart successes on the Immediate label, along with other bands, like The Small Faces. There was plenty more ‘good stuff’ on the Immediate label, but we ran out of time. So, we may be revisiting this story on a future occasion. But, we did make time to mark the sad news of the passing of Tom Petty. We paid our respectful tribute to him and closed the show with his rocking, live version of Dylan’s Rainy Day Women 12 & 35.

So, as the Cruise Mobile rolled to a stopped, we were grateful to find ourselves returned safe and sound to where we started. With a quick polish of the Cruise Mobile and some cheery farewells, we were ready to do it all again. So, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 4 October 2017

Juke joint jive . . .

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

.
Well, a big bluesy welcome to this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling, where, with great predictability, we turned up with a whole hour of the very best of the blues. Just to prove it, we kicked off the show with the wonderful Dani Wilde with a big favorite here, ‘Mississippi Kisses’, featuring some great harp playing from brother Will Wilde.

“Maybe it’s the time of year . . . “, but we seem to have too little time to play all the great tracks that we line up each week. So, apologies if any of your favorites take a little longer to appear here, but, rest assured, there’s plenty of the ‘good stuff’ to keep our spirits high, including the new Ruf Records album ‘Up All Night’ by Albert Castiglia . . . . and if you’ve not see Albert on stage yet . . . . make sure you do, because he’s a real treat. Another new release came from ex Roomful Of Blues trumpet and cornet player, Al Basile. As well as being a busy musician, he’s also a successful songwriter and his latest solo album which is jammed with his original songs, including ‘Simple Ain’t Easy’, featuring Duke Robillard on guitar and sounding just like Lowell Fulson.

The scratchy blues fans got treated to some rural blues of the late 20s from Texas bluesman George ‘Little Hat’ Jones, with one of the 10 sides he recorded for Okeh records, ‘Kentucky Blues’.
.
For those aiming to catch Australian lady of the blues, Kara Grainger, on one of her UK gigs, we played ‘Little Pack Of Lies’ as a taster. Avid attender of blues clubs and festivals, sooner or later come across Norman Beaker and his band and he’ll, doubtless, he out and about now promoting his new album, interestingly called ‘We See Us Later’, which is where you can find our choice, ‘Railway To Roam’.

He may be called Chickenbone Slim on stage, but he started out as Larry Teves, and became a San Diego-based musician who didn’t pick up a guitar until 2011 after years of playing bass and singing in blues and rockabilly bands. But, lovers of that vintage Chess or Sun Studios sound, will definitely enjoy his second album, ‘The Big Beat’, especially our choice,
‘Me & Johnny Lee’.
.
Simple Ain’t Easy
Mississippi Kisses – Dani Wilde
Hoodoo On Me – Albert Castilia (Up All Night – 2017)
Simple Ain’t Easy – Al Basile (Quiet Money – 2017)
Kentucky Blues – Little Hat Jones (Early Rural Music 1920 to 1940 – 2007)
Little Pack Of Lies – Kara Grainger (Shiver & Sigh – 2013)
Railway To Roam – The Norman Beaker Band (We See Us Later – 2017)
Me & Johnny Lee – Chickenbone Slim & The Biscuits (Big Beat – 2017)

Pinetop’s Pick
Work Song – The Blues Band (Homage – 2014)

Hit The Ground Running
21st Century Boogie – Paddy Milner (21st Century Boogie – 2000)
Hit The Ground Running – Catfish (Broken Man – 2017)
Devil’s Done Alright – The Kris Barras Band (Lucky 13 – 2016)
Juke Joint Jive – Al Corte’ (Mojo – 2017)
Can’t Even Do Wrong Right – Chris Daniels & The Kings (ft Freddi Gowdy) (Blues with Horns – 2017)
Wanderlust – Black Country Communion (BCCIV – 2017)
.
A few familiar names from our recent gigs crept into the playlist this week, including UK keyboard maestro Paddy Milner, who we saw as a member of the Boom Band and a great show they did too. Another of the names, who were also mighty impressive on stage, were UK band Catfish, playing a favorite from their latest album, ‘Broken Man’. Kris Barras and his band were also on our giglist, doing a stunning set, with a few songs from album ‘Lucky 13’.

The new releases keep rolling in, to remind us that the blues is thriving, and a new arrival came from New York’s Al Corte, who’s had a long musical career that makes for fascinating reading. His latest album ‘Mojo’, recorded at Memphis’s famed Royal Studios, is full of excellent stuff like his self-penned song ‘Juke Joint Jive’. Chris Daniels & the Kings also popped up with a new album titled ‘Blues with Horns’ and take it from me, it’s an excellent collection of soulful, bluesy numbers with a touch of funk here and there. Then there was something we’ve been waiting a while for . . . the fourth album by Black Country Communion, which is more rock than blues, but we played ‘Wanderlust’ which is probably one of the bluesiest numbers on the album.

Then, sadly, it was time to gather up the records and CDs and say our farewells, ever hopeful that there were plenty in our playlist to entice you back again next week for another hour of the best blues around. So, until the next time The Blues Come Calling . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Cruising Radio
on 1 October 2017