Jump With You Baby . . . .

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

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Well, a big bluesy welcome to another 60 minutes of the best of the blues, which is what you get when The Blues Come Calling. This week they came calling led by the most excellent Bridget Kelly Band and one of the great tracks on their new album ‘Blues Warrior’ and we’re sure to be returning to that in future weeks. Torrenzo Cannon was on our giglist recently but, sadly, due to travel difficulties he never made it, so undeterred we pulled out his album and played his ‘Fine Seasoned Woman’.

Now if you like a little electric Chicago and Texas blues from the 60s and 70s then the inventive blues of The Cinelli Brothers on their album ‘Baby Please Set Your Alarm’ is sure to appeal, especially their adaptation of Prince’s ‘Kiss’. If your musical tastes runs to a little after hours jazzy blues, then Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s new album is well worth a listen. The album’s title ‘My Future Is My Past’ and our choice was ‘Are You The Lady’. Then, to raise the pulse-rate, we heard from Washington band, Too Slim and the Taildraggers, who have just released their 13th studio album, ‘High Desert Heat’ and sounding good too!

The name Robert Lockwood Jr will be very familiar to fans of scratchy blues, not only for his own recordings, but his links with an earlier generation of great blues players. As a reminder, we played his take on Roosevelt Sykes’ ‘She is Little & Low’.

Trouble In Texas
Trouble In Texas – Bridget Kelly Band (Blues Warrior – 2018)
Fine Seasoned Woman – Torrenzo Cannon (The Chicago Way – 2016)
Kiss – Cinelli Brothers (Baby Please Set Your Alarm – 2016)
Are You The Lady – Walter Wolfman Washington (My Future Is My Past – 2018)
Trouble – Too Slim & The Taildraggers (High Desert Heat – 2018)
She Is Little & Low – Robert Lockwood Jr (Ramblin’ On My Mind – 1982)

Pinetop’s Pick
So Long Blues – Silas Hogan (So Long Blues – 1994)

Steppin’ Out
Chariot Gate – Rockwell Avenue Blues Band (Back To Chicago -2018)
You Don’t Rock My World – Libby Rae Watson (I Done Told Ya – 2018)
Jump With You Baby – B.B. King (Singin’ The Blues – 1956)
Inner City – Susan Santos (Electric Love – 2014)
I’m Afraid Of The Next Blues – Blues Mystery (Soul Memories – 2018)
A Storm’s Coming – Deb Ryder (Enjoy The Ride – 2018)
Steppin’ Out – The Powerhouse (What’s Shakin’ – 1966)

In our own way, we joined the joyous reunion of the members of the Rockwell Avenue Blues Band who revisited Delmark’s studios together, after many years to record their album ‘Back To Chicago’. As an example of their Chicago influences, we played ‘Chariot Gate’, before heading down South now to find MIssissippi born Libby Rae Watson, who began a life long infatuation with the blues, after stumbling across a songbook in a local music store featuring many legends of the early blues. Her latest album ‘I Done Told Ya’ shows it was very influential, as demonstrated on ‘You Don’t Rock My World’.

Over the years, B.B. King has done plenty of rocking the world and it’s always a joy to go back for a little reminder of what he was sounding like back in the 50s. As a taster, we pulled out his 1955 RPM single ‘Jump With You Baby’. We did our own jumping too, with a blues trip to Spain to hear from Susan Santos, who’s scheduled to tour the UK later in the year. We gave a little flavour of what’s store with her track ‘Inner City’.

Another welcome guest on our past playlists returned with her fourth studio album. This was Deb Ryder, who’s latest release ‘Enjoy The Ride’ boasts 13 original songs delivered with style and just a little help from some notable guests. Our choice was a track that’s had more than a few plays, since it arrived here . . . ‘A Storm’s Coming’ . . . . and maybe it is!

Well, this week’s journey along the blues highway included a trip to Switzerland, to find four piece band, The Blues Mystery. They feature some funky blues rock on their latest album ‘Soul Memories’, which includes ‘I’m Afraid Of The Next Blues’. Then as time was running out, we played out with one of only four tracks recorded back in 1966 by a studio band called The Powerhouse, which included top UK blues names like Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, Pete York and Ben Palmer . . . . the Memphis Slim instrumental ‘Steppin’ Out’. So, with thanks for your good company on this week’s show, we said our farewells, in the hope that we’ll meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 29 May 2018

Lotsa Rhythm . . . .

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

 
As the Cruise Mobile came rolling to a stop, the eager members of the Cruising Crew gave a cheery wave and rushed to jump aboard the Cruise Mobile for yet another Cruising with The Commissioner and the radio came playing ‘Tiger Guitars’ by the great Billy Mure and for those in any doubt Jerry Williams followed with the clear purpose of our adventure . . . . ‘Cruising On A Saturday Night’.

For those who enjoy a little rockabilly Kieron McDonald brought us a little number, called ‘Louanne’, which had Mr Merlot demonstrating some unusual footwork, with the aid of a dance step, floor plan. Then we headed back to the 50s for some raucous 50s R&B from George ‘Mr Blues’ Jackson and pianist and band leader, Connie Mack Booker.

This week’s Cruising Connections started off with a song that was a bit hit for Li’l Millet & His Creoles back in 1955 and given a fine cover by 5 piece West Coast blues band, The T-Town Aces. Helsinki’s own Tina Bednoff & The Cocktailers added another clue, with a fine version of Irma Thomas’, ‘Don’t Mess With My Man’, then came Doug Sahm with his take on Johnny Adams timeless hit ‘I Won’t Cry’ with the final clue to songwriter, Dorothy LaBostrie, who wrote all those songs and more besides. We didn’t forget Johnny Adams either, so to bring a smile Pete & Diane’s faces who are big fans of Doug, but they’re also keen on Johnny Adams, so to bring even broader smiles to their faces, we played Johnny’s superbly soulful version of The Chiffons hit ‘One Fine Day’.

Cruising On A Saturday Night
Tiger Guitars – Billy Mure
Cruising On A Saturday Night – Jerry Williams
Louanne – Kieron McDonald
Hold Me – George ‘Mr Blues’ Jackson
Love Me Pretty Baby – Connie Mack Booker
 
Cruising Connections
Rich Woman – The T-Town Aces
Don’t Mess With My Man – Tina Bedoff & The Cocktailers
I Won’t Cry – Doug Sahm
 
One Fine Day – Johnny Adams
Speed Crazy – Slick Slavin
 
Girls & Guitars
Let Me Know – Ruthie Foster with Doyle Bamhall
 
We Got A Good Thing Going
Same Thing – Ruby Ann
Baby Ain’t That Love – Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry
Someone To Love – The Vidaltones
Look At The Moon – The Visuals
Oh Baby We Got A Good Thing Going – Barbara Lynn
Slapjack – Papa Grows Funk
Lotsa Rhythm – Gone Hepsville
 
Our Girls & Guitars feature, focused on guitarist and singer Ruthie Foster, who was on our giglist recently and we pulled out her 2014 album ‘Promise of a Brand New Day’ for our choice, ‘Let Me Know’ also featuring Doyle Branhall. We kept with the girls for Ruby Ann’s ‘Same Thing’ followed by the great Clarence “Frogman” Henry (who was on our giglist recently) and the long unreleased ‘Baby Ain’t That Love’.
 
For those who waited patiently for this week’s Doo Wop Delights, we kicked off with something suggested by Neil Pelligrin down in New Orleans . . . . The Vidaltones with their 1960 Josie 45 ‘Someone To Love’ and we kept that New Orleans connection with The Visuals and their 1962 recording ‘Look At The Moon’ which came to our ears courtesy of our good pal Jamie Dell’Apa, who’s a real fan of the wonderful Barbara Lynn, (who was another on our giglist recently) so we played ‘Oh Baby We Got A Good Thing Going’, the song of hers that got covered by the Rolling Stones.
 
Aficionados of Papa Grows Funk will know there was a grand reunion of the band recently. So, to mark the occasion, we played their excellent instrumental, ‘Slapjack’, and we headed for home in the company of six guys from the Czech Republic, Gone Hepsville, who have been rockin’ together for more than a decade and have been inspiring plenty of enthusiastic jiving on the dance floor with numbers like ‘Lot’s of Rhythm’, which brought us safely home in time to park up the Cruise Mobile, give it a quick polish, ready for the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 26 May 2018

I Got The Blues . . . .

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

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Well, we arrived with the bluesiest of welcomes and a whole hour of the best of the blues, which is what you always get when The Blues Come Calling. The gig guides are full of the many tour dates by UK and visiting artists and the new releases keep coming. So, plenty to inspire and delight us, including Mike Zito, who was touring here recently with the 2018 Blues Caravan and not missing the opportunity to plug his new album ‘First Class Life’, which is where you’ll find our opening track ‘Trying To Make A Living’. We followed on with something from Memphis, Tennessee’s own Ghost Town Blues Band. Their latest album, ‘Backstage Pass’, comes from a live session at Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis and listen out for Matt Isbell on cigar-box guitar, vocals and harp on ‘One More Whiskey’.

It’s always good to see the younger blues artists getting due recognition and a good example was a track from the new ten track album by guitarist and singer Ally Venable, called ‘Puppet Show’. Ally delivers some snarling guitar lines across these tracks and her songs have plenty of barbed lyrics to match, but for our choice, we played an old favourite ‘She Took The Katy & Left Me A Mule To Ride’. Perhaps, not surprisingly, it suggested another choice, this time from Taj Mahal, because he recorded that song on his debut solo album, way back in the 60s, which also included ‘Diving Duck Blues’, which Taj revisited this one on his recent TajMo album.

Danny Bryant has plenty of tour dates to promote his new album ‘Revelation’ . . . . and a very fine album it is too, as we demonstrated with one of its tracks, titled ‘Truth Or Dare’. Then, for those who didn’t get to hear Heather Newman’s debut album ‘Burn Me Alive’ when it was released last year, we pulled out an example of her very sultry vocals on ‘I Don’t Know Why’ and we also included some fine blues from Freddie Pate, who has played with some of the great and the good around Texas and Louisiana, and puts all that to great experience to good effect on his album ‘I Got The Blues’.

Truth Or Dare
Trying To Make A Living – Mike Zito (First Class Life – 2018)
One More Whiskey – Ghost Town Blues (Backstage Pass – 2018)
She Took The Katy & Left Me A Mule To Ride – Ally Venable Band (Puppet Show – 2018)
Diving Duck Blues – Taj Mahal (TajMo – 2018)
Truth Or Dare – Danny Bryant (Revelation – 2018)
I Don’t Know Why – Heather Newman (Burn Me Alive – 2017)
I Got The Blues – Freddie Pate (I Got The Blues – 2017)

Pinetop’s Pick
Lone Wolf Blues – Oscar Woods (Slide That Thing! – 1927)

Nothing But The Blues
When It Rains – Savoy Brown (You Should Have Been There – 2018)
Richland Woman Blues – Ruthie Foster (Joy Comes Back – 2017)
Hard Blue Space – Little Boys Blue (ft Kid Memphis) (Hard Blue Space – 2018)
Nothing But The Blues – Yuri Apsey (Nothing But The Blues – 2017)
A New Coat Of Paint – The Sidemen (Live at Darwin’s – 2016)
Driving Sideways – Seppo Valjakka (Taking It Back – 2005)

60s UK blues band, Savoy Brown, and it’s long-time leader Kim Simmonds are still going strong and have an impressive catalogue of 35+ albums to their name, to which they have just added their latest ‘You Should Have Been There’, which is where we found ‘When It Rains’. Then, we enjoyed a bright, cheery number from the lovely Ruthie Foster, who looked like she was having a great time at this year’s New Orleans Jazz Fest and the audience certainly were and, for those who didn’t get to see her there, we played ‘Richland Woman Blues’ from her latest album.

A little swelter from the delta came, courtesy of American band, Little Boys Blue, who are singer/harp player JD Taylor and guitarist Steve Patterson, who are joined on their latest single release ‘Hard Blue Space’ by Kid Memphis on guitar. From the delta, we crossed the Atlantic to catch Brazilian guitarist and singer, Yuri Apsey and the title track of his album, ‘Nothing But The Blues’, which was followed by return trip to Austin in Texas for local band The Sidemen (Steve Rusty and Wendel). I bumped into Wendel in New Orleans recently, where he presented me with a signed copy of the band’s latest album, which includes their take on the Tom Waites’ classic, ‘A New Coat Of Paint’.

By then, sadly, the sands of time were just about run out and we were playing out with a little ‘Driving Sideways’ in the good company of Finland’s Seppo Valjakka. But before collecting up the records and CDs and heading for the door, there was just time to thank you for your good company and hope to have that pleasure again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 22 May 2018

Whatcha Gonna Do . . .

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

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Well, while you were not looking, we snuck off to New Orleans for this year’s Jazz Fest and a fine time we had too. Plenty of great music and a chance to catch up with some overseas members of the Cruising Crew, particularly our good pals Jamie Dell’Apa and Wendel Williams. But, were back, all present and correct for this week’s musical adventure that we still call Cruising with The Commissioner.

To get us motoring right, we cranked the radio up for Gone Hepsville with ‘Brainwasher Boogie’ and then we were heading for top cruising speed with something from the latest album by Spanish group, The Velvet Candles . . . and that The Platters song, ‘Out Of My Mind’. Nappy Brown was back again, this time with ‘Am I’, a track he recorded for Savoy records in the late 50s, around the same time as Brook Benton’s Vik 45, ‘Crinoline Skirt’ . . . which will be a big surprise to those who think of him only a soulful balladeer.

Then we were in uncharted territory, because it’s pretty certain that Jack Larson has not appeared here before. As well as recording for Fraternity records, he appeared on the Ed Sullivan show in 1958 and we found one of his four Fraternity 45, his 1961 gem ‘I Love The Way She Laughs’. Another obscurity followed, with Billy Ford & The Thunderbirds, providing the backing for Billy & Lillie who were Lillie Bryant and band leader Billy Ford. To show what they sounded together, we played their 1958 Swan 45 ‘Creepin’ Crawlin’ Cryin’.

Well, we couldn’t resist a little dabble in some flavours of New Orleans, which included something from the latest album by The Steve Troch Band, titled ‘Rhymes For Mellow Minds’. It boasts numbers with a vintage R&B feel, like our choice, ‘Troubled One’, where Steve Troch sounds remarkably like Dr John. Another great piano man of New Orleans followed with a shout out to Susan and Buddy Bowman, who just love a little listen to the great James Booker.

You Talk Too Much 
Brainwasher Boogie – Gone Hepsville
Out Of My Mind – The Velvet Candles
Am I – Nappy Brown
Crinoline Skirt – Brook Benton (Vik) 1958
I Love The Way She Laughs – Jack Larson
Creepin’ Crawlin’ Cryin’ – Billy & Lillie
Troubled One – The Steve Troch Band
Sixty Minute Man/You Talk Too Much – James Booker

Girls & Guitars
Good Lovin’ Man – Lois Greco

Cruising Connections
Rockin’ Little Angel – Orion
Tryin’ To Get To You – The Eagles
Like A Baby – Vikki Nelson

How Long
How Long – Bobby Womack
1-2-3 He’s Mine – Sara Lee

Doo Wop Delights
Oh Gloria – The Frankie Grier Quartet
Your Love – The Mighty Jupiters

Tell Me Who
The Question Whatcha Gonna Do – Billy Wright
Tell Me Who – Mike Sanchez

Our Girls & Guitars feature focused this week on Lois Greco, who hails from Boston Massachusetts and is not only a singer and guitarist, but also a songwriter and actress. She’s been building her reputation, touring with her band and winning plenty of awards along the way. She tells us she’s working on a new album now, but we decided to feature her track, ‘Good Lovin’ Man’ from her 2001 album ‘Surrender’.

Now, this week we has an Elvis inspired Cruising Connections which started with someone born in Mississippi to parents called Gladys and Vernon and went on to be rock singer. If you said it was Jimmy Hughes Bell (alias Orion), then you’d be absolutely right, and we played his 1980 Elvis sound-alike recording of Ray Smith’s ‘Rockin’ Little Angel’. That was followed by Washington DC vocal group The Eagles and their 1954 original of ‘Tryin’ to Get to You’. Then we heard from songstress Vikki Nelson with the first recording of  Jesse Stone’s song “Like a Baby” which got cover by Elvis Presley for his 1960 album Elvis Is Back!. Then, a long-time favourite crept into our playlist, in the form of Bobby Womack and his most excellent version of the Paul Carrack song that became an international hit for Paul’s band Ace, ‘How Long’. Then we came right up to date with ‘1-2-3 He’s Mine’, the opening track on Sara Lee’s very latest album, along with plenty more good stuff.

We decided to test the Cruise Mobile’s retro phasers and head back 60 years to kick off this week’s Doo Wop Delights, which we did with Philadelphia vocal group, The Frankie Grier Quartet and their 1958 Swan 45 ‘Oh Gloria’, followed by ‘Your Love’, a rather nice, uptempo piece of ‘59 doo wop from The Mighty Jupiters, featuring Dolores Butler on vocals, King Curtis doing some trademark sax breaks and some guitar work from Kenny Burrell.

Mr Merlot is the ‘sixty minute man’, because he sees his mission as time-keeper for these shows and he started to look anxiously at the clock when we introduced our 1955 choice from ‘The Prince of The Blues’, Billy Wright. By all accounts, Billy Wright was a flamboyant performer, around Atlanta, Georgia and seems to have had a major influence on getting Little Richard his first recording contract with RCA records. As we swung the Cruise Mobile for home, we featured Billy Wright’s only release on the Peacock label and a song that’s been covered by the most excellent Mike Sanchez and his band . . . . but this was the original of ‘The Question is Whatcha Gonna Do’ and it attracted The Cruisettes, whose dangerous dancing is a frequest talking point with our insurers.

It so happens there’s a number of the Cruising Crew heading of to see Mike Sanchez on stage soon, so for our good pals Peter and Diane, Arfa Pinetop, Mrs TC and Christine all the way from Australia, we cruised all the way home in the company of Mr Sanchez with his great cover of Big Maybelle’s classic ‘Tell Me Who’. Although some may have doubted we’d make it, we arrived home safe and sound from our adventures and just in time to give you a cheery wave as we parked up the Cruise Mobile for another week, ever hopeful that you’ll be back, same time, same place next week. So, until the next time we call by to take you Cruising with The Commissioner . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 19 May 2018

Cruisin’ for a bluesin’ . . .

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

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Well, regular listeners will know that when The Blues Come Calling, there’s a whole hour of the best of the blues, with the pick of the new releases, a few ‘seasoned’ favourites and maybe the odd surprise. This week was no exception and to get us underway in style, we had George Shovlin & The Radars providing, ‘Just Wanna Have A Good Time’, a taster from their new album ‘Nothing To Lose’, followed by  something that’s been a long time coming, the new release by Sally-Anne Whitten, “Burgundy Street” which was inspired by a visit to New Orleans, where she wrote many of the tracks.

Since New Orleans was an inspiration to Sally Anne Whitten, it seemed only appropriate to feature one of the enduring names among the local artists, Dr John with ‘Mac’s Boogie’. While we were digging in the blues library, we found Big Bill Broonzy’s 1946 recording of ‘Get Back’ (nothing to do with those four lads from Liverpool), but  Bill’s telling commentary on segregation back then.
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If you caught this year’s Blues Caravan, you’ll have seen Bernard Allison giving a few treats from his latest release, ‘Let It Go’ and that’s where you can find our choice, ‘Cruisin’ For A Bluesin’. Someone else who’s been on our giglist many times is Memphis born, Charlie Wood, who headed down to New Orleans in his teens, to soak up its exotic piano traditions and later came to settle in the UK . . . . ‘How Lucky Can One Man Be’ . . . . well you might ask! For those who don’t know, the Red Pine Timber Co. are a band from Perth, in Scotland where they’ve been honing and sharpening their act for their second album ‘Sorry For The Good Times’.

Have A Good Time
Just Wanna Have A Good Time – George Shovlin & The Radars (Nothing To Lose – 2018)
Good Day In Hell – Sally-Anne Whitten (ft Jimmy Craz) (Burgundy Street – 2018)
Mac’s Boogie – Dr John (Every Road I Take – 2005)
Get Back – Big Bill Broonzy
Cruisin’ For A Bluesin’ – Bernard Allison (Let It Go – 2018)
How Lucky Can One Man Be – Charlie Wood (Charlie Wood & Friends – 2016)
Look At The Moonlight – Red Pine Timber Co. (Sorry For The Good Times – 2018)

Pinetop’s Pick
Hip Shakin’ – Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods (First Blood – 1996)

Hot Spell
Feel So Young – Wentus Blues Band (Throwback – 2018)
The Luck Ones – Sue Foley (w. Jimmie Vaughan) (The Ice Queen – 2018)
Better Day – Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee (Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry Sing – 1990)
I’m Just Your Fool – Ricky Cool & The In Crowd (Watch Your Step – 2015)
Hot Spell – Danielle Nicole (Cry No More – 2018)
Rhythm All Over – Steve Hill (The One Man Blues Rock Band – 2018)

A reminder of the international influence of the blues came courtesy of Finland’s, Wentus Blues Band with a tribute to Hungry John on their “Throwback” album, ‘Feel So Good’. Then, we heard from a couple more ladies of the blues, starting with Sue Foley, with a taster from her new album ‘The Ice Queen’ and on our choice, ‘The Lucky One’, she was joined by Jimmie Vaughan. A Kansas City gal followed in the shape of Danielle Nicole, who plays some mean bass behind her vocals, as demonstrated on ‘Hot Spell’ another track from her ‘Cry No More’ album.

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee worked together for some 40 years producing a string of albums and we pulled out one of theirs, released by Folkways in 1990, including a track called ‘Better Day’. Then, from that delightful folk blues we had a 50s Chicago blues number that did well for Little Walter and got covered more recently by Ricky Cool & The In Crowd . . . . ‘I’m Just Your Fool’.

With time running out on us, we played out this week with Canadian Steve Hill and the opening track, ‘Rhythm All Over ‘, from his new live album, descriptively titled ‘The One Man Blues Rock Band’. But, before that there were hearty thanks for your good company and the hope that you will be back again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then, remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 15 May 2018

Git It In The Groove . . .

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

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Well, if you’ve been celebrating at a festival or doing some enthusiastic partying, then you’re surely in the right mood for this week’s vaguely supervised musical adventure to ‘who knows where’ with ‘you know who’. But, ready or not, when the trusty Cruise Mobile came rolling to a stop, you’d better be quick to jump aboard and buckle up, before those squeals from the wheels as we set off for this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner.

With barely a nanosecond’s pause, we kicked off down the road with band leader Joe Morris and his 1948 recording, ‘Chuck A Boogie’ and if that didn’t get some rhythmic movement in your feet, there were even higher expectations of some lively dancing for Kingen with the suitably titled ‘Jump Up’. Swedish rockabilly band The Go-Getters turned up next with their ‘Hot Rod Roadeo’ and 2008 we went back to 1957, which is when Larry Williams recorded ‘Jelly Belly Nellie’ for Specialty records. For reasons best known to the record company, it didn’t get released at the time. However it did appear many years later, for which we should be very grateful.

The trusty Cruise Mobile served us well as we cruised seamlessly from 1957 to 1967 to hear from Little Gary Ferguson with his 45 on the Mothers record label, ‘Mama Come See ‘Bout Your Daughter’. It’s a bit of rarity these days and fetching big money, but the real attraction was that he recorded that when he was only 7 years old. Just when we went delving in the archives to find some more background on Little Gary Ferguson, our good pal Wendel Williams told us he went to school with Gary in Dallas, way back when and if you know what happened to Gary after that . . . do tell!

We got a taste of New Orleans from Joe & Ursula, who were actually band leader Joe Morris and Ursula Reed. Now, Ursula Reed was a featured singer with Joe’s band, and a recording artist in her right with a number of releases on the Old Town label. They linked up for their 1955 Imperial recording, as Joe & Ursula with ‘Let’s Face It’ and a big shout out to our good pal Jamie Dell’Apa for pointing us to that one. Then, there was another little mystery, in the form of a little 1967 Thunderbird 45, recorded live at the Thunderbird club in Indianapolis, Indiana by Walter Stone alias The Maniac, about whom we know nothing, so we’ll be waiting to hear from you, if you know anymore about him.

Jump Up
Chuck A Boogie – Joe Morris
Jump Up – Kingen
Hot Rod Roadeo – The Go-Getters
Jelly Belly Nellie – Larry Williams
Mama Come See ‘Bout Your Daughter – Little Gary Ferguson
Let’s Face It – Joe & Ursula
I’m Not Good Lookin’ – Walter Stone

Girls & Guitars
Hello Baby – Charlene Arthur & The Knights

Worth A Dime
She Ain’t Worth A Dime – The Four Jacks
Tom Hark – Elias & His Zig Zag Jive Flutes

Cruising Connections
Tonight I Met An Angel – The Chiffons
Fever – Helen Shapiro
Off And Running – Lesley Gore

My Heart Belongs To Big Daddy
Big Bo’s Twist – Big Bo Thomas & His Arrows
My Heart Will Go On – Big Daddy
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Doo Wop Delights
Tell Me Why – Norman Fox & The Rob Roys
Now We’re Together – The El Venos

Heading Home
Burn That Candle – Bill Haley & His Comets
Git It – In The Groove – Casey MacGill & The Spirits of Rhythm

Once again we proved that we haven’t run out of candidates for our Girls and Guitars feature, because this week we threw our spotlight on Texan, Charlene Arthur. She started her musical career as a singer and a radio disc jockey, getting signed by RCA Records, where, in November 1955 she recorded a hot little song called ‘Burn That Candle’. Bill Haley got the hit with his version, but Charlene went on to cut a real gem for Coin records in 1957 called ‘Hello Baby’.

Now, if you catch up with an album titled ‘Deal With It’ by The Four Jacks, then you’ll find a tasty treat there, titled ‘She Ain’t Worth A Dime’ which features Anson Funderburgh and some first class musicians, including keyboards from Kevin McKendrea. From there, we jumped genres for possibly the best known and most successful example of South African ‘kwela music’. The tune is ‘Tom Hark’ by South African group, Elias and His Zig-Zag Jive Flutes, led by Jack Lerole on ‘jive flute’ (or penny whistle). It was recorded by Columbia records and hit the UK charts back in 1958, staying there for a total of 14 weeks, . It has been covered by many artists since, but despite their chart success, sadly, Elias and His Zig-Zag Jive Flutes didn’t see any of the profits from these sales.

Now, the trio tracks in this week’s Cruising Connections included 60s group, The Chiffons, followed by UK teenage chart topper, Helen Shapiro and then Lesley Gore. The link between them was that each had record the song ‘It’s My Party’, which was a hit for Lesley Gore, but The Chiffons were actually the first to record the song in 1962, followed a few months later by UK chart topper, Helen Shapiro. When Lesley Gore’s record producer, Quincy Jones, heard that Phil Spector had recorded the song with The Chiffons, Quincy went to the Bell Sound Studios and overnight made a 100 test pressings of Lesley Gore’s recording, mailed them out to key radio programmers across America and within 4 weeks of its release, Lesley Gore had her first and only No.1 hit.

Long time members of the Cruising Crew will recognise ‘Big Bo’s Twist’ by Big Bo Thomas & His Arrows, because for many years it was our opening theme tune. But, this time, we played it all the way through and just for old time’s sake we started it, as we used to do, with that famous call from American sports announcer Michael Buffer. Then, along came Californian band, Big Daddy with a great version of ‘My Heart Will Go On’ that Celine Dion would barely recognise.

This week’s Remember Then slot came with a big thanks to our good pal Arfa Pinetop, who dropped by with a fistful of doo wop albums to add to the Cruising Library, which inspired some feverish ferreting for this week’s choice from those 50s and 60s vocal groups we love. First up was New York doo wop group Norman Fox & The Rob Roys with ‘Tell Me Why’. They were were one of the few interracial groups recording around the mid 50s and must have been contemporaries of Pittsburg vocal group, the El Venos. The aficionados will know their 1956 hit ‘Geraldine’ and we chose the flip side ‘Now We’re Together’.

And having mentioned him track earlier, Bill Haley called by with his 1955 hit ‘Burn That Candle’ causing Mr Merlot and The Cruisettes to give a frantic display of dangerous dancing, with flailing arms, high kicking and general mayhem, which didn’t stop as Californian Casey MacGill and The Spirits of Rhythm brought us safely home with ‘Git It In The Groove’. Then, it was time to park up the Cruise Mobile, give it a quick polish, ready for the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . . remember . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 8 May 2018

Make Me Blue . . .

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

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Well, the bluesiest of welcomes to another hour of the best blues around, which is what you are guaranteed when The Blues Come Calling. This week was no exception, with plenty of new releases, a few ‘seasoned’ favourites and perhaps the odd surprise, kicking off with the welcome return of The Kris Barras Band with ‘Wrong Place, Wrong Time’, straight off their latest album. More new releases came from Paul Thorn, with his 11th album called ‘Don’t Let The Devil Ride’ and a taster of what to expect from it if you check it out and back again came Chicago’s own, Breezy Rodio, sounding like an  early BB King with ‘Make Me Blue’ from his latest album. Also among the new releases were Richmond, Virginia band, The Bush League with one of the many self penned songs on their latest album, ‘James Rivah’.

For the fans of fine blues harp, there was a smokey little number from Belgian-born harp-master Steve Troch and his all-originals album ‘Rhymes For Mellow Minds’. But, the boys didn’t have it all their way, because along came Joyann Parker, who says she “didn’t know much about blues music until about four years ago, and then it just clicked” and as a demonstration of how well it clicked we played a track from her new album ‘Hard To Love’. Then, there was Elayna Boynton, whose voice has been described as a mixture of honey and smoke with the opening track on the tribute album to mark the 100th birthday of Elmore James, featuring some fine slide guitar work from Doug Lancio.
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The impressive George Bedard popped up again on our playlist, along with his band The Kingpins and a little number, much enjoyed here, ‘Gettin’ Later’ and we went back to 1935 to bring some delight for the fans of scratchy blues with delta blues legend, Bo Carter’s ‘I Got The Blues’.

I Get The Blues
Wrong Place, Wrong Time – The Kris Barras Band (The Divine & Dirty – 2018)
Gettin’ Later – George Bedard (Hip Deep – 2010)
The Half Has Never Been Told – Paul Thorn (Don’t Let The Devil Ride – 2018)
Make Me Blue – Breezy Rodio (Sometime The Blues Got Me – 2018)
I Get The Blues – Bo Carter (Double Up In A Knot – 2016)
Kick Up Your Heels – The Bush League (James Rivah – 2018)
Bad Taste – The Steve Troch Band (Rhymes For Mellow Minds – 2018)
Take My Heart & Run – Joyann Parker (Hard To Love – 2018)
Can’t Stop Loving You – Elayna Boynton (Strange Angels: In Flight With Elmore James – 2018)

Pinetop’s Pick
Don’t Mess With My Baby – Willie Kent
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Coming Down With The Blues
Coming Down With The Blues – The Chris Bevington Organisation (Cut & Run – 2018)
Broke & Ugly – Beth Hart (Front & Centre – 2018)
Love Her With A Feeling – The Marc Stone Duo (Live at Wirtschaft, Dornbim, Austria – 2013)
Back To The Dirty Town – The Blues Mystery (The Blues Mystery – 2018)
Havana Rock – Rockin’ Johnny Burgin (Greetings From Greaseland – 2015)

Now, Chris Bevington is no stranger to The Blues Come Calling and he was back with a brand new album and a great one at that, called ‘Cut & Run’ and Chris tells a delightful story about how the band came together and their approach to playing and recording which I recommend checking out on his website. Undoubtedly, Beth Hart has one of today’s great female blues voices and it’s shown off well on her new live album ‘Front & Centre’, recorded at New York’s Iridian Club and including our choice, ‘Broke & Ugly’.

Now, around his native New Orleans, Marc Stone and his guitar are a familiar sight, but every once in a while he escapes to the enchanted lands beyond the Crescent City and we caught him with a live performance of Freddie King’s ‘Love Her With A Feeling’, recorded in Austria back in 2013 and featuring some nice keyboards too from Christof Waibel. Then, we caught up with the self titled new album from The Blues Mystery, who acknowledge among their influences such names as Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and James Brown, which they meld together on fine numbers like, ’Back To The Dirty Town’.

All too soon, the sands of time ran out for us on this weeks show, but we played out with Rockin’ Johnny Burgin and ‘Havana Rock’. But, before collecting up the records and CDs and heading for the door, there was time to say thanks for your good company and hope that we’ll meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 8 May 2018

Skitter Skatter . . . .

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

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Well, it’s looking good around the Grand Duchy with a splash of colour across the gardens and open spaces, together with the first sightings of postmen (and post women) in shorts. So, summer must be on its way and we had the roof down on the trusty Cruise Mobile when we rolled by with our enticing, weekly invitation to join us for another musical adventure to who knows where with you know who. As always, we saved a seat especially just for you, just so we can all go Cruising with The Commissioner.

To prove our good intentions, we turned the radio’s volume to ‘max’ and kicked off down the road with the great Louis Jordan and his live version of ‘Ram Bunk Shush’. Then, with barely a breath, along came Cleveland group, The Metrotones with The Little Walkin’ Willie Quartet and their 1957 release ‘Skitter Skatter’, which got a radio ban when it was first released. For those who haven’t heard before from Pittsburgh band Dr Zoot, we inspired some enthusiastic rhythmic movement with their take on ‘Jump Jive & Shake’, followed by Georgia Gibbs and her 1956 stroller ‘Rock Right’.

Knowing there are rockabilly fans among the Cruising Crew, we featured UK rockabilly band Carlos and The Bandidos, who provided a very fine cover of Tom Waites’ song ‘Jockey Full Of Bourbon’. With that touch of New Orleans, we couldn’t resist featuring another UK gem, Diz Watson, who was on our giglist recently, and playing a great James Booker song.

In 1959, Emile Ford and the Checkmates had a UK No 1 with ‘What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For’, which promoted a reverse of previous trends, when a few months later, this British hit got covered by an American artist, this time by Ray Peterson (who had had success in America with Tell Laura I Love Her). Then, to demonstrate that we do truly cruise across musical frontiers and time zones, we headed for Sweden to catch Swedish band The Playtones with their rockabilly version of a 1958 Charlie Rich song. To reinforce the point, Italians, Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters turned up next with a fine reworking of that Mike & The Mechanics hit ‘Over My Shoulder’.

Rock Right
Ram-Buck-Shush – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
Skitter Skatter – The Metrotones
Jump Jive & Shake – Dr Zoot
Rock Right – Georgia Gibbs
Jockey Full Of Bourbon – Carlos & The Bandidos
So Swell When You’re Well – Diz Watson
What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For – Ray Peterson
Donna Lee – The Playtones
Over My Shoulder – Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters

Girls & Guitars
Trippin’ On Us – Lindsay Ell

Bette Davis Eyes – Big Daddy

Remember Then
Don’t Take The Stars – The Mystics
Getting Dizzy – The Elegants

Cruising Connections
You Make Me Dizzy – Billy Fury
Dizzy Miss Lizzie – Larry Williams

Talk To Me – Vee Allen (with Dr John & The Lower 911)
I Can’t Stand It – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

Now, keeping the Cruise Mobile in international gear, our Girls & Guitars feature, threw its spotlight on Canadian guitarist and singer, Lindsay Ell, who was on our giglist recently. She grew up in Calgary, Alberta, where she started playing piano at the age of six, switching to guitar at 8 and at 15 she was discovered by Randy Bachman, who produced her first album, released in 2006. She’s made a career on the country music scene with two more recent albums. But to show off her talents we chose her 2013 single, ‘Trippin’ On Us’. Keeping with ‘the girls’, we introduced American band, Big Daddy, who specialise in taking popular songs and giving them a late 50s treatment, like their version of ‘Bette Davis Eyes’.

We lingered awhile in the 50s for a taste of those doo wop vocal groups in our Remember Then feature, starting with Brooklyn group The Mystics and their 1960 release, ‘Don’t Take The Stars’ and then we were off to find New York group, The Elegants, a doo-wop group, from Staten Island, New York, who had a 1958 million seller with ‘Little Star’ and our choice ‘Getting Dizzy’ on the b side. That one fired off our pretty obvious Cruising Connections link, followed byUK heart-throb Billy Fury’s ‘You Make Me Dizzy’ and Larry Williams‘ classic ‘Dizzy Miss Lizzie’.

Now, long time members of the Cruising Crew will know that we have a soft spot for the songs of Little Willie John, so we were quick to cue up Vee Allen’s cover of ‘Talk To Me’, especially being accompanied by the most excellent, Dr John and The Lower 911. Then, sadly, we had to turn the Cruise Mobile for home in the good company of Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers with their frantic take on that Soul Sisters favourite, ‘I Can’t Stand It’ and, as we rolled gently to a stop, we were out to give the Cruise Mobile a polish, so its all ready for the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 5 May 2018

Truckin’ My Blues Away . . .

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

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As ever, there’s the bluesiest of welcomes and an hour of the best of the blues around, when The Blues Come Calling. To get us underway in style, there was some home grown talent in the form of Greg Coulson, who was on our giglist recently and rocked the house with his take on Taj Mahal’s, ‘Squat That Rabbit’. Next up was Susan Williams, who hails from Chicago where she’s fronted her own bands for 30-some years now. Along with her band The Wright Groove, we heard ‘Shame On You’ from her latest album, ‘It’s About Time’.

For those who like a little jazz flavoured blues, we featured Canadian, Cassandre McKinley with a track from her new album ‘Dragonfly’, followed by something from James Hunter’s latest album ‘Whatever It Takes’ which is more soul than blues, but includes the bluesy little number, ‘Blisters’. For those fans of 60s UK blues, Joe Bonamassa’s new release, the ‘British Blues Explosion’. . . .which features Joe’s take on ‘Let Me Love You Baby’. It seemed appropriate to include Joe’s frequent collaborator, Beth Hart, too, delivering some stunning vocals and her new solo album, ‘Front & Centre’. We stuck with the girls for ‘Jerry Rice – Busy Man’ by Carolyn Gaines, a number on her current album ‘Beware Of My Dog’ and dedicated to the great football player.

For the fans of ‘scratchy blues’, we headed back to the 30s, which is when Harlem Hamfats recorded a song called “The Weed Smoker’s Dream”, which got re-written by ‘Kansas’ Joe McCoy, as “Why Don’t You Do Right?” and recorded by Lil Green for the Bluebird label in 1941.

Squat That Rabbit
Squat That Rabbit – Greg Coulson (Squat That Rabbit – 1991)
Shame On You – Susan Williams & The Wright Groove (It’s About Time – 2018)
Do I Move You – Cassandre McKinley (Dragonfly – 2018)
Blisters – The James Hunter Six (Whatever It Takes – 2018)
Let Me Love You Baby – Joe Bonamassa (The British Blues Explosion – 2018)
Why Don’t You Do Right – Lil Green
Jerry Rice Busy Man – Carolyn Gaines (Beware Of My Dog – 2018)
Jazz Man – Beth Hart (Front & Centre – 2018)

Pinetop’s Pick
I Believe – Sugar Ray & The Bluetones (Sugar Ray & The Bluetones – 2003)

Nobody Lies About Having The Blues
Pills – Big Boy Bloater & The Limits (Pills – 2018)
Nobody Lies (About Having The Blues) – Myles Goodwyn (Myles Goodwin & Friends of The Blues – 2018)
Truckin’ My Blues Away – Andi’s Blues Orchester (Just Blown In Your Town – 2016)
Blood On Your Hands – Kris Barras (The Divine & Dirty – 2018)
Roll On Down – Angel Forrest (Electric Love – 2018)
Wham – Ricky Cool & The In Crowd (Flamingo Nights – 2016)

We got a touch of humour from larger-than-life blues personality, Big Boy Bloater with the title track of his forthcoming album, ‘Pills’, which was followed by Myles Goodwyn, together with some notable names on a track from his appropriately titled, ‘Myles Goodwyn And Friends Of The Blues’. German band Andi’s Blues Orchester turned up next with a nice jug band flavoured version of Blind Boy Fulller’s ‘Trucking My Blues Away’ and, still among the new stuff, we returned to the Kris Barras Band’s album, ‘The Divine & Dirty’ for ‘Blood On Your Hands’.

Another of Canada’s most impressive female blues vocalists, Angel Forrest, made an appearance with a superb track from a really excellent live album from one of Canada’s most impressive female blues vocalists, Angel Forrest, with ‘Roll On Down’, which brought us, sadly, close to the end of the show. So, before we gathered up the records and CDs and headed for the door, we cued up Ricky Cool & The In Crowd to play us out with their take on the old Lonnie Mack tune, ‘Wham’. Thanks for listening and until the next time The Blues Come Calling, remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 1 May 2018