Read between the lines . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of Through To Midnight:

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Well, it was getting to look a lot like Wednesday around here, which was a sure sign that it was time to gather up that armful of the ‘good stuff’ that I had pulled together for this week’s playlist as we go on our weekly music adventure, Through To Midnight.
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Kicking off the show this week were Stone Foundation and their fans will already know that their London date next April was sold out within hours of going on sale and although they added a second date, I’m guessing that’s sold out too by now. As some small compensation, if you didn’t get your tickets, or ,a celebration if you did, they opened up the show with ‘Stronger Than Us’. Of course, there was plenty more ‘good stuff’ with a group who have successfully adapted to changing music tastes over 5 decades now . . . The Isley Brothers.
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This week, our Under The Covers feature, brought three songs that were hits for UK band The Zombies heard again through the covers by Italian band, Sugarpie & the Candymen, Del Shannon and Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters.

Over And Over
Stronger Than Us – Stone Foundation
Winner Takes All – The Isley Brothers
Innocence – Tomar & The FCs
Over And Over – Bywater Call
I Won’t Back Down – Ronnie Dunn

Under The Covers
Time Of The Season – Sugarpie & the Candymen
Tell Him No – Del Shannon
She’s Not There – Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters

Take Me Home
The Dark Comes Down – Philipp Fankhauser
Back Where I Belong – Jack Savoretti
Take Me Home – Sugar & Spice Revue
Super Duper Love – Sugar Billy
Shoulda Woulda Coulda – Beverley Knight
Still Pray – Maggie & the Buddies
Can’t Fight The Feeling (Instrumental) – Charles Bradley

Play Nice
I Don’t Wanna Get Wise – The Who
Statesboro Blues – Big Band Of Brothers
It Never Rains But It Pours – Jon Lord & Miller Anderson
Drive My Car – Memphis All Stars
Grand Piano – Charlie Wood
Play Nice – Cass Clayton

Girls & Guitars
Guilty Mouth – Erin Coburn

Time After Time
Tracks Of My Tears – Brenda Russell
Time After Time – Sarah Menescal
Read Between the Lines – Van Morrison

Doo Wop Delight
If I Could Make You Mine – The Love Notes

Help Me To Change
Sweet Baby James – Marc Broussard
Help Me To Change – The Durham County Poets
Sincerely – Johnny Jenkins

Well, there’s no doubting,  there was plenty of the ‘good stuff’ among the new releases this week. That was true for our Girls & Guitars feature this week, which threw its spotlight on someone who definitely deserves her place there . . . . this was Kentucky singer/songwriter, Erin Coburn. Her latest album ‘Out From Under’ is really quite seductive and it’s had plenty of plays since it arrived here. It got another one too with my choice . . . . Erin’s track, ‘Guilty Mouth’.

For the devotees of those vocal groups of the 50s and 60s, there was treat in our Doo Wop Delight feature. This came from New York group The Love Notes, who formed in 1955 and disbanded in 1957. But, before they did, they recorded a little number for  the Holiday label which was this week’s choice . . . ‘If I Could Make You Mine’.

While we were enjoying the music, the clock on the wall was ticking away our time together, so with tomorrow waiting impatiently on the doorstep, there was just enough time to squeeze in a superb track from The Durham County Poets . . . . ‘Help Me To Change’. Then it was time for a big thanks for your good company on the show and the hope that we’ll meet again next week to go Through To Midnight. Until then . . .  remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 27 November 2019

Shake ‘Em On Down . . .

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

Well, with a good deal of enthusiasm, I arrived at the appointed time clutching plenty of new releases for this week’s edition of The Blues Come Calling, a gig review, along with Pinetop’s Pick bringing us a story from one of the celebrated London music clubs (that’s still going strong) and the memorable UK debut of high powered North Mississippi blues music, featuring an electric washboard! After playing Texas bluesman, Andrew Jr.Boy Jones in last week’s Austin Calling feature, Andrew kindly sent over a preview copy of his upcoming new album . . . and a ‘good un’ is too, so it became our ‘album of the week’. Then, with a dedication to all those who’ve been out there working out in the cold, our Austin Texas feature had Shemekia Copeland with ‘Cold Feet’ a song from her suitably titled album ‘Turn The Heat Up’.
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Kicking off the show for us this week was the much missed Rory Gallagher, who popped up as the subject of some of the chatter this past week, along with some fond memories of live gigs, even of his time with his early 3 piece band Taste. Then, there was a reminder for those organising their diaries for next year, to put in the January dates for the London Blues Festival. It has plenty of good stuff lined up, including Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues, Popa Chubby and Bernie Marsden, who all got into the playlist for this week.

Don’t Start Me Talkin’
Don’t Start Me Talkin’ – Rory Gallagher (Defender – 1987)
Hate To See You Go – Billy Branch (Roots & Branches – The Songs Of Little Walter – 2019)
I Don’t Want Nobody – Popa Chubby (Universal Breakdown Blues – 2013)
Someday After A While (You’ll Be Sorry) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Hard Road – 1967)
A’Jumpin’ & A’Shufflin’ – Joe Hill Louis (‘A’Jumpin’ & A’Shufflin’ The Blues 1950-1954′ – 2019)
Wish For What You Want – The Billy Walton Band (Wish For What You Want – 2015)
Something’s Gotta Change – Gary Fletcher (River Keeps Flowing – 2019)
Do You Ever Think About Me – Andrew Jr.Boy Jones & Kerrie Lepai (Jr Boy & Kerrie’s Blues – 2019)

Pinetop’s Pick
Shake ‘Em On Down – The North Mississippi Allstars (Shake Hands With Shorty – 2000)

Rollin’ Man
Rollin’ Man – Bernie Marsden (Green & Blues – 1995)
The Dark Comes Down – Philipp Fankhauser (Let Life Flow – 2019)
Can’t Be Satisfied – The Durham County Poets (Hand Me Down Blues – 2019)
Don’t Mess With Me – Andrew Jr.Boy Jones & Kerrie Lepai (Jr Boy & Kerrie’s Blues – 2019)

Wicked Charm
Sloppy Drunk – Swamp ‘n’ Roll Ambassadors (Rock This Joint – 2019)
Little Children’s Blues – Katy Hobgood (I Dream Of Water – 2019)
Wicked Charm – The Blind Lemon Gators (Gatorville – 2019)
Quicksand – Matty T Wall (Transpacific Blues Vol. 1 – 2019)
I’ll Survive – Breezy Rodio (If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It – 2019)
Sun On My Face – Paul Gillings (You Don’t Even Know – 2019)
Don’t Lie To Me – Fats Domino (I’ve Been Around – 2019)

Austin Calling
Cold Feet – Shemekia Copeland (Turn The Heat Up – 1998)

Good Life
Big Love – Vanesa Harbek (Big Love – 2019)
Need Your Love So Bad – B.B. King & Sheryl Crowe (B.B. KIng & Friends – 80 – 2005)
Good Life – Andrew Jr.Boy Jones & Kerrie Lepai (Jr Boy & Kerrie’s Blues – 2019)
Ways – The Cold Stares (Ways – 2019)
Strange Brew – Charlie Wood & The Smokin’ Section Band (Charlie Wood & Friends – 2006)
Sunday Drive – Andrew Jr.Boy Jones & Kerrie Lepai (Jr Boy & Kerrie’s Blues – 2019)
Alvino Johnson’s Shuffle – Al Kooper (ReKooperation 1994)

Billy Walton was in town this week and doing a high energy set down the road from here. On the night, he got plenty of attention for his excellent guitar playing and managed to generate some big smiles with his brief (tongue in cheek) lapse into a country music number. But, there was plenty of the sort of stuff that the crowd went to hear, like my choice for this week’s playlist . . . ‘Wish For What You Want’.

Then, way too soon in my humble opinion, it was time to say our bluesy farewells for another week. As we did, I was playing out with an old favourite from Al Kooper . . . his take on ‘Alvino Johnson’s Shuffle’. There was a big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and the hope that we meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . . remember . . .  have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 26 November 2019
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 28 November 2019

Something You Got . . .

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

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Well, there was definitely more good cheer and bonhomie when the Cruise Mobile arrived this week than we’ve seen around the retail shops hereabouts. But, then we were out for a good time, great music and excellent company . . . and not a festive jumper in sight! So, with a cheery wave, we set off on this week’s musical adventure in the company of Bill King’s Saturday Night Fish Fry and their take on ‘Don’t Freeze On Me’ and we followed fast with something that we found in a dusty box in the Cruising Library . . . Benny Ingram and his 1958 Bandera 45 ‘Jello Sal’.

Long time members of the Cruising Crew will know we enjoy a bit of a challenge and we were given just that with a little gem from Jeanne Caine titled ‘What I Learned About You’. New Orleans’ esteemed Jamie Dell’Apa, dug it out and we could find very little information about Jeanne or this recording . . . other than it was probably recorded in the late 50s or early 60s, but was unissued at the time. So, credit to White Label Records for putting it out on its 1979 compilation ‘Rock Rock Rock’ and if you know any more . . . do tell!

This week we indulged in a little featurette on the music of singer and songwriter Chris Kenner. We opened with Mr Kenner’s own recording of ‘Grandma’s House’ and followed with a favourite of our good pal The Shake, Don Bryant’s cover of ‘I Like It Like Than’. With a tip of the hat to Neil Pellegrin, we rounded off with ‘Something You Got’, a much covered song, co-written and recorded by Chris Kenner in 1961, but recorded by the song’s other co-writer Fats Domino in 1964.

There were other thanks due too. Firstly, to our good pal Johnny Alpha, for pointing us to a great Ray Charles number out of his stunning record library of obscure, rare vinyl. Secondly, to Arfa Pinetop for recommending UK band The Achievers and, thirdly, to Larry Grogan for the cover of Free’s ‘All Right Now’ by American soul singer Lea Roberts.

All Right Now
Don’t Freeze On Me – Bill King’s Saturday Night Fish Fry
Jello Sal – Benny Ingram
What I Learned About You – Jeanne Caine
Grandma’s House – Chris Kenner
I Like It Like That – Don Bryant
Something You Got Baby – Fats Domino
Hide Nor Hair – Ray Charles
Don’t Roll Those Bloodshot Eyes At Me – The Achievers
All Right Now – Lea Roberts

Girls & Guitars
I Got A Guy – Kathy Lynn and The Playboys

Let’s Boogie
Hawaiian Boogie – George Bedard & The Kingpins
Heebie Jeebies – George Bedard & The Kingpins
We Belong Together – Robert & Johnny
Come Back My Love – The Cardinals
Knock Me A Kiss – Titus Turner
Squeeze Her, Tease Her – Jackie Wilson
Sugar Bee – Johnny Mack

For our Girls & Guitars feature this week, our spotlight fell on guitarist and singer, Kathy Lynn, who hails from New York and formed Kathy Lynn & The Playboys back in 1963. They became the resident house band at New York’s popular club, ‘The Peppermint Stick’ and had several hits on the Swan record label. They’re still performing together and possibly still doing our choice from their Swan recording . . . ‘I Got A Guy’. For more background on the band, check out Larry Grogan’s Funky 16 Corners blog.

George Bedard & The Kingpins turned up to demonstrate some great guitar work on ‘Hawaiian Boogie’ and showed off George’s vocals on one of Richard Penniman’s numbers. As if that wasn’t enough to grab your attention, our Doo Wop Delights featured New York duo Robert & Johnny with their 1958 hit ‘We Belong Together’ . . . and if you want know more about that one, check out Thom Hickey wonderful ‘Immortal Jukebox‘ blog. Our second doo wop choice was inspired by Matt The Cat’s Juke In The Back show and its feature on vocal group, The Cardinals, including ‘Come Back My Love’.

Titus Turner’s ‘Knock Me A Kiss’ includes the line ‘I like cake and no mistake’ . . . and since Mrs TC had been baking cakes this week, Mr Merlot and yours truly we’re rather hoping we might get to sample some and perhaps a glass or two of pink fizz too! But, our attentions were diverted by Mr Excitement himself, Jackie Wilson with ‘Squeeze Her, Tease Her’ and some manic moves by Mr Merlot & The Cruisettes, which masked the Cruise Mobile’s change of direction, as we started heading home . . . and taking us all the way back to where we started was Johnny Mack with ‘Sugar Bee’. Then, all too soon, our cruising adventure was over for another week. So, we parked up the Cruise Mobile ever hopeful that you enjoyed our cruising playlist sufficiently to be enticed back again next week, when we aim to swing by in the Cruise Mobile same time, same place with a seat saved especially for you. So, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 26 November 2019

Don’t Stop Me Now . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of Through To Midnight:

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Well, carefully avoiding anyone who looked like they were a political canvasser, I arrived at the right place at the right time and with an armful of the ‘good stuff’ to take us all the way Through To Midnight.  There were plenty  of new releases and some prizes from my rummaging in the music library this week. So, whilst tomorrow was making its way to our doorstep we set about giving our Wednesday a fitting finale.
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Getting us started  was Charles Earland with a track I was pretty sure you wouldn’t have heard on ‘ordinary radio’. Then, for those like Trevor Martin, who were down the road for The Brand New Heavies gig during the past week, there was something that will have sounded very familiar.

There were plenty of new releases from folks like The Brand New Heavies, Maggie & the Buddies, Diane Blue, Bywater Call, Simply Red, Lisa Mills, Billy Price, Erin Coburn, Alex Francis and more. Our Under The Covers feature brought three songs made famous by UK band Queen. and with covers delivered this time by Scott Bradley’s Postmodern Jukebox, Elvis sound-alike, Orion and German ska and punk band The Busters.

Super Duper
J&B – Brian Auger & Jeff Golub
Let The Music Play – Charles Earland
Little Dancer – The Brand New Heavies
Something’s Buggin’ You – Maggie & the Buddies
Super Duper Love – Echo
Down Came The Rain – Jeff Lynne & ELO
Walk Away – Del Shannon
Forgive – Bywater Call

Under The Covers
Don’t Stop Me Now – Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Orion
We Are The Champions – The Busters

Makin’ Whoopee
Makin’ Whoopee – Dr John & Rickie Lee Jones
Papa Don’t Know – Frankie Miller
Ring That Bell – Simply Red
Mama Told Me Not Come – Odetta
Shook, Shimmy & Shake – Wynder K Frog
Comin’ Home Baby – Kai Winding

Call On Me
After Midnight – Maggie Bell
Call On Me – Patrice Rushen
It’s A Damn Shame – Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson
More Days Like This – Gary Nicholson
Walk Back In – Billy Price
Don’t Box Me In – Diane Blue

Girls & Guitars
Greenwood, Mississippi – Lisa Mills

Not Fade Away
It’s Over – Erin Coburn
Will We Ever Learn – Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
Not Fade Away – Scubba & Michelle Simonal
Silhouettes – The Rays
Try A Little Tenderness – Pip Millett
You Don’t Know Me – Connie Lush
Desire – Alex Francis
Sincerely – Johnny Jenkins

Our Girls & Guitars feature turned its spotlight on soul and blues singer Lisa Mills, who hails from Hattiesburg, Mississippi and is a familiar face on the Gulf Coast music scene. She’s travelled across the world with her soulful blues sounds and has an upcoming album ‘The Triangle’, due for release in January. It’s  a tribute to that great southern soul music of the 60s and 70s and includes my choice . . . a song, originally recorded by Little Richard in the early 70s, ‘Greenwood, Mississippi’. Then we went back to the 60s to recall Herman’s Hermits 1965 hit ‘Silhouettes’. A decade earlier, it was a hit for New York doo wop group The Rays and their version popped up again as this week’s Doo Wop Delight.

Getting us into that mellow mood, as we headed for midnight, was Manchester’s own Pip Millett with a simply superb version of that Otis Redding favourite . . . ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ and keeping us in that mellow mood was Connie Lush with an excellent track from her new album ‘Blue on Blue’ . . . her take on ‘You Don’t Know Me’. Alex Francis rounded off our musical adventure with his latest single, ‘Desire’, before it was time to head out into the night and let tomorrow take you who knows where. So, with a big thanks for your good company on the show and the hope that we’ll meet here again next week, I signed off with the customary reminder . . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 20 November 2019

Can’t Take These Blues Away . . .

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

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Well, it’s that time of year when folks are preparing their festive wish-lists, so there were a few possibilities among this week’s choices and kicking off the show in fine style this week was Bill King and a great opener from his ‘must have album’ ‘The Best Of Bill King’s Saturday Night Fish Fry’. There were plenty of new releases too and some upcoming dates for your diary, including The BB King Blues Band, who are heading to the UK next year for at least one London gig . . . and  someone who’s in town right now and on my giglist for this week is the excellent Billy Walton Band with a big favourite here, the title track of their latest album . . . ‘Neon City’.

While I was rummaging in the blues library this week, I came across an album that I bought from a shop at Blackheath’s Royal Standard. The shop is long gone now, but back then, as well as its newspapers, sweets and cigarettes, it had a seemingly constant turnover of obscure and deleted music albums. I remember spending a good deal of time thumbing through the albums and coming away with some gems, including a Memphis Slim album that opened up with this track . . . ‘Fat & Forty’.

I Never Knew
Poor Old Me – Bill King (The Best Of Bill King’s Saturday Night Fish Fry – 2010)
Paying the Cost to Be the Boss – The BB King Blues Band (Featuring Mary Griffin, Taj Mahal, Eric Demmer) (The Soul of the King – 2019)
Neon City – Billy Walton Band (Neon City – 2019)
Fat & Forty – Memphis Slim (Clap Your Hands – 1969)
I Never Knew – Diane Blue (Look For The Light – 2019)
Ol’ Riley – Larkin Poe (Ol’ Riley – 2019)
The Sky Is Cryin’ – Audrey Turner (I’m Here – 2019)
Rollin’ Joanna – Screamin’ John & TD Lind (Mr Little Big Man – 2019)

Pinetop’s Pick
Bad Luck & Trouble – Johnny Winter (The Progressive Blues Experiment – 1968)

Better Watch Yourself
Domino Stomp – Fats Domino (I’ve Been Around – 2019)
The Question Why – Ben Poole (Trio Live ’19)
Sometimes You Get The Bear – Sugaray Rayford (Somebody Save Me – 2019)
Jelly Roll – Screamin’ John & TD Lind (Mr Little Big Man – 2019)
The Breeze – Breezy Rodio (If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It – 2019)
You Better Watch Yourself – The Prime Movers Blues Band (You Better Watch Yourself  – 2019)

Ready To Play
Kidney Stew – Durham County Poets (Hand Me Down Blues – 2019)
I Can’t Take These Blues Away – Bob Margolin (This Guitar & Tonight – 2019)
Whatcha Gonna Do – Zoot Money & Bobby Tench (Rattlesnake Guitar – 1995)
Dead Man Can Do – Ledfoot (White Crow – 2019)
Gonna Drag Ya – Screamin’ John & TD Lind (Mr Little Big Man – 2019)
You Want Me Back – Wanda Johnson (Slow Down- 2019)
Ready To Play – Andrew Jr Boy Jones (I Know What It’s Like – 2012)

Austin Calling
No One Owns The Blues – Bugs Henderson (Have Blues – Must Rock – 2008)

Silver Lining
Howlin’ For My Baby – John Hammond (Hot Tracks – 2006)
Silver Lining – Bywater Call (Bywater Call – 2019)
Be Careful How You Vote – Walter Trout (Survivor Blues – 2019)
Leave Me Alone – Vitor Bacalah (I Am Leaving – 2019)
You Upset Me Baby – Joe Bonamassa (Blues Deluxe – 2003)

There were plenty of new releases from the likes of Vitor Bacalah, Bywater Call, Wanda Johnson, Ben Poole, Ledfoot, Durham County Poets, Bob Margolin, The Prime Movers Blues Band, Diane Blue and Audrey Turner, plus our album of the week from Screamin’ John & TD Lind.

For this week’s Austin Calling feature, our focus was on Texas bluesman, Bugs Henderson. He grew up in Tyler, Texas, where he learned to play guitar and formed a band at age 16. He went on to lead several others bands and got to play with the likes of B. B. King, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He recorded over 20 albums, including his 2008 album, ‘Have Blues-Must Rock’, which opens with his track . . .  ‘No One Owns The Blues’.

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 19 November 2019
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 21 November 2019

I Want To Rock . . .

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

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Well, it’s difficult to ignore the countdown to the festive season, because it’s it seems to be evident in all the stores, on TV and other media . . . . but not here! So, for everyone seeking sanctuary from all that, we rolled by in the Cruise Mobile, with the radio turned up, plenty of friendly faces and a seat saved especially for you. All you needed to do was jump aboard and go Cruising with The Commissioner!

To get us off to a great start, we had the company of Little Booker (a.k.a James Booker) with some fine organ work on his 1961 gem, ‘Teenage Rock’ and he turned up again playing piano on Shirley & Lee’s 1962 single ‘I’m Old Enough’ and again behind Freddie King on his instrumental ‘Sweet Thing’. As an encore, he was back on Earl King’s 1961 45 ‘Nervous Breakdown’, but then it was time to enjoy a small celebration of Dr John’s birthday this week with his version that Bobby Darin’s classic ‘Splish Splash’.

A big thanks for some fascinating feedback on recent shows, particularly our little featurette on Johnny Guitar Watson. Our good pal Amigo solved the mystery of why Johnny’s 50s number ‘Late Freight Twist’ hadn’t been released at the time. Seems it was, but titled ‘Let’s Go Smitty’ with label credits to Floyd Dixon featuring Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson. Chris Farlowe also turned up, doing a great cover of Johnny’s, ‘Gangster of Love’. For the fans of Northern Soul, we found Dean Parrish’s version of ‘It’ll Never Be Over For Me’ and a Motown cover by Welsh singer Tawny Reed.

Sweet Thing
Teenage Rock – Little Booker (James Booker)
I’m Old Enough – Shirley & Lee
Sweet Thing – Freddie King
Nervous Breakdown – Earl King
Splish Splash – Dr John
Let’s Go Smitty – Floyd Dixon & Johnny Guitar Watson
It’ll Never Be Over For Me – Dean Parrish
Needle In A Haystack – Tawny Reed
Gangster Of Love – Chris Farlowe

Girls & Guitars
I Love To Love You – Candye Kane & Laura Chavez

Something Hit Me
I Want To Rock – Little Miss Sharecropper (LaVern Baker)
Tweedle Dee – Georgia Gibbs
Bad Man Of Missouri – Jimmy Ricks & The Suburbans
Tell Me How Long – The Flamingos
Something Hit Me – The Falcons & Little Bee
Teardrops Will Fall – John Mellencamp
Outside The Law – Los Pacaminos

Our Girls and Guitars feature this week turned our spotlight on Californian guitarist, Laura Chavez, who’s early influences came from Texas and Chicago blues players, but stretched further afield to include the UK’s Jimmy Page and Mick Taylor. Laura began playing guitar on stage when she was 18 and after 8 years with her first band she joined Candye Kane’s band and more recently Casey Hensley. As a sample, we picked ‘I Love To Love You’ which she recorded with Candye Kane in 2011 for her Sister Vagabond album.

Full marks if you heard Little Miss Sharecropper, and spotted the voice of LaVern Baker there, because it was indeed Miss Baker, with something she recorded in for National records in1951, long before she joined Atlantic Records and recorded her 1955 hit “Tweedle Dee”. But, she was beaten to the No 1 position by a white girl, named Georgia Gibbs, who recorded a note-for-note cover of the song, which we played. But, we also featured Jimmy Ricks (who recorded a duet or two with Lavern Baker) with his group The Suburbans on his 1957 Baton 45 ‘Bad Man of Missouri’.

This week, we started our Doo Wop Delights with a little 1959 gem from The Flamingos, ‘Tell Me How Long’, followed by The Falcons, providing some backing for someone called Little Bee on ‘Something Hit Me’ a recording made sometime in the early 60s but not released at the time and I have no idea about the identity of Little Bee and even Uncie Marv Goldberg isn’t sure . . . . so there’s one for the archivists. Then, we relived a recent night of Tex Mex music with John Mellencamp’s ‘Teardrops Will Fall’ and Los Pacaminos bringing this week’s cruise to an end with ‘Outside The Law’.

So, with a little polishing of the Cruise Mobile and some cheery waving, we headed off with Mr Merlot & The Cruisettes to the after show party, very much hoping you’ll come back, same time same place next week when once again we can go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio
on 26 November 2019

Is It Just Me . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of Through To Midnight:

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Well, when Wednesday night comes around, if you climb up on a chair by the window, hang on tight and stare hard at the horizon, you might just be able to see the weekend heading this way, and, as always, to help it’s arrival I brought along a cheery smile, an armful of new releases, and plenty more of the ‘good stuff’ to take us all the way Through To Midnight. This week, starting us off on our journey was Chromeo with Must’ve Been’ and I didn’t lingering long, because we’re soon off to catch up with Italian multi-instrumentalist Hubert Dorigatti who popped up among the new releases here with a great new single, where he recaptures that rich bluesy, brassy sound of bands like Chicago and The Electric Flag.

For this week’s Under The Covers feature, I brought three songs made famous by supergroup Cream and heard again through the covers of others. Cream had great success with their albums and each produced numbers that have become enduring hits in their own right. My choices started with the band’s first single, ‘I Feel Free’, as covered by David Bowie. Then, there were two other Cream classics from Jenny Evans and Joel Grey.

Must’ve Been
J&B – Brian Auger & Jeff Golub
Must’ve Been – Chromeo
Love Is Blind – Hubert Dorigatti & Bayou Side
Big Easy – Jon Cleary
She Got Me Crazy – Boogaloo Grey Cooper (Modern Man Blues – 2019)
Blue Jeans – Marc Broussard
Hard Knocks – Joe Cocker
Web Of A Stranger – Never The Bride (For Better, For Worse – 2019)

Under The Covers 
I Feel Free – David Bowie
Sunshine Of Your Love – Jenny Evans
White Room – Joel Grey

Is It Just Me
B-A-B-Y – Booker T Jones & Ayanna Irish
Is It Just Me – Sugaray Rayford
All My Love – Jeff Lynne & ELO
Something I Can’t Do – Cassie Cashdollar, Marcia Ball & Johnny Nicholas

Dancing On The Ceiling
Bad Bootz – Simply Red
Dancing On The Ceiling – Sound Behavious
This Night Is Mine – Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar
Desire – Alex Francis
Good Man (In A World Gone Wrong) – Billy Sheets

Girls & Guitars
Save Me For Later – Suzie Vinnick

Trip On This
Certified Senior Citizen – Mose Allison
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – Jazzystiks (ft Lona)
Trip On This – Erin Coburn
Heart On The Line – Suzi Quatro
You’re Gonna Lose That Girl – Bertram Brown

Doo Wop Delight
Tonight Tonight – The Mellow Kings

So Long
Friday I’m In Love – Dinah Eastwood
So Long – Dr John

Now, there was a good reason why Mose Allison’s ‘Certified Senior Citizen’ had a particular significant for this week’s show, because if he’d hung around a bit longer, would have been celebrating his birthday this past week . . . . like me. Listening to those lyrics make me smile a little more  . . .  so a tip of the hat to Mose.

This week’s Girls & Guitars feature threw its spotlight on Canadian ‘lady of the blues’, Suzie Vinnick. She’s a Saskatoon native, now living in Ontario, and the proud owner of an impressive voice, great guitar chops, and a reputation for engagingly candid performances. She’s currently touring Canada and America with The Downchild Blues Band, though, as yet, no plans for a UK visit. But, she was on our playlist , along with her guitar, called Mabel, and a little number called, ‘Save Me For Later’.

Now, this week’s Doo Wop Delight featured New York vocal group The Mellow Kings who recorded their song ‘Tonight Tonight’ in 1956, although, surprisingly, it wasn’t a hit when it was first  released, but it’s become a real classic since. Dinah Eastwood brought an even more mellow mood with her delightful version of ‘Friday I’m In Love’ and the much missed, Dr John brought us a fitting finale with ‘So Long’. Then, sadly, it was time to go. So, with a big thanks for your company and my armful of the ‘good stuff’, I prepared to head out into the night, ever hopeful that we’ll meet again next week to go Through To Midnight. Until then  . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 13 November 2019

Every Kinda Blues . . .

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

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Well, apparently there’s no immunisation available for ‘election fever’, but there’s always the option to turn off your phone, turn off your TV and refuse to answer the door, then, tune in to The Blues Come Calling, where I am not looking for your endorsement, your vote, or a poster in your window.  I arrive, not bearing election pamphlets or manifestos, but just an armful of the best blues around and a big smile.
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This week there were some box sets for your Xmas wishlist, plus other new releases from Croatian bluesman Tomislav Goluban, The Sugar & Spice Review, Dave Specter, Niecie, The Marcus King Band, Boogaloo Grey Cooper & The Reverend Shawn Amos. The ‘album of the week’ comes from Swedish blues band Trickbag, who are celebrating 25 years in the business, there’s our Austin Calling feature with its spotlight on Andrew Jr Boy Jones doing a little ‘Negative Talkin’, plus our regular guest spot, Pinetop’s Pick, which traced the origins of a much recorded blues song back to an old English folk song.

Blues From The Inside Out
Good Lovin’ – The Sugar & Spice Review  (Mama Sang The Blues – 2019)
Stop Messin’ Around – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (The Best Of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac – 2002)
Blues From The Inside Out – Dave Specter (Blues From The Inside Out – 2019)
Every Kinda Blues – Niecie (Every Kinda Blues – 2019)
I’m A Shuffling Fool – Breezy Rodio (If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Mend It – 2019)
Mighty Good Man – Trick Bag (25 Years Of House Rocking R&B – 2019)
Wild Flowers & Wine – The Marcus King Band (Wild Flowers & Wine – 2019)

Pinetop’s Pick
Stewball – Leadbelly (Leadbelly’s Last Sessions – 1994)

Feel It High
Feel It High – Boogaloo Grey Cooper (Modern Man Blues – 2019) (Radio edit)
Walkin’ By Myself – Suzie Vinnick (Me & Mabel 2011)
The Night Time Is The Right Time – Audrey Turner (I’m Here – 2019)
Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone / Mama Sang The Blues – Michael Hill’s Blues Mob (Funky Blues Bits – 2013)
Highway 1 – Trickbag (25 Years of House Rocking R&B – 2019)
Ain’t No Moonlight – Buck & Evans (Write a Better Day – 2018)

Get Up
Hayloft Blues – Tomislav Goluban (Memphis Light – 2019)
Movin’ Out – Johnnie Johnson (Johnnie B. Bad – 2005)
Big Legged Woman – Black Stone Cherry (Black To Blues Vol 2 – 2019)
Slide Show – Cindy Cashdollar (w Steve James) (Slide Show – 2004)
Get Up (You Ain’t Done ) – Wanda Johnson (Slow Down – 2019)
Good Ol’ Shoe – Edgar Winter (Winter Blues – 1999)
Ida Lee – Trickbag (25 Years of House Rocking R&B – 2019)

Austin Calling
Negative Talkin’- Andrew Jr Boy Jones (It’s Me Again – 2016)

Counting Down The Days
Falling For You – Vitor Bacalhau (I Am Leaving – 2019)
Stagger Lee – Dr John (Big Band Voodoo – 2019)
Counting Down The Days – The Reverend Shawn Amos & The Brotherhood (Blue Sky – 2019)
She’s Making Whoopee In Hell Tonight – Lonnie Johnson (Ultimate Blues Classics – 2011)
Move Out – Billy Sheets (Good Man In A World Gone Wrong – 2019)
Just Coastin’ – Dave Meniketti (On The Blues Side – 1998)

Now, I promised that we’d be returning for more from Billy Sheets’ new album and I did just that his number, ‘Move Out’ . . . which is just what I had to do shortly after, because our bluestime together this week had just about run out. So, as I gathered up the music, tidied up the studio and headed out into the night, I was playing out with a choice from Dave Meniketti whose guitar playing is always a joy. He was on hand to take us home with his number . . . ‘Just Coastin’. Before that though, there was a big thanks for your good company on this week and the hope that we’ll meet again, the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5 fm on 12 November 2019
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 14 November 2019

Go On You Fool . . .

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

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Well, the rains and the winter chill arrived with us this week and, as if that wasn’t enough to quell our usual good spirits, election fever seems rampant. in the Grand Duchy. So, when the trusty Cruise Mobile came rolling by, we were definitely ready for it to take us anywhere but here! With a good deal of bravado, we jumped aboard, all ready to go Cruising with The Commissioner. This week, we kicked off on our musical adventure, with The Gone All Stars and their version of ‘The Gee Gee Walk’ . . . and just when walking was the last thing on our mind . . . along came Lenny Johnson with his 1961 Bethlehem 45 ‘Walk Ginny Walk’.

There was a little treat for our good pal Arfa Pinetop who is one of many who share a great affection for UK band Diz & The Doormen. They turned up with a taste of New Orleans on a Dave Bartholomew penned number. Another link to the Crescent City came from UK singer, Beverly Jones, who generated an early appearance for some dangerous dancing to Beverly’s version of ‘Heatwave’ and Welsh songstress, Tawny Reed’s version of ‘I Got A Feeling’. Tawny has often been compared to another UK songstress, Lulu, who just happen to be on our playlist too. Fans of Northern Soul will know Timi Yuro’s great version of ‘It’ll Never Be Over For Me’ and we went digging back to find the 1964 original by Baby Washington.

For our Girls & Guitars feature this week, we focused our spotlight on singer and guitarist, Erin Harpe. She grew up in Greenbelt, Maryland and after graduating from High School, went on to college to study anthropology. But, she grew up with music all around her, which is not surprising, since he Dad was blues musician Neil Harpe, who taught her how to play blues guitar and got her hooked on blues music in particular. She’s put it to good use and formed her own band, Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers, who just happen to have a new album out called ‘Big Road’, which includes our choice ‘Frankie’.

I Got A Feeling
The Gee Gee Walk – The Gone All Stars
Walk Ginny Walk – Lenny Johnson
Go On You Fool – Diz & The Doormen
Heatwave – Beverly Jones
I Got A Feeling – Tawny Reed
Supernatural – Lulu
It’ll Never Be Over For Me – Baby Washington

Girls & Guitars
Frankie – Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers

Cheer Up
Rocking All Over The World – John Fogerty
Looking Back – Redhouse
Those Lonely Lonely Nights – The Bel-Airs
Last Freight Twist – Johnny Guitar Watson
Reconsider Baby – Johnny Guitar Watson
For Your Love – Larry Williams & Johnny Guitar Watson
Candlelight – The Five Satins
Cheer Up – The Five Fleets
Lillie Mae – Roomful Of Blues
Knock Out – Ray Collins’ Hot Club

Now, this week brought back memorable moments of The Vikster & Dean with guitars in hand, joined our favourite Bristol band, Redhouse on stage for their own take on ‘Rocking All Over The World’, which had the crowd up and cheering. Of course, the song is well known as a big UK hit for Status Quo, but we featured the original by John Fogerty.

Redhouse were not far from our thoughts, so it was their take on the great Johnny Guitar Watson number ‘Lookin’ Back’ which opened our little featurette on Mr Watson. His was one of the very many covers of the Earl King hit ‘Those Lonely Lonely Nights’, but we pulled out another by Missouri based vocal trio, The Bel Airs. Then Mr Watson was back with his trade mark guitar sound on a great instrumental that remained unreleased for many years . . . ‘Last Freight Twist’. But, the first instrument Johnny Watson learned was piano and it was his piano playing and vocals that graced the early recordings by Chuck Higgins’ band in 1952. Fortunately, Johnny did cut some sides under his own name featuring his piano skills, which were pretty impressive, as demonstrated on his version of ‘Reconsider Baby’. We closed our featurette on Mr Watson’s fascinating career with a track by his recorded live on stage in London along with Larry Williams, doing that pop psych hit for The Yardbirds ‘For Your Love’. . . and doing it very well indeed!

As time started to slip away just too quickly, we got to our Doo Wop Delights and this week we had a selection that came in fives . . . with The Five Satins and their 1960 Ember 45 ‘Candlelight’, followed by The Five Fleets and their 1961 Seville 45 ‘Cheer Up’. Then, it was a race against time to squeeze in a great Smiley Lewis number by Roomful Of Blues and, taking us all the way home was Ray Collins’ Hot Club with ‘Knock Out’ . . . and it was! But, we did arrive back safe and sound from our cruise and quickly said our farewells, ever hopeful that you’ll be enticed back again the next time 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 Miskin Radio
on 12 November 2019

The Sweetest Feeling . . .

Listen here to this week’s edition of Through To Midnight:

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Well, I arrived in high spirits for this week’s Through To Midnight. It seemed to have been a very good time for new releases and there were some stunning examples from the likes of Booker T Jones, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Simply Red, Johnny Rawls, Jesse Malin, The Mavericks, Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Never The Bride, Dr John, Taj Mahal and many more. We went  ‘Under The Covers‘ with the songs of The Temptations, revisited by Little Richard, Chucky Bantan and the wonderful Ella Fitzgerald. Later in the show, we heard from Canadian, Samantha Martin, who was our ‘Girls & Guitars‘ focus and boasting another of our new releases.

Now, this month brings the birthday of Mac Rebennack or Dr John as we know him. Down in New Orleans they’re celebrating by declaring it MacMonth . . . . and this year it coincides with the release of an album from Dr. John, called ‘Big Band Voodoo’. This features recently unearthed sessions recorded by Dr John in Germany in 1995 with a Big Band and includes my choice, a superb version of  ‘I’m Confessin’.  Among the other new releases is a new tribute album to Mose Allison. It has some big names contributing tracks to the album and I pulled out two . . .  from Jackson Browne and Taj Mahal.

Note By Note
J&B – Brian Auger & Jeff Golub
Mas Que Nada – Oye Santana
Havana Moon – Booker T Jones
Sci-Fi Woman – Jeff Lynne’s ELO
Sweet Child – Simply Red
Motion of The Ocean – Johnny Rawls

Under The Covers
The Way You Do The Things You Do – Little Richard
Beauty’s Only Skin Deep – Chucky Bantan
Get Ready – Ella Fitzgerald

Favourite Things
Shining Down – Jesse Malin
Our Favourite Things – Los Pacaminos
Hungry Heart – The Mavericks
Final Frontier – Lyle Lovett & Kecia Lewis
If You Live – Jackson Browne
Slinky Snake – Papa Grows Funk

When We Was Fab
When We Was Fab – George Harrison
Worth It, Work It – Never The Bride
Chuck E’s In Love – Nikki Nicholls
I’m Confessin’ – Dr John
Your Mind’s On Vacation – Taj Mahal

Girls & Guitars
All Night Long – Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar

Wonder
Wonder – Maggy & The Buddies
March Through The Darkness – Dave Specter
Talk To Me – Audrey Turner

Doo Wop Delight
Please, Please, Please – James Brown & The Famous Flames

Rise
If You Want Me To Stay – Joanna Connor
Sultans Of Swing – Blue System
I Get The Sweetest Feeling – Ashala Kirn
Sincerely – Johnny Jenkins

ur Doo Wop Delight this week, was inspired by discovering that the first ever single by James Brown & The Famous Flames hit the charts this week back in 1956. The song was ‘Please, Please, Please’ it became their signature song and, according to Etta James, the idea for the song came from old tattered napkin that James used to carry around on which Little Richard had written the words, ‘please, please, please’. James was determined to make a song out of it and it did very well for him and The Famous Flames.

We took a trip down to Deptford to discover the inspiration for Mark Knopfler to pen a classic song for Dire Straits. It became a huge hit for them and celebrated an otherwise long forgotten local jazz band, the Sultans of Swing. Then, Ashala Kirn brought us a very mellow mood with a breathless version of Jackie Wilson’s ‘I Get The Sweetest Feeling’, which, sadly, signalled the end of the show for this week. But, before I went about gathering up the music, tidying up the studio and getting ready to head out into the night, there was a big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and the hope that we’ll meet again, same time, same place next week to go Through To Midnight. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 6 November 2019