Boogie On . . . .

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

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Well, with life getting ever more strange, it proved to be something of a relief to focus on pulling together the music for this week’s edition of Through To Midnight.  In the event, it all came together, just in time, and I arrived with plenty of the good stuff that’s an essential ingredient for Dr Roberts Sonic Tonic.  I was not giving away any secrets when I said that it was specially formulated to raise the spirits and soothe the senses. So, with a big smile, an ample supply of chocolate raisins, a glass of ginger beer and easy access to some hand sanitiser, we kicked off in rousing style with Pacific Gas & Electric asking ‘Are You Ready?’ A rhetorical question, for sure!

There were some new releases, some old favourite and, perhaps a surprise or two . . . especially in this week’s Under The Covers feature, where I went foraging for three songs by one artist, heard again through the covers of others. This time around, I needed quite a bit of foraging time, because something had planted a tune in my head and I remembered hearing an inventive cover of a song by Doris Day . . . yes Doris Day! She was the unlikely choice for our three covers of her hits, starting with one from Christy Carlson Romano, followed by Billy Stewart giving his treatment to another and rounding off with a big floor filler in its day for Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.

Takes A Little Time
Are You Ready – Pacific Gas & Electric
Love Me Do – Rudy Rotta
Saturday In The Park – Chicago
Tempted – Rita Coolidge
Takes A Little Time – Bellevue Cadillac

Under The Covers
Teacher’s Pet – Christy Carlson Romano
Secret Love – Billy Stewart
Que Sera Sera – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

Thinking About You
Walk Of Life – Charles Mann
Dancing Shoes – Gumbo
Thinking About You – Lee Fields & The Expressions
Every Breath You Take – Vintage Reggae Soundsystem
If I Don’t Now – Melody Angel

On The Giglist
Hard Knocks – Marc Broussard

Thinking About You
Boogie On Reggae Woman – Stevie Wonder
Call Me Soon – Gavin Povey & The Good Rockin’ Daddies
Velvet Windows (Treme Trippin’) – Wily Bo Walker
It’s You That I Love – Luther Kent
Doin’ The Blah Blah Blah – Charlie Wood
All Along The Watchtower – Steve Franco
End Of Everything – Selena Evangeline

Girls & Guitars
What About Me – Meg Williams

Step On By
One More Day – Mighty Mike Schermer
I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know – King Solomon Hicks
Don’t Bring Me Down – Jo Harman
You’re Welcome, Step On By – Sweet Pea Atkinson
Pillow Talk – Joss Stone
Just For A Thrill – Ray Charles
Start Over – Jennie Lena
Sincerely – Johnny Jenkins

Last week I played ‘Hard Knocks’ by Joe Cocker and promised you the original this week from Marc Broussard. Now, I still have tickets for Marc’s London gig in October, so he is definitely still On The Giglist here. Now, to prove that I’m as good as my word, I found Marc’s version of the song for this week’s playlist.

This week’s Girls & Guitars feature, had its spotlight on New York singer and guitarist, Meg Williams. She made a name for herself on the music scene around her home town of Rochester, New York, and has been doing the same in Nashville since relocating there. But, for her latest album, she headed off to the famous studios in Muscle Shoals and to show off her talents. As an example, I pulled out that album, called ‘Take Me As I Am’ which includes my choice . . . ‘What About Me’.

Far too soon, the time came for me to be gathering up the music, tidying up the studio and getting ready now to head on out into the night. Tomorrow was on the doorstep, but there was just time to say a big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and hope that we’ll meet again same time, same place, next week to go Through to Midnight. Until then, remember . . . keep safe . . . keep well . . . and have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 27 May 2020
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 1 June 2020

Keep On Truckin’ . . . .

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

Good Time Blues
Farther On Up The Road – Lonnie Mack (Memphis Wham! – 1999)
Double Eyed Whammy – Freddy King (Double Eyed Whammy – 1966)
Good Time Blues – The Big House Blues Band (Rikki’s Roadhouse – 2020)
My Creole Belle – Taj Mahal (Labor Of Love – 2016)
New Orleans – Eddie 9v (Way Down The Alley – 2020)
Trausers – Alex Ohotin (Blues Can Never Have Enough – 2020)
Keep On Truckin’ – Bert Deivert (Kid Man Blues – 2011)

Back In Five
Little By Little – Steve Roux & The Brass Knuckle Blues Band

Crossing Borders
Devil’s Hostage – Too Slim & The Tail Draggers (Devil’s Hostage – 2020)
Just Like A Drug – Evelyn Rubio (Crossing Borders – 2020)

Pinetop’s Pick
Madison Blues – George Thorogood & The Destroyers (George Thorogood & The Destroyers – 1977)

Steppin’ Out
Look On Yonder Wall – Eddie 9v (Way Down The Alley – 2020)
Rollin’ & Tumblin’ – Eric Clapton & BB King (Rollin’ & Tumblin’ – 2020)
Steppin’ Out – Stephen Dale Petit (2020 Visions – 2020)
Happy Home – Wayne Nicholson & John Campbelljohn (Elmore’s Blues – 2020)
Alive – The Milk Men (Deliverance – 2020)
Didn’t Stop Me From Playing The Blues – Nick Steed (Homebound Blues – 2020)
Another Dead End – Bill Filipiak (Brand New Me – 2020)
I Ain’t Got You – The Pretty Things & The Yardbird Blues Band (Chicago  Blues Tapes – 1991)

On The Giglist
Big Hunk O’ Love – Gavin Povey (Live On Line – 2020)

Green & Blues
All The King’s Men – Laura Green (Green Eyed Blues – 2020)
Bottle & The Blues – Eddie 9v (Way Down The Alley – 2020)

Austin Calling
Times Getting Tougher Than Tough – Ben Sidran (Times Getting Tougher Than Tough – 2020)

Start Over Again
Can’t Start Over Again – Dion (ft Jeff Beck) (Blues with Friends – 2020)
South End Of A North Bound Mule – Victor Wainwright & The Train (Memphis Loud – 2020)
Got My Mojo Working – Eddie 9v (Way Down The Alley – 2020)

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 26 May 2020

Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 28 May 2020

Broadcast by Blues @ Rock Radio UK 30 May 2020

Broadcast by Blues @ Rock Radio UK 31 May 2020

Speed Crazy . . .

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 the faithful don’t much care when we go Cruising, so they were ready and willing to join Jerry Williams to go . . . . ‘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, who turned up with his 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 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 Pellegrin 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. , Jamie’s a real fan of the wonderful Barbara Lynn, 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 have had a big smile know when 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’. That 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 2020

Groove On Tonight . . .

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

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Well, I arrived this week with an extra strength audio tester of your well-being, especially if you visited The Flamingo or any other of those London soul clubs of the 60s. The tester came from Jimmy McGriff  and if it didn’t get your rhythm receptors way up in the red zone, then I was poised and primed to mobilise the emergency call out team to lead foot it in your direction with blue lights flashing. They’re all qualified to administer a double strength dose of Dr Roberts Sonic Tonic, with its guarantee to raise the spirits and soothe the senses . . . . and as Bill Wyman says, ‘you can’t get enough of that stuff’!
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Our Under The Covers feature this week focused on the songs of Bobby Womack. Now, Bobby’s career spanned many decades, so there’s plenty songs to choose from. But, many of his hits were covers themselves, so I tried to keep to the ones that Bobby wrote himself and I started with one Bobby wrote and recorded with his brothers as The Valentinos . . . the song was ‘It’s All Over Now’ and it was the Valentinos version that inspired The Rolling Stones to cover it . . . but the cover I chose came from Dr John & The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Then, we heard from Rogelio Douglas Jr with a very fine version indeed of Across 110th Street, followed by a song that was a hit twice for Bobby Womack . . .  ‘Lookin’ For A Love’ and I featured a cover by Sam Moore and Jon Bon Jovi.

Can’t Get Enough
All About My Girl – Jimmy McGriff
Can’t Get Enough of That Stuff – Bill Wyman
Gimme Little Sign – Danielle Brisebois
Slip Away – Lisa Mills
She Was My Baby (He Was My Friend) – Jerry Lee Lewis

Under The Covers
It’s All Over Now – Dr John & The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Across 110th Street – Rogelio Douglas Jr
Lookin’ For A Love – Sam Moore & Jon Bon Jovi

In The Air
Jackie Wilson Said – David Campbell
Domino – Van Morrison
Just Lookin’ – Sweet Pea Atkinson
Something You Got – Forest Sun
Don’t Want Nobody But You – Lucky Peterson (ft Tamara Tramell)
In The Air – The California Honeydrops
Wade In The Water – Klaus Doldiner’s Passport
Big Hunk O’ Love – Gavin Povey

Groovin’
Groovin’ – Wilson Pickett
Hard Knocks – Joe Cocker
Do It For Me – Cory Luetjen & The Traveling Blues Band
Believe Half Of What You See (And None of What You Hear) – Leon Haywood
Groove On Tonight – Gerald McClendon
Mistake – Evelyn Rubio
Bone To Pick – Laura Green

Girls & Guitars
Romance Trap – Gaelle Buswel
Groove Me – Nate Naja & Melba Moore

On The Giglist
Dream Lover – Eli Paperboy Reed

Dancing In The Moonlight
Dancing In The Moonlight – Hannah Goebel
Young Americans – Durand Jones & The Indications
Sultans Of Swing – Blue System
Sincerely – Johnny Jenkins

For our Girls and Guitars feature. This week, our spotlight fell on French singer and guitarist, Gaelle Buswel, who cites among her influences Jonny Lang, Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker. She made her first solo appearance on stage at the age of 18 and has since toured across Europe and Canada. She’s released three albums to date and I chose a track from her 2014 album, ‘Black To Blue’ . . . ‘Romance Trap’.

On The Giglist this week featured someone who is always on our giglist when he visits London . . . of course that was back when we had gigs to go to! But I thought you would understand why, when you heard his latest release . . . ‘Dream Lover’.

As tomorrow came creeping up on us, eager to take us who knows where, I was keen to share a little more of the ‘good stuff’, which came with a little story. It was this week back in 1978 that saw the release of Dire Straits debut single ‘Sultans Of Swing’, which you’ll have heard many times since then. So, I thought I’d pull out a cover of the song that I really like  by German band ‘Blue System’ with some quite seductive vocals from Dieter Bohlen. Then it was all over . . . I gathered up the music, tidied up the studio and got ready to head on out into the night. But not before saying a big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and hoping that we’ll meet again, same time, same place next week, to go Through to Midnight. Until then . . . remember . . . keep safe . . . keep well . . . and have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 20 May 2020

Mean Time Blues . . .

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

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Well, staying alert seemed to be the order of the day, which proved useful, because I found some great new blues releases this week, including Van Morrison, Joe Louis Walker, Dion, Nick Steed,  Cory Luetjen, The Starlite Campbell Band & more. The new box set of Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey was our ‘album of the week’, plus some ‘seasoned’ sides from Buddy Guy, BB King, Chicken Shack, Dr John & Sonny Landreth and others.

For this week’s Back In Five feature I found a lovely piece of ragtime guitar, courtesy of one of my guitar heroes, the excellent Mike Bloomfield. He played with Paul Butterfield, Bob Dylan and The Electric Flag, but he was here on his own with something that was on the playlist for this show, this week five years ago . . . . Mike Bloomfield with his take on ‘Blakes Rag’. Meanwhile, Pinetop’s Pick brought a story about Bret Marvin & The Thunderbolts with a sample of their setlist, ‘You’re Gonna Need Somebody By Your Side’.

But, there was plenty of fiery blues to get us off to a great start, courtesy of Cory Luetjen & The Traveling Blues Band with one of the great tracks on their new album ‘Just The Blue Notes’ and in case you missed the title . . . it was ‘Love You ‘Til Your Blues Are All Gone’.

‘Til Your Blues Are All Gone
Love You ‘Til Your Blues Are All Gone – Cory Luetjen & The Traveling Blues Band  (Just The Blue Notes – 2020)
Show Me The Money – Buddy Guy (Skin Deep – 2008)
Three O’Clock Blues – B B King (Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey – 2020)
New Town Blues – Alex Ohotin (Blues Can Never Have Enough – 2020)
I Got Nothin’ – Dion, Van Morrison & Joe Louis Walker (Blues with Friends – 2020)
Homebound Blues – Nick Steed (Homebound Blues – 2020)

Back In Five
Blakes Rag – Mike Bloomfield (Blues, Gospel & Ragtime Guitar Instrumentals – 2005)

OK Ken
No Love In My Heart – Wayne Nicholson & John Campbelljohn (Elmore’s Blues – 2020)
Bald Head – Dr John & Sonny Landreth (Bald Head – 2020)
Baby’s Got Me Cryin’ – Chicken Shack (OK Ken – 1969)

Pinetop’s Pick
You’re Gonna Need Somebody By Your Side – Bret Marvin & The Thunderbolts

Blues Got A Hold On Me
Riding On My Mind – Saverio Maccne (Riding On My Mind – 2020)
50 Years – Lucky Peterson (50 – Just Warming – 2019)
Stone Cold Crazy – Starlite Campbell Band (Stone Cold Crazy – 2020)
Honky Tonk Train Blues – Meade Lux Lewis (Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey – 2020)
Rosalyn – The Pretty Things (The Pretty Things – 1965)
The Thrill Is Gone – Tino Gonzales (Smiles For Miles – 1997)
She Comes With A Warning – Norman Beaker (Running Down The Clock – 2020)
Rockin’ & Rollin’ – Lil Son Jackson (Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey – 2020)
These Blues Got A Hold On Me – Scott Ellison (Skyline Drive – 2020)
Mean Time Blues – Jay Willie & James Montgomery (Cadillac Walk – 2020)
Traveling Riverside Blues – Jose Ramirez (Here I Come – 2020)

Austin Calling
Cherry Red – Little Richard (Little Richard Is Back – 1964)

Help Somebody
Help Somebody – Elles Bailey (Help Somebody – 2020)
Stagolee – Mississippi John Hurt (Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey – 2020)
You Lied To Me – The Big House Blues Band (Rikki’s Roadhouse – 2020)
Ain’t Your Momma – Sheri Roberts Greimes (Lightning Strikes Twice – 2020)
Old School Player – Johnny Burgin (No Border Blues – 2020)
Traintime – Cream (Wheels On Fire – 1968)

The sad news came this past week of the passing of multi-instrumentalist Lucky Peterson. He’s been a performer since the age of 5 and recorded a string of superb albums with numbers that showed he could cross musical genres with great ease. Last year he was celebrating 50 years in the music business and released his excellent, celebratory album, ’50 – Just Warming’ . . . so as a small celebration of his life and music, I chose his autobiographical number ’50 Years’.

This week Austin Calling revisited the blues legacy of Little Richard with some words from Austin music man Wendel Williams. Now, back in the 50’s, Little Richard was living and performing in Texas and recorded some early sides in Houston for Don Robey’s Peacock Records. Wendel has a few stories about Don Robey and his dubious antics, but those may be for another time. Back in March 2007, Little Richard was on stage at Austin’s University of Texas and Wendel didn’t say if he caught that show, but he did say that without Little Richard there would have been no Prince, no Sly Stone, no Billy Preston, no David Bowie, no James Brown, no Otis Redding, no Beatles, no Stones and possibly no Bob Dylan. So, as a reminder of what Little Richard could do with a great blues number, I pulled out his version of ‘Cherry Red’.

Those with a keen interest in such things knew that this past week included Jack Bruce’s birthday and I thought it appropriate to mark the occasion with something from Jack. . . . his superb number ‘Traintime’ from Cream’s ‘Wheels On Fire’. Sadly, it was also the last number on this week’s show, so before that there was a big thanks for your good company for this week’s show and the hope that we’ll meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then, remember . . . keep safe . . . keep well . . .and have fun! 

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 19 May 2020
Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 21 May 2020
Broadcast by Blues@Rock Radio UK on 23 May 2020
Broadcast by Blues@Rock Radio UK on 24 May 2020

You Talk Too Much . . .

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

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Well, while you were not looking, we snuck out, fired up the trusty Cruise Mobile ready to take you ‘who knows where’ with ‘you know who’, which with complete lack of originality, 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
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!.

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. He was a flamboyant performer, around Atlanta, Georgia and 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, ‘The Question is Whatcha Gonna Do’ and it attracted The Cruisettes, whose dangerous dancing is a frequest talking point with our insurers. Then, we cruised all the way home in the company of Mike Sanchez with his great cover of Big Maybelle’s classic ‘Tell Me Who’ and, although some may have doubted we’d make it, we arrived home safe and sound from our adventures. There was just 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 2020

I Like It Like That . . .

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

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Well, I arrived this week with some ‘full tilt’ rock ‘n’ roll from the ‘Ferriday Fireball’ himself, Jerry Lee Lewis, and if that didn’t get your rhythm receptors way up in the red zone, then I promised to mobilise the emergency call-out team to lead-foot it in your direction with blue lights flashing. In such cases, they are authorised to administer a double strength dose of Dr Roberts Sonic Tonic with its guarantee to raise the spirits and soothe the senses. There was a shot in the arm of the ‘good stuff’, which included some fine rockin’ toons from Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Terry Adams, Diz Watson and not forgetting a respectful tribute to Little Richard.
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This week’s Under The Covers feature took a real liberty with our regular format, because my salute to the fabulous Little Richard, who left us this past week, brought Little Richard with three covers of other people’s songs. The trio of tracks started with his duet with Tanya Tucker on Eddie Cochran’s ‘Something Else’, followed by Richard’s take on Shorty Long’s Motown mover, ‘Function At The Junction’ and rounding off with a stomping version of The Stone’s hit ‘Brown Sugar’. Later, there were some selected choices from among new releases by Angelique Kidjo, Eli Cook, Eric Hughes, Gerald McClendon, Jay Willie & James Montgomery . . . even Michael Buble snuck in with a topical piece of doo wop. . . .

Slow Down
Turn On Your Lovelight – Jerry Lee Lewis
Slow Down – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
Ubangi Stomp – Terry Adams

Under The Covers
Something Else – Little Richard & Tanya Tucker
Function At The Junction – Little Richard
Brown Sugar – Little Richard

Do It Again
I Got It – Diz Watson and The Doormen, featuring Big Jay McNeely
Fair Weather Friends – Eric Hughes Band
Can’t Nobody Stop Me Now – Gerald McClendon
Keep Feelin’ – Betty Wright
Pata Pata – Angelique Kidjo

On The Giglist
Mo’ Better Love – Ana Popovic

Stop On By
Live Learn – The California Honeydrops
My Babe – Jeanne Hatfield
Sincerely – The Moonglows
Do It Again – Herbie Mann
Starman – Baked A La Ska
All Night Thing – Eli Cook
Jumpin’ Jack Flash – Thelma Houston
A Quitter Never Wins – Larry Williams & Johnny Guitar Watson
Running Back To You – Laura Evans
I Like It Like That – Don Bryant
You’re Welcome, Stop On By – Sweet Pea Atkinson
Three Cool Cats – Jay Willie & James Montgomery

Girls & Guitars
Santa Fe – Jackie De Shannon

So Good To Be Here
So Good To Be Here – Boz Scaggs
Who’s That Lady – Lucas Arruda
We Could Be Together Until Eternity – Richard Marks
Gotta Be Patient – Michael Buble
One Night Stand Boulevard – Cherry Lee Mewis
Don’t Know Why – Take 6
Sincerely – Johnny Jenkins

This week’s focus for our Girls & Guitars feature was Kentucky’s own, Jackie De Shannon. Since she started singing and playing in her pre-teens, she’s become a well established singer/songwriter and guitarist, with a string of successes to her credit. Importantly, for our good pal, Richard Mann, Jackie wrote the song that got UK band The Searchers an international hit . . . the song was  ‘When You Walk In The Room’ . . . which was not my choice for this show, but a much later song of hers . . . ‘Santa Fe’.

But for current events, I might have been at a gig or two this past week or, at the theatre or maybe dining out with friends and family. So, it is cold comfort to see the bookings for this year getting deferred, but next year’s diary seems to be filling up mighty early. One of those on the giglist, I hope, will be Ana Popovic . . . so for this week’s On The Giglist feature I chose a track from her latest album ‘Live For Live’ and the excellent ‘Mo’ Better Love’.

As we drifted into our mellow mood, I pulled out the excellent ‘smoocher’ ‘One Night Stand Boulevard’ by Cherry Lee Mewis, whose latest album boasts a live version of that very song and there was a fitting finale with something I saved for the end of the show the ‘oh so mellow’ Take 6 with ‘Don’t Know Why’. Then, tomorrow was on the doorstep, ready to take you ‘who knows where’, so I bowed out with 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 . . . keep safe . . . keep well . . . and have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5 fm on 13 May 2020

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore . . .

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

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Well, I arrived with big smiles for this week’s show, not least because I came with plenty of ‘newies’, including Elles Bailey, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, David Broad, Linsey Alexander, local lad Dave Ferra, Mick Clarke and more. Our album of the week was Scott Ellison’s ‘Skyline Drive’, plus there are gems from Steve Miller, Johnny Winter, King King and (with a wink) BB King singing ‘Don’t Get Around Much Anymore’.

The week brought the saddest news of the passing of Little Richard. So, there was a very respectful nod to his memory in this week’s playlist. I remember seeing him live on stage on several occasions, when, not surprisingly his song choices were almost exclusively his rocking hits, but he cut some soulful blues too and I pulled out one of my favourites as a salute to the great man . . . a track from his 1971 ‘Cast A Long Shadow’ album . . . ‘Don’t Deceive Me (Please Don’t Go) ‘.

Now, each week our Back In Five feature takes a little excursion to find out what was on the playlist here, this week, five years ago. This week the choice has been prompted by a good friend of the show, John Reen, who thought he’d spotted a King King track on the show last week. Now, it so happens five years the show did have a track by King King. It was a Paul Carrack penned song, titled ‘Just A Little Lie’, which we revisited this time around and topped off by the excellent news that Steve Nimmo is joining brother Alan in King King, when they get back on the road.

Missing You
I Ain’t Got You – Steve Miller (Let Your Hair Down – 2011)
Rollin’ & Tumblin’ – Wayne Nicholson & John Campbelljohn (Elmore’s Blues – 2020)
Bam Bang Boom – Dion with Billy Gibbons (Blues and Friends – 2020)
Little By Little – Crawlback (ft Johnny Bird) (Crawlback – (2020)
Sometimes – Little Junior Parker (Sittin’ & Thinkin’ – 2011)
I’m Missing You – Scott Ellison (Skyline Drive – 2020)

Back In Five
Just A Little Lie – King King (Reaching For The Light – 2015)

Key To The Highway
Key To The Highway – David Broad (The Wasted Years – 2020)
Please Love Me – Linsey Alexander (Live at Rosa’s – 2020)

Pinetop’s Pick
Bottle Up & Go – Big Joe Williams (The Mike Raven Blues Sampler – 1969)

Perfect For You
Help Somebody – Elles Bailey (Help Somebody – 2020)
Roll ‘Em DD – Dorothy Donegan (Roll ‘Em DD – 1962)
Something About You – Scott Ellison (Skyline Drive – 2020)
Dimples – Van Morrison (The Prophet Speaks – 2018)
Walking Blues – Keb Mo (Playing For Change – 2020)
She Likes To Boogie Real Low – Johnny Winter (Hey, Where’s Your Brother – 1992)
Perfect For You – Scott Ellison (Skyline Drive – 2020)
Neighbour Neighbour – Jay Willie & James Montgomery (Cadillac Walk – 2020)
Cadillac Walk – Boz Scaggs (Memphis – 2013)
Don’t Deceive Me (Please Don’t Go) – Little Richard (Cast A Long Shadow – 1971)
Long As You Live – Mick Clarke (Long As You Live – 2020)
Here I Come – Jose Ramirez (Here I Come – 2020)

Austin Calling
Need Your Love So Bad – Shaun Murphy (It Won’t Stop Raining – 2016)

It’s Over Now
I Put A Spell On You – Leon Russell (Leon Russell – 1970)
It’s Over Now – Gerald McClendon (Can’t Nobody Stop Me Now – 2020)
Knock Me Down Again – Dave Ferra (Started Something – 2020)
Something About You – Scott Ellison (Skyline Drive – 2020)
Walking Blues – Keb Mo (Playing For Change – 2020)
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – BB King (Take A Swing With Me – 2019)
Immediate Blues – Bob Angell (Supernal Blues – 2020)

Our regular guest, Arfa Pinetop brought back a memory or two for some, with the mention of radio DJ Mike Raven and his much celebrated R&B Show. For Pinetop’s Pick, we were treated to a reminder of Mike’s love of blues and we heard from him, introducing 9 string guitarist, Big Joe Williams, with his take on ‘Bottle Up & Go’.

Meanwhile, this week’s Austin Calling brought a memory from Austin musician, Wendel Williams, who seems to know everybody around Austin and has played with many of the artists who’ve passed through the city. Back in March last year blues songstress, Shaun Murphy was taking a trip from Nashville to play her first gig in Austin and made a big impression locally. It certainly registered with Wendel, who reminded us of Shaun’s birthday recently and she was here with a much loved and much covered song . . . ‘Need Your Love So Bad’.

Far too soon, our blues time together was almost run out, but I didn’t want to leave without giving you a listen to Bob Angell’s new album ‘Supernal Blues’. Among its tracks is an early favourite ‘Immediate Blues’, which we played out with this week, but not before offering a big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and hoping that we meet again, the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then, remember . . . keep safe . . . keep well . . . and have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 12 May 2020
Broadcast by Miskin radio on 14 May 2020
Broadcast by Blues@Rock Radio UK on16 May 2020
Broadcast by Blues@Rock Radio UK on 17 May 2020

Off and Running . . .

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

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Well, having considered the options, the adventurous (and possibly fool-hardly) may not have been the only ones eager to join this week’s vaguely supervised musical adventure to ‘who knows where’ with ‘you know who’. But, ready or not, as the trusty Cruise Mobile comes rolling to a stop, you have to be quick to jump aboard and buckle up, because, with barely a nanosecond’s pause there were squeals from the wheels as the Cruise Mobile took off for this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner.

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 . . . . and our good pal Wendel Williams can tell you more about Gary in Dallas!

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.

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 12 May 2020

In A Midnight Mood . . .

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

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Well, there was a big cheer from here, because we couldn’t start without you and in anticipation, there was a big dose of Dr Roberts Sonic Tonic waiting here, which was guaranteed to raise the spirits and soothe the senses. To help me take you Through To Midnight, I brought an armful of the ‘good stuff’ that you won’t hear on ‘ordinary radio’, starting with our opener from the Tiny Big Band. There was plenty more too, and in case you didn’t get enough of last week’s little salute to New Orleans  . . . there was another spicy taster here, courtesy of Marcia Ball.

This week’s Under the Covers feature brought three songs of The Kinks. This time around there was a particular reason for the first of my three choices, because it was this day in 1967 that The Kinks released the Ray Davies song that would be their biggest hit. It was originally written with the title ‘Liverpool Sunset’, but it got changed to ‘Waterloo Sunset’ and later got covered by rock band Def Leppard. Then came, Sly & The Family Stone with their cover of an early hit for The Kinks, ‘You Really Got Me’ and we rounded off with the third of my choices, which came from a UK band, Madness . . . and you get extra points if you were wearing baggy trousers.

Walk This Way
Walk This Way – The Tiny Big Band
Louella – Marcia Ball
You Know What I Mean – Mickey Jupp
Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like – Rita Coolidge
So Tired Of Standing Still – James Brown
Everything Is Tuesday – Chairmen Of The Board
Devil With A Blue Dress – Bill Kirchen

Under The Covers
Waterloo Sunset – Def Leppard
You Really Got Me – Sly & The Family Stone
Lola – Madness

Do You Believe In Magic
Go Ahead Baby – Jon Cleary
It Hurts Me So Bad – Lattimore Brown
Shake Rattle & Roll – Sam Cooke
Walk Through Fire – Keb Mo
Missing You – The McNaMarr Project
I’ll Take You There – Boukou Groove
I’m In A Midnight Mood – Johnnie Taylor
Dream Lover – Greyhound
Somebody Like You – Melissa James
I Can’t Stand The Rain – Lowell George
Do You Believe In Magic – Keith Barbour

On The Giglist
Holding Out For Love – Kara Grainger

Who Dat
Get Right – Mindi Abair
Walk Right Back – Brenda Holloway
What’s A Man To Do – Tyrone Davis
Hey Love – Gina Sicilia
Let’s Go Back To the Beginning – Cherry Lee Mewis
Who Dat – Grady Champion
Born To Run – Big Daddy

Girls & Guitars
True Colours – Eva Cassidy

There were some birthdays to celebrate this week, including Soul Brother No.1, James Brown, the great Johnnie Taylor and Tyrone Davis . . . with an opportunity to play some of my favourites from them each.

Those among the midnight movers who have been avid gigsters, will understand the frustrations of  the current lock down. So, for this week’s On The Giglist, I got to do a bit of reminiscing about a past gig by the lovely Kara Grainger, who I saw on stage at a little North London venue, that took a little finding. In the event, it gave me a great night out and Kara proved she could move across musical genres with great ease and we find her in a soulful mood with her song ‘Holding Out For Love’.

Our Girls & Guitars feature brought us something from the much missed Eva Cassidy . . . and it went out with a special dedication to those ladies of a certain age, for whom the lock down has brought some awkward consequences when they do their hair. So, my last choice for this week was Eva Cassidy with ‘True Colours’. The it was time to collect up the music, tidy up the studio and head for the door, but not before saying a big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and hoping that we’ll meet again, same time, same place next week, to go Through To Midnight. Until then, remember . . . keep safe . . . keep well . . . and have fun!

Broadcast by Maritime Radio 96.5fm on 6 May 2020