Looking Back Some More . . . .

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

Well, there was a big bluesy welcome to one and all to the last show of 2021. This time around I was all ready to bring you the rest of the best of The Blues Come Calling of 2021 . . . with the second part of my review of the gems from playlists here during the past year. As you might expect it’s been a real challenge to make these choices, because, despite all the other distractions, 2021 was a good year for blues releases. So, with plenty of ‘good stuff’ to cram into our time together, I started off with Dion and a track from his celebrated ‘Stomping Ground’, which had plenty of notable guests . . . and on my choice he had Jimmy Vivino & Marcia Ball along for good company. Then, we were heading off with Mr Sipp and a favourite number from his ‘Sippnotized’ album . . . possibly a mission statement we could all subscribe to . . . ‘Let’s Have A Good Time’.

One of my many albums of the week during the past year came from Wee Willie Walker, who was a certainty for this selection of the best of the best of 2021. When Willie finished recording his latest album, with the Anthon Paule Soul Orchestra, he said it was his best ever and he couldn’t imagine doing better ‘not in my lifetime’. That became the album’s title after Willie passed away a few days later. So, Willie was on the playlist with ‘Til You’ve Walked A Mile In My Shoes’.

Let’s Have A Good Time
I Got My Eyes On You – Dion, Jimmy Vivino & Marcia Ball (Stompin’ Ground – 2021)
Let’s Have A Good Time – Mr Sipp (Sippnotized – 2021)
It Ain’t Right – Thorbjorn Risager & Emil Balsgaard (Taking The Good With The Bad – 2021)
I Can Feel Your Heart – Blues Cousins (Poison – 2021)
Up Yours – Dana Gillespie (Deep Pockets – 2021)
‘Til You’ve Walked A Mile In My Shoes – Wee Willie Walker (Not In My Lifetime – 2021)

Pinetop’s Pick
No More Doggin – James Cotton (High Compression -1984)

On My Feet Again
Rattlesnake Shake – Mick Fleetwood and Friends (ft Billy Gibbons, Steven Tyler) (Celebrate The Music Of Peter Green – 2021)
Alone Too Long – EG KIght (The Trio Sessions – 2021)
Thank God For The Blues – Van Morrison (Latest Record Project – 2021)
On My Feet Again – Carolyn Wonderland (Tempting Fate – 2021)
I Heard It Twice – Mississippi MacDonald (Do Right, Say Right – 2021)
My Friend The Blues – Dave Kelly (Forty Years On – 2021)
Kiss This – Dave Hunt (Behind The Moon – 2021)

There were plenty of ‘notables’ among the 2021 blues release, including an album that was a long time coming . . . but it did finally arrive in 2021 . . . the soundtrack from the all star evening at the London Palladium to celebrate the music of Peter Green. It had many highlights of the night, including my choice . . . Mick Fleetwood, along with Billy Gibbons and Steven Tyler revisiting Peter Green’s ‘Rattlesnake Shake’.

There has to be a special mention for the box set from veteran UK bluesman, Dave Kelly. It was aptly titled ‘Forty Years On’ and a well documented compilation of his works to date. Among the many gems was a long-time favourite, which got onto the playlist . . . ‘My Friend The Blues’.

I closed this second dip into the best of the best of 2021 with a suitably swaggering, upbeat number from Dave Hunt’s album ‘Behind The Moon’. As I signed off The Blues Come Calling for 2021 there was an especially big thanks for your good company on this week’s show and throughout the past year. Here’s hoping for good times in the new year and that we’ll meet again the next time The Blues Come Calling. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!

Broadcast by Miskin Radio on 30 December 2021
Broadcast by Blues at Rock Radio on 1 January 2022
Broadcast by Blues at Rock Radio on 2 January 2022