Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:
Now, if you are already getting tired of the analysis, campaigning and bru ha ha about the upcoming general election, then the trusty Cruise Mobile may have arrived just in time to whisk you off down those forgotten and overgrown backroads of the music we love. Getting us in the groove early was Casey McGill & The Spirits Of Rhythm, followed fast by The Adventurers with their encouragement to ‘Do It. Those who may have been getting unnerved by the cost of living, will have had much sympathy with Louis Jordan and a little single of his from back in September 1960. . . .’Bills . . . which came with a dedication to Doug The Jitterbug, who is another fan of Mr Jordan. Then, while we were tipping the hat in all the right directions, Mr Merlot was doing some extended rummaging in the Cruising Library this week and among the gems he brought back was a Specialty single by Larry Williams, which for what ever reasons, didn’t get released until May 2012. It was his take on a much covered song written and first recorded by Ray Stanley in 1957 . . . ‘Love Charms’.
This week’s Girls & Guitars feature brought us guitarist and singer, Jill King who was born in Alabama in 1973, and became a graduate of Vanderbilt University, after which she spent several years in Nashville, before being discovered there at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. Then, she released her debut album, ‘Jillbilly’, in 2003 which included two tracks that became hit singles in the American charts. But our choice came from her 2008 album ‘Somebody New’ and this was . . . ‘Can’t Let Go’.
In The Groove
Git It – In The Groove – Casey McGill & The Spirits Of Rhythm
Do It – The Adventurers
Bills – Louis Jordan
Love Charm – Larry Williams
Baby Do – The Dells
25 Lies – Guitar Slim
Gonna Be Sweeter – Clay Hammond
Girls & Guitars
Can’t Let Go – Jill KIng
Let’s Be Friends
A Little Help From My Friends – Johnny Chauvin & The Mojo Band
Let’s Be Friends – Ray Scott
You Hit Me Right Where It Hurts – Alice Clark
For A Little While – The Goodees
Tears Of Misery – Pat Hervey
Diddle I – Adventure
Doo Wop Stop
Our Romance – Clydie King
Enough Is Enough
What Makes The Ending So Sad – Lou Rawls
Pony Tail Swing – The Uptown Savages
Enough Is Enough – The Refreshments
Our Doo Wop Stop this week’s choice came from Clydie King, who was a prolific session singer, providing backing vocals for many other artists, including being a member of Ray Charles’ Raelettes. But, her solo recording career started when songwriter Richard Berry, discovered her in 1956 performing as Little Clydie & the Teens. She got signed to Specialty records and released a fine piece of doo wop for them in May of 1957 . . . ‘Our Romance’.
Now, our rummaging in the Cruising library this week was a double handed exercise and there was one ‘find’ that Mr Merlot missed . . . it was Lou Rawls with a very fine piece of soul . . . . ‘What Makes The Ending So Sad’. Then, for those that brought their dancing shoes, there was an opportunity to put them to good use with The Uptown Savages and The Refreshments, who brought us all the way home . . . ‘too soon’ was the cry, but our Cruising time together was just about done for this week. The trusty Cruise Mobile was parked up and getting a quick polish, so it was ready for next week’s Cruising adventure, as Mr Merlot and The Cruisettes were giving you a smile and a wave and heading off for the after show party. I was following soon, but not before giving a big thanks for your good company this week and the hope that we’ll meet again same time same place next week to go Cruising with The Commissioner. Until then . . . remember . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Reflections Radio on 24 May 2024
Just Cruising 