Listen here to this week’s Cruising with The Commissioner:
Well, everyone arrived looking mighty and with precision timing, because the trusty Cruise Mobile had just rolled by to collect the Cruising Crew for another adventure down those forgotten and overgrown backroads of the music we love. Now, the regulars knew not to ask how we would be getting there or how we’d get back, they just jumped aboard to enjoy the ride. Getting us in the mood, was the much missed Jr Walker with his Allstars and a number called ‘Mutiny’, which you don’t hear much these days . . . except here and then there was a treat for Yvonne Eriksson, Paul Armstrong, Doug and The Jitterbug, who all admit to liking Swedish band The Refreshments . . . so for them, Mr Merlot and everyone else , the The Refreshments came rocking along next.
With some subtle prompting from Mr Merlot , it proved to be just the right moment for our Girls & Guitars feature, which this week focused on blues singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Amanda Fish. She hails from Kansas and is the older sister of Samantha Fish. Now, Amanda leads her own band and has just released her third studio album, called ‘Kingdom’ with songs she’s been writing over the past six years. It has plenty of social commentary on significant events along the way and to show off her talents, we played the track . . . ‘Mockingbird’.
Jump
Mutiny – Jr Walker & The Allstars
Slippery Slope – The Refreshments
Jump (When My Baby Says) – Chris Daniels & The Kings With Freddi Gowdy
When Hell Freezes Over – Aisha Khan & Friends
I’m A Fool For You – James Carr and Betty Harris
What You Get – Sean Webster
We Got A Thing Going On – James Ray
Girls & Guitars
Mockingbird – Amanda Fish
Too Tight
Too Tight – The Rigmarollers
What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am – Bill Deal & The Rondels
I Got Loaded – Justin Cornett
Doo Wop Stop
There Goes The Boy – The Lydells
Not Here
Sparrow Is Dead – Mighty Sparrow
So Many Cute Little Girls – Jackie Wilson
Not Here, Not There – Little Abner & Denny Boyce Orchestra
Lillie Mae – Roomful Of Blues
When it was time for our Doo Wop Stop, we were on our mission to find those vocal groups of the 50s and 60s, who produced those great sounds. Time around we featured New Jersey doo wop group the Lydells and their 1964 Cameo Parkway release ‘There Goes The Boy’.
Our rummaging in the Cruising Library this week uncovered a rather obscure 1957 record by someone credited on the Prestige record label as Little Abner with The Denny Boyce Orchestra. Given that it sounded as tough as any Stateside R&B tune of the mid 50s, it’s amazing it’s not better known. So, there was smart salute to Little Abner Kenon for his hidden gem . . . ‘Not Here, Not There’. By now, the curiously attentive may just have glanced at the clock and realised we should be heading for home . . . . so to hopefully get us all the way home, along came Roomful Of Blues with a serenade to ‘Lillie Mae’. It got us all the way back where we started . . . and all we had to do was give it a quick polish so it was all ready for our next adventure. Then, Mr Merlot, The Cruisettes and yours truly were all lined up to give everyone a fond farewell wave, before heading off to the after show party. So, until the next time we go Cruising with The Commissioner . . . remember . . . have fun!
Broadcast by Reflections Radio on 21 June 2024
Just Cruising 