HEAR HERE:
PLAYLIST:
“I Ain’t Drunk” – Albert Collins
“If I Hadn’t Been High” – Detroit Junior
“One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” – John Lee Hooker
“Black Diamond Express To Hell (Intro)” – Rev. A.W. Nix
“Train To Nowhere” – Savoy Brown
“Mystery Train” – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
“Love In Vain” – The Rolling Stones
“Black Diamond Express To Hell (Outro)” – Rev. A.W. Nix
“Born Under A Bad Sign” – Albert King
“Blues Power” – Albert King
“Talkin’ Lion Blues” – C.W. Stoneking
“I Want To Walk In Again Blues” – Ukulele Ike (Cliff Edwards)
“Department Store Baby” – Mic Conway & Robbie Long
For this instalment, I thought it might be an opportune time to deliver on some promises made in earlier editions. Namely, the revisiting of the popular predilection in the Blues towards the subject of drinking Alcohol – or, the art of being drunk. So we’re stretching the concept to the point at which the state of drunkenness is best described as being High. Speaking in defence of this demanding lifestyle choice are: Albert Collins, Detroit Junior – and John Lee Hooker. Seriously though, there were many other likely contenders who were fully prepared to put forward their own arguments.
Also in this edition, we close-out our exposé on the ‘Three Kings Of The Blues Guitar’ with a sampling of the work by the final member of that much-revered troika, Albert King.
As a musician, Albert King was a notable influence on many respected Blues guitarists including, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan (with whom he recorded) and in particular, Eric Clapton.
Like the booze, another subject common to all music styles is the Train – and the huge scope of symbolism it can evoke. In this edition, we check into the impression this powerful mode of transport has left on the Blues. Not simply as a representation of power, the Train has also been viewed as a means of taking away a loved one – or, as a way of delivering a soul to it’s ultimate destination, be it, heaven – or be it, hell.
And finally, for no other reason than to support the fact that the Blues is much more than the musical embodiment of doom and gloom – we also dip into the world of Vaudeville. Like it’s closely-related styles of Jug Band Music and Hokum Blues, vintage Vaudeville was often a great source of humour – and playfulness – giving balance to the pathos so often associated with Blues.
You’ll hear Blues of ‘actual’ vintage from a true superstar of the era, Cliff Edwards (aka Ukulele Ike) as well as more contemporary expressions of the Vaudeville style from such notable Australian interpreters as, C.W. Stoneking – and living national treasure, Mic Conway.
And sure, I understand… you’re wondering just how we’re gonna fit all that into a single locomotive hour of thoroughly entertaining Blues radio?
Board the Blues train and press the play button above – to find some compelling answers to that question.
As always, thanks for listening.
Gideon Rhyme – Cultural Detective
The show’s twelfth episode premiered on the gist.net.au at midday (CST) on Saturday the 13th May 2017, receiving an ‘encore’ airing at 7pm (CST) on Wednesday 17th May 2017.
Trés Le Parque 