Blues Unlimited - The Radio Show

We continue our look at some of the great harp players that worked and recorded in the Windy City. From John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson and Jazz Gillum to Little Walter, Snooky Pryor, Jimmy Reed, and more, it's a veritable "Who's Who" of Chicago Blues Harmonica!

In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we begin an in-depth survey of some of the great harmonica wizards that were a mainstay of the Chicago Blues scene. Beginning with 'The Chairman of the Board' – John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, who was pretty much responsible for putting the harmonica on the Windy City Blues map in the first place – and continuing on up through the early recordings of Little Walter, Snooky Pryor, Junior Wells, and Big Walter Horton, it's a veritable feast of Harmonica Blues, as we pull out some of the finest waxings the Windy City had to offer, including some rare gems and a look at some of the 'lesser knowns' who were a part of the scene as well.

In part two, we continue our tribute to Sam Phillips of Sun Records. Although Sam cut a lot of great Blues in the early years of his operation, the vast majority of it was never released at the time. Unissued gems from the Sun Records Blues Vaults, on this episode of Blues Unlimited. Pictured: The Sun Records distinctive logo.

In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we pay tribute to one man with a tape recorder on a mission. 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee is where Sam Phillips started operations of the now legendary "Memphis Recording Service," and long before Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash or Jerry Lee Lewis put Sun Records on the map, Sam Phillips spent the early years of the 1950s recording and documenting the local Blues scene that was happening in and around Memphis. Folks like Sleepy John Estes made the trip down to 706 Union Avenue, as did Howlin' Wolf, Rufus Thomas, Joe Hill Louis, Dr. Isaiah Ross, David "Honeyboy" Edwards Willie Nix, Big Walter Horton, Raymond Hill, and many others. In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we mine the Sun Records Blues vaults looking for the unissued gems that Sam Phillips recorded but never released. Pictured: The man behind the controls, Sam Phillips.

Join us for BLUES UNLIMITED every Saturday Night from 10pm to Midnight, DST, on WUCF's HD2 feed (WUCF-HD2 - NEWS & MORE). You can listen to the broadcast over the airwaves if you live in the Orlando, FL area and have an HD receiver, or listen at home courtesy of that series of tubes we call the internet. Oh, and be sure to tell your friends! Thanks!!! To stream the audio from WUCF, please follow this link: http://wucf.org/live

Join us on our continued exploration of the outer reaches of the Blues Universe. From fife and drum band music out of Georgia and Mississippi, to musicians who play quills, pan pipes and homemade instruments, one string guitar players from Florida to Los Angeles, and quick-witted street musicians from Ann Arbor and San Antonio, join us for Blues from the Outer Limits. Pictured: Jesse Fuller and his homemade 'fotdella.'

In this special edition of Blues Unlimited, we pull out all the stops and dig through our archives in search of Blues musicians that play one-stringed instruments, Fife and Drum Band music from the Hill Country of Mississippi, Blues musicians that play pan pipes and trombones (no, not at the same time) as well as a variety of home made instruments. From cult favorites like Bongo Joe to the crowd-pleasing one-stringed boogie riffs of Lonnie Pitchford to the celestial sounds of Gospel singer Washington Phillips, we leave no holds barred on this one for a show dedicated to the odd, the unique, the bizarre and the downright wonderfully weird into one utterly delightful package. Includes rare and classic performances by One String Sam and Willie Joe Duncan & His Unitar, Othar Turner, Jesse Fuller (the one-man-band and his homemade ‘fotdella’); perennial favorites Hezekiah and the Houserockers; Ann Arbor, Michigan street performing legend Shakin' Jake Woods, and many more. Pictured: Napoleon Strickland on fife, Jimmie Buford on bass drum, R.L. Boyce on snare drum, and Othar Turner dancing; photo by David Evans.

We continue having the Blues for Christmas in Part 2! And Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings from Blues Unlimited to all of our loyal listeners!!!

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with the Blues! Of course! Oscar McLollie wants you to "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus," while Blind Blake is having those "Lonesome Christmas Blues." Meanwhile, Bessie Smith may be "At the Christmas Ball," but as the Rev. Edward W. Clayborn might ask, is this "The Wrong Way to Celebrate Christmas"? The Revs. A.W. Nix and J.M. Gates have cheerful but cautionary tales about Christmas, while Charley Jordan is busy putting the finishing touches on his Holiday feast. The Black Ace (and a host of others) simply want their baby back for Christmas, Tampa Red has the Christmas AND New Year's Blues (trying to cover all the bases, so to speak), while Jesse Thomas has his "Christmas Celebration" all planned out. Gus Jenkins is fondly remembering last Christmas, while Titus Turner is looking forward to "Christmas Morning," Freddie King is busy hearing Jingle Bells, and Sonny Boy Williamson gets in trouble (what else?) while going on a rampage around the house looking for his Christmas presents. Al King is lamenting the departure of Christmas after having spent too much (who's ever had that problem?), while Nappy Brown lets us know that "Santa Claus Is Back in Town," and Eddie C. Campbell thinks that Santa may just be messin' with the kid! All that and more on this spectacular Holiday-themed episode of Blues Unlimited!

In part two, we continue our look at a Who's Who of early Blues masters that lived and worked in the great state of Mississippi. All-time classics from the Mississippi Sheiks, Charley Patton, Son House, Willie Brown, Bukka White, Skip James, and more.

In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we crank up the time machine and put it in high gear to go way, way, back for a program dedicated to some of the early Blues masters that hailed from the great state of Mississippi. We aim the spotlight on some of the true giants of the early days of Country Blues, like Mississippi John Hurt, Tommy Johnson, Charley Patton, and Son House, as well as some of the lesser known figures like Ishmon Bracey, Rube Lacy, Garfield Akers, Geeshie Wiley, Blind Joe Reynolds, and Kid Bailey (who, according to some researchers, may possibly be a pseudonym hiding the identity of Blues legend Willie Brown).

We continue our look at the Imperial Record label, focusing on some of the fantastic Country and Down Home Blues that Imperial held in their catalog over the years, from Snooks Eaglin, Lil' Son Jackson, J.D. Edwards, Clifton Chenier, Papa Lightfoot, Boozoo Chavis, and many more.

The Imperial Record label, founded in 1948 in Los Angeles, is well known as the home of Fats Domino and other great New Orleans artists, as well as Texas guitar hero T-Bone Walker. On this episode of Blues Unlimited, however, we focus on some of the fantastic Country and Down Home Blues that Imperial held in their catalog over the years, from Lightnin' Hopkins, Clifton Chenier, Papa Lightfoot, Lil' Son Jackson, BooZoo Chavis, Snooks Eaglin, and many more. Partly inspired by a series of three LPs that came out more than 40 years ago, simply entitled "Rural Blues," we'll hear lots of rarities and classic sides from Imperial, as well as associated labels (such as Aladdin, which Imperial bought in 1961) and a few other operations that were on Imperial's radar as well. The three LPs -- the material for which was notably selected by Bob "The Bear" Hite and Henry Vestine of Canned Heat fame -- were originally subtitled "Goin' Up The Country" (volume 1); "Saturday Night Function" (volume 2); and "Down Home Stomp," and have long been considered to be classics of the genre.

In the second half, we'll hear from Dr. Hepcat, Muddy Waters, Lonnie Johnson, Stick McGhee, Pee Wee Crayton, Memphis Minnie, Professor Longhair (pictured), T-Bone Walker, Hadda Brooks, Big Maceo, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, and many more!

In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we explore the roots of Rock 'n' Roll in 1940s Blues and Rhythm and Blues. Great, rare and classic performances from T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Liggins, Pee Wee Crayton, Roy Milton, Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim, Jazz Gillum, John Lee Hooker, Snooky Pryor, Smokey Hogg, Baby Boy Warren, and more. Just because Rock 'n' Roll hadn't been invented yet didn't mean these cats didn't know how to boogie -- quite the contrary -- roll up the rug and put on your dancing shoes for two solid hours of 1940s-styled Rhythm Rockin' Blues. Pictured: Jimmy Liggins. Note: Contains internet-only bonus content not featured in the broadcast version!

On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we're "recycling the blues" by taking a look at a handful of world-famous, iconic blues songs and tracing their roots back to the original versions that inspired them, including on this second half "Dust My Broom," "Baby Please Don't Go," "Shake Your Money Maker," and more.

If you've ever listened to your favorite blues song and wondered who the original artist was or who did it first, then this program is for you. We've taken a handful of world famous, iconic blues songs and traced their roots back to the "original" versions. From such enduring classics as "Sweet Little Angel" (B.B. King, Tampa Red), to "Cross Cut Saw" (Albert King, Tommy McClennan), "Baby Please Don't Go" (Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams), and more, join us for an illuminating look at some all-time classic blues songs, and the original versions that inspired them. Note: This 'Producer's Cut' contains INTERNET ONLY bonus content not contained in the broadcast version! Label shot courtesy of the Big Joe Louis collection.

We continue our look at Shreveport, Louisiana. Home to a thriving music scene, the "Louisiana Hayride" (a rival of the "Grand Ole Opry"), and more than a dozen record labels, join us for some fine Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Country Blues, and a little bit of Soul. Pictured, Shreveport Blues legend Jesse Thomas.

Located in the northwest corner of Louisiana, Shreveport has had a thriving music for many decades. From such blues icons as Jesse Thomas and Oscar "Buddy" Woods (of the two of them, only Thomas would make records after World War II) -- to such legendary rockers as Dale Hawkins, whose iconic "Susie Q" was cut "after hours" at local radio station KWKH, Shreveport has a lot about which it can be rightfully proud. On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we focus on two of the movers and shakers in the music business in Shreveport - Mira Smith, who started up a handful of labels, including Ram, Clif, and Jo (among others) and Stan Lewis, who operated Shreveport's all-important record distributorship for many years, and finally (at the encouragement of Leonard Chess) got into the record business himself. Also on the program, some very fine country blues that were captured during the height of the post-war era, courtesy of labels like Gotham, JOB (another home-grown Shreveport label), Pacemaker (owned by country music star Webb Pierce), Imperial, and Specialty -- from an all night recording session in March 1952 that was organized by Stan Lewis for Specialty's owner Art Rupe -- that give us a spectacular cross-section of the down home blues talent that was on hand in Shreveport in the early 1950s. Don't miss this special tribute to the Blues, R&B, and Country Blues from Shreveport, on this episode of Blues Unlimited.

We continue our celebration of Arhoolie's 50th anniversary by playing classic selections off of three classic LPs from their catalog, many selections from which were never reissued on compact disc. Great and rare performances from Clifton Chenier, Malcolm "Little Son" Willis, K.C. Douglas, Detroit Slim, Bukka White, Manny Nichols, and more. Featuring special "web only" content that didn't make it into the final radio broadcast edit!

Recently, Chris Strachwitz and Arhoolie Records marked their 50th anniversary. We'll celebrate by playing selections from three classic LPs from their catalog that were issued in the early to mid 1960s -- some of which has never been reissued since then. A celebration of the Arhoolie label, with classics from Lightnin' Hopkins, The Black Ace, Mercy Dee Walton, Big Joe Williams, Robert Curtis Smith, Sidney Maiden, Blind James Phillips, and many more, all on this episode of Blues Unlimited.

Who doesn't love a good story? In this episode of Blues Unlimited, it's all about Blues singers and songs that weave tall tales, spin entertaining yarns, recall a personal tragedy, offer social and political commentary, or in some cases, simply tell a darn good story (Pictured: Lightnin' Hopkins).

As long as there have been Blues singers, there have been Blues songs that commented on the events, people, and everyday happenings of the world and the environment around them. And while many people have said that the Blues, in particular, tells a story about what happens between a man and a woman, that would tend to down-play the artistry offered by some of the Blues' finest storytellers. In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we look at the fine craft of telling a good story, including tales about personal tragedies such as floods, fires and shipwrecks; to commentary on everything from national political events and prison to the worst place in town to go out for a drink; as well as a goat who can't seem to keep himself from getting into trouble. Plus, we'll hear touching tales from B.B. King about the special bond he has with his guitar, Lucille, and a perennial favorite from Lightnin' Hopkins about a little boy looking for a home and the kindly stranger that befriends him. Join us, then, as we look at some of the finest moments in Blues storytelling through the years, on this episode of Blues Unlimited (Pictured: Mercy Dee Walton).

We continue our look at East Coast Blues, from the mid 1940s to the early 1960s, with more great performances from Ralph Willis, Carolina Slim, Julius King, Champion Jack Dupree, Brownie McGhee, Tarheel Slim, Doug Quattlebaum, Square Walton, Cousin Leroy, Drink Small, Buster Brown, and more.

With its own unique sound and feel, we aim the spotlight at the Eastern Seaboard for this episode -- from Georgia all the way to New York City -- while hearing some of the finest Down Home Blues to be recorded in the Post-War era along the way. In typical Blues Unlimited fashion, we hear from not only titans of the genre such as Champion Jack Dupree, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, but also some of our favorite 'lesser knowns' as well -- from Ralph Willis and Leroy Dallas to Dan Pickett, Carolina Slim, Square Walton, Cousin Leroy, and many, many more. Pictured, Stick McGhee (left) with his older brother, Brownie.

In part two of our final tribute to Newport, we'll hear from crowd favorites Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Willie Thomas and Butch Cage, Big Joe Turner (pictured) and Pete Johnson, Ray Charles, and selections from Mahalia Jackson's stunning performance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival.

In this episode of Blues Unlimited -- our fourth and last installment paying tribute to the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals -- we take a look at some of the fantastic Blues, R&B, and Gospel that was recorded live on stage at the iconic Newport, Rhode Island festival between the years of 1958 through 1960. We'll hear great, rare and classic performances from Ray Charles, Memphis Slim, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry (pictured), Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Mahalia Jackson, Big Joe Turner, and more.

In part 2, we wrap up our celebration of the Newport Folk Festivals of the 1960s, which brought a veritable who's who of Blues legends to the stage in Newport, Rhode Island, during its heyday. Featured in this second half: Son House (pictured), Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, The Staple Singers, Howlin' Wolf, Paul Butterfield, Muddy Waters, and more.

In this episode of Blues Unlimited -- the third in a celebration of the Newport Folk Festival -- we take a look at some of the great Blues and Gospel legends to have appeared on the stage at the iconic Newport, Rhode Island festival between the years of 1963 through 1968. In this installment, we'll hear from Lightnin' Hopkins, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Skip James, Bukka White, Mance Lipscomb, Rev. Gary Davis (pictured), John Lee Hooker, and more.

In this episode of Blues Unlimited we continue our celebration of the 1964 and 1965 Newport Folk Festivals, which brought a veritable who's who of Blues legends to the stage in Newport, Rhode Island during the Festival's 1960s heydays.

In this episode of Blues Unlimited -- the second in a celebration of the Newport Folk Festival -- we take a look at some of the great Blues legends to have appeared on the stage at the iconic Newport, Rhode Island festival during the 1960s -- particuarly focusing on the years 1964 and 1965. Although Vanguard issued a number of LPs and CDs over the years commemorating the music from the annual event, their reissue program was never systematic or comprehensive. Here, after digging deep into long out-of-print CDs and LPs, we gather some of the "best of the fest" to bring some truly great, rare, and historic performances -- all live, in concert, and from the stage of the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. In this second installment, we'll hear from Sleepy John Estes, Mississippi John Hurt, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Rev. Gary Davis, Mance Lipscomb, Lightnin' Hopkins, Son House, and more.

We continue our look at the 1963 and 1964 Newport Folk Festivals with rare, great and classic performances from Skip James, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Elizabeth Cotten, Robert Pete Williams, Rev. Robert Wilkins (pictured), and more.

In this episode of Blues Unlimited -- the first in a celebration of the Newport Folk Festival -- we take a look at some of the great Blues legends to have appeared on the stage at the iconic Newport, Rhode Island festival during the 1960s -- particuarly focusing on the years 1963 and 1964. Although Vanguard issued a number of LPs and CDs over the years commemorating the music from the annual event, their reissue program was never systematic or comprehensive. Here, after digging deep into long out-of-print CDs and LPs, we gather some of the "best of the fest" to bring some truly great, rare, and historic performances -- all live, in concert, and from the stage of the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. In this first installment, we'll hear from Jesse Fuller, Mississippi John Hurt (pictured), Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters & Otis Spann.

We continue our look at Blues and Politics with more great performances by Leadbelly, Big Joe Williams, Homer Harris, Andrew Tibbs, Ralph Willis, Jimmy Rogers, Sunnyland Slim, J.B. Lenoir, J.B. Hutto, and more. Pictured: master songwriter, Floyd Jones, 1974. Photo by Amy van Singel, courtesy of Living Blues Magazine.

Although it could probably be argued that Blues musicians are best known for singing about the trials and tribulations of unrequited love and tales of woe regarding the opposite sex, it's also true that many artists were also keen observers of the events of the day, capturing the 'zeitgeist' of the times in some of their recordings. In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we take an illuminating look at Blues and Politics, as we hear from artists like Charley Patton, Big Bill Broonzy (pictured), Leadbelly, Son House, John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, Doctor Clayton, Floyd Jones, J.B. Lenoir, and Lightnin' Hopkins as they comment on the people, places, and events going on in their lives, and the world around them. (with our apologies to Paul Garon, author of the classic book "Blues and the Poetic Spirit," for the play on words).

Part two of our look at Blues Instrumentals, including great performances from John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Eddie Boyd, Magic Sam, Hop Wilson, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Homesick James, Hadda Brooks, Lloyd Glenn, Roosevelt Sykes, Elmore James, and more.

Although the Blues has always been primarily a vocal medium, the art of the Blues Instrumental has long been a chance for artists to stretch out a bit, dust off their chops, and show the world their stuff -- in addition to being a great way for label bosses to get their artists warmed up, and in some cases that we know of, use up some valuable studio time that might otherwise have been wasted. Here, we take a look at some of our favorite Blues Instrumentals over the years, from T-Bone Walker, Little Walter (pictured), Elmore James, Frank Frost, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, and many more.

We continue our look at Memphis Country Blues of the 1960s, with performances in this second half from Dewey Corley, Gus Cannon, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis, Rev. Robert Wilkins, Joe Calicott, Bukka White (pictured), Johnny Woods, and more.

Many people, when they think of Memphis music in the 1960s, might naturally think of Soul music and Stax Records. But the Bluff City has always been home to a thriving and diverse musical culture, and on this episode of Blues Unlimited, we aim the spotlight on the some of the Country Blues Legends from the 1920s and '30s who were still active and playing well into the 1960s -- including Bukka White, Gus Cannon, Furry Lewis, Will Shade -- and others. PLUS... we'll also hear selections recorded at the legendary 1968 Memphis Country Blues Festival. Join us as we celebrate Memphis Country Blues of the 1960s, on this episode of Blues Unlimited.

More great Blues and R&B from the early days of the Checker operation -- a label owned and operated by Phil and Leonard Chess. In part two, we'll hear from Morris Pejoe, Elmore James, John Brim, Arbee Stidham, Sugar Boy Crawford, and of course, the one and only Little Walter. Pictured: Elmore James (on right) with his cousin, Homesick James, from 1959. Photo by Jacques Demetre

In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we delve into the Chess family of labels by taking a look at one of their subsidiary labels -- Checker. Shortly after the Chess label was formally launched in 1950 (which picked up on the heels of where Aristocrat -- the Chess brothers' first label -- left off), they started operations on the Checker label. Although Chess is deservedly famous for it's all-star lineup of Blues legends, Checker would come to be known as the home label to such musical giants as Little Walter, Bo Diddley, and Sonny Boy Williamson (among others), and the first couple years that Checker was in business saw issue to some fine Down Home Blues as well. Here, we take an in-depth look at the Checker label, focusing just on the first couple years of operations. Great, rare, and classic Blues from Little Walter, John Brim, Elmore James, Willie Nix, Morris Pejoe, Woodrow Adams, Arthur "Big Boy" Spires, and more.

Texas has a long and rich history when it comes to Blues Guitar, and in this second half we continue our look at some of the primary movers and shakers to come out of the Lone Star State, including Lowell Fulson, Pee Wee Crayton, T-Bone Walker, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Jesse Thomas, Albert Collins (pictured), Hop Wilson, Freddie King, Long John Hunter, and more.

In this episode of "Blues Unlimited," we aim the spotlight at the great state of Texas, specifically looking at some of the fabulous guitarists the Lone Star State had to offer. Starting with T-Bone Walker's seminal 1947 waxing of 'Call It Stormy Monday' as our jumping off point, we stay strictly 'uptown' for this episode. Along with T-Bone, we take a look at those artists who followed in his footsteps -- such as Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, Lowell Fulson, Pee Wee Crayton and many others -- who made their own indelible imprint on the wonderful world of Texas Blues Guitar. Pictured: Early electric guitar hero T-Bone Walker doing some of his patented moves.

More great smokin' Blues and foot-stompin' R&B from Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm, Joe Hill Louis, Howlin' Wolf, J.B. Lenoir, John Brim, Eddie Taylor, Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Amos Patton, Little Junior Parker, Baby Boy Warren, Wilbert Harrison, Clifton Chenier, Lightnin' Slim (pictured) and more.

No particular theme, just some great red hot and smokin' Blues and rockin' R&B from J.B Hutto, Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Papa Lightfoot, Jimmy Reed, Hound Dog Taylor, Elmore James, Jimmy McCracklin, Junior Wells, Johnny Acey, Professor Longhair, Chuck Berry, Little Junior Parker, and more.