Best in Blues Show #1
Best in Blues show for August 13, 2026
It’s my inaugural show on WRIR and also my final training session before the training wheels come off and I manage the board and the rest of the equipment all by myself.
I thought I would arrange my first show back on the air playing blues for you with a wide range of blues musicians: old and young, well known and maybe not so well known; different instruments. I will admit that I am originally from Chicago and hold a special place in my ears for blues music from the windy city. So you’ll find a tune or two from the South side of Chicago during this show. But you’ll also hear some New Orleans blues and music from the Delta.
It’s been a little more than 50 years since I’ve sat in a radio station studio spinning blues albums. I used to host a show back on WNUR in Evanston, Northwestern’s radio station, that could be heard in Chicago and suburbs. Four hours every Saturday night for 3 years, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring some very great music and musicians. That’s my plan for my shows here on WRIR. I’ll play the blues for you.
Oak Park Mark
Playlist
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B.B. King, “Everyday I Have the Blues”
from Live at the Regal Theater
ABC Bluesway - 1964
This was the first blues song I ever heard. I was impressed to hear B. introduced as the world's greatest.
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Albert King, “Blues Power”
Stax
Recorded Live at the Fillmore in San Francisco with Willie James Exon on guitar, James Washington on organ, Roosevelt Pointer on bass, and Theotis Morgan on drums. IN 1968
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Skip James, “Devil Got my Woman”
from King of the Delta Blues Singers
Biograph
This was Skip's noted song that was later copied by Johnnie Temple, Kansas Joe and most notably Robert Johnson who titled it Hellbound on My Trail. This song was recorded in 1931 in Grafton, Wisconsin.
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Elmore James, “It hurts me too”
Up Front
This was originally a single Elmore released on Vee-Jay Records. This version was recorded in 1963, shortly before he died.
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Homesick James & Snooky Pryor, “Crossroads”
from Homesick James & Snooky Pryor
Big Bear Records - 1973
Homesick on Guitar and vocals, Snooky on harp, Bob Hall on piano, Bob Burnning on bass and John Hunt on drums
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Blind Lemon Jefferson, “Long Distance Moan”
from Black Snake Moan
Milestone - 2004
Recorded in Richmond, Indiana back in 1929 and later re-recorded to tape in 1970 for this album. Black Snake Moan was the third Milestone collection by Blind Lemon.
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J.B. Hutto & The Hawks, “Blues Stay Away from Me”
from Masters of Modern Blues Volume 2
Testament Records - 1966
Recorded in the One-Derful studios in Chicago back in 1966. Features J.B. on vocals and guitar, Big Walter Horton on harp, Lee Jackson on bass, GFred Below on drums.
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Professor Longhair, “Mardi Gras in New Orleans”
Harvest Records - 2019
Recorded March 24, 1975 on the Queen Mary which is docked in Long Beach, CA. This live recording was made in 1975 at a party thrown by Paul and Linda McCartney.
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The Clifton Chenier Band, “Your Just Fussing Too Much”
Tomato
With his brother Cleveland Chenier on Rubboard, Ronbert Peter on drums, Joseph Brouchet on bass and Paul Senagel on guitar
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Little Esther Phillips, “Please Send Me Someone to Love”
from Live at Freddie Jett's Pied Piper Club in L.A.
Atlantic Records
This is a Percy Mayfield song...with Cornell Dupree on guitar, Jack Wilson on piano and more. Recorded at the end of January in 1970
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Memphis Minnie, “I've Been Treated Wrong”
from When Women Sang the Blues
Arhoolie Records
The album was released in 1976.
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Ida Cox, “I Ain’t Got Nobody”
from Blues Ain't Nothin' Else But
Milestone Records
Died in November of 1967. This song was recorded probably in Chicago in September of 1925 for Paramount Records.
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Alberta Hunter, “Fine And Mellow”
from Blues Box 2
MAC Coral
It's a 4-record boxed set. Alberta hunter's songs were recorded between 1938 and 1942. Alberta's song was recorded for Decca. Fine and Mellow is a Bilie Holiday song.
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Little Brother Montgomery, “Vicksburg Blues”
from Farro Street Jive
Folkways Records - 1968
First recorded in 1936
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Son Seals, “Your Love Is Like a Cancer”
Alligator Records - 1973
With Son on guitar and vocals, Johnny Big Moose Walker on organ, John Riley on bnass and Charles Caldwell on drums.
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Robert Jr. Lockwood, “Rambling on My Mind”
Delmark
Lockwood on guitar and vocals, the Myers brothers, Louis and David on guitar and bass and Fred Below on drums.
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Little Walter, “Big Leg Mama”
from Blue and Lonesome
LeRoi du Blues
One of 14 rare and unissued songs on this album. Recorded in 1961 with Willie Dixon on bass, Louis Meyers and Robert Lockwood on guitars and Freddie Below on drums.
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Kenny Neal, “If Walls Could Talk”
from Hooked on Your Love
Blind Pig Records - 2010
Born in New Orleans. Started playing in his father's band at the age of 13. He played bass for Buddy Guy at the age of 17. He recorded 4 albums for Alligator Records and then switched to Telarc and some independent labels including Blind Pig. He eventually started his own label: Booga Music.
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Benny Turner, “Breakin' News”
from Journey
Nola Blue, Inc. - 2014
Benny is Freddie King's older brother. He was born in Texas but then moved to Chicago where he played bass in his brother's band before hitting the road with other musicians. When his brother died, he became a recluse until Chicago guitarist and singer Mighty Joe Young convinced him to start playing again. He finally moved down to New Orleans and played with singer Marva Wright.
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Albert Collins, “Give Me My Blues”
from Frostbite
Alligator Records - 1980
Marvin Jackson on guitar, A.C. Reed on sax, Allen Batts on keyboards, Johnny Gayden on bass and Casey Jones on drums.
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Lonnie Johnson, “New Orleans Blues”
from Losing Game
Prestige - 1961
Lonnie Johnson said that he was born in New Orleans
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Taj Mahal, “Diving Duck Blues”
from Taj Mahal
Columbia/Legacy - 1968
with Jesse Ed Davis on guitar, Bill Boarman on rhythm guitar, Gary Gilmore on bass and Charles Blackwell on drums.
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Professor Longhair, “Tipitina (Live On the Queen Mary, 1975)”
Paul McCartney Catalog - 1978