I always liked that KCOU's "Blues 101" closed out one day of the week and kicked off another. When KCOU DJs hosted specialty shows, such as "Blues 101," they were
allowed to choose a featured artist to play throughout the show. John Mayall, whose influence on the British blues scene was considerable, was my featured artist on
this night 23 years ago. This was the first time I filled in as the host of "Blues 101," and, of all the playlists I assembled for that show, this was my favorite:
1. Red Sky-John Mayall (#)
(The tune's intro alone made it an ideal leadoff track for the show.)
2. Country Road-John Mayall (#)
3. Stormy Weather-Doc & Merle Watson
(Everyone from Lena Horne to Jeff Lynne has recorded "Stormy Weather." I have yet to hear an off-putting version of it, and the Watsons don't disappoint.)
4. Something On Your Mind-Professor Longhair
5. That's Why I'm Crying-Koko Taylor
(Taylor sings with just the right balance of power and delicacy here; it's difficult not to feel her anguish.)
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6. Creeper Creeps Again-James Cotton (*)
(I was glad a listener requested this, as its seven-minute sustained uptempo harmonica groove is impressive. If I'd played it on a freeform shift outside of "Blues 101," I probably would have segued it with Lynyrd Skynyrd's "I Know A Little.")
7. Evans Shuffle-Muddy Waters (*)
(A cool, steady, midtempo harp number.)
8. Away Down In The Alley Blues-Lonnie Johnson
9. The Laws Must Change-John Mayall (#)
(This is a level-headed approach for a progressive fixer-upper to take.)
10. Play The Harp-John Mayall (#)
(This is my favorite Mayall tune; try getting this riff out of your mind once you hear it.)
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11. Tell It To The Gov'nor-Bela Fleck & The Flecktones (*)
(All players have ample room to solo on this one in concert.)
12. Life Ain't Nothing But A Party-B.B. King
13. Till The Morning Comes-Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows
14. I Believe I'll Dust My Broom-Robert Johnson
15. Mean Old Bedbug Blues-Bessie Smith
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16. Chicago Line-John Mayall (#)
17. A Hard Day's Night-John Mayall (#)
(I wouldn't have expected Mayall to tackle a Beatles tune this way, but it works.)
18. Driving Till The Break Of Day-John Mayall (#)
(The blues intersect with jazz here, thanks to a successful blend of guitar and horns. This set moves backwards through Mayall's immense discography, starting in 1988, going back to 1976, and ending in 1973.)
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19. Hot 'n' Cold-Albert Collins
(As I wrote last year, this is from one of the most consistent albums of blues instrumentals,
"Truckin' With Albert Collins." This uptempo track could work with
Chuck Berry vocals on it, but it's already strong as it is.)
20. Ten Years Ago-Buddy Guy
21. Rain-Little Charlie And The Nightcats
22. The Sky Is Crying-Lightnin' Slim
(Appropriately, the tune perks along in its own good time, allowing each soloist to have a say.)
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23. The Bear-John Mayall (#)
24. Down In The Slums-Curtis Jones
25. Black Cat Blues-Memphis Minnie
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26. Sunshine-John Mayall (#)
(An unfortunately overlooked track in Mayall's canon; I liked the way it ended "Blues 101" on a fast flourish.)
(#) indicates a track by the featured artist, John Mayall.
(*) indicates a listener's request.
--- indicates a station break between songs.
