This is a podcast presentation. It was recorded in the form of a traditional radio show – Rev’s selection of Rhythm & Blues tracks are accompanied by his intros, insights and irregular enthusiastic ramblings about the sounds and the performers.
RHYTHM AND BLUES (noun): a form of popular music of US black origin which arose during the 1940s from blues, with the addition of driving rhythms taken from jazz. It was an immediate precursor of rock & roll and soul music. Oxford English Dictionary
EPISODE ONE started out as a five song test run. Five records in and Rev kept going and before we realised, a full show was in the can – albeit with a number of technical issues and mishaps.
EPISODE TWO kicks off with the Rolling Stones, Delaney & Bonnie, Canned Heat and Baby Washington. It’s a storming trip through the wonderful world of Rhythm and Blues.
EPISODE THREE features two classic takes on Bo Diddley’s ‘Road Runner’ and features The Pretty Things, a few classic Motown cuts and some gems from The High Numbers, Betty Wright and many more R&B greats.
EPISODE FOUR features some classic nuggets from Jimi Hendrix, Solomon Burke, Betty Davis, Led Zeppelin, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and a host of other gems from Rev’s R&B collection.
EPISODE SIX has some R&B gems from Tarantino films, a tale of two cities with music from Chicago and Leeds plus a couple of Allman Brothers tunes as well as guitar god Jeff Beck and a host of foot tappers.
EPISODE SEVEN features: Little Richard and more ‘Georgia Peach,’ related tunes. Some wonderful records from James Brown, Betty Wright, Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and many more.
EPISODE EIGHT has some classics from The Pretty Things, Booker T and the MGs, Big Mama Thornton, The Temptations and a brilliant instrumental of a Stones ‘Sticky Fingers’ track.
EPISODE NINE includes Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Dr Feelgood, Janis Joplin, Ray Charles, two surprises from a couple of actresses and Billy Preston’s connection to a certain Liverpool band.
EPISODE TEN includes The Spencer Davies Group, Bobby Bland, The Supremes, Little Feat, Millie Jackson, Fats Domino and Elmore James. Top tappin’ guaranteed, money maker shakin’ optional.
EPISODE ELEVEN includes Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, Ry Cooder, Ella Fitzgerald and a couple of tracks that’ll make you wanna take your shoes off and go fishing for some crawfish.
EPISODE TWELVE includes blue eyed soul from David Bowie, some boasting from Muddy Waters, Duane Allman at his brilliant best and one hell of a TV show introduction.
EPISODE THIRTEEN includes Led Zeppelin, Blind Faith, Little Walter, Champion Jack Dupree, Amy Winehouse, Slim Harpo and some boogie-woogie gems.
EPISODE 14 includes Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Wilson Pickett, some cracking train related R&B tracks and some lovely nostalgia from Belfast Cowboy, Van Morrison.
EPISODE 15 includes Albert King, BB King, The Drifters, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Duane Eddy, T-Bone Walker and some classic doo-wop.
EPISODE 16 includes blues greats Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson, Blind Willie McTell, Jimmy Reed and some classic live recordings from The Allman Brothers and Cream.
EPISODE 17 includes Aretha, Little Eva, Ray Charles, Howlin’ Wolf, Millie Jackson, Mississippi John Hurt and Liverpool’s finest.
EPISODE 18 includes Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers featuring Peter Green, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Captain Beefheart, Nina Simone, Etta James and Stevie Wonder.
EPISODE 19 includes The Supremes, Jr Walker & The All Stars, The Velvelettes, Herbie Mann, Arthur Alexander, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and Warren Zevon.
EPISODE 20 includes Chuck Berry, Dusty Springfield, Billy Preston, The Rolling Stones, Roberta Flack, David Bowie, The Small Faces and many more great R&B tracks requested by the fans of Rev’s Rhythm & Blues Radio Revue.
EPISODE 21 tells the story of Chess Records – one of the most innovative and influential blues and soul record labels of all time.
EPISODE 22 tells the story of the legacy and influence of Chess Records – featuring The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Canned Heat, Van Morrison, Dr Feelgood and many more.
EPISODE 23. An appreciation of Atlantic Records – Part One with Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, The Drifters, Ruth Brown, Wilson Picket, Solomon Burke and many other R&B greats.
EPISODE 24. An appreciation of Atlantic Records – Part Two with Aretha Franklin, Booker T & the MGs, Betty Wright, Isaac Hayes, King Curtis, Eddie Floyd, Dust Springfield and many other R&B greats.
Episode TWENTY-FIVE. In this last ever episode of Rev’s Rhythm & Blues Radio Revue, Rev will be playing twenty-five tracks from twenty-five of his favourite R&B albums from the wonderful world of soul and blues. Happy Trails.
