Caption: Texas Country Blues master Frankie Lee Sims, c. 1969, Credit: unknown
Image by: unknown 
Texas Country Blues master Frankie Lee Sims, c. 1969 

Blues Unlimited #141 - Texas Country Blues

Series: Blues Unlimited
From: Steve Franz
Length: 01:58:59

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On this episode of Blues Unlimited, join us as we celebrate the independent spirit of the Lone Star State with two hours of Country Blues from some of the finest practitioners the state had to offer. From the masters of the genre, like Lightnin' Hopkins, Frankie Lee Sims, Smokey Hogg, and Little Son Jackson, to some of the 'famous unknowns' who only made a couple of records, it's a veritable "Who's Who" of Texas Country Blues. Read the full description.

Frankie_lee_sims_1969_small Texas Country Blues certainly has a distinct history and influential sound all its own. Raw and gritty, seemingly fashioned out of the Texas clay itself, folded into the heartbreak and harsh realities that life in the Lone Star State could bring with it, all supplemented with a joyful and irrepressible spirit of independence. And while Texas has produced lots of famous musicians over the years in all sorts of musical genres, we think those Blues artists whose work could be incorporated underneath the Texas Country Blues umbrella are some of the finest the state ever offered. From the true masters, like Lightnin' Hopkins, Frankie Lee Sims, Smokey Hogg, and Little Son Jackson, to some of the 'lesser knowns,' like L.C. Wliiams, Whistlin' Alex Moore, Ernest "Buddy" Lewis, Manny Nichols, Nathaniel Terry, and more, come and join us for two hours of raw, unfiltered Postwar Country Blues from the Lone Star State.

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Piece Description

Texas Country Blues certainly has a distinct history and influential sound all its own. Raw and gritty, seemingly fashioned out of the Texas clay itself, folded into the heartbreak and harsh realities that life in the Lone Star State could bring with it, all supplemented with a joyful and irrepressible spirit of independence. And while Texas has produced lots of famous musicians over the years in all sorts of musical genres, we think those Blues artists whose work could be incorporated underneath the Texas Country Blues umbrella are some of the finest the state ever offered. From the true masters, like Lightnin' Hopkins, Frankie Lee Sims, Smokey Hogg, and Little Son Jackson, to some of the 'lesser knowns,' like L.C. Wliiams, Whistlin' Alex Moore, Ernest "Buddy" Lewis, Manny Nichols, Nathaniel Terry, and more, come and join us for two hours of raw, unfiltered Postwar Country Blues from the Lone Star State.

Broadcast History

First local broadcast on KXCI FM 91.3 on January 25, 2012

Timing and Cues

Hour 1: 00:00 - 1:01:16
In Cue: "Welcome to Blues Unlimited..."
Out Cue (at 1:00:16): "...coming up right after this break."

Break (60 second music bed): 1:00:16 - 1:01:16

Hour 2: 1:01:16 - 1:58:59
In Cue: "Welcome back to the show..."
Out Cue (at 1:57:40): "...next time, right here on Blues Unlimited."

Note: from 1:57:40 to 1:58:59, an instrumental by Lightnin' Hopkins, "Movin' On Out Boogie," closes the show.

Additional Notes:
This episode of Blues Unlimited is compliant with SOUNDEXCHANGE reporting requirements.

Each episode of Blues Unlimited is designed to be a self-contained "evergreen" show, to be run at any time you choose.

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
I Feel So Good James Tisdom Texas Country Blues 1948-1951. Flyright 4950 02:54
Feel So Bad Lightnin' Hopkins Aladdin 168 [78 rpm single]. Aladdin 1946 02:39
Drove From Home Blues Wright Holmes Drove From Home Blues. Flyright 1947 02:39
Santa Fe Blues Thunder Smith Texas Blues - The Gold Star Sessions. Arhoolie 1947 02:15
Please Ma'am Forgive Me Sunny James aka Jesse James Texas Country Blues 1948-1951. Flyright 1948 02:42
Little School Girl Smokey Hogg Deep Ellum Rambler. Ace 1947 02:36
Single Man Blues Frankie Lee Sims Single Man Blues - Talent & Star Talent/Blue Bonnet Anthology. P-Vine 1948 02:54
Dollar Diggin' Woman Big Charley Bradix Modern Down Home Blues Sessions Vol. 4. Ace 1948 02:30
Locked In Jail Blues Johnny Beck Down Home Blues Classics 1943-1953. Boulevard Vintage 1949 02:24
Worried Life Manny Nichols Rural Blues Vol 1 - Goin' Up The Country. Imperial 1949 02:43
I Don't Live Here No More Sonny Boy Davis Single Man Blues - Talent & Star Talent/Blue Bonnet Blues Anthology. P-Vine 1949 02:32
Rattlesnake Blues Rattlesnake Cooper Single Man Blues - Talent & Star Talent/Blue Bonnet Blues Anthology. P-Vine 1949 03:08
Black Cat Rag Willie Lane Texas Country Blues 1948-1951. Flyright 1949 02:39
Cairo Blues Lil' Son Jackson Texas Blues - The Gold Star Sessions. Arhoolie 1949 02:51
Henny Penny Blues Lightnin' Hopkins Down Behind The Rise 1947-1953. Nighthawk 4950 02:07
Rosa Lee Ernest "Buddy" Lewis Down Home Blues Classics Vol. 2: Texas. Boulevard Vintage 4950 03:06
Lawyer Houston Blues Soldier Boy Houston Down Home Blues Classics Vol. 2: Texas. Boulevard Vintage 1950 02:44
Penitentiary Blues Smokey Hogg The Greatest In Country Blues 1929-1956 Vol. 3. Story of Blues 5051 05:37
The Lazy J L.C. Williams Juke Joint Blues. Blues Classics 1951 02:51
Travelin' Alone Lil' Son Jackson The Complete Imperial Recordings. Capitol 1950 02:36
Lillie Mae Boogie Whistling Alex Moore Modern Down Home Blues Sessions Vol. 4. Ace 1951 02:36
Which Woman Do I Love? The Sugarman Down Home Blues Classics Vol. 2: Texas. Boulevard Vintage 1951 02:11
John Hogg Black Snake Blues West Coast Down Home Blues. Audio Book & Music 1951 02:28
Sittin' Here Wonderin' Luther Stoneham Mercury Blues & Rhythm Story. Mercury 1951 03:36
Take It Easy Nathaniel Terry Rural Blues Vol. 1 - Goin' Up The Country. Imperial 1951 03:30
Believe I'll Change Towns Smokey Hogg Midnight Blues. Ace 1951 02:25
Big Gun Blues Lil' Son Jackson The Complete Imperial Recordings. Capitol 1951 02:29
Lonesome Bedroom Blues Ernest "Buddy" Lewis Down Home Blues Classics Vol. 4 - California & The West Coast. Boulevard Vintage 5253 02:59
Lucy Mae Blues Frankie Lee Sims Lucy Mae Blues. Specialty 1953 02:32
Frankie's Blues Frankie Lee Sims Lucy Mae Blues. Specialty 1954 02:40
Hobo J.D. Edwards Rural Blues Vol. 3 - Down Home Stomp. Imperial 1953 02:32
Thrill Me Baby Lil' Son Jackson Rural Blues Vol. 1 - Goin' Up The Country. Imperial 1953 02:43
That's All Right Baby Ruth Ames Lightnin' Hopkins - Remember Me. Ember 1954 02:54
Walking With Frankie Frankie Lee Sims Ace Blues Masters Vol. 2 - 4th & Beale and Further South. Westside 1957 03:31
Jake Head Boogie Lightnin' Hopkins Jake Head Boogie. Ace 4950 02:55
Movin' On Out Boogie (excerpt) Lightnin' Hopkins Mojo Hand: The Anthology. Rhino 1954 01:19

Related Website

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