Series: Blues Unlimited

Produced by Steve Franz

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Join us as we explore the wonderful world of the Blues, and it's history, heritage, and rich cultural traditions.

Blues Unlimited is an NPR-style two-hour weekly show that has been called the "best blues podcast on the internet," and has an established and loyal audience of listeners from around the globe. Hosted by "Sleepy Boy Hawkins" (the alter-ego of scholar, author, fanatic, and historian Steve Franz), each episode is typically a self-contained "evergreen" show, delving into a different topic, aspect or genre. For more details on the program, see our full profile, or email us at bluesunlimited@gmail.com


57 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Blues Unlimited #157 - Red Hot Blues Guitar
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: Blues guitarist Wild Jimmy Spruill, caught live in action.
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, it's two hours of pure electric Blues guitar hedonism. We've pulled out a bunch of our favorite records that al...

Bought by KTRL


  • Added: May 20, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #156 - Bluebird Blues
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: A Casey Bill Weldon release showing the distinctive graphics of the Bluebird line
Join us for a look at the Bluebird label. Launched as a budget imprint during the height of the Great Depression, it quickly became home to blues i...

Bought by KTRL


  • Added: May 11, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #155 - We Three Kings: Muddy Waters, Leroy Foster, and Little Walter
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: A definitive recording in the history of Chicago Blues, featuring Muddy Waters, Leroy Foster, and Little Walter at the top of their game.
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we aim the spotlight on a key transitional period in the history of post-war Chicago Blues, by focusing on the ...

  • Added: May 10, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
Blues Unlimited #154 - Down Home Gospel Favorites
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
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Join us for two hours of down home Gospel favorites. From raw and gritty obscurities, to other worldly spirituals and a few classics along the way,...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Apr 27, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #153 - Prestige and Bluesville Keyboard Legends
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: One of the distinctive album covers from the Bluesville line
Join us for a look at some of the keyboard legends that recorded for the Prestige and Bluesville labels in the early to mid 1960s. Classics from Ro...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Apr 20, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #152 - Bluesville Folk and Country Blues
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: One of the distinctive album covers from the Bluesville line
Bluesville was a label that got its start in 1959, and issued a remarkable series of albums -- almost 90, altogether -- during the height of the Bl...

Bought by KHNS and KTRL


  • Added: Apr 13, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
  • Purchases: 2
Blues Unlimited #151 - Chess Records: The Early Years
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
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On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we aim the spotlight on one of the most famous independent record labels of all time -- Chess Records. Official...

Bought by KHNS and KTRL


  • Added: Apr 07, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
  • Purchases: 2
Blues Unlimited #150 - Chicago Blues from Norman Dayron
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
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On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we aim the spotlight on two fine LPs that came out on the Takoma label back in 1980, all recorded in Chicago in...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Mar 31, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #149 - Down Home Rhythm Rockin' Blues
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: Slim Green, one of the "Cats from Fresno", Credit: Ray Topping/Ace Records Collection
No particular theme, just two hours of pure non-stop rhythm rockin' fun as we play a bunch of our Down Home favorites, featuring Boyd Gilmore, Char...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Mar 27, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #148 - Excello Records
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
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In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we pay tribute to the great Nashville label, Excello, which issued some superb early '50s R&B, and also the leg...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Mar 09, 2012
  • Length: 01:59:01
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #146 - Play That Guitar 'Til It Smokes: A Tribute to Willie Johnson, Part 2
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: Willie Johnson, during his Chicago days with the Howlin' Wolf, Credit: Corrinia Harris Wallace/Living Blues Collection
Join us for Part 2 of our extended tribute to blues guitarist Willie Johnson. Once called the linchpin of Howlin' Wolf's band, Willie and the Wolf ...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Mar 02, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #147 - Bentonia Blues
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: Skip James
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, join us as we aim the spotlight on the Bentonia, Mississippi blues tradition, and the handful of practitioners,...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Feb 23, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #145 - Play That Guitar 'Til It Smokes: A Tribute to Willie Johnson, Part 1
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: Guitarist Willie Johnson, in his later days., Credit: John Anthony Brisbin/Living Blues
Perhaps one of the most underrated blues guitarists of all time, Willie Johnson is best known for his incendiary, firebrand work with Howlin' Wolf....

Bought by KTRL and KHNS


  • Added: Feb 17, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Blues Unlimited #144 - Working Man's Blues
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
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On this episode of Blues Unlimited, join us as we examine the working life in story and song. From hard times trying to find work in the Great Depr...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Feb 10, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #143 - New Orleans Piano
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: New Orleans keyboard legend Henry Roeland Byrd, a.k.a. Professor Longhair
In this episode of Blues Unlimited, join us for two great hours of piano blues from New Orleans. From classic R&B party favorites to keyboard legen...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Feb 03, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #142 - A Tribute to Harry Smith's "Anthology of American Folk Music"
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: Compiler and editor of the Anthology of American Folk Music, Harry Smith
In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we've culled through all the great Blues and Gospel recordings from the legendary LP set issued on the Folkways...

Bought by 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station and KHNS


  • Added: Jan 21, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Blues Unlimited #141 - Texas Country Blues
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: Texas Country Blues master Frankie Lee Sims, c. 1969, Credit: unknown
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...

Bought by 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, KHNS, and KTRL


  • Added: Dec 23, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Blues Unlimited #140 - Blues Masters Unplugged
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
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On this episode of Blues Unlimited, join us for Blues Masters Unplugged. We've taken some of our favorite artists – some of them synonymous with th...

  • Added: Dec 11, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
Blues Unlimited #139 - Red Hot Rhythm Rockin' Blues
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: Multi-instrumentalist and R&B legend Johnny Otis
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, it's some of our favorite Red Hot Rhythm Rockin' Blues and Sizzlin' R&B. From Memphis Slim, Roosevelt Sykes, an...

Bought by KHNS and KTRL


  • Added: Dec 01, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Blues Unlimited #138 - Chicago Blues Harmonica 1945-1955
Series: Blues Unlimited
From Steve Franz
Caption: Little Walter, the King of Chicago Blues Harmonica
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we aim the spotlight on some of the great harp players that worked and recorded in the Windy City. From John Le...

Bought by KHNS and KTRL


  • Added: Nov 27, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2

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