Blues Unlimited

Series produced by Steve c/o Ernest Franz

Series image

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

Blues Unlimited is an NPR-style two-hour weekly show that has been called the "best blues radio show in the United States," 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 installment is a self-contained evergreen show, delving into a different genre, topic, or aspect of the blues. For more details on the program, see our full profile, or email us at bluesunlimited@gmail.com


219 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Blues Unlimited #150 - Chicago Blues from Norman Dayron
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Piece image
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 KTRL and KHNS


  • Added: Mar 31, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Blues Unlimited #148 - Excello Records
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: One of the hit-makers for Excello, Slim Harpo.
We pay tribute to the great Nashville label, Excello, which issued some superb early '50s R&B, and also the legendary Louisiana Swamp Blues of Slim...

Bought by KMXT and KHNS


  • Added: Mar 09, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Blues Unlimited #146 - Play That Guitar 'Til It Smokes: A Tribute to Willie Johnson, Part 2
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: One of the toughest slices of blues to come out of Sun Records. Inset: 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 and KHNS


  • Added: Mar 02, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Blues Unlimited #145 - Play That Guitar 'Til It Smokes: A Tribute to Willie Johnson, Part 1
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Guitarist Willie Johnson, in his later days., Credit: John Anthony Brisbin/Living Blues Magazine.
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 KHNS, KTRL, and KHNS


  • Added: Feb 17, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Blues Unlimited #144 - Working Man's Blues
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Work gang at Cummins Prison Farm, Arkansas, 1972. Photo by Bruce Jackson.
Join us as we examine the working life in story and song. From hard times trying to find work in the Great Depression, to prison work songs, the pe...

Bought by KMXT, KMSU, KHNS, and KHNS


  • Added: Feb 10, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 4
Blues Unlimited #143 - New Orleans Piano
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Everyone's favorite, New Orleans keyboard legend Fats Domino.
Join us for two great hours of piano blues from New Orleans. From classic R&B party favorites to keyboard legends like Professor Longhair, Fats Dom...

Bought by KHNS, KTRL, and KHNS


  • Added: Feb 03, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Blues Unlimited #142 - A Tribute to Harry Smith's "Anthology of American Folk Music"
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: One of the most beloved — and influential — compilations of all time, “The Anthology of American Folk Music,” compiled by Harry Smith (inset).
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 KHNS, 88.5 JAZZ FM Erie's Jazz Station, and KHNS


  • Added: Jan 21, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Blues Unlimited #141 - Texas Country Blues
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Image of Lightnin' Hopkins courtesy of the University of Houston Libraries. Photographer unknown.
Join us as we celebrate the independent spirit of Texas with two hours of prime country blues from the Lone Star State. From the masters of the gen...

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


  • Added: Dec 23, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 4
Blues Unlimited #140 - Blues Masters Unplugged
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Pictured: Now considered a classic, “Muddy Waters Folk Singer,” issued 1964, attempted to capitalize on the exploding folk music market of the 1960s.
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we've taken some of our favorite artists – some of them synonymous with the very concept of "Postwar Electric B...

Bought by KHNS, WPSU, and WSLR


  • Added: Dec 11, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Blues Unlimited #139 - Red Hot Rhythm Rockin' Blues
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Pictured (clockwise, from top left): Ike Turner, B.B. King, 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, KHNS, and KTRL


  • Added: Dec 01, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Blues Unlimited #138 - Chicago Blues Harmonica 1945-1955
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
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, KHNS, and KTRL


  • Added: Nov 27, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Blues Unlimited #137 - Blues for Christmas!
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Piece image
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we're having the Blues for Christmas! Come and celebrate with us as we journey through eight decades worth of H...

Bought by RadioFreePalmer, WNMU-FM, KSRQ, KHNS, WNCU and more


  • Added: Nov 23, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 8
Blues Unlimited #136 - The Sun Records Blues Vaults
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: The Sun Records studio building, at 706 Union Avenue. Design by Lyn Jones.
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, a tribute to Sam Phillips of Sun Records. Although Sam cut a lot of great Blues in the early years of his opera...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Nov 12, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #135 - Blues from the Outer Limits
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Napoleon Strickland on fife, Jimmie Buford on bass drum, R.L. Boyce on snare drum, and Othar Turner dancing. Photo by David Evans.
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, join us as we explore the outer reaches of the Blues Universe. From fife and drum band music out of Georgia and...

Bought by KHNS, KHNS, and KTRL


  • Added: Oct 29, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Blues Unlimited #134 - Mississippi Blues Masters 1931-1944
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Pictured: Illustrations of the Mississippi Sheiks and Son House by R. Crumb. Bukka White by William Stout.
We pick up where we left off last time, with a look at some of the great Mississippi Blues Masters who worked and recorded during the 1930s and the...

Bought by KHNS, KHNS, and KTRL


  • Added: Oct 14, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Blues Unlimited #133 - Mississippi Blues Masters 1926-1931
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Pictured: Immortals of Mississippi blues, Charley Patton and Tommy Johnson. Illustrations by R. Crumb.
In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we take a look at a Who's Who of early Blues masters that lived and worked in the great state of Mississippi. A...

Bought by KTRL


  • Added: Sep 30, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #132 - Imperial Records Down Home Blues
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: The distinctive cover art for "Rural Blues, Vol. 1."
The Imperial Record label, founded in 1948 in Los Angeles, is well known as the home of Fats Domino and other great New Orleans artists, as well as...

Bought by KHNS


  • Added: Sep 13, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Blues Unlimited #131 - Rhythm Rockin' Blues from the 1940s
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: The one and only Lavada Durst, better known to his fans and blues lovers everywhere as "Dr. Hepcat."
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, it's two whole hours of smokin' Blues and red hot R&B from the 1940s. We'll hear from Roy Milton, Jimmy Liggins...

Bought by KHNS and KTRL


  • Added: Aug 28, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Blues Unlimited #130 - Recycling the Blues: The Origins of Classic Blues Songs
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Piece image
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we're "recycling the blues" by taking a look at a handful of world-famous, iconic blues songs and tracing their...

Bought by KHNS, WSLR, KHNS, and KTRL


  • Added: Aug 15, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 4
Blues Unlimited #129 - Blues and R&B from Shreveport, Louisiana
From: Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Caption: Map of Shreveport, c. 1920.
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we aim the spotlight on Shreveport, Louisiana. Home to a thriving music scene, the "Louisiana Hayride" (a rival...

Bought by KHNS, WSLR, KTRL, and KHNS


  • Added: Aug 06, 2011
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 4

Playlists That Feature This Series: