Blues Unlimited

Series produced by Steve c/o Ernest Franz

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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
Caption: The Rolling Stones with one of their early bluesy hits, a cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Little Red Rooster."
Join us as we explore the British Blues Explosion of the late 1950s and the 1960s. From the originators — like Chris Barber and Alexis Korner — to ...

Bought by Radio New Zealand


  • Added: Mar 22, 2013
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
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In this montage of story and song, we hear Blues musicians speaking about their lives, the meaning of the Blues, growing up in hard times, and maki...

  • Added: Mar 15, 2013
  • Length: 59:00
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Join us for a special program featuring two legendary albums. The first, a "Conversation With The Blues," was recorded by Paul Oliver during the su...

Bought by WJSU


  • Added: Mar 08, 2013
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Each volume of "Genesis" was a box set containing 4 LPs and a lavishly illustrated booklet. Today, they are considered rare collectors items.
We had so much fun pulling out rare gems and classic nuggets from "Genesis," we’re doing it all over again this time around as well! Join us for mo...

  • Added: Mar 02, 2013
  • Length: 01:58:59
Caption: Genesis Vol. 3, dedicated to British Blues expert Mike Leadbitter.
Depending upon your point of view, Genesis refers either to a book of the bible, a popular rock group, or a plot device from Star Trek. If you’re a...

  • Added: Feb 23, 2013
  • Length: 01:58:59
Caption: Poster for the 1972 Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival.
If you were one of the folks who attended Ann Arbor during the festival's heyday years between 1969 and 1974, then you should thank your lucky star...

Bought by KMUW


  • Added: Feb 15, 2013
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Hit maker for Stax Records, Booker T. Jones.
On this episode of Blues Unlimited, we're movin' and groovin' to the sounds of the Hammond B3 organ. Popular in Jazz, Blues, R&B, Soul, and Gospel,...

  • Added: Jan 18, 2013
  • Length: 01:58:59
Caption: One of the "Heroes of the Blues" featured on this episode. Illustration by R. Crumb.
In 1980, the good folks at Yazoo Records issued a box set of 36 trading cards called "The Heroes of the Blues," with drawings by legendary illustra...

  • Added: Jan 11, 2013
  • Length: 01:58:59
Caption: One of the "Heroes of the Blues" featured on this episode. Illustration by R. Crumb.
In 1980, the good folks at Yazoo Records issued a box set of 36 trading cards called "The Heroes of the Blues," with drawings by legendary illustra...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC


  • Added: Jan 05, 2013
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: One of the "Heroes of the Blues" featured on this episode. Illustration by R. Crumb.
In 1980, the good folks at Yazoo Records issued a box set of 36 trading cards called "The Heroes of the Blues," with drawings by legendary illustra...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC and WNCU


  • Added: Dec 23, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: At 32 weeks on the charts, “The Hucklebuck,” by Paul Williams, was one of the biggest hits of the decade.
Join us as we count our way down through the biggest #1 R&B hits of the late 1940s. It was a period dominated by Blues shouters, wailing saxes, and...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC and WNCU


  • Added: Dec 16, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
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Join us as we take a look at yet another handful of iconic, world famous blues songs, and trace their roots back through time to their original ver...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC and WNCU


  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Photo of Jimmy Lee Harris by George Mitchell.
Join us as we explore the legendary field recordings of George Mitchell from the Lower Chattahoochee River Valley of southwestern Georgia and south...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC and WNCU


  • Added: Dec 01, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Son House, November 1964. Photo by John Rudoff, M.D.
Join us for a tribute to the life and extraordinary music of Son House. His recordings from 1930 and the early 1940s not only helped define the ver...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, WNCU, and WSLR


  • Added: Nov 25, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Blues piano legend Leroy Carr, ready for the holidays!
Join us as we dust off some of our favorite Holiday-themed Blues and R&B Christmas classics. From Lightnin' Hopkins, Freddie King, and Sonny Boy Wi...

Bought by WJAB, KMUN, and WJAB


  • Added: Nov 18, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: The cover for "Blues Southside Chicago," issued only as an LP in the U.K.
Join us as we profile some mid-1960s Chicago Blues classics. We'll be hearing selections from "Chicago/The Blues/Today!," rare LP-only tracks off o...

Bought by WNCU and 90.5 WSNC


  • Added: Nov 10, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: South Side Chicago. Photo by Erik Lindahl
Join us as we profile some mid-1960s Chicago Blues classics. We'll be hearing selections from "Chicago/The Blues/Today!," rare LP-only tracks off o...

Bought by WNCU, 90.5 WSNC, and WSLR


  • Added: Nov 03, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: The cover from "Chicago/The Blues/Today!", featuring Ann Charters' iconic photo of winter snow on the El tracks.
Join us as we profile some mid-1960s Chicago Blues classics. We'll be hearing selections from "Chicago/The Blues/Today!," rare LP-only tracks off o...

Bought by WNCU, 90.5 WSNC, and WSLR


  • Added: Oct 28, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 3
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Remember when you were growing up and your mom told you not to play with your food? Well, we're tossing that advice out the window, as we play with...

Bought by WHCP-LP Cambridge, KDUR, KHNS, NPR Illinois, WSLR and more


  • Added: Oct 20, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 7
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We pick up where we left off last time, with more great Blues from Detroit. Classics from John Lee Hooker, Baby Boy Warren, Bobo Jenkins, Eddie Kir...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC and WSLR


  • Added: Oct 14, 2012
  • Length: 01:58:59
  • Purchases: 2