Get Down With It

Free form Friday this month. Lots of favorites to share with you as we reach out to our awesome first responders once more here in Sonoma County. August, our static month of warm weather, has turned on us this year (as has everything else) as climate change once more comes knocking on our front and back doors. We’ll try to work on two hours of musical distraction with NRBQ, Little Richard, O. C. Smith, Marlene Dietrich, and Merle Haggard…how’s that for a lineup? Songs about San Antonio, a little place called Hickory Holler, some Madeline Kahn, Tommy Dorsey, and Nina Simone covering Chuck Berry. Money is the root of all evil, and Julia Lee will remind you this Friday morning. Tune into Sonoma County Community Radio once more at 9 Pacific on 92.5 FM, streaming to the world at freespeechnobull.com/listen.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Little Richard Get Down With it OKeh Rhythm & Blues Amazon
3Ivory Joe Hunter You Can't Stop This Rocking and Rolling Ivory Joe Hunter Amazon
4Three Sharps And A Flat That's The Rhythm Hot Harmony Groups 1932-1951: Vol 1: That's the Rhythm Amazon
5The Miller Sisters Ten Cats Down Rockin' Memphis [Disc 3] Amazon
6The Sensations Let Me In Book Of Love: The Argo Records Story 1956-1962 Amazon
7Lou Rawls Love Is A Hurtin' Thing On The Soul Side Amazon
8Irma Thomas Hurtin' for Certain My Heart's in Memphis: The Songs of Dan Penn Amazon
9Billy Joe Royal It Keeps Right On Hurtin' Greatest Hits Amazon
10O. C. Smith The Son Of Hickory Holler Tramp More Dirty Laundry: The Soul Of Black Country Amazon
11Arthur Alexander Genie in the Jug Lonely Just Like Me: The Final Chapter Amazon
12Frank Black Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day Honeycomb Amazon
13Marlene Dietrich The Boys In The Back Room The Blue Angel Amazon
14Madeline Kahn With Mel Brooks And Company I'm Tired – Blazing Saddles Warner Bros.: 75 Years Of Film Music – Songs (3) Amazon
15Jimmy Durante Start Off Each Day With A Song The Great Schnozzle Amazon
16Ella Mae Morse An Occasional Man Singles 3 Amazon
17John Fogerty Down On The Corner The Long Road Home: Ultimate John Fogerty Creedence Collection Amazon
18Tommy Dorsey & His Clambake Seven The Music Goes Round And Round Me & Orson Welles (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Amazon
19NRBQ Music Goes Round And Around Tiddly Winks Amazon
20Nina Simone Brown Eyed Handsome Man Wild Is The Wind/High Priestess Of Soul Amazon
21Merle Haggard San Antonio Rose Tribute To The Best Damn Fiddle Player Amazon
22Riders in the Sky Down the Trail to San Antone The Best of the West Rides Again Amazon
23Junior Brown Long Walk Back to San Antone Long Walk Back Amazon
24Bill Kirchen Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone Dieselbilly Road Trip Amazon
25Tommy Duncan Stars Over San Antone Beneath a Neon Star in a Honky Tonk Amazon
26Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards Minnie, My Mountain Moocher Singing In The Rain Amazon
27Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards Paddlin' Madelin' Home Singing In The Rain Amazon
28Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends Don't Save It Too Long (The Money Song) Kansas City Blues 1944-1949 Disc 2 Amazon
29The Andrews Sisters Rum And Coca-Cola 20th Century Masters: Millenni Amazon
30Dinning Sisters Buttons And Bows Almost Sweet And Gentle [Disc 1] Amazon
31Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters The Three Caballeros Golden Age of the Andrews Sisters [Disc 2] Amazon
32Bob Hope, The Clark Sisters That's Not the Knot Best of Bob Hope – Capitol Records Amazon
33The Boswell Sisters Wha'd Ja Do To Me? The Object Of My Affection Amazon
34Little Richard Jenny Jenny Bob Dylan Presents: Cover to Cover – The Originals Amazon
35James Barnett Keep On Talking After Hours 3 – More Northern Soul Masters Amazon

Discovering Document Records

Today’s Deeper Roots show explores the Document label once more but, this time, we’ll be asking Gary and Gillian to tell us more. They’ll share some personal anecdotes about what brought them to their life’s work. So many of us from the baby boomer generation discovered early roots music through covers by bands from our early years that led us to recurring moments of musical revelation. And many of us found ourselves digging, rummaging, exploring, collecting, and listening for those mother lodes of musical treasures that surfaced like bits of gold on that river of time that runs from ‘then’ to the ‘now’. It’s the second part of our interview with this delightful couple from across the pond. Hear their stories of connecting with this music and how it informed their life’s work with Document Records.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Lil' Son Jackson Rockin' And Rollin' Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey [Disc 2] Amazon
3Big Bill Broonzy Key to the Highway Columbia Records' 125th Anniv. Amazon
4Deeper Roots Intro and Early Document w Johnny Part Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
5Peetie Wheatstraw Peetie Wheatstraw Stomp Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey [Disc 2] Amazon
6Big Bill Broonzy Good Boy Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey [Disc 2] Amazon
7Deeper Roots Discovery of the Folk and Blues Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
8The Rolling Stones Confessin' The Blues 12 X 5 Amazon
9Deeper Roots Buys Document Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
10Major "Big Maceo" Merriweather Kid Man Blues Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey [Disc 2] Amazon
11Deeper Roots Impact of American Music Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
12Josh White Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out In Chronological Order, Volume 6 (1944-45) Amazon
13Deeper Roots Hunting Swap Meets for Blues (With Music) Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
14Gitfiddle Jim (Kokomo Arnold) Paddlin' Blues Down In The Basement: Joe Bussard's Treasure Trove Of Vintage 78s: 1926-1937 Amazon
15Deeper Roots Growing Up with Music to the Beatles Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
16Cliff Richard & The Shadows Please Don't Tease Hit The Road Jack: The ABC-Paramount Story Amazon
17The Beatles Anna (Go to Him) Please Please Me Amazon
18Deeper Roots Closing Snippet 1 Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
19Deeper Roots Document Projects Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
20Walter 'Cowboy' Washington Ice Pick Mama Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey [Disc 2] Amazon
21Blind Willie McTell Stole Rider Blues Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order – Volume 1 – 18 October 1927 to 23 October 1931 Amazon
22Deeper Roots Musical influences Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
23John Lee Hooker Democrat Man That's My Story Amazon
24Bo Diddley Pretty Thing His Best: The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection Amazon
25Deeper Roots Early music loves Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
26Freddie & The Dreamers If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody A's, B's & EP's Amazon
27James Ray If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody Birth Of Soul: 3 Amazon
28The McCoys Hang on Sloopy Operation Dumbo Drop Amazon

Crazy Blues Centennial

It was the year 1920.  One of the more important events in the annals of popular music in the United States occurred 100 years ago this month. Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds’ recording of Perry Bradford‘s tune “Crazy Blues” became an instant hit and was the first significant recording in the blues genre. And Mamie herself was also the first African American female popular singer to lead a commercial recording. This week on Deeper Roots we celebrate with the first installment of a show featuring two hours of music including two very special guests: Gillian and Gary Atkinson, proprietors of Document Records in the UK. I had a chance to interview the two about the label and about the dawn of blues and jazz recording including the early century social impact of black artists. A very special opportunity offered for a very special time. We’ll also hear about a recent video release called Searching for Secret Heroes, a resurrection of a long lost documentary made by Sam Charters, released by Document this past April.

 

EDIT

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Mamie Smith Crazy Blues American Roots Music [Disc 2] Amazon
3Deeper Roots Pre 20th Century – Gillian Atkinson Interview Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
4James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band The Darktown Strutters' Ball James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band (Remastered) Amazon
5James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band Memphis Blues James Reese Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band (Remastered) Amazon
6Deeper Roots Crazy Blues Recording – Gary/Gillian Atkinson Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
7Deeper Roots Selling the Crazy Blues Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
8Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band Royal Garden Blues The History of Jazz :The Swing Amazon
9Mamie Smith Mamma Whip! Mamma Spank! Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 Amazon
10Edna Hicks Hard Luck Blues (Pm 12023, 1629-2) The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927) Amazon
11Ma Rainey and Lovie Austin's Blues Serenaders Honey Where You Been So Long? (Pm 12200, 1701-2) The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927) Amazon
12Deeper Roots The Circle of Musicians – Gillian Atkinson Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
13Hall Johnson Choir St. Louis Blues When The Sun Goes Down: Walk Right In – The Secret Story Of Rock & Roll Amazon
14Jelly Roll Morton Buddy Bolden's Blues (I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say) [Album Version] The Rose & The Briar Amazon
15Deeper Roots Document Records with Gary Atkinson Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
16Lovie Austin and Her Blues Serenaders Traveling Blues (Pm 12255, 10005-2) The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927) Amazon
17Deeper Roots Gillian and Gary Discussing Blues in the Jazz Age Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
18The Hokum Boys We Don't Sell It Here No More Georgia Tom – Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1 (September 1928 – 5 February 1930) Amazon
19Deeper Roots Early Influentials in the Circles Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
20Deeper Roots Early Influentials in the Circles Document Interview – Crazy Blues Centennial Amazon
21Bessie Smith I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl The Anthology Amazon
22Deeper Roots Searching for Secret Heroes Serendipity Crazy Blues Centennial Interviews Amazon
23Furry Lewis John Henry Searching For Secret Heroes Amazon
24JD Short – Memphis Willie B Alone In The Evening Hours Searching For Secret Heroes Amazon
25Hattie Heart Coldest Stuff in Town Searching For Secret Heroes Amazon
26Trixie Smith and her Down Home Syncopators Freight Train Blues (Pm 12211, 1767-1) The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 1 (1917-1927) Amazon
27Sippie Wallace With Clarence Williams' Blue Five Baby I Can't Use You No More The Complete Clarence Williams Sessions, Vol. 2 – 1923-1925 Amazon
28Sara Martin/Fats Waller Tain't Nobody's Bus'ness If I Do The Compete Recorded Works Vol. 1, [Disc 1] Amazon
29Lizzie Miles Electrician Blues Rude Dudes Amazon
30Victoria Spivey and Her Hallelujah Boys Black Snake Swing The Victoria Spivey Collection 1926-1937 Amazon
31Ida Cox I've Got The Blues For Rampart Street Black Swan Sampler Amazon
32Mamie Smith You Can't Keep A Good Man Down Mamie Smith Vol. 1 (1920-1921) Amazon

Fall of Empire

Authoritarianism right in our own backyard. What are the signs that we should concern ourselves with? Much has been revealed over the centuries of how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. While our so-called checks and balances lay down in fear in the face of fascism and the childish fear of being made fun of by the playground bully, the innocents are called terrorists and the terrorists, patriots. Up is down and down is up, right? Music’s been made of the human condition over time and there’s also been books and countless political speeches…and we’re going to take our time today to share the music and speak of the ballot box which is our only weapon, it seems, in a democracy. When cowards and sycophants led by the GOP and Fox News pretend patriotism, we know we’re in trouble and we know that the hard rain is falling. Federal troops are attacking mothers, veterans, and peaceful protesters with impunity and there are no checks. There is no balance. As songwriter R. B. Morris observes, that’s how every empire falls…and you can tune in for inspiration as the August march on Washington is just around the corner.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Great Big Sea End of the World Great Big CD Amazon
3Danko, Fjeld & Andersen When Morning Comes to America Danko / Fjeld / Andersen Amazon
4Neil Young Bound for Glory Old Ways Amazon
5Willie Nelson Vote Em Out Vote 'Em Out Amazon
6Ray Charles America The Beautiful Ultimate Hits Collection [2 of 2] Amazon
7Ry Cooder Rally 'Round The Flag Boomer's Story Amazon
8The Abyssinian Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir Battle Hymn Of The Republic The Civil War Amazon
9Johnny Cash Ragged Old Flag Ragged Old Flag Amazon
10Joan Baez The President Sang Amazing Grace Whistle Down the Wind Amazon
11The Dixie Hummingbirds Jesus Children of America 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Dixie Hummingbirds Amazon
12R.B. Morris That's How Every Empire Falls Singing Through the Wall. Songs for Western Sahara Amazon
13Simon & Garfunkel America Old Friends Disc 2 Amazon
14Paul Simon American Tune There Goes Rhymin' Simon Amazon
15Neko Case & Her Boyfriends Thrice All American No Depression Compilation – What It Sounds Like Vol. 1 Amazon
16Dr. John The Patriotic Flag-Waiver Babylon Amazon
17Steve Earle Dear Old Flag Divided & United: The Songs of the Civil War Amazon
18Jay & the Americans Only in America Red, White & Rock Disc 2 Amazon
19Jimmy Griggs The Beginning Of The End The Beginning Of The End – The Existential Psychodrama In Country Music (1956-1972) Amazon
20William Elliot Whitmore Civilizations Radium Death Amazon
21Dorothy Love Coates The Kingdom Of Babylon Is Falling Down A City Built 4 Square Amazon
22Bob Dylan Something's Burning, Baby Empire Burlesque Amazon
23Bruce Cockburn Call It Democracy World Of Wonders Amazon
24The Trumpeteers Babylon's Fallen Good News, Vol. 2: Wade In The Water Amazon
25Jerry Lee Lewis End Of The Road A Half Century Of Hits [Disc 1] Amazon
26Roy Zimmerman The Liar Tweets Tonight The Liar Tweets Tonight (Single) Amazon