The Year in Music 1948

The year 1948 saw the price of a first class stamp at three cents and unemployment in post-war America was at a low 3.9%. The Hollywood Ten were jailed for contempt of Congress when they refused to disclose Communist affiliations. And Columbia Records introduced the 33 1/3 LP at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The LP is still the standard by which physical listening is measured with album sales booming, with LPs sold rising 108% in the first six months of 2020. But we’re going to be sharing the music of 1948 this week:  Eddy Arnold, Peggy Lee, Dick Haymes, Louis Jordan, Blue Lu Barker and Mahalia Jackson are just but a few we’ll be hearing from in this week’s episode on KOWS Community Radio.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Mahalia Jackson Move On Up A Little Higher Jubilation! Great Gospel Performances, Vol. 1: Black Gospel Amazon
3Lonnie Johnson Tomorrow Night Bob Dylan Presents: Radio Radio, Theme Time Radio Hour, Vol. 3 Amazon
4Blue Lu Barker A Little Bird Told Me From The Vaults, Vol 2. 1943-1944 Amazon
5Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends King Size Papa Capitol Records' From The Vaults, Volume 3 – Capitol Jumps – 1944-53 Amazon
6Amos Milburn Chicken-Shack Boogie Down The Road Apiece -The Best Of Amos Milburn Amazon
7Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five Run, Joe Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five / 1947 – 1949 Amazon
8Bull Moose Jackson I Love You Yes I Do Bad Man Jackson Amazon
9Bull Moose Jackson I Can't Go On Without You Bull Moose Jackson 1947-1950 Amazon
10Wynonie Harris Good Rockin' Tonight Complete Jazz Series 1947 – 1949 Amazon
11Hal Singer Cornbread Living The Blues – Jump Blues & Boogie Amazon
12Eddy Arnold Bouquet Of Roses Artist's Choice: Willie Nelson: Music That Matters To Him Amazon
13Eddy Arnold Then I Turned And Slowly Walked Away Eddy's Song: Bouquet of Roses Amazon
14Eddy Arnold Just A Little Lovin' (Will Go A Long, Long Way) Eddy's Song: Bouquet of Roses Amazon
15Eddy Arnold What A Fool I Was Eddy's Song: Bouquet of Roses Amazon
16Floyd Tillman I Love You So Much It Hurts Columbia Country Classics Volume 2: Honky Tonk Heroes Amazon
17Jimmy Wakely One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart) Country & Western Hit Parade 1948 Amazon
18Tex Williams & His Western Caravan Don't Telephone, Don't Telegraph, Tell A Woman That's What I Like About The West Amazon
19Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys Bubbles in My Beer Legends of Country Music Disc 4 Amazon
20Hank Thompson Humpty Dumpty Heart The Western Swing: Doughboys, Playboys, and Cowboys – Oakie Boogie [Disc 4] Amazon
21Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers Blue Shadows On The Trail (From Walt Disney's "Melody Time") Country Legends Amazon
22Dinah Shore Buttons and Bows Your Hit Parade – 1948 Amazon
23Nat King Cole Nature Boy Nat King Cole [Disc 1] Amazon
24Doris Day Love Somebody (With Buddy Clark) The Vintage Years (Part One) Amazon
25Peggy Lee Manana Your Hit Parade – 1948 Amazon
26Art Mooney I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover Your Hit Parade – 1948 Amazon
27Evelyn Knight & The Stardusters Powder Your Face With Sunshine Good Old Summertime Amazon
28Frankie Yankovic And His Yanks Just Because Greatest Hits Amazon
29Dick Haymes & Gordon Jenkins Little White Lies Your Hit Parade – 1948 Amazon
30Jo Stafford, The Pied Pipers My Happiness Capitol Collectors Series Amazon
31Doris Day It's Magic Your Hit Parade: 1948 Amazon
32The Andrews Sisters Toolie Oolie Doolie (The Yodel Polka) Your Hit Parade – 1948 Amazon
33Bing Crosby Now is the Hour Your Hit Parade – 1948 Amazon

Remembering John Prine

This week, we pay a long overdue tribute to John Prine while celebrating the 75th year of his birth which came up on the calendar this week. One of the losses that reverberates among us all is the loss of John Prine to COVID in April, 2020, at the beginning of this long and painful pandemic. We’re paying our tributes at the same time that a his label Oh Boy Records releases Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows, Volume 2, a collection of Prine covers that hits the marks and follows the first volume, released over ten years ago. Our show will feature a chronological look back at the legacy of this national treasure, a songwriter whose bite followed along on the arc of his storytelling that looked into matters of the human heart. We’ll hear covers from Nanci Griffith, Yarn, and a few others but we’ll follow the path along John’s career in performances especially selected for a two hour journey of John’s music.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Joan Baez Hello In There Diamonds & Rust Amazon
3Justin Townes Earle Far From Me Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine Amazon
4Sturgill Simpson Paradise Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2 Amazon
5John Prine Donald And Lydia John Prine Live Amazon
6John Prine Sweet Revenge Great Days: The John Prine Anthology Disc 1 Amazon
7John Prine The Great Compromise Great Days: The John Prine Anthology Disc 1 Amazon
8John Prine He Was in Heaven Before He Died Great Days: The John Prine Anthology Disc 1 Amazon
9John Prine If You Don't Want My Love Bruised Orange Amazon
10Yarn Christmas in Prison Stray Dog Christmas Compilation Amazon
11John Prine The Sins of Memphisto The Missing Years Amazon
12Nanci Griffith Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness Winter Marquee [Live] Amazon
13John Prine Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian German Afternoons Amazon
14John Prine Lulu Walls German Afternoons Amazon
15John Prine Lake Marie Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings Amazon
16John Prine In Spite Of Ourselves In Person & On Stage Amazon
17John Prine Dear John (I Sent Your Saddle Home) In Spite Of Ourselves Amazon
18John Prine Glory of True Love Fair & Square Amazon
19John Prine Who's Gonna Take The Garbage Out (Featuring Iris Dement) For Better, Or Worse Amazon
20John Prine Summers End The Tree of Forgiveness Amazon
21John Prine The Lonesome Friends Of Science The Tree Of Forgiveness Amazon
22John Prine Caravan Of Fools The Tree Of Forgiveness Amazon
23John Prine When I Get To Heaven The Tree Of Forgiveness Amazon
24Fiona Prine/John Prine My Happiness For Better, Or Worse Amazon
25John Prine I Remember Everything I Remember Everything Amazon
26Bonnie Raitt Angel from Montgomery Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2 Amazon

Dustbin Dynamite

A bit of a departure this week as we celebrate a mix of mayhem from the fuzzed out garage bands, greasy ducktails, oddball instrumentalists and mostly mondo misses tempered with a good dose of surf confection this week. We’re celebrating the three chord sensibilities of mid-century rock and roll rockabilly, surf, and proto-punk spit-ballers. They’re pulling out some wailing sax solos, fuzzed out bass beach thumpers, and some tongue-in-cheek easy listening to spin you around in your chair on an October Friday morning. You’ll be entertained by the likes of Tony Casanova, Sparkle Moore, Little Carolyn Sue, and Wild Bill and the Blue Denims…a forgotten list of lost culture that will take you down a rabbit hole that you hope might never end…or maybe just the opposite. This week’s show is dynamite from the dustbin of minor labels and first time producers that can only make the grade on Community Radio. Tune in for some mondo fuzz mayhem.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Ronnie Dee Action Packed Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 2 Amazon
3Bobby Troup Seventh Son Make Mine Mondo Amazon
4Rock-A-Tones One More Chance Wild Streak, Vol. 1 Amazon
5Annette Funicello Bikini Beach Party Good Old Summertime Amazon
6Red Prysock Hand Clappin' Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 2 Amazon
7Jim Backus & Friend Delicious Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon
8The Interiors Voodoo Doll Songs From The Crazy Cramps Collection Disc 01 Amazon
9The Bikinis Crazy Vibrations Songs From The Crazy Cramps Collection Disc 01 Amazon
10Gary Warren Midnight Rain Songs From The Crazy Cramps Collection Disc 01 Amazon
11The Three Suns Tequila Songs From The Crazy Cramps Collection Disc 01 Amazon
12The Invaders Shock Treatment Songs From The Crazy Cramps Collection Disc 01 Amazon
13Freddie & The Hitch Hikers Sinners Songs From The Crazy Cramps Collection Disc 01 Amazon
14The Duals Lover's Satellite Songs From The Crazy Cramps Collection Disc 01 Amazon
15Sparkle Moore Skull & Crossbones Songs From The Crazy Cramps Collection Disc 01 Amazon
16Mamie Van Doren Seperate The Men From The Boys Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon
17Davie Allan & Arrows (Issued As By The Zanies) Camel Walk Make Mine Mondo Amazon
18Rusty Draper & Lola Dee Scratch My Back Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon
19Tarheel Slim Number Nine Train Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 4 Amazon
20Robin Hood Brians Dis A Itty Bit Wild Streak, Vol. 1 Amazon
21Tony Casanova Boogie Woogie Feeling Make Mine Mondo Amazon
22Don & The Galaxiex Avalanche Killer Rhythms & Red Hot Beats – The Definitive Rare Rock & Roll Instrumentals Collection Amazon
23Jan & Dean Surf Route 101 Popsicle Amazon
24Bobby Fry Grandchus Make Mine Mondo Amazon
25Si Zentner Walk on the Wild Side Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 7: The Crime Scene Amazon
26Johnny Durain & The Cytones Shang-Dang-Doo Make Mine Mondo Amazon
27The Surfaris Surfer Joe [Long Version] Cowabunga! The Surf Box Disc 1 Amazon
28Voice Farm Come On-A My House Bigger Cooler Weirder Amazon
29Mouse A Public Execution Texas Music Vol. 3 Garage Bands And Psychedelia Amazon
30The Bobbettes I Don't Like It Like That (pt. 1) War Paint – The Gone Records Story Amazon
3113th Floor Elevators You're Gonna Miss Me Texas Music Vol. 3 Garage Bands And Psychedelia Amazon
32Bob Callaway Tick Tock Wild Streak, Vol. 1 Amazon
33The Tornadoes Maleguena Bustin' Surfboards Amazon
34Little Carolyn Sue I Hate Men Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wastelands Volume 1 Amazon
35Martin Denny Cool Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 16: Mondo Hollywood Amazon
36Ann-Margret Let Me Entertain You Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon

Guitar Routes

It’s a deep dive we’re taking today into the digital dustbin of the past century with the focus being on fretwork, string bending, bottlenecks and tripping the lap steel fantastic.  That’s right…a collection of fascinating tonal embellishments that cross the genres of country, jazz, blues, folk and pop. Our show this morning will feature some Lonnie Johnson, Les Paul, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Grady Martin and a few others. It’s a trip with a few well knowns but more not so much  and you’ll just have to make room in your day because the sounds can’t be ignored. We’ll hear standards like Guitar Rag, Riders in the Sky, Black Mountain Rag, Indiana March, and a special playlist highlighting the work of Grady Martin in both country and rock.  We’re once again hoping for the best as October and November approach. 

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Truett & George Ghost Dance Diabolical Hoodoo: Vintage Songs Of Devilry, Doom & Hellfire 1920-1952 Amazon
3Lonnie Johnson Swing Out Rhythm Complete Recorded Works, Vol:1 Amazon
4Blind Lemon Jefferson See That My Grave Is Kept Clean Black Swan Sampler Amazon
5Blind Blake Southern Rag Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey Amazon
6Robert Johnson Stop Breakin' Down Blues The Complete Recordings [Columbia] Disc 2 Amazon
7Robert Lockwood, Jr. Little Queen Of Spades Blues Routes: Heroes And Tricksters Amazon
8Les Paul Trio Guitar Boogie Trio's Complete Decca Recordings Plus (1936-47) [Disc 2] Amazon
9Roy Smeck and His Paradise Serenaders Indiana March Hawaiian Steel Guitar Classics Amazon
10Slim Gaillard Minuet In Vout Hittin' On All Six: New Guitar Concepts Amazon
11Leon McAuliffe & His Western Swing Band Blue Guitar Stomp Hillibilly Boogie! Amazon
12Merle Travis Guitar Rag The Guitar Picker CD2 (1947-51) Amazon
13Les Paul Hip Billy Boogie (feat. Mary Ford) [Remastered] 100 (100 Original Tracks – Remastered) Amazon
14Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant Railroadin' Swingin' On The Strings: The Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant Collection Volume 2 Amazon
15Chet Atkins Carolina Shout Guitar Legend – RCA Years (Disc 2) Amazon
16Richard Thompson New-Fangled Flogging Reel/Kerry Reel Strict Tempo! Amazon
17Richard Thompson Rockin' in Rhythm Strict Tempo! Amazon
18John Fahey I'm Gonna Do All I Can for My Lord The Legend of Blind Joe Death Amazon
19John Fahey Requiem for John Hurt Essential John Fahey Amazon
20Bert Jansch On The Edge Of A Dream [Rock Baby Rock Remix] Running From Home – An Introduction to Bert Jansch Amazon
21Leo Kottke Little Martha Instrumentals: Best of the Chrysalis Years Amazon
22Roy Clark Riders in the Sky The Roy Clark Anthology Amazon
23Doc Watson Dill Pickle Rag The Best of Doc Watson: 1964-1968 Amazon
24Doc Watson Black Mountain Rag American Roots Music (Disc One-Country) Amazon
25Jorma Kaukonen There's A Table Sitting In Heaven Stars In My Crown Amazon
26Red Foley Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy Hillbilly Fever [Disc 3] Amazon
27Marty Robbins El Paso All-Time Greatest Hits Amazon
28Loretta Lynn Coal Miner's Daughter Coal Miner's Daughter Amazon
29Marty Robbins Devil Woman All-Time Greatest Hits Amazon
30Elvis Presley (You're The) Devil in Disguise Artist of the Century Disc 2 Amazon
31Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Honey Hush Tear It Up Amazon
32Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Texas Flood Texas Flood Amazon
33Gary Moore Parisienne Walkways While My Guitar Gently Weeps [Disc 2] Amazon