Celebrating Smokey

The songs of Smokey Robinson have stood the test of time, remaining popular and relevant across generations. His compositions have been covered by artists from various genres, further cementing a legend as one of the greatest songwriters of his era. This week, we take a walk through a handful of the many classics he gave us, spanning three decades, focusing primarily on the Motown song machine classics from The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Mary Wells, and, of course, his own group The Miracles. There is no question that his songwriting style and lyrical finesse have influenced generations of musicians and, coupled with his ability to blend heartfelt lyrics with catchy melodies, standards were set for songwriters in the R&B and soul genres; not to mention the groundswell of the sixties sound of Berry Gordy’s Motown Records. A morning of pure soul and pop that will include some sweet contemporary covers (if we can squeeze them in). 

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Bonnie Bramlett You've Really Got A Hold On Me Lady's Choice Amazon
3Barrett Strong Misery Northern Soul – The Early Years – 100 Classic And Rare Tracks (CD2) Amazon
4The Miracles Bad Girl The 35th Anniversary Collection Amazon
5The Contours Whole Lotta Woman The Very Best of The Contours Amazon
6Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Shop Around Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 Amazon
7Mary Wells/The Love-Tones You Beat Me to the Punch Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 Amazon
8Gene Chandler You Threw A Lucky Punch Northern Soul – The Early Years – 100 Classic And Rare Tracks (CD2) Amazon
9Mary Wells The One Who Really Loves You Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 1 Amazon
10Mary Wells Two Lovers The Soul of Detroit – Disc 1 Amazon
11The Miracles Going to a Go-Go Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 Amazon
12Brenda Holloway When I'm Gone Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 2 Amazon
13Carolyn Crawford My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down) Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 1 Amazon
14The Miracles Baby Don't You Go [Single Version] The 35th Anniversary Collection [Disc 2] Amazon
15The Temptations The Way You Do The Things You Do The Best Of The Temptations, Vol. 1: The 60s Amazon
16Marvelettes Way Over There Northern Soul – The Early Years – 100 Classic And Rare Tracks (CD3) Amazon
17Marvin Gaye Ain't That Peculiar Marvin Gaye Icon Amazon
18The Contours First I Look at the Purse The Very Best of The Contours Amazon
19The Temptations Get Ready The Best Of The Temptations, Vol. 1: The 60s Amazon
20Marvin Gaye One More Heartache Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
21Marvin Gaye I'll Be Doggone 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Marvin Gaye, Vol. 1 Amazon
22Marvin Gaye Take This Heart Of Mine Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
23The Contours Determination The Very Best of The Contours Amazon
24Chris Clark From Head To Toe Soul Sounds – Remaster Amazon
25The Marvelettes Don't Mess With Bill 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Marvelettes Amazon
26The Marvelettes The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Marvelettes Amazon
27Johnny Rivers The Tracks of My Tears Greatest Hits [Capitol] Amazon
28Smokey Robinson & the Miracles More Love Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 3 Amazon
29Tammi Terrell He's The One I Love Come On And See Me: The Complete Solo Collection Amazon
30Diana Ross & The Supremes The Composer The Best Of Diana Ross & The Supremes [Disc 2] Amazon
31The Four Tops Still Water (Love) The Ultimate Collection Amazon
32Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Tears of a Clown Motown: The Classic Years Disc 2 Amazon
33The Supremes Floy Joy Gold Disc 2 Amazon
34Rare Earth Get Ready Soundsavers – Old School No. 6 Amazon
35Rita Coolidge The Way You Do The Things You Do Delta Lady: The Rita Coolidge Anthology [Disc 2] Amazon
36Sylvester Ooo Baby Baby The Original Hits [1989 Fantasy] Amazon

420 Fun

It’s a topical theme…it’s a medicinal thing…it’s a blend of sounds celebrating vipers and jives from the past century.  We will join in the celebration (in spirit anyway) of the date and time that three Marin County teenagers are said to have inaugurated over a half century ago. There is no shortage of material to pull from the well of Americana…whether that be from the 1920s or from the 2010s. We’ll brighten up the playlist with music that will help us kick back. We’ll pour over a selected list of great sounds from the last 100 years that either directly or indirectly find us thinking about (or maybe imbibing in) the herb so many care about. There will be music from John Prine, Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Ray Charles and some early century jazz nuggets you will find hard to resist. Friday morning sounds from the Cherry Street Historic District of Santa Rosa, California, streaming to West County and the world on KOWS-LP, Occidental 92.5 FM and kowsfm.com/listen. 

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Johnny Price Marijuana, The Devil Flower Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) Amazon
3Cordovas Stone Cold Stoned The Rose of Aces Amazon
4Yonder Mountain String Band Two Hits and the Joint Turned Brown Mountain Tracks, Vol. 2 Amazon
5Sam Bush Granny Wontcha Smoke Some Marijuana Radio John: Songs of John Hartford Amazon
6Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen Seeds And Stems (Again) Lost In The Ozone Amazon
7Jesse Dayton Dope Smokin' Song The Alternate Root 420 Sampler Amazon
8Merle Haggard/Willie Nelson It's All Going to Pot Django and Jimmie Amazon
9Willie Nelson/Snoop Dogg/Kris Kristofferson/Jamey Johnson Roll Me Up (Album version) Heroes Amazon
10k.d. lang Smoke Rings Drag Amazon
11Kacey Musgraves High Time Pageant Material Amazon
12Moonalice It's 420 Somewhere Dave's Way Vol 1 Amazon
13Chris Stapleton Might As Well Get Stoned Traveller Amazon
14Asleep At The Wheel Jack I'm Mellow New Routes Amazon
15Ashley Monroe Weed Instead Of Roses Like A Rose Amazon
16Brothers Osborne Weed Whiskey And Willie Port Saint Joe Amazon
17John Prine Illegal Smile Great Days: The John Prine Anthology Disc 1 Amazon
18Kacey Musgraves Burn One With John Prine Demos Amazon
19Tom Petty You Don't Know How It Feels Wildflowers Amazon
20Ben Harper Burn One Down Fight for Your Mind Amazon
21Julia Lee Marijuana Kansas City Star [Disc 4] Amazon
22The Ink Spots That Cat Is High Cocaine Blues Amazon
23Trixie Smith Jack I'm Mellow Trixie Smith Vol. 2 1925-1929 Amazon
24Buck Washington Save the Roach for Me [FCC Warning n word] When Hemp Was Hip Amazon
25Dave Van Ronk You's A Viper Dave Van Ronk And The Ragtime Jug Stompers Amazon
26Wayne Hancock Viper A-Town Blues Amazon
27Harlan Pepper Reefer The Alternate Root 420 Sampler Amazon
28Ray Charles Let's Go Get Stoned Ultimate Hits Collection [2 of 2] Amazon
29The Devil Makes Three Champagne And Reefer Redemption & Ruin Amazon
30Chris Ardoin and Double Clutchin' Stay In or Stay Out – Pass the Dutchie Putomayo Presents Zydeco Amazon

Cuppa Joe

The history of coffee consumption in 20th century America takes hold in the small cafes, truck stops and coffeehouses which became venues and social spaces for the community. Like music, they helped with the congregation of like minds and served as hubs for intellectual exchange, artistic expression and social activism. And it was all because of the caffeine. Instant and decaf coffees were just an aberration; much like disco. This week’s Deeper Roots drives the theme of coffee home with tracks that span the century including Emmett Miller, the King Cole Trio, The Bobs, Ella Mae Morse and Merle Travis (among others) to tell us a cuppa tale or two. It’s one more Friday show ahead of next week’s 420 observation…one more libation to celebrate.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Warren Barker Caper At The Coffee House (From '77 Sunset Strip') Jazz Noir Amazon
3The Manhattan Transfer Java Jive Anthology – Down in Birdland [Disc 1] Amazon
4King Cole Trio You're The Cream In My Coffee The Cocktail Combos [Disc 1] Amazon
5Ella Mae Morse Coffee Date Singles 3 Amazon
6Patricia Kaas Black Coffee Jazz a Saint Germain Amazon
7Jack Barlow Hot Cup Of Coffee I Live The Country Songs I Sing Amazon
8Merle Travis I Can't Afford The Coffee The Guitar Picker CD4 (1954-56) Amazon
9Tex Ritter 01 – Coffee Pot (2000) High Noon (CD 4) Amazon
10Claude Gray I4ll Have an Other Cup of Coffee Country & Western Nuggets Amazon
11Lefty Frizzell Make That One for the Road a Cup of Coffee 1962-1965 (Warped 6382) Amazon
12Curtis Gordon Caffeine And Nicotine Bob Dylan: Radio Radio [Disc 1] Amazon
13Jon Rauhouse Corn & Coffee Steel Guitar Rodeo Amazon
14Frank Sinatra The Coffee Song Radio Radio Vol.5 [Disc 1] Bob Dylan Amazon
15Enric Madriguera And His Hotel Biltmore Orchestra Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee American Dance Bands – Playing the Music of Irving Berlin Amazon
16Pancho Cantaneo y los Cubaztecas Moliendo Cafe Cuba. Por La Musica Amazon
17Terry Snyder / Earl Palmer Binga Banga Bongo-Percolator Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 8: Cocktail Capers Amazon
18Ella Mae Morse w/Big Dave and His Orchestra Forty Cups of Coffee Barrell House Boogie and the Blues Amazon
19The Modernaires Coffee Five, Doughnuts Five The Very Best of the Modernaires With Paula Kelly Amazon
20The Ink Spots Java Jive The Great Entertainers Amazon
21Atilla Coffee, Coffee Mo 33004 Amazon
22Greg Brown Good Morning Coffee If I Had Known Amazon
23Kim Lenz Percolate Slowly Speeding Amazon
24Julie London Black Coffee 36 All-Time Greatest Hits Disc 1 Amazon
25Ruth Etting You're The Cream In My Coffee Love Me or Leave Me CD1 Amazon
26Brook Benton Another Cup Of Coffee Best Of Brook Benton Amazon
27The Boswell Sisters Coffee In The Morning And Kisses In The Night [Album Version] That's How Rhythm Was Born Amazon
28Emmett Miller You're The Cream In My Coffee Minstrel Man From Georgia Amazon
29The Larks Coffee, Cigarettes And Tears Bob Dylan: Radio Radio [Disc 1] Amazon
30Bellevue Cadillac Cuppa Joe Hipsters, Zoots & Wingtips, Vol. 3 Amazon
31Lefty Frizzell Cigarettes and Coffee Blues Life's Like Poetry (Disc 5) Amazon
32Otis Redding Cigarettes And Coffee Oxford American Southern Music Issue Vol. 25 Amazon
33Neil Young + Promise of the Real A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop The Monsanto Years Amazon

Rhythm Roller Coaster

Swing and jazz music of the late 1930s had just enough time to raise a small ruckus before the second World War broke out. After a celebratory wave swept the nation, there was a need for more of the same but with an upbeat but harder drive to it. It didn’t take long for pre-rock R&B to become popular across demographics as it would gain significant traction among urban youth, particularly in the central hubs of New York, Chicago, Detroit, LA, and New Orleans. This week’s show features a roller coaster of great sounds including tracks from Varetta Dillard, The Lollypoppers, The Flairs, and Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs. You don’t want to miss this wild ride.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Big Joe Turner Love Roller Coaster Big Joe Turner: The Definitive Blues Collection [[Disc 2]] Amazon
3Big Maybelle Whole Lot-Ta Shakin' Goin' On OKeh Rhythm & Blues Amazon
4Ann Cole Got My Mojo Working The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] Amazon
5Mabel Scott Elevator Boogie Swing Baby Swing!: House Rocking Swing and Jump Jive Boogie Amazon
6Etta James Spoonful The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] Amazon
7Shirley Gunter & The Queens Oop Shoop The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues Amazon
8LaVern Baker You'd Better Find Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2 [Disc 5] Amazon
9Little Esther & the Dominoes The Deacon Moves In Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 Amazon
10Ruth Brown This Little Girls Gone Rockin' The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] Amazon
11The Drifters With Clyde McPhatter Such A Night Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters Amazon
12Hank Ballard & The Midnighters Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 Amazon
13Tabby Thomas I'd Love To Tell Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies Amazon
14Louis Jordan Roc Doc From the Ghetto Amazon
15Fats Domino Don't Come Knockin' Rhythm & Western Volume 3 – Lovesick Blues Amazon
16The Flairs She Wants To Rock The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues Amazon
17Titus Turner Hungry Man Exotic Blues & Rhythm Volume 7 & 8 Boom-A-Lay & Chug-A-Lug Amazon
18Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs Dirty By The Dozen (Sweet Little Woman) The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues Amazon
19The Lollypoppers A Bottle of Pop Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 2 Amazon
20Julia Lee Tell Me Daddy The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] Amazon
21Varetta Dillard Them Their Eyes Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 13] Amazon
22Varetta Dillard Mercy, Mr. Percy The Lovin' Bird Amazon
23Varetta Dillard Promise Mr Thomas From the Ghetto Amazon
24Viola Wells (Miss Rhapsody) Sweet Man Were Sisters Under the Skin – Female Blues & Boogie 1944 to 1949 Amazon
25Chuck Willis & His Orchestra Lawdy Miss Mary OKeh Rhythm & Blues Amazon
26Champion Jack Dupree Shim Sham Shimmy Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 15] Amazon
27Little Willie John Leave My Kitten Alone Various Artists: Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2/[Disc 10] Amazon
28Gladys Hill Please Don't Touch My Bowl Get Hot Sleazy Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3 Amazon
29Young Jessie Shuffle In The Gravel From the Ghetto Amazon
30Roy Milton Rhythm Cocktail ABC Of The Blues Vol 30 Amazon
31The Ravens Midnight Blues OKeh Rhythm & Blues Amazon
32The Blenders Don't Play Around with Love Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 Amazon
33The Ebonaires Lawd, Lawd, Lawd Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 Amazon
34Cab Calloway Gambler's Guitar Rhythm & Western Volume 3 – Lovesick Blues Amazon
35Gloria Gunter Move On Out Cat Scratchin' Amazon
36The Coasters Yakety Yak 50 Coastin' Classics [Disc 1] Amazon
37The Coasters Run Red Run 50 Coastin' Classics [Disc 2] Amazon
38Big Joe Turner Flip Flop And Fly Big, Bad & Blue: Anthology [Disc 2] Amazon
39Big Joe Turner Well, All Right Big Joe Rocks Amazon
40Big Joe Turner Midnight Special Train Atlantic Rock & Roll Amazon