Nine Pound Hammer

We’ve got ourselves a musical breadcrumb trail show featuring songs connected by titles, themes, characters, occupations, relationships, Cajun culture, tattoos, grace, summer romance, and a healthy dose of American eccentricity. We’ll be taking our journey from country to rockabilly, some Howlin’ Wolf, classic doo-wop, folk, gospel, swamp pop, and everything in between. It’s a scenic route through a century of American music. Starting with John Prine’s “Nine Pound Hammer,” we’ll follow a trail that winds through the Louvin Brothers, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, The Band, Johnny Cash, John Lee Hooker, Sam Cooke, and many others. Join us for another Friday morning two hours winding through the back roads. Because that’s where the roots run deepest. 

No.
1Artist Title Album Year Start At
2John Prine Nine Pound Hammer Sweet Revenge 1973 00:00
3The Louvin Brothers Are You Teasing Me Capitol Country Music Classics 0 05:15
4Willie Nelson House Of Gold Country Music 2010 08:05
5The Grateful Dead Operator American Beauty 1970 12:37
6Elvis Presley The Girl of My Best Friend Artist of the Century Disc 2 1999 14:57
7Ral Donner Girl Of My Best Friend American Music Library: The Hits Of 1961 1961 17:13
8The Band Jemima Surrender The Band 1969 19:21
9Johnny Cash I Will Rock And Roll With You The Legend: Old Favorites And New [Disc 2] 1978 28:06
10Ivory Joe Hunter You Can't Stop This Rocking and Rolling Ivory Joe Hunter 2005 30:49
11Chuck Willis Caldonia Roots of Rock 'n' Roll:Rough and Rowdy Vol. 3 1952 33:03
12The Debs Whaddaya Want Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55 vol. 2 2005 35:22
13Videos Trickle Trickle Doo Wop Box Disc 3 1994 37:52
14Jackie Wilson That's Why (I Love You So) 7 Classic Albums 1959 45:55
15The Sheppards Elevator Operator Golden Classics 1989 47:54
16Howlin' Wolf My Life Smokestack Lightning /The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960 1956 49:26
17John Lee Hooker One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer The Definitive Collection 1966 52:23
18Dusty Owens Hello Operator Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 1953 55:16
19Freddy Cannon Buzz Buzz-A-Diddle It Talking on the Telephone Vol. 3 1961 57:33
20Steve Forbert Complications Jackrabbit Slim 1979 1:05:20
21Steve Goodman Somebody Else's Troubles Somebody Else's Troubles 1999 1:08:59
22Jo-el Sonnier Cajun Woman The Complete Mercury Sessions 1992 1:12:40
23Lil' Band Of Gold Cajun Twist Americana Roots Songbook: Louisiana 2002 1:15:12
24Skeets McDonald The Tattooed Lady Dirty Boogie: The Fortune Records Story 1950 1:19:20
25Sam Cooke Out In The Cold Again The Rhythm And The Blues 1961 1:25:03
26The Amazing Rhythm Aces Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song) Stacked Deck 1975 1:27:26
27The Blind Boys of Alabama Amazing Grace Hear Music volume 6 0 1:30:41
28Edd Presnell Amazing Grace Bluegrass Roots 2003 1:34:59
29The Valiants and Sandy Vale Suntan Tattoo Banana Split for My Baby 1959 1:36:39
30Eddie Cochran Hallelujah I Love Her So The London American Story – 1960 1959 1:38:41
31David Bromberg; Dr. John Such a Night The Last Waltz [Rhino Box Set] Disc 1 2002 1:40:58
32The Band (I Don't Want To Hang Up My) Rock 'N' Roll Shoes A Musical History [Disc 4] 1971 1:45:37
33Randy Newman I'm Different Trouble in Paradise 1983 1:55:13
34Randy Newman Maybe I'm Doin' It Wrong Sail Away 1970 1:57:43

Rockabilly Shakin’ Goin’ On

Roll down the windows and put that pedal to the metal because we’ve got two hours of wild rhythms and deep cuts this coming Friday. We’ll be digging into those slap-back echo, train-beat rhythms and wild-eyed energy of rockabilly music — that explosive blend of country, blues, boogie and early rock ’n’ roll that rattled America in the 1950s and helped redraw the cultural map for a generation of teenagers looking for something loud, fast and a little dangerous. Now sure, everybody knows the giants — Elvis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis — but tonight’s show leans into the side roads and back highways of rockabilly history. Alongside a few familiar names, we’ll spend two hours with the obscure cats, regional stars, one-hit wonders and forgotten firebrands producing some of the wildest sounds ever pressed onto vinyl. From Sonny Fisher and Ronnie Self to Roy Duke, Sonny Burgess, Johnny Garner and Laura Lee Perkins, this is the sound of American youth culture before it was polished, corporate or safe.

No.
1Artist Title Album Year Start At
2Louie Innis Sing Your Song Baby Hillbilly Bop 'n' Boogie: King/Federal Roots of Rockabilly 1944 – 56 2002 00:10
3Tex Williams Let's Go Rockabilly The Hillbillies – They Tried to Rock Vol.2 1957 05:28
4Johnny Garner DidiDidi Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1958 07:30
5Lew Williams Cat Walk Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1956 09:32
6Gene Vincent Cat Man Bluejean Bop-And His Blue Caps 0 11:40
7Sonny Fisher Pink And Black Classic Rockabilly-Cool Cats & Hot Chicks 1956 13:56
8Ronnie Self Rocky Road Blues 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 15:53
9Ronnie Dawson Action Packed Rockin' Bones: The Legendary Masters [Disc 1] 0 24:29
10The Strikes If You Can't Rock Me Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1957 26:36
11Bob Luman Make Up Your Mind Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1957 29:03
12Dave Rich Red Sweater Grady Martin 1957 31:29
13Laura Lee Perkins I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Lovin' Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1958 33:40
14Dave Rich Burn On Love Fire Country & Western Nuggets 1958 35:27
15Sid King & The Five Strings Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 37:15
16Wanda Jackson Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Queen Of Rockabilly 1964 45:25
17Ricky Nelson Stood Up Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1957 48:05
18Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Please Don't Leave Me Tear It Up 1956 49:53
19Roy Duke Behave Be Quiet Or Be Gone 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 52:05
20The Collins Kids I'm In My Teens 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 54:05
21Billy & Don Hart Rock-A-Bop-A-Lina 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 56:20
22Johnny Horton I'm Coming Home American Originals 1956 1:02:45
23Johnny Horton Honky Tonk Mind (The Woman I Need) 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 1:04:48
24Jerry Lee Lewis Real Wild Child (Wild One) A Half Century Of Hits [Disc 1] 1958 1:06:58
25Warren Smith Got Love If You Want It The Best of Sun Rockabilly Vol. 2 1958 1:08:49
26Sonny Burgess Itchy The Best of Sun Rockabilly Vol. 2 1999 1:10:53
27Johnny Cash Rockabilly Blues (Texas 1955) The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983 Disc 3 1992 1:13:09
28Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Honey Hush Tear It Up 1956 1:16:26
29Carl Perkins Hambone Grady Martin 1962 1:22:33
30Carl Perkins Where The Rio De Rosa Flows 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 1:24:51
31Charlie Feathers Matchbox Good Rockin' Tonight 0 1:27:51
32Tommy Blake You Better Believe It Sun Rockabilly Meltdown [Disc 2] 2009 1:30:20
33Tommy Blake You Better Believe It Koolit: The Sun Years Plus 1958 1:32:05
34Unknown Rockabilly Band Zynnin' Boppin' By The Bayou – Baby Dolls & Drive-Ins 0 1:34:36
35Conway Twitty I Vibrate (From My Head to My Feet) The Rock 'N' Roll Years CD2 1997 1:36:03
36Conway Twitty Don't Cry No More Grady Martin 1963 1:38:03
37Mac Curtis Grandaddy's Rockin' Classic Rockabilly 1956 1:40:33
38Skeets McDonald You Oughta See Grandma Rock Classic Rockabilly 1956 1:42:31
39Gene Henslee Rockin Baby Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1954 1:44:27
40Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Your Baby Blue Eyes Tear It Up 1956 1:46:25
41Joe Clay Ducktail Classic Rockabilly-Cool Cats & Hot Chicks 1956 1:53:26
42Johnny Burnette Do Baby Do The Train Kept a-Rollin' Memphis to Hollywood – CD2 0 1:55:50
43The Collins Kids Whistle Bait 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2026 1:57:33

Burning Love Letters

From rocking celebrations to hard-earned reflections, this week’s episode of Deeper Roots turns its attention to the man they called “The King.” We’ve got two hours with songs about Elvis Presley — musical tributes, name-drops, eulogies, and love letters from artists across the past century. Some are playful, some reverent, and some wrestle with the contradictions that made Elvis both larger than life and painfully human. Together, they form a kind of American scrapbook around a figure who never really left the cultural conversation. From the wide-eyed devotion of artists like George Jones, Janis Martin, and Bobby Bare, to later songs reflecting on the strange and tragic arc that carried Elvis from hip-shaking revolutionary to Vegas spectacle, from the Nixon White House photo-op to a lonely and frightening decline, these recordings trace the many ways America mythologized him. Whether delivered as tribute, cautionary tale, obituary, or heartfelt fan letter, the songs on this morning’s show reveal just how deeply Elvis worked his way into the DNA of rock ’n’ roll mythology — and into the imagination of generations that followed.

No.
1Artist Title Album Year Start At
2Elvis Presley Elvis [Excerpt From Interview Held Sept.22 1958] Elvis: A Legendary Performer Vol. 1 1958 00:00
3Pat Smith Elvis Elvis Gals of the Big D Jamboree 1958 00:25
4Billy Boyle My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Elvis The Greatest Novelty Songs 1962 05:31
5Nervous Norvus Elvis You're A G.I. Now Stone Age Woo 1958 08:03
6Bobby Bare All American Boy All American Boy – CD 1 1963 10:14
7The Hunt Sisters Elvis Is Rocking Again Dirty Boogie:The Fortune Records Story 1960 13:09
8Janis Martin My Boy Elvis Loud Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 1 1999 14:40
9George Jones The King Is Gone (So Are You) One Woman Man 1989 23:33
10Steve Goodman Elvis Imitators Artistic Hair 1983 26:47
11Syd Straw & The Del Lords Listening To Elvis 200 Cadillacs 2003 29:36
12Horace Logan Announcements (& Elvis Has Left the Building) At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight (Disc 7) 2017 33:19
13Gillian Welch Elvis Presley Blues Artist's Choice: Emmylou Harris 0 33:52
14Dan Reeder Clean Elvis Oh Boy! A Sampler 0 43:56
15Cris Cuddy Dear Elvis Dear Elvis 2015 46:31
16Greg Brown Jesus and Elvis Poet Game 1994 49:49
17John Stewart I Want To Be Elvis Havana 2003 53:17
18Loudon Wainwright III Happy Birthday Elvis Career Moves 1993 56:39
19Leon Russell Elvis and Marilyn Americana 1978 1:00:37
20Sonny Burgess Bigger Than Elvis Sonny Burgess 1996 1:09:05
21Stray Cats Elvis on Velvet Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92 1997 1:11:43
22Mojo Nixon Elvis Is Everywhere Bo-Day-Shus!!! 1986 1:15:59
23Derailers I Love Me Some Elvis Genuine 2003 1:20:50
24Hayes Carll Jesus and Elvis What It Is 2019 1:27:07
25The Tractors The Elvis Thing Farmers in a Changing World 1998 1:30:25
26Alannah Myles Black Velvet The Atlantic Story [UK] Disc 2 0 1:35:42
27Kacey Musgraves Velvet Elvis Golden Hour 2018 1:39:38
28Marc Cohn Walking in Memphis VH1 Classic: The Cuts 2003 1:42:07
29Paul Simon Graceland Graceland 1986 1:46:11
30Cowboy Junkies Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis) The Trinity Session 1988 1:54:27

Tears On The Vinyl

They say that tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it. Whether they are shed in the dark of a midnight heartbreak, the overwhelming light of a spiritual awakening, or the quiet ache of a memory that just won’t fade, these tiny drops of salt water carry the weight of our history. Today, we’re tracing those trails down the cheeks of American music. with a show whose theme is ‘tears’.  We’ve got two hours of the lonesome, the joyful, and the broken-hearted. Featured artists include Etta James, Mac Wiseman, Big Maybelle, Faron Young and The Pilgrim Travelers, spanning the past century of America’s music from the mid-1930s to a cover of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s Ocean of Tears from 2019. We’ll experience tears that take us from remorse to pure joy and pleasant surprise full circle to tears brought on by physical pain. So pull up a chair, settle in, and let’s let the music do the weeping for us.

No.
1Artist Title Album Year Start At
2Little Anthony & The Imperials Tears on My Pillow The Best of Little Anthony & The Imperials 1958 00:00
3Chuck Jackson Tears Of Joy The Very Best Of Chuck Jackson 1961-1967 1963 05:35
4Gladys Knight & The Pips Letter Full Of Tears Soul Grooves 2002 08:13
5Tammi Terrell Tears At The End Of A Love Affair Come On And See Me: The Complete Solo Collection 1969 10:52
6Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Tears of a Clown Motown: The Classic Years Disc 2 1970 13:48
7Johnny Rivers The Tracks of My Tears Greatest Hits [Capitol] 1967 16:45
8Etta James Tears Of Joy The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings 1 1956 24:59
9Bonnie Raitt River Of Tears Green Light 1982 27:25
10Big Maybelle Ocean Of Tears The Complete OKeh Sessions 1952-'55 1955 32:10
11Pee Wee Crayton Eyes Full Of Tears Pee Wee's Blues – The Complete Aladdin And Imperial Recordings 1954 34:37
12Ray Charles Drown in My Own Tears Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959) (1 of 8) 1959 36:42
13The Jackson Southernaires No Tears in Heaven Great Gospel – No Tears in Heaven 2004 44:04
14The Pilgrim Travelers God Shall Wipe All Tears Away Good News Vol. 4: Glory Glory Hallelujah 1949 49:10
15The Staple Singers I Can't Help From Cryin' Sometime Great Day 1962 51:27
16Robert Plant and The Soweto Gospel Choir Valley Of Tears Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino [Disc 2] 2007 53:43
17Jean Shepard Crying Holy 24 Greatest Gospel Hits 2009 55:51
18Bad Livers Crying Holy Unto The Lord Dust On The Bible 1998 57:52
19Mac Wiseman Crying Heart Blues Grassroots To Bluegrass 1990 1:07:57
20Country Gentlemen Silence or Tears Warped 6119 – Country Gentlemen – 1961 1961 1:10:20
21David Grisman; Emory Gordy; Herb Pedersen; Jim Buchanan; Vince Gill The Children Are Crying Here Today 1982 1:12:56
22Dolly Parton Endless Stream of Tears The Grass Is Blue 1999 1:15:28
23Faron Young Trail Of Tears Hello Walls / The Young Approach 1961 1:18:01
24Dick Curless Tears Instead of Cheers A Tombstone Every Mile (7CD Set) CD6 (1950-1969) 1996 1:20:10
25Tennessee Ernie Ford Ocean Of Tears The History Of Country & Western Music (Disc 20) 0 1:24:50
26JP Harris Ocean of Tears (feat. Miss Tess) Why Don't We Duet in the Road (Again) – EP 2019 1:27:23
27Skeets McDonald Curtain Of Tears Skeets McDonald – One Classic Album & Singles Collection 1952 1:29:57
28Ray Campi Curtain Of Tears Country Boy's Dream 1988 1:32:17
29Ella Fitzgerald Crying My Heart Out For You Cryin' Mood 1939 1:36:02
30Anita O'Day And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine Sentimental Journey: Great Ladies of Song 1944 1:39:08
31Dinah Washington You're Crying (from The Swingin' Miss D) Dinah Washington: Eight Classic Albums 1956 1:42:12
32Chris Connor Time Out For Tears Warm Cool: The Atlantic Years [Disc 1] 1999 1:45:39
33Dinah Shore Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside) Your Hit Parade: 1946 1946 1:48:18
34Lula Reed I'll Drown In My Own Tears Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio 1951 1:53:57
35Johnny Ray Cry Columbia Records 125th Anniversary 1951 1:56:47

Backbeat ’50

It’s a 1950 heatwave of rhythm and blues sounds this morning on Deeper Roots. We’ll move away from anything that might be polite or polished and turn our attention to the sweat-soaked, neon-lit world of rhythm and blues, a sound that was the early morning thunder and lightning just ahead of the dawn of rock ‘n roll. We’re focusing on the year 1950 where jump blues started to grow teeth — where the saxophones were honking, the backbeats hitting harder, and indie labels from Memphis to LA were capturing lightning in a bottle. From the smoky corners of the Delta to the high voltage clubs of the North, we’re digging deep into the crates for the some pounding rhythms from Dave Bartholomew, Julia Lee, Bull Moose Jackson, Jimmy McCracklin as well as Buddy and Ella Johnson…oh, and some Tiny Bradshaw’s Breaking Up The House. As Chuck Berry pointed out: “…it’s got a backbeat, you can’t lose it, any old time you use it”.

No.
1Artist Title Album Year Start At
2Sister Wynona Carr Don't Miss That Train Dragnet For Jesus 1950 00:00
3Buddy & Ella Johnson Walk the Chalk Line Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2 [Disc 7] 1950 05:22
4Ella Johnson No More Love Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females 1950 07:56
5Jimmy McCracklin Rockin? All Day (a/k/a Rockin? and Reelin?) Electric Blues?Part 1: Beginnings 1939-1954 1950 10:56
6Bull Moose Jackson Big Fat Mamas Are Back In Style Again Bull Moose Jackson 1947-1950 1950 13:34
7Cleo Brown Roll It Boogie Boogie Woogie Gals – 1939-57 1950 15:54
8Eunice Davis Rock Little Daddy Boogie Woogie Gals – 1939-57 1950 25:17
9Austin McCoy Happy Pay Day Part 1 More Mellow Cats & Kittens 1950 27:46
10Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra w/Myra Johnson Silent George Risque Rhythm: Nasty 50s R&B 1950 30:56
11Jewel King 3×7=21 Get Hot Sleazy Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3 1950 33:32
12Jewel King I Broke My Mother's Rule Gettin' Funky [Disc 4] 1950 36:04
13Julia Lee Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff Kansas City Star [Disc 5] 1950 38:17
14Violet Hall He's An Ivory Beating Baby (On The Baby Grand) Boogie Woogie Gals – 1939-57 1950 41:16
15Johnnie Brown I'm Gonna Stop (Foolin' Around) Jumpin' The Blues:MCA Label(ACE CD) 1950 48:49
16Tiny Bradshaw Breaking Up the House Breaking Up the House [Disc 2] 1950 51:12
17Tiny Bradshaw Well Oh Well Breaking Up the House [Disc 2] 1950 53:51
18Wynonie Harris I Want To Love You Baby All She Wants To Do Is Rock 1950 56:29
19Dave Bartholomew Ain't Gonna Do It (Rest Of My Life) Gettin' Funky [Disc 2] 1950 59:21
20Connie Jordan I'm Gonna Rock (Till My Rocker Breaks Down) Jumpin' The Blues:MCA Label(ACE CD) 1950 1:07:07
21Ruth Brown I'll Wait For You Miss Rhythm Greatest Hits And More Disc 1 1950 1:09:52
22Ivory Joe Hunter We're Going to Boogie Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 13] 1950 1:12:25
23King Perry Everything's Gonna Be Alright Tonight Various Artists: Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2/[Disc 1] 1950 1:15:25
24Gene Phillips Women Women Women Hot R&B and Cool Blues 1946-52 1950 1:17:46
25Erline Harris Jump And Shout Get Hot Sleazy Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3 1950 1:20:35
26Percy Mayfield Strange Things Happening Poet of the Blues 1950 1:25:26
27The Robins If It's So The Dawn Of Doo-Wop Vol. 4: Doo-Wop Dancin' 1950 1:28:12
28The Dominoes Chicken Blues The Dawn Of Doo-Wop Vol. 4: Doo-Wop Dancin' 1950 1:31:14
29H-Bomb Ferguson Rock H-Bomb Rock Stompin' 14 1950 1:34:02
30Roy Brown & His Mighty Mighty Men Love Don't Love Nobody Original Blues/Greatest Hits 1950 1:36:10
31Little Esther & Mel Walker w; Johnny Otis Orchestra Cupid's Boogie Roots of Rock 'n' Roll – Rough and Rowdy Vol. 3 1950 1:38:51
32The Ravens My Baby's Gone OKeh Rhythm & Blues 1950 1:41:24
33The Three Riffs Cherry In My Lemon And Lime Hot Harmony Groups 1932-1951: Vol 1: That's the Rhythm 1950 1:44:09
34Harry Van Walls Tee-nah-nah Atlantic Rhythm & Blues: 1947-1974 [Disc 1] 1950 1:46:34
35Fats Domino Hey La Bas Boogie Gettin' Funky [Disc 3] – The Hitmakers 1950 1:53:53
36Fats Domino The Fat Man Gettin' Funky [Disc 3] – The Hitmakers 1950 1:56:14