Americana Roundup

Looking back over the past fifty-or-so years, we find a large gathering assembled under a large, all-inclusive tent, called Americana. There’s hardly a definition that’s been assigned and it’s hardly what we’d term ‘a genre’. It is, rather, a mood of the music and a narrative of the storytelling defines it. Like the dozens of genres that line it’s walls, we’ve come to know what we’re listening to: blues, gospel, folk and tradition, jazz, and everything in between. This week we’ll be stepping into that tent to congregate and celebrate that ‘sound we know’ called Americana. The digital bins will take us only so far back, celebrating the music of Bob Dylan, Buddy Miller, Gillian Welch, Joe Ely, Old Crow Medicine Show and a couple dozen others. Just what’s needed and built on playlists worthy of the very best of the Americana Hours broadcast each morning here on KOWS Community Radio.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Old Crow Medicine Show Wagon Wheel O.C.M.S. Amazon
3Bob Dylan Hard Times Good As I Been To You Amazon
4Keb' Mo' I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute Amazon
5Sheryl Crow No Depression In Heaven The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family Amazon
6Rosanne Cash Motherless Children The List Amazon
7Ray Wylie Hubbard Tell The Devil I'm Gettin' There As Fast As I Can Tell The Devil I'm Getting There As Fast As I Can Amazon
8Buddy Miller & Julie Miller Forever Has Come To An End Buddy & Julie Miller Amazon
9Lyle Lovett If I Had a Boat Anthology, Vol. 1: Cowboy Man Amazon
10Guy Clark Fort Worth Blues Cold Dog Soup Amazon
11Lucinda Williams Lake Charles Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Amazon
12The Texas Tornados The Gardens 4 Aces Amazon
13Buddy Miller That's How I Got To Memphis Your Love And Other Lies Amazon
14The Flatlanders Dallas More a Legend Than a Band Amazon
15Joe Ely If You Were A Bluebird Joe Ely Amazon
16Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Killing The Blues Raising Sand Amazon
17Alison Krauss & Union Station The Lucky One New Favorite Amazon
18Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris All The Roadrunning All The Roadrunning Amazon
19Steve Earle Copperhead Road Copperhead Road Amazon
20Blaze Foley Clay Pigeons Wanted More Dead Than Alive Amazon
21Justin Townes Earle Harlem River Blues Harlem River Blues [Explicit] Amazon
22Gillian Welch Red Clay Halo Time (The Revelator) Amazon
23Gillian Welch Caleb Meyer Hell Among the Yearlings Amazon
24Van Morrison Till I Gain Control Again Pay The Devil Amazon
25First Aid Kit Emmylou The Lion's Roar (Bonus Track Version) Amazon
26John Hiatt Drive South Slow Turning Amazon

Dirty Money

We’ve heard them all, the quotes about money being the root of all evil, you can’t take it with you, money can’t buy happiness…but there’s this one little thing that is seldom expanded on and that is the story of ‘dirty money’. There’s plenty of fodder in that area…from the banker CEO to the coal company CEO…there’s never an effort to help raise all boats, only the yachts. Capitalism is our theme. No, wait, is it bank robbing? No, most likely the working man trying to put bread on the table. Hold on, I know. It’s runaway inflation and the blame game. In any event, we’ll be all over the board in today’s show, bringing you music about money cravin’ folks from Blind Alfred Reed, working down on Maggie’s Farm and we’ll also have ourselves a hint of a fireside chat to make us feel better. We’ll also head down to coal country and Bonnie and Clyde, Woody Guthrie, and “Voila! An American Dream” from Rodney Crowell. Tune in. Should be fun.


No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2David Rawlings Money Is the Meat in the Coconut Poor David's Almanack Amazon
3The Andrews Sisters Money is The Root of All Evil Golden Age of the Andrews Sisters [Disc 2] Amazon
4Randy Newman It's Money That Matters Land of Dreams Amazon
5Rodney Crowell Voila, An American Dream Collection Amazon
6Bob Brozman Follow The Money Post-industrial Blues Amazon
7Eartha Kitt/Henri René & His Orchestra Just an Old Fashioned Girl Purr-Fect: Greatest Hits Amazon
8Dr. John (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away The Atco/Atlantic Singles 19681974 Amazon
9Ry Cooder No Banker Left Behind Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down Amazon
10Woody Guthrie The Jolly Banker (Woody Guthrie) Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection [Disc 2] Amazon
11Jake Xerxes Fussell All in Down and Out Jake Xerxes Fussell Amazon
12Roy Zimmerman Joel Osteen Rize Up Amazon
13Bob Dylan Maggie's Farm The Essential Bob Dylan [Disc 1] Amazon
14Blind Alfred Reed Money Cravin Folks Complete Recorded Works 1927-29 Amazon
15Barbecue Bob We Sure Got Hard Times Now Bankers Blues – A Study in the Effects of Fiscal Mischeif Amazon
16Bo Carter Times Is Tight Like That Bankers Blues – A Study in the Effects of Fiscal Mischeif Amazon
17Betty O' Brian Money Honey Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
18The O'Jays For The Love Of Money Funk Explosion Amazon
19Solomon Burke Honey Where's The Money Gone Nashville Amazon
20John Lee Hooker I Need Some Money That's My Story ( Sings the Blues) Amazon
21SNCC Freedom Singers; Reagon, Cordell Which Side Are You On? Voices Of The Civil Rights Movement, [Disc 2] (Ensembles) Amazon
22Bruce Springsteen The Ghost of Tom Joad Chapter & Verse Amazon
23Wray Family (Dark As A Dungeon Way) Down In The Mine Birth / Work / Death – Work, Money And Status In Country Music (1950-1974) Amazon
24Band Of Ruhks Coal Mining Man featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley Band Of Ruhks Amazon
25Buddy Durham Sixteen Tons Birth / Work / Death – Work, Money And Status In Country Music (1950-1974) Amazon
26Justin Townes Earle Down In The Valley Coal Country Music Amazon
27Stan Farlow 1040 Blues Birth / Work / Death – Work, Money And Status In Country Music (1950-1974) Amazon
28Rex Allen Money, Marbles And Chalk The Versatile Rex Allen [Disc 2] Amazon
29Merle Haggard And The Strangers The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde (2006 Digital Remaster) Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard Amazon
30Merle Haggard Working Man Blues Merle Haggard Country Legend-Disc 1 Amazon
31Ferlin Husky 22 – Money Greases the Wheels Ferlin Husky Singles Amazon
32J.J. Cale Money Talks The Very Best of J.J. Cale Amazon
33Kronos Quartet Which Side Are You On Long Time Passing: Kronos Quartet and Friends Celebrate Pete Seeger Amazon

Tell Me a Story

Storytelling in song is not new. It’s mankind’s way of conveying, in both accuracy and reflection, the narrative from one perspective. Embellishments and hooks have long been the best way to make the story easy to digest and, if need be, to get a point (likely sociopolitical) across. We’ll be doing just that in this Friday’s episode: stories based in war, natural disasters, national tragedies and personal conflict. We’ll take a hundred year tour of storytelling from Bessie Smith to the Drive-by Truckers, from Memphis Minnie and The Tex-I-An Boys to Calexico, The Staple Singers and Marty Robbins. There are floods, murders, environmental catastrophes, bombings, and some wartime solemnity to be shared today. Tune into KOWS Community Radio every Friday morning for some fresh musical linens, curated by the outdoors and streaming to all of planet Earth on KOWSFM.COM/listen

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Mac Wiseman Wreck Of The Old '97 Sings Old Time Country Favorites Amazon
3Jimmie Driftwood The Battle of New Orleans Six Classic Albums Plus Bonus Singles Amazon
4Marty Robbins Ballad Of The Alamo My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
5Johnny Horton Sink The Bismark Classic Country Great Story Songs [Disc 2] Amazon
6Calexico Victor Jara's Hands Carried To Dust Amazon
7Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Ohio So Far Amazon
8Joni Mitchell Woodstock Hits Amazon
9Grateful Dead New, New Minglewood Blues What a Long Strange Trip It's Been Disc 1 Amazon
10Grateful Dead New Speedway Boogie What a Long Strange Trip It's Been Disc 1 Amazon
11Arlo Guthrie with The Dillards Ludlow Massacre Thirty Two Cents Postage Due Amazon
12Tom Petty Jefferson Jericho Blues Mojo (Extra Mojo Version) Amazon
13Randy Newman Burn On Sail Away Amazon
14Charlie Haden Is This America? (Katrina 2005) Charlie Haden Family & Friends – Rambling Boy Amazon
15Johnny Cash Five Feet High And Rising Songs Of Our Soil Amazon
16Kansas Joe And Memphis Minnie When the Levee Breaks People Take Warning [Disc 2] Man Vs. Nature Amazon
17Sin-Killer Griffin Wasn't That A Mighty Storm Field Recordings, Vol. 5: Louisiana, Texas, Bahamas (1933-1940) Amazon
18The Tex-I-An Boys Wasn't That A Mighty Storm? Classic American Ballads From Smithsonian Folkways Amazon
19Bessie Smith Backwater Blues Columbia Records' 125th Anniv. Amazon
20Rory Block Titanic (When That Great Ship Went Down) Confessions of A Blues Singer Amazon
21Chill Pill Dancers Zoot Suit Riot Swing: Next Generation Amazon
22Mimi & Richard Fariqa Birmingham Sunday Troubadours: Folk And The Roots Of American Music 4: 10 The West Coast Amazon
23Archie Shepp Blues for Brother George Jackson Verve Unmixed, Vol. 2 Amazon
24Drive-By Truckers What It Means American Band Amazon
25Will And Jehnean Trail of Tears Song of America Amazon
26Don McLean American Pie Songs For The Open Road [Platinum Legends] Amazon

Freedom Train

Summer’s in full tilt and we’re not ready quite yet for the heat. But that won’t stop us cartwheeling down the musical halls as we take an eclectic ride on a free form Friday. Themes and tradition will rule today’s playlists, making way for some great roots rock favorites from Elvis, Chuck Berry and Roy Orbison. Country music is well represented with a lonesome George Strait train song, some hellbound Billy Strange, and a trip to Texas with Iris DeMent. KOWS Community Radio features Deeper Roots each and every Friday morning at 9 Pacific and this particular morning is no different save for a few snowflakes in the wind. We’ll also dig deeper for some tracks from The Ravens, The Golden Nuggets, The Beach Boys and a little bit of Dr. John. Join us on our free form journey!

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Bing Crosby The Freedom Train [Single Version] Their Complete Recordings Together [Disc 1] Amazon
3Iris DeMent Goin' Down To Sing In Texas Workin' On A World Amazon
4Randy Newman Political Science Sail Away Amazon
5Simon & Garfunkel America Old Friends Disc 2 Amazon
6Louis Armstrong Summer Song This Is Jazz Sampler Amazon
7The Ravens Summertime Old Man River Amazon
8Jim Byrnes Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City Long Hot Summer Nights Amazon
9Roy Orbison Summer Song Crying Amazon
10The Chimes Summer Night Another Banana Split, please Amazon
11The Beach Boys Your Summer Dream Surfer Girl Amazon
12Dr. John Such A Night The Atco/Atlantic Singles 19681974 Amazon
13Elvis Presley Such A Night The Essential 60's Masters I [Disc 1] Amazon
14Chuck Berry Downbound Train The Chess Box Disc 1 Amazon
15Billy Strange Hell Train Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) Amazon
16The Golden Nuggets Gospel Train Oxford American Music Issue #13-Mississippi Amazon
17George Strait Trains Make Me Lonesome Strait Out of the Box [Disc 3] Amazon
18Mudcrutch Shady Grove Mudcrutch Amazon
19Doc Watson Shady Grove Songs From Home Amazon
20The Campbell Brothers Feat John Medeski Amazing Grace Can You Feel It? Amazon
21Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues Amazing Grace Dark Was The Night: A Red Hot Compilation [Disc 2] Amazon
22Norma Jean Let's Go All the Way 30th Anniversary Collection Disc 1 Amazon
23Ray Charles Let's Go Get Stoned Genius – The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection Amazon
24The Isley Brothers Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go [Remastered 1991] Complete United Artists Sessions Amazon
25Al Greene/Soul's Mate Back up Train Smooth Grooves: The '60s, Vol. 3: Late '60s Amazon
26Johnny Bond Lonesome Train Put Me To Bed Amazon
27Robert Gordon Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track) Robert Gordon with Link Wray/Fresh Fish Specials Amazon
28Elvis Presley Mystery Train Lonesome Whistle – An Anthology Of American Railroad Song Amazon
29Robert Gordon Drivin' Wheel [*] Robert Gordon with Link Wray/Fresh Fish Specials Amazon
30Chuck Berry Brown Eyed Handsome Man The Chess Box Disc 1 Amazon

Down the Mississippi

With its ever-changing course, its flowing waters and historical significance, the Mississippi River serves as a powerful metaphor for the American story. The river is a lifeblood nourishing the land while also serving as a path to freedom itself, symbolizing the pursuit of freedom and progress from the North to the Gulf of Mexico. Additional to all of this are its routes of trade and commerce that highlight both the American spirit and prosperity. This week’s Deeper Roots show celebrates the river that got its name after the northern Minnesota people, the Ojibway, and their name for ‘big river’ as well as songs of the namesake state and delta as well. Performances include mid-century recordings from country favorites the Delmore Brothers and Jimmie Skinner, blues from Charlie Musselwhite and the Rufus Thomas, as well as classic recordings of Bob Dylan, Charley Pride, Pops Staples and the Boswell Sisters. Tune into West County radio each Friday morning at 9 Pacific.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Kay Starr Mississippi Capitol Collectors Series Amazon
3Allen Toussaint Bright Mississippi The Bright Mississippi Amazon
4J.J. Cale Mississippi River Grasshopper Amazon
5Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys Mississippi Mud Whoopee Hey Hey! Amazon
6Pops Staples Down In Mississippi Peace To The Neighborhood Amazon
7Charley Pride Roll On Mississippi Anthology Amazon
8Danielia Cotton Roll On Mississippi Roll On Mississippi – Single Amazon
9Bruce Cockburn Sunrise on the Mississippi Dart to the Heart Amazon
10Bob Dylan Mississippi Love and Theft Amazon
11Hank Penny Mississippi Muddle King Of Hillbilly Bebop [Disc 1] Amazon
12Jimmie Skinner I Miss the Mississippi and You 1960-1962 (Warped 6188) Amazon
13Delmore Brothers Mississippi Shore 1946-1947 (Warped 4679) Amazon
14The Browns Mister and Mississippi Classics 1963-1964 (Warped 6384) Amazon
15Boswell Sisters Roll On Mississippi Boswell Sisters Amazon
16Sammy Price & the Blues Singers Mississippi Moan Sammy Price and the Blues Singers Vol. 1 1938 – 1941 Amazon
17Roy Book Binder Mississippi John The Hillbilly Blues Cats Amazon
18Charlie Musselwhite Blues Up The River Mississippi Son Amazon
19Rufus Thomas Funky Mississippi The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol.2: 1968-1971 [Disc 1] Amazon
20Mountain Mississippi Queen Super Hits Of The '70s: Have A Nice Day, Vol. 1 Amazon
21The New Christy Minstrels Mighty Mississippi Ramblin' Amazon
22Tennessee Ernie Ford Mr. And Mississippi The History Of Country & Western Music (Disc 19) Amazon
23Cheryl Wheeler Lighting Up The Mighty Mississippi Sylvia Hotel Amazon
24George Jones & Melba Montgomery I'd Jump The Mississippi Vintage Collections Amazon
25Bobbie Gentry Mississippi Delta Ode To Billy Joe Amazon
26SNCC Freedom Singers; Jones, Marshall In The Mississippi River Voices Of The Civil Rights Movement, [Disc 2] (Ensembles) Amazon
27Mavis Staples Down In Mississippi (Cd) We'll Never Turn Back Amazon
28Merle Haggard Miss the Mississippi and You The Peer Sessions Amazon
29Jesse Winchester Mississippi, You're On My Mind The Best Of Jesse Winchester Amazon
30Marty Stuart Mississippi Railroad Blues [Instrumental][Instrumental] Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions Amazon
31Doc & Merle Watson Mississippi Heavy Water Blues Sittin' Here Pickin' the Blues Amazon

Tex Mex Fest

We took a journey to the south in last week’s show and this week, we head further west where we’ll share a vibrant and dynamic genre that reflects the rich cultural fusion of its geographic origins, combining traditional Mexican folk music with contemporary American influences of country, rhythm and blues, and rock. With the accordion and bajo sexto, drums, bass and guitar punching a hefty rhythm whose lyrics are often filled with catchy hooks and danceable beats, it is prominently featured in festivals, celebrations and public events across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. We’ll share some of the influentials from across the border like Lydia Mendoza as well as the mainstays and popular artists of the past half century including Freddy Fender, Doug Sahm, The Texas Tornados, Flaco Jimenez, The Mavericks and a dozen others in this week’s Deeper Roots fest.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Conjunto Sotavento de Nacho Fierro La Bamba Tex Mex Folk 1920s to 1950s Amazon
3Lydia Mendoza Jurame Lone Star Amazon
4Lydia Mendoza Mal Hombre American Roots Music [Disc 4] Amazon
5Las Hermanas Mendoza Mis pensamientos The Rough Guide to Tex-Mex Amazon
6Little Joe & La Familia Las Nubes American Roots Music [Disc 4] Amazon
7Conjunto Bernal Mi Unico Camino Lone Star Amazon
8Ritchie Valens La Bamba Southern California With Fond Memories Amazon
9Freddy Fender Before The Next Teardrop Falls Before The Next Teardrop Falls Amazon
10Los Super Seven Cupido (ft. Freddy Fender & Rick Trevino) Heard It On The X Amazon
11Freddy Fender Wasted Days And Wasted Nights Country Crossroads Amazon
12The Texas Tornados Who Were You Thinkin' Of Texas Tornados Amazon
13Doug Sahm Nuevo Laredo Best of Sir Douglas 68-75 Amazon
14Sir Douglas Quintet Dynamite Woman Mono Singles '68-'72 Amazon
15Sir Douglas Quintet She's About A Mover Sir Douglas Amazon
16Tejas Brothers (w/ Augie Meyers and Larry Joe Taylor) Rosa Live a Little More Amazon
17Los Lobos Will the Wolf Survive? El Cancionero: Mas y Mas (1 of 4) Amazon
18The Mavericks Volver, Volver Collection [2003] Amazon
19The Mavericks Ven Hacia Mi (Come Unto Me) [Conjunto Version] In Time (10th Anniversary Deluxe) Amazon
20Eddie "Lalo" Torres Y Su Conjunto Arriba San Antonio The Rough Guide to Tex-Mex Amazon
21Santiago Jimenez Jr. Alma de Tejas The Rough Guide to Tex-Mex Amazon
22Flaco Jimenez El Pesudo Flaco Jimenez Amazon
23Flaco Jiminez The Girls From Texas featuring Ry Cooder (Album Version) Partners Amazon
24Flaco Jimenez Por Una Mujer Bonita Flaco Jimenez Amazon
25Linda Ronstadt Mi Ranchito (My Little Ranch) Mas Canciones Amazon
26Ry Cooder w/Sam Samudio No Quiero The Border/Alamo Bay Amazon
27Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs Wooly Bully Memphis Celebrates 50 Years Of Rock 'n' Roll Amazon
28David Lindley & El Rayo-X Texas Tango Very Greasy Amazon
29Charley Pride Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone Country USA 1970 Amazon
30Marty Robbins El Paso All-Time Greatest Hits Amazon

Swamp Pop Fest

Swamp pop. What is it and where does Tex Mex begin and country blues end? Well, just listen for that Louisiana backbeat, a taste of torch song and rocking rhythm. We’ll take on the music of Tex Mex next week but this week we’ll be sampling some of the greats of that splinter genre referred to as ‘swamp pop’; music that was grafted from a number of different root source sounds. Swamp pop remains an important cultural expression of the Acadiana region, celebrated for its heartfelt and nostalgic qualities. While it never achieved the widespread commercial success of other genres, swamp pop has maintained a dedicated following and continues to be performed by contemporary musicians. We’ll share the sounds of some of the genre’s most popular:  Warren Storm, Tommy McLain, Rod Bernard, Clint West and so many others. Drop on by.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Cookie & the Cupcakes Mathilda Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
3Joe Barry I'm A Fool To Care Don't Do It: The Smash Record Story 1961-1962 [Disc 2] Amazon
4Joe Barry Teardrops in My Heart I'm a Fool to Care: The Complete Recordings 1958-1977, Vol. 1 Amazon
5Joe Barry Little Jewel of the Vieux Carre I'm a Fool to Care: The Complete Recordings 1958-1977, Vol. 1 Amazon
6Rockin' Sidney Shirley Jean Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
7John Fred Shirley The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 3] Amazon
8Rod Bernard This Should Go On Forever Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
9Rod Bernard Diggy Liggy Lo Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
10Rod Bernard Colinda Swamp Gold, Vol. 2 Amazon
11Warren Storm Prisoner's Song Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
12Warren Storm Hey Ma Ma Boppin' By The Bayou – Made In The Shade Amazon
13Lil' Band Of Gold/Warren Storm Please Mr. Sandman Americana Roots Songbook: Louisiana Amazon
14Little Bob & The Lollipops Nobody But You Oxford American 11th Edition Southern Music 2009 Amazon
15Lil' Bob & the Lollipops I Got Loaded Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
16Johnnie Allan Lonely Days & Lonely Nights Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
17Jivin' Gene Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
18Dale & Grace I'm Leaving It All Up to You Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
19Clint West Our Love Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
20Clint West Big Blue Diamonds Swamp Gold, Vol. 2 Amazon
21Cookie & His Cupcakes Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Vocal Groups Amazon
22Cookie And The Cupcakes Until Then Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
23Cookie & The Cupcakes Got You on My Mind Swamp Gold, Vol. 2 Amazon
24Shelton Dunaway & The Cupcakes Mary Lou Doing The Popeye The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 5] Amazon
25Tommy McLain Sweet Dreams Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
26Tommy McLain Before I Grow Too Old The Essential Collection Amazon
27Tommy McLain Before I Grow Too Old I Ran Down Every Dream Amazon
28Tommy McLain Somebody (Radio Edit) I Ran Down Every Dream Amazon
29The Uniques All These Things Swamp Gold, Vol. 2 Amazon
30Randy & the Rockets Lets Do the Cajun Twist Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
31Joe Barry Just Because Don't Do It: The Smash Record Story 1961-1962 [Disc 2] Amazon
32Cookie & The Cupcakes I Cried Bob Dylan Presents: Radio Radio, Theme Time Radio Hour, Vol. 1 Amazon
33Tommy McLain I Ran Down Every Dream (feat. Elvis Costello) I Ran Down Every Dream Amazon
34Rockin' Sidney My Toot-Toot Alligator Stomp: Cajun Zydeco Classics Amazon

J.J. Cale Tribute

When J.J. Cale’s first album came on the scene in 1972, it exuded something different…some kind of “timeless cool” with it’s imposing John Bunyan raccoon album cover and understated country sound setting it apart from everything else out there. Not psychedelia, not rock exactly, and certainly not the LA sound that was hip at the time. It was, as it has since been coined, the “Tulsa sound”. Many have covered John Weldon Cale’s music and many have become rock standards while others languish only to be rediscovered year after year by new listeners who hear that “timeless cool” and those breezy treasures he left us. We’ll feature a number of covers today, as well as his own originals in a show that will take you down a river whose currents are slow but determined.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2J.J. Cale Call The Doctor Naturally Amazon
3Eric Clapton Call Me the Breeze The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale Amazon
4Case Garrett Call Me The Breeze Aurora Amazon
5Marc Cohn After Midnight Listening Booth: 1970 Amazon
6Waylon Jennings Clyde Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line: The RCA Years Disc 2 Amazon
7The Band Crazy Mama High On The Hog Amazon
8Maria Muldaur Cajun Moon Louisiana Love Call Amazon
9J.J. Cale Hey Baby The Very Best of J.J. Cale Amazon
10Widespread Panic Travelin' Light Choice Cuts: The Capricorn Years 1991-1999 Amazon
11Eric Clapton Travelin' Light Reptile Amazon
12Eric Clapton/J.J. Cale Don't Cry Sister The Road to Escondido Amazon
13John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Sensitive Kind A Sense of Place Amazon
14Chris Smither Magnolia Happier Blue Amazon
15Shannon McNally Magnolia Magnolia – Single Amazon
16Tony Joe White Louvelda (feat. J.J. Cale) Collected [CD3] Amazon
17J.J. Cale Rock and Roll Records Okie Amazon
18Eric Clapton After Midnight The Cream of Clapton Amazon
19J.J. Cale Anyway the Wind Blows Okie Amazon
20Kansas Bringing It Back Kansas Amazon
21Eric Clapton/J.J. Cale Danger The Road to Escondido Amazon
22Shannon McNally Low Rider Black Irish Amazon
23J.J. Cale Roll On Roll On Amazon
24Eric Clapton/J.J. Cale Heads in Georgia The Road to Escondido Amazon
25The Tractors The Tractors-Rhythm Bone Trade Union Amazon
26Eric Clapton Magnolia (feat. John Mayer) The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale Amazon

White Powder Muse

Cocaine is one of a few substances that have served as a muse, both in word and effect, in various forms of art throughout history, particularly in the 20th century. Its influence can be found repeatedly in the music industry, peaking in use during the 1980s when it was used by performer and listener as the disco and party-going atmosphere exploded, Contributing to this bacchanal were films depicting its use (and abuse) with plot themes embracing the white powder in storytelling. Cocaine’s impact is predominant in the genres of rock, jazz, and hip-hop and many performers have openly discussed their cocaine use, and its influence can be heard in lyrics, musical styles, and even album artwork. This week’s show looks at this muse with sounds from Margo Price, The Reverend Horton Heat, Lucille Bogan, Fred Neil and a host of others from 1929 to the present.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Roy Hogsed Cocaine Blues Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys Amazon
3Hank Williams III Cocaine Blues Risin' Outlaw Amazon
4Dick Justice Cocaine Old Time Music From West VI : Old-Time Music From West Virgi Amazon
5Carl Martin That New Kind Of Stuff Carl Martin, Tennessee Chocolate Drops, Louie Bluie & Ted Bogan, Willie "61" Blackwell — Complete Recorded Works Amazon
6Lucille Bogan Baking Powder Blues Cocaine Blues Amazon
7Johnny Cash Cocaine Blues Silver Amazon
8Billy Hughes Cocaine Blues Country & Western Hit Parade 1947 Amazon
9Son Volt Cocaine and Ashes American Central Dust Amazon
10The Reverend Horton Heat Bales of Cocaine Holy Roller Amazon
11Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys Cocaine Blues Dance Ranch Amazon
12Miss Marcy & Her Texas Sugardaddy's Whiskey And Cocaine Deep Ellum Amazon
13Grateful Dead Casey Jones Workingman's Dead Amazon
14The Byrds Take A Whiff On Me Untitled / Unissued [Disc 1] Amazon
15Fred Neil Sweet Cocaine The Many Sides Of Fred Neil [Disc 1] Amazon
16Woody Guthrie Take A Whiff On Me Muleskinner Blues (The Asch Recordings, Vol. 2) Amazon
17Woody Guthrie Bad Lee Brown (Cocaine Blues) (traditional, arr. Woody Guthrie and Cisco Houston) Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection [Disc 2] Amazon
18Jackson Browne Cocaine Running On Empty Amazon
19Dave Van Ronk Cocaine Two Sides of Dave Van Ronk Amazon
20Eric Clapton Cocaine Slowhand Amazon
21Margo Price Cocaine Cowboys All American Made Amazon
22Doc & Merle Watson Let the Cocaine Be Live & Pickin' Amazon
23The Manhattan Transfer That Cat Is High Anthology – Down In Birdland (Disc 2) Amazon
24Chick Webb & His Orchestra Wacky Dust Cocaine Blues Amazon
25Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra Kickin' The Gong Around Cocaine Blues Amazon
26Cab Calloway & His Cotton Club Orchestra Kickin' The Gong Around Chronological Cab Calloway (1932-1934) Amazon
27Mills Blue Rhythm Band Kokey Joe Cocaine Blues Amazon
28The Spirits of Rhythm Junk Man Cocaine Blues Amazon
29Curtis Mayfield Pusherman The Very Best Of Curtis Mayfield Amazon
30The Ink Spots That Cat Is High Cocaine Blues Amazon
31Memphis Jug Band Cocaine Habit Blues Cocaine Blues Amazon

Bad Road To The River

It’s been a while since we went free form so today’s show takes our regular breather from genre-focused explorations, theme, retrospectives and artist-inspired shows. There will be all of that found in the mix this morning. Interspersed between some fresh sounds from the likes of Dylan LeBlanc, Charley Crockett, and a newly revealed Johnny Cash nugget, we’ll be sharing everything from Dave Brubeck to Los Indios Tabajaras, Marvin Rainwater, and Johnny Thunder in our show today. From a pair of Memphis Minnie covers, some country classics from Patsy Cline, swinging rhythm from Louis Jordan, and straight-ahead rock from The Doobie Brothers and The Georgia Satellites…it’s a Friday morning full of Duane Eddy tributes and we’ve even got Slim Whitman…just for you on Sonoma County Community Radio, broadcasting on the FM airwaves out of Occidental, California, and streaming to the whole wide world on kowsfm.com/listen. KOWS-LP 92.5 FM is “Free Speech. No Bull” Community Radio.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Duane Eddy Forty Miles Of Bad Road Dance With The Guitar Man Amazon
3Dylan LeBlanc Sensitive Kind Pastimes Amazon
4Down Like Silver To the River Light That Match – Single Amazon
5Johnny Thunder Loop De Loop The Very Best Of Johnny Thunder Amazon
6The Georgia Satellites Almost Saturday Night / Rockin' All Over the World Rubaiyat Elektra's 40th Anniversary [Disc 2] (1990) Amazon
7The Doobie Brothers Long Train Runnin' The Very Best Of The Doobie Brothers [Disc 1] Amazon
8Patsy Cline Got A Lot Of Rhythm In My Soul Volume 3 Amazon
9Linda Martell I Almost Called Your Name (Remastered 2022) Color Me Country (Sun Records 70th / Remastered 2022) Amazon
10Slim Whitman Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain The Absolutely Essential 3 CD Collection  2013 Amazon
11Willie Nelson Made In Texas The Border Amazon
12Duane Eddy Dance With The Guitar Man Dance With The Guitar Man Amazon
13Johnny Cash Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie Come Along And Ride This Train [Disc 2] Amazon
14T Bone Burnett He Came Down The Other Side Amazon
15Charley Crockett Hard Luck & Circumstances $10 Cowboy Amazon
16Jorma Kaukonen Red River Blues Blue Country Heart Amazon
17Jefferson Airplane Embryonic Journey Surrealistic Pillow [Bonus Tracks] Amazon
18The Dave Brubeck Quartet Unsquare Dance Silver Linings Playbook: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Amazon
19Los Indios Tabajaras Always In My Heart Maria Elena/Always In My Heart Amazon
20Ria Valk Santo Domingo (Fernando, Alfredo En Jose) The Wanda Jackson Connection (30 Roots And Covers Of Wanda Jackson) Amazon
21Eileen Barton Fujiyama Mama The Wanda Jackson Connection (30 Roots And Covers Of Wanda Jackson) Amazon
22Marvin Rainwater Baby, Don't Go Whole Lotta Woman Amazon
23Clifton Chenier Me And My Chauffeur King Of The Bayous Amazon
24Louis Jordan Caldonia Living The Blues – Jump Blues & Boogie Amazon
25Jim McCracklin Think Living The Blues – 1965 – 1969 Blues Classics Amazon
26Howlin' Wolf 300 Pounds Of Joy Legends of Guitar – Electric Blues (Vol. 1) Amazon
27Sonny Boy Williamson II One Way Out The Real Folk Blues Amazon
28Jimmy Reed Hush, Hush The Very Best of Jimmy Reed Amazon
29John Lee Hooker It Serves You Right To Suffer The Definitive Collection Amazon
30Johnny Cash Well Alright Songwriter Amazon
31Lydia & Her Melody Strings Just A Queen For A Day The Wanda Jackson Connection (30 Roots And Covers Of Wanda Jackson) Amazon
32Duane Eddy Rebel Rouser Twang Thang: The Duane Eddy Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
33Duane Eddy Ramrod Twang Thang: The Duane Eddy Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon

A Century of America's Music