Category Archives: Featured Music

Let’s Do It!

This week on Deeper Roots, the records come with instructions. From dance crazes and rhythm commands to songs about not knowing what comes next, we’re asking — and answering — ‘Let’s Do It!.’ Two hours of blues, rock ’n’ roll, soul, and jukebox rhythm from the past century, all with a demand that we get our booties moving or our bodies boogie’n. From Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King to The Dovells, Chubby Checker and Rosco Gordon, we’re digging deep with some classic blues and rare soul. But we’ve also got some rockin’, stompin’, rompin’, swingin’ to do with dances like the swim, the twist, the slop, and the boomerang…and we’ve even got Bobby Dunn pleading that we “Do The Bobby Dunn”. Nothing’s off limits and it’s nothing but fun on this week’s show as we explore something thematic that we’re excited to share with you. Whether it’s a party you’re hosting or you’re just out there in the yard prepping for the coming summer, turn it up. That’s right…do it!

No.
1Artist Title Album Year Start At
2The Four Blazes Do The Do Mary Jo 1954 00:00
3Howlin' Wolf Do The Do Muddy & The Wolf 1969 05:13
4Mabel Franklin Let's Do The Wiggle Stompin' 2 1965 07:22
5Lightnin' Hopkins Do The Boogie Lightnin' Sam Hopkins 1962 09:37
6B.B. King Let's Do the Boogie Do the Boogie! B.B. King's Early '50s Classics 1994 14:00
7Rufus Thomas Can Your Monkey Do the Dog The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (3 of 9) 1964 16:23
8Rufus Thomas (Do the) Push and Pull (Part 1) Stax Number Ones 2010 18:44
9Junior Walker & The All Stars Do The Boomerang The Ultimate Collection 1965 27:55
10Sugar Pie DeSanto Do The Whoopie Brunswick Lost Soul – Volume 1 1967 30:13
11Sugar Sweet Do the Dive Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 12] 1963 32:36
12Dee Dee Sharp Do The Bird Girls Of Rock & Roll 0 34:56
13Bobby Dunn Do The Bobby Dunn Rare Soul: Groove & Grind 1963-1973 [Disc 4] 2015 37:08
14The Olympics Baby Do The Philly Dog Northern Soul Originals 1999 40:15
15Jackie Lee Do The Temptation Walk All Nighter Hits 0 47:19
16Dave Baby Cortez Do the Slop Happy Organs Wild Guitars 1994 49:46
17Little Joe Cook Let's Do the Slop Peanuts and Other Delicacies: The Little Joe Cook Story (1951-1962) 1956 52:58
18March Wind Do The Sweetback Stax 50th Anniversary Collection [Disc 3] 1994 55:21
19The Matta Baby Do the Pearl Girl (Part 2) All Night Long: Northern Soul Floor Fillers 2016 58:34
20The 5 Royales Do the Cha Cha Cherry The Complete Singles 1952-1962 1958 1:05:58
21The Hilltoppers Do The Bop Chills & Fever: The Dot Records Story 1955-1962 1955 1:08:10
22Isaac Clark Do The Dog Funk Rare Soul: Groove & Grind 1963-1973 [Disc 4] 2015 1:10:16
23Rosco Gordon Do The Chicken (Dance With You) Rockin' Memphis [Disc 1] 1956 1:13:14
24The Isley Brothers Do The Twist [Remastered 1991] Complete United Artists Sessions 1963 1:15:45
25The Staple Singers Do The Cissy [Stingers] The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles Vol. 2: 1968-1971 [Disc 2] 1969 1:18:27
26The Meters Do The Dirt Cabbage Alley 1972 1:21:12
27Bill Doggett Lets Do The Continetal New Discgems From Warner Brothers 1961 1:27:21
28The Dovells Do the New Continental Cameo Parkway 1957-1967 Disc 2 2005 1:30:00
29Fox Hall Do The Rock And Roll Sugar Jump 2019 1:32:36
30Johnny Thunder Everybody Do The Sloopy The Very Best Of Johnny Thunder 1965 1:35:11
31Bobby Freeman (I Do The) Shimmy Shimmy American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 1960 1:37:49
32Gary U.S. Bonds Do The Bumpsie Gary U.S Bonds – 30 Original Greatest Hits 1965 1:40:19
33Chubby Checker Do The Freddy Classic Rock 1965 1965 1:42:43
34Little Bobby Moore Do The Ginger Snap The King Records Story Part2 1962 1:44:56
35Randy & the Rockets Lets Do the Cajun Twist Swamp Gold Volume 1 1991 1:47:33
36Dee Dee Sharp Mashed Potato Time Rare Soul: Groove & Grind 1963-1973 [Disc 4] 1967 1:54:15
37Chubby Checker Let's Twist Again Oldies But Goodies 2022 1:56:44


Twisted Country Tales

We’re taking an encore spin this morning…going back to a show first broadcast as “Country Leftovers” in late 2019. But it deserved a better name “…and I fell asleep with a troubled dream and dreamed I road on the hellbound train.” Just one line from one track from our Friday morning Deeper Roots show which focuses on some country songs ‘from the edge’. An eclectic blend of sometimes morose and other times kitschy stories of mid-century country singers looking for the next “Big Bad John” with stories of engine mishaps, disturbances of mind and relationships, and the general consensus of lyrical country that ‘the world is a monster’. Hillbillies, rabble rousers, and would-be crooners give us those tormented testimonies of country music. Join us for a very unusual collection of sounds from the archives of the fifties and sixties, when country blossomed; the songs we’ll feature had a hard time cracking the Top 100 because the stories told are ‘out there’, even for country music.

No.
1Artist Title Album Year Start At
2Dick Flood Hellbound Train Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 0 00:00
3Bill Anderson Goodbye Cruel World Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1961 06:53
4Rocky Porter The World Is A Monster The World Is A Monster 0 09:47
5Johnny Tyler God's Gonna Turn Us To Dust Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1957 12:05
6Buck Ritchey The Slave Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1968 14:10
7Anita Carter Satan's Child Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1963 21:03
8Art Kilmer & The Up-Town Four The Devil's Twist Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1964 23:57
9Roy And Georgia And The SO And SO's Devil Get Away From Me Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Rapture 1966 25:57
10David Ingles (Satan Has Been) Paralyzed Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1977 28:43
11Jimmy Minor Satan's Chauffeur Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1960 31:06
12Steve Bledsoe Bang Bang You're Dead Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1971 37:26
13The Looper Trio Life Beyond Death Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Rapture 1970 39:51
14Danny Dill The Eyes Of Death The Hangman's Blues: Prison Songs In Country Music (1956-1972) 1960 42:00
15Faron Young Live Fast Love Hard Die Young 1953-1956 (Warped 5455) 2012 44:30
16Autry Inman Six Rounds Of Love And Hate Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1964 46:47
17Johnny Price Marijuana The Devil Flower Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1969 55:52
18Don Bowman Spanish Weed 1967 (Warped 6706) 1967 58:32
19Wendell Austin (And The Country Swings) LSD Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1968 1:00:38
20Bud Freeman & The Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Please Tell The World (A Message From The Grave) Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1970 1:02:58
21Travelin' Texans Beating On The Bars Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wastelands Volume 2 0 1:03:52
22Red River Dave California Hippie Murders Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1970 1:05:40
23Mel Tillis Loco Weed (Single Version) The Best of Mel Tillis 1990 1:07:49
24Olin Bingham They Wouldn't Listen To A Kid Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1971 1:16:58
25Jack Cook My Evil Mind Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wastelands Volume 1 0 1:20:08
26Ray Sanders Graveyard Dance Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1966 1:22:16
27Bill Carter Shot Four Times And Dyin' Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wastelands Volume 2 0 1:23:58
28Len Barrow Hades Highway Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 0 1:32:50
29Don Bailey Fourteen Stories Down Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1966 1:35:10
30Charlie Gore Sin City Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1968 1:38:00
31Eddie Noack Ain't The Reaping Ever Done Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1973 1:41:09
32Eddie Noack Before You Use That Gun Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1973 1:43:54
33Johnny Bond & His Red River Valley Boys All I Can Do Is Cry The World Is A Monster 0 1:46:21
34Troy Hess Please Don't Go Topless Mother Hillbillies in Hell 1972 1:46:21
35Jimmy Dean Big Bad John (Uncensored Version) Best of Answer Songs vol 3 1961 1:53:05
36Wanda Jackson Jesus Put A Yodel In My Soul Hillbillies in Hell 1974 1:56:01

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

Trouble In Mind

Get ready for a deep dive into the last 100 years of America’s musical DNA. This week’s Deeper Roots is a ‘romp’ in the truest sense—a free form show celebrating the winsome, the lonesome, and everything in between. We’ve got a heavy-hitting lineup including Etta James, Jimmie Davis, and Billie Holiday, spanning the full spectrum of gospel, country, blues, and jazz. Dave’s been digging through the “digital crates” of the past century to bring you two hours of essential, sometimes irreverent, always authentic sounds. Whether the selections are wholesome or a bit rowdy, this episode runs the full gamut of the American songbook. Pull up a chair at the Deeper Roots dining hall this Friday morning on KOWS Community Radio—there is plenty of soul to go around.

No.
1Artist Title Album Year Start At
2Sister Rosetta Tharpe Trouble In My Mind Gospel Blues – the Very Best Of 2008 00:00
3Louis Armstrong Nobody Knows De Trouble I've Seen Louis And The Good Book 1938 05:34
4Sam Cooke Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen The Man Who Invented Soul [Box Set] (4 of 4) 1963 08:34
5The Whitstein Brothers I'm Troubled Old Time Duets 1989 12:04
6Sam Cooke And The Soul Stirrers I'm So Glad (Trouble Don't Last Always) The Complete Specialty Recordings [Disc 2] 1955 14:42
7The Harlem Hamfats I'm In So Much Trouble Now Harlem Hamfats Vol. 3 1937-1938 2005 17:53
8Fats Domino Bad Luck and Trouble Fats Domino Out of New Orleans 1961 26:02
9Mavis Staples Levon Helm Trouble In My Mind Carry Me Home 2022 28:38
10Lee Hazlewood Trouble Is A Lonesome Town 400 Miles From L.A. 1955-56 1956 33:33
11Kay Starr I'm The Lonesomest Gal In Town Capitol Collectors Series 1947 35:47
12The Modernaires It's A Lonesome Old Town (When You're Not Around) The Complete Modernaires On Columbia Vol 2 (1946-1947) 1947 38:30
13Jimmie Davis Louisiana Hayride Intro At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight (Disc 9) 2017 46:03
14Jimmie Davis Pi-Rootin' Around Nobody's Darlin' But Mine: 1928-1937 1937 47:13
15Scott Miller & the Commonwealth Drunk All Around This Town Reconstruction 2007 49:57
16Wayne Hancock Life's Lonesome Road A-Town Blues 2001 52:32
17Rick Nelson Lonesome Town (Unreleased) Legacy [Disc 1] 1958 54:08
18Happy Valley Boys Homecoming Time In Happy Valley Classic Field Recordings 1940 1:01:08
19Tom T. Hall Homecoming (Single Version) The Definitive Collection: Tom T. Hall 2006 1:03:54
20Josh Ritter Homecoming Sermon on the Rocks 2015 1:07:00
21Bob Dylan & The Band Kickin' My Dog Around The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 2014 1:12:19
22Gid Tanner & The Skillet Lickers Ya Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Aroun' Various Artists: Bob Dylan – Cover To Cover – The Originals VOL. 2 [Disc 2] 1926 1:15:00
23Leon Chappel (I'm A) Long Gone Doggie Automatic Mama 1951 1:17:42
24Betty Hall Jones This Joint's Too Hip For Me Jumpin' Like Mad: Cool Cats & Hip Chicks Non-Stop Dancin' [Disc 1] 1949 1:25:17
25Julia Lee Tell Me Daddy The Essential Julia Lee Vol 1 1948 1:27:47
26Mabel Scott Wailin' Daddy Rhythm'n'blues Nasty 2005 1:30:34
27Etta James Tell Mama Blues Classics '27_'69 [Disc 3] 1967 1:33:17
28The Shangri-Las I'm Blue Myrmidons of Melodrama 1965 1:35:34
29Willy DeVille I'm Blue So Blue Unplugged in Berlin 2011 1:38:58
30Dan Penn Blues Of The Month Club Smoke Filled Room 2026 1:42:52
31Willie Nelson Am I Blue Nite Life: Greatest Hits & Rare Tracks (1959-1971) 1964 1:47:26
32Billie Holiday Am I Blue? The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 9 (1940 – 1942) 1941 1:53:54
33Julie London I Must Have That Man! Wild Cool and Swingin' 1999 1:56:40

Country Shed Shakers

This week’s show peels back the velvet curtain of the Golden Age of Country music and introduces some lower chart shed shakers from the outskirts of Nashville. While the charts were full of polished crooners and weeping violins, there was a different sound brewing in and around the perimeter—a raw, frantic energy that didn’t belong in a ballroom. These are the tracks that blurred the line between the honky-tonk and the garage. We’ll deliver the distorted side of that golden age with some familiar names (Buck Owens, Jerry Reed, Johnny Bond) and some of those who were lost to those dusty Ernest Tubb Record Shop dollar bins (Eddie Zack, Jimmy Swan, Benny Barnes), all  in a package meant to get those fingers poppin’. Hope you can join us for some gritty, low-fi country vibes.

No.
1Artist Title Album
2Luke Wills' Rhythm Busters Shut Up And Drink Your Beer Stompin' Singers & Western Swingers ([Disc 3] It Ain't Far To The Bar)
3Luke Wills' Rhythm Busters High Voltage Gal Stompin' Singers & Western Swingers ([Disc 3] It Ain't Far To The Bar)
4Sheb Wooley Mule Boogie Country & Western Nuggets
5Smokey Hogg And His Guitar Crawdad Rhythm & Western Volume 1 – When Two Worlds Collide
6Billy Strange Hell Train Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974)
7Hawkshaw Hawkins Waitin' for My Baby Country & Western Nuggets
8Bobby Lord No More No More No More Country & Western Nuggets
9Buck Owens Hot Dog Bound for Bakersfield 1953-56
10Wanda Jackson Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad Queen Of Rockabilly
11The Hurricanes Pistol Packin' Mama Rhythm & Western Volume 1 – When Two Worlds Collide
12Johnny Bond Somebody's Pushin' Put Me To Bed
13Jerry Reed When I Found You Country & Western Nuggets
14Jerry Reed Mister Whizz Country & Western Nuggets
15Eddie Zack I?m Gonna Roll and Rock Country & Western Nuggets
16Jimmy Murphy Sixteen Tons Rock `n? Roll Country & Western Nuggets
17Jimmy Swan Country Cattin? Country & Western Nuggets
18Johnny Bond Lonesome Train Put Me To Bed
19Skeets McDonald I Got A New Field To Plow Skeets McDonald – One Classic Album & Singles Collection
20Dusty Payne My Walkin' Shoes The Other Side of Bakersfield Vol. 2; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West'
21The Farmer Boys Somehow Someway Someday The Other Side of Bakersfield
22Billy Walker I've Got Leavin' On My Mind Whirlpool – Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight
23Jimmie Peters Rhythm of Love Country & Western Nuggets
24Titus Turner A Knockin' At My Baby's Door Rhythm & Western Volume 1 – When Two Worlds Collide
25Dave Rich Tuggin? At My Heart Strings Country & Western Nuggets
26Freddie Hart Heaven Only Knows Country & Western Nuggets
27Faron Young Honey Stop Country & Western Nuggets
28Benny Barnes King for a Day Country & Western Nuggets
29Ferlin Husky Wang Dang Do Country & Western Nuggets
30Little Jimmy Dickens Hey Ma (Hide the Daughter) Country & Western Nuggets
31Dave Rich Burn On Love Fire Country & Western Nuggets
32Lee Bonds Home Coming Country & Western Nuggets
33Johnny David Race With The Devil Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974)
34Steve Bledsoe Bang Bang You're Dead Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter
35Jimmie Pearson And The Melody Makers Nobody Cares Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter
36Cowboy Copas Bury Me Face Down Hillbillies in Hell Country Music?s Tormented Testament Volume 5
37Black Jack Wayne Red Silk Stockings and Green Perfume Country & Western Nuggets
38Mel Tillis You Are The Reason Country & Western Nuggets
39Rink Hardin What Did I Do Country & Western Nuggets
40Wynn Stewart Big Big Love Country & Western Nuggets

King Cole Covers

Nat King Cole’s transition from a respected jazz pianist to a mainstream icon was a perfect storm of technical brilliance, a groundbreaking vocal style, and a persona that radiated “suave sophistication.” While jazz purists sometimes lamented his move toward pop, it was his ability to blend jazz’s complexity with pop’s accessibility that made him a household name. He delivered hit after hit with a penchant for candidates (or entries from) the Great American Songbook. With this in mind, we’ll take this week’s show in an direction that honors the songs he became most famous for…from Bobby Troup’s Route 66 to Billy Strayhorn’s Lush Life…covered by others including some rocking tributes, some ballads in the style of country and bluesy soul numbers from Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke. We don’t stop there.  Join Dave Stroud for another celebration from a hundred years of America’s music

No.
1Artist Title Album
2Tiny Bradshaw Straighten Up and Fly Right Breaking Up the House [Disc 1]
3The Andrews Sisters Straighten Up and Fly Right Golden Age of the Andrews Sisters [Disc 1]
4Oscar Brown Jr. Straighten Up And Fly Right [Album Version] Sin & Soul… And Then Some
5Bobby Darin Nature Boy As Long As I'm Singing: The Bobby Darin Collection [Disc 2]
6Aaron Neville Nature Boy Nature Boy: The Standards Album
7Madeleine Peyroux Smile Half The Perfect World
8Jimmy Durante Smile As Time Goes By: Best of
9Chuck Berry Route 66 Cars
10Asleep at the Wheel Route 66 The Best of Asleep at the Wheel
11Wayne Newton L-O-V-E Wild Cool & Swingin'
12Natalie Cole L-O-V-E Unforgettable: With Love
13Charley Pride Ramblin' Rose 20 Classics
14Slim Whitman Ramblin' Rose All-Time Greatest Hits Vol 2
15Raul Malo Ramblin' Rose Quarantunes
16Brenda Lee Pretend This Is Brenda
17Carl Mann Pretend The Forgotten 45s 1957-1959 (CD3)
18Dinah Washington Unforgettable Jazz 'Round Midnight: Dinah Washington
19Peggy Lee Unforgettable Peggy Lee – The Marvelous Miss Lee
20Jimmy Wakely Mona Lisa The Collection 1940-53 CD2
21Carl Mann Mona Lisa Where Rock Was Born
22The Neville Brothers Mona Lisa Fiyo on the Bayou
23Marvin Gaye Too Young Ballads
24Frankie Laine Too Young I Hear Music
25Linda Ronstadt Lush Life Round Midnight [Disc 2]
26Sammy Davis Jr. Lush Life I've Gotta Be Me: The Best Of Sammy Davis Jr.
27Little Joe Cook I Love You for Sentimental Reasons Peanuts and Other Delicacies: The Little Joe Cook Story (1951-1962)
28Sam Cooke (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons Greatest Hits
29Raul Malo (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons The Nashville Acoustic Sessions
30Ray Noble The Very Thought of You Love Is the Sweetest Thing(Disc 2)
31Nancy Wilson The Very Thought Of You Lady Sings The Blues [Disc 1]
32Leon Redbone Sweet Lorraine Any Time
33Frank Sinatra Sweet Lorraine Reprise Collection [Disc 4]
34Nat King Cole The Frim Fram Sauce Jumpin' Like Mad: Cool Cats & Hip Chicks Non-Stop Dancin' [Disc 1]
35Nat King Cole Paradise The Very Thought Of You