Category Archives: Blues

Havin’ a Blast!

It’s finger poppin’ time…time to have a blast with some breakout party rockers from the mid-century.  All for a good time with soul and roll and rhythm as the main course in today’s show. It’s all about those percussive rocking beats. Call it a party full of boogie, mojo, twistin’ and shaking. We’ve lit the fuse for a dynamite celebration of rebellious rock and cool upbeat soul rhythms with the music of Freddy Cannon, The Swingin’ Medallions, The Showstoppers and Ann Cole with an out of control party mix…just in time for our first show of May. KOWS Community Radio brings the fresh sounds of today, yesterday and tomorrow 24/7, with the very best of political and community discourse. You can tune us in on 92.5 FM in West Sonoma County or just drop by our stream on your Radio Rethink app, Alexa, Radio Garden, Tunein, or Radio Box. We’re here for you and Deeper Roots will be pitching a wang dang doodle this coming Friday morning here on member-supported radio for planet Earth.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2The Isley Brothers Shout (Part One) Motor City Soul Amazon
3Wanda Jackson Let's Have a Party Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 2 Amazon
4Ray Charles Mess Around Atlantic Rock & Roll Amazon
5The Swingin' Medallions Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) Nuggets Sampler 1965-1968 Amazon
6The Strangeloves I Want Candy Dick Van Dyke's Dance Party Amazon
7Claudine Clark Party Lights The Best Of The Girl Groups, Vol. 1 Amazon
8Martha & The Vandellas Mickey's Monkey Dance Party Amazon
9Hank Ballard & the Midnighters Finger Poppin' Time Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 1 Amazon
10Johnnie Morisette Meet Me At The Twistin' Place The Forgotten 45's 1960-1962 Amazon
11Chubby Checker Dancin' Party Chubby Checker (Mr Twister) Amazon
12Chubby Checker The Twist Billboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1960 Amazon
13Sam Cooke Twistin' the Night Away The Man Who Invented Soul [Box Set] (2 of 4) Amazon
14Dave Edmunds Do You Wanna Dance Porky's Revenge! [Expanded] Amazon
15The Contours Do You Love Me Dick Van Dyke's Dance Party Amazon
16Jerry Lee Lewis Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 1 Amazon
17Matchbox Rockabilly Rebel Rockabilly Rebel Amazon
18Freddy Cannon Buzz Buzz A Diddle It His Latest And Greatest Amazon
19Tommy James & the Shondells Mony Mony The Very Best of Tommy James & the Shondells Amazon
20Louis Jordan Choo Choo Ch'Boogie Number Ones Amazon
21The Showstoppers Ain't Nothing But A House Party Ultimate Northern Soul – The Classics Amazon
22Ann Cole Got My Mojo Workin' (But It Just Won't Work On You) Blues Masters Vol. 6 – Blues Originals Amazon
23Koko Taylor Wang Dang Doodle Blues Classics '27_'69 [Disc 3] Amazon
24The Champs Tequilla Dick Van Dyke's Dance Party Amazon
25Tarheel Slim Number Nine Train Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 4 Amazon
26Chan Romero The Hippy Hippy Shake Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 2 Amazon
27Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs Wooly Bully Memphis Celebrates 50 Years Of Rock 'n' Roll Amazon
28Arthur Conley Sweet Soul Music Billboard Top Pop Hits: 1967 Amazon
29Link Wray/Robert Gordon Summertime Blues Robert Gordon with Link Wray/Fresh Fish Specials Amazon
30Johnny Kidd Shakin' All Over Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 2 Amazon
31The Kingsmen Louie Louie In Person ('64) Amazon
32Nick Todd At The Hop Chills & Fever: The Dot Records Story 1955-1962 Amazon
33The Isley Brothers Twist And Shout Dick Van Dyke's Dance Party Amazon
34Little Richard Good Golly Miss Molly Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 4 Amazon
35Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps Cruisin' Destination Freeway Amazon
36Elvis Presley Party 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong: Elvis' Gold Records – Volume 2 Amazon
37Wanda Jackson Man, We Had A Party Queen Of Rockabilly Amazon
38Tommy Tutone 867-5309/Jenny Party Starter: 80s Mix Amazon
39The Marcels Blue Moon Doo Wop Love Songs Amazon

Get On Board

From a song about dirty little religions to a song about Joanie the Jehovah Witness Stripper, we’ll be going all out from up and down with genre celebrations from the past century where music reflects the inspiration from church on Sunday mornings following the barroom sinners of Saturday night. This week’s Deeper Roots takes a bit of a free form shuffle featuring Bo Diddley, The Ramones, Johnny Mercer, and a whole host of rhythm makers. Performances this morning will span some covers from Chris Smither, David Lindley and an answer song from Barbara Lewis. KOWS radio wants to thank all of you who came out to the Comedy fundraiser at Barrel Proof Lounge last week. It was a great success for us and also a validation of community radio here in the North Bay. KOWS is free form, free speech, no bull community radio; just the kind of thing we need in a country gone mad with lies, deceit and hate. There is always hope. Tune into your radio voice, any time of the day or night. We’ll always welcome you.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Martha and the Vandellas Quicksand The Motown Sound Vol. 1 Amazon
3Faye Adams Witness To The Crime (Herald 470) R&B Humdingers Volume 11 Amazon
4Warren Zevon Dirty Little Religion Life'll Kill Ya Amazon
5Paul Thorn Joanie The Jehovah Witness Stripper Hammer & Nail Live Amazon
6Marvin Gaye Can I Get A Witness I'll Take You There Amazon
7Alphabetical Four Get On Board, Little Children Complete Recorded Works 1938-1943 Amazon
8Tiny Mayberry Oh That Nasty Man (Take A) Vol. 2-Vocal Blues & Jazz Amazon
9Johnny Mercer Small Fry With Victor Young's Small Fryers Bing Crosby And Friends Amazon
10The Golden Gate Quartet Dipsy Doodle Travelin' Shoes Amazon
11Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five Keep A Knockin' But You Can't Come In Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five / 1938 – 1940 Amazon
12Little Richard Keep A Knockin' The Absolutely Essential 3 CD Collection Amazon
13Chris Smither Maybellene Call Me Lucky Amazon
14Chuck Berry Maybellene Roots Of Rock & Roll – Rough And Rowdy [Disc 10] Amazon
15David Lindley Mercury Blues El Rayo-X Amazon
16K.C. Douglas Mercury Blues Classic Blues From Smithsonian Folkways Amazon
17Violet Hall Six Foot Papa (I'm A Whole Lot Of Woman) The Mercury Blues Story (1945-1955) – Southwest Blues, Vol. 2 Amazon
18Big Maybelle So Good To My Baby The Complete OKeh Sessions 1952-'55 Amazon
19George Thorogood Bo Diddley 2120 South Michigan Avenue Amazon
20Bo Diddley Don't Let It Go (Hold On To What You Got) The Chess Box [Disc 1] Amazon
21Sam & Dave Hold On! I'm a Comin' The Very Best of Sam & Dave Amazon
22Sam Cooke Bring It On Home To Me Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964 Amazon
23Barbara Lewis I'll Bring It Back Home To You Don't Forget About Me: The Atlantic & Reprise Recordings Amazon
24Jack Nitzsche The Lonely Surfer Teen Beat 5 Amazon
25Mink Deville Just Your Friends The Mink De Ville Collection Amazon
26The Ramones Needles & Pins [Single Version][Version] Ramones Mania Amazon
27The Books Feat. Jose Gonzalez Cello Song Dark Was The Night: A Red Hot Compilation [Disc 1] Amazon
28T-Bone Burnett House Of Mirrors Twenty Twenty: The Esssential T-Bone Burnett Disc 2 Amazon
29Lorne Greene Ringo Nipper's Greatest Hits: The 60's. Vol. 2 Amazon
30Marty Robbins The Hanging Tree The Essential Marty Robbins: 1951-1982 Amazon
31Dickson Hall Cowboy My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
32Johnny Cash The Rebel – Johnny Yuma The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983 Disc 2 Amazon
33Louis Prima Banana Split for My Baby Banana Split for My Baby Amazon
34The Allman Brothers Band Jessica [Single Edit] Stand Back: The Anthology Disc 2 Amazon

Also Rans 1960 Pt. 2

The downstream wave of sounds that flooded the charts seemed endless in the year 1960. As was exhibited in last week’s Deeper Roots exhibition of ‘also rans’ from that year, it was a very, very crowded field. That field was spread far and wide across genres and levels of production, songwriting and performance quality. We take on that same strata this week in the show. More teen crushes, tragedies, soulful exchanges and instrumentals that bore earworms galore. That’s what we’ve got in store with performances from Fats to Jackie, Smokey to Etta, the Burnette Brothers and Ricky, Dean Martin, Freddie King and Linda Laurie…all giving it their all and doing their very best to crawl to the top of their respective charts. We’re getting ready for a wild Sunday night here in Santa Rosa, celebrating KOWS Community Radio at the Barrel Proof Lounge in downtown Santa Rosa. Hope you can make today’s Deeper Roots show and Sunday’s benefit!

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Little Junior Parker Driving Wheel Feelin' Good. The 1952-1962 Recordings Amazon
3Jackie Wilson Doggin' Around American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 Amazon
4Rosie & The Originals Angel Baby Malt Shop Memories – Top Down Convertible Sound ( Disc 1) Amazon
5Jessie Hill Ooh Poo Pah Doo Pt 1 The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 5] Amazon
6Fats Domino Walking To New Orleans A Lot Of Dominos Amazon
7The Shirelles Will You Love Me Tomorrow The Brill Building Sound Disc 1 Amazon
8Ray Peterson Tell Laura I Love Her Memories: Jukebox Gems (Disc 1 Amazon
9The Browns The Old Lamplighter Nipper's Greatest Hits: The 60's. Vol. 2 Amazon
10The Platters Harbor Lights All-Time Greatest Hits Amazon
11Johnny Burnette Dreamin' 25 Greatest Hits Amazon
12Dorsey Burnette Hey Little One American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 Amazon
13Rick Nelson Young Emotions Greatest Love Songs Amazon
14Etta James A Sunday Kind Of Love Book Of Love: The Argo Records Story 1956-1962 Amazon
15Jimmy Jones Good Timin' We Love Pirate Radio – 60s Favourites Amazon
16Kathy Young & The Innocents A Thousand Stars Memories: Jukebox Gems (Disc 1) Amazon
17Roy Orbison Blue Angel The Monument Singles: A-Sides (1960 – 1964) [Disc 1] Amazon
18The Smoothies Softly I Got A Woman : Gems From The Decca Vaults [Disc 3] Amazon
19The Miracles Shop Around The 35th Anniversary Collection Amazon
20Hayley Mills Let's Get Together Classic Disney, Vol. I: 60 Years Of Musical Magic Amazon
21Dean Martin Ain't That A Kick In The Head The Best Of The Rat Pack Amazon
22Jayne Mansfield Too Hot To Handle Bombshells Amazon
23The Videls Mister Lonely The Forgotten 45's 1960-1962 Amazon
24Peggy Lee I Love Being Here With You [Remastered] The Best Of The Singles Collection Amazon
25Linda Lawson Like Young Bombshells Amazon
26Floyd Cramer Last Date Nipper's Greatest Hits: The 60's, Vol. 1 Amazon
27Dinah Washington This Bitter Earth American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 Amazon
28Ronnie Love Chills And Fever 100 Northern Soul Classics Amazon
29Nick Perito The Green Leaves Of Summer (Album Version) Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds Motion Picture Soundtrack Amazon
30Tennessee Ernie Ford Sixteen Tons Magic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 3) Amazon
31Hank Locklin Please Help Me, I'm Falling Classic Country Amazon
32Jim Reeves Billy Bayou Country Roads – Ralph Emery Presents – For The Good Times Amazon
33Jack Scott Cool Water Destination Summer Sea Cruise: 33 Ocean Steamers For Your Vacation Amazon
34Marty Robbins Song Of The Bandit The Complete Recordings 1952-1960 Amazon
35Duane Eddy CD 1 Because They're Young Twang Thang: The Duane Eddy Anthology (Disc 1) Amazon
36The Drifters This Magic Moment All-Time Greatest Hits & More 1959-1965 [Bonus Tracks] [Disc 1] Amazon
37Henry Mancini Lujon Best Of Amazon


Also Rans 1960 Pt. 1

We’re at it again! Excavations below the crust of some pretty simple-minded teenage pap that seemed to occupy the Billboard Top 100 in the year 1960. Marketers had found the right blend of country, rhythm, pop, sentimentality and rock and this led to a churning out of as much and as they could as fast was possible. The result was a mixed bag: quantity over quality in most cases. We call it spit-balling these days. We’ll dig into the substrate of popular music that did not make the Top 40, and in some cases, the Top 100. We’ll hear from Wanda Jackson, Billy Bland, Donnie Brooks, Johnny Preston, Esther Phillips, and a few dozen others in this week’s show. Not withstanding what we do here, we have to consistently remind ourselves of the classic Tony Soprano quote: “’Remember when’ is the lowest form of conversation.” So, we’re mining for the ones we don’t necessarily remember. And the big news? It’s a rare two-parts-over-two-weeks extravaganza. Hope you can join in!

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2John D Loudermilk Tobacco Road You Heard It Here First! Amazon
3Wanda Jackson Dona'a Wan'a Rockin' With Wanda [US Bonus Tracks] Amazon
4Peter Sellers & Sophie Loren Goodness Gracious Me The Greatest Novelty Songs, Disc 3 Amazon
5The Flares Hotcha Cha-Cha Brown Foot Stompin' Amazon
6Sugar Pie DeSanto I Want to Know 100 Northern Soul Classics Amazon
7Ruth Brown with Howard Biggs Orchestra Takin' Care Of Business Wail Man Wail!: The Best Of King Curtis 1952-1961 (Disc 3) Amazon
8Billy Bland Let The Little Girl Dance The Rock 'n' Roll Era: 1960 Amazon
9Larry Hall Sandy The Forgotten 45's 1960-1962 Amazon
10Varetta Dillard A Little Bitty Tear Rhythm & Western Volume 4 – I Hang My Head and Cry Amazon
11Hank Ballard & The Midnighters Finger Poppin' Time American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 Amazon
12Earl King Come On, Pt. 1 Living The Blues: Blues Classics 1960-1964 Amazon
13Ernie K-Doe A Certain Girl The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 5] Amazon
14Skip & Flip Cherry Pie (1960 #11) Greatest Hit Singles Collection Amazon
15Donnie Brooks Mission Bell The Teen Years Collection: Volume 1- Dream Lover [Disc 2] Amazon
16Manos Hadjidakis Main Title: Never On Sunday Never On Sunday Amazon
17The Mark II Night Theme Banana Split for My Baby Amazon
18The String-A-Longs Wheels Rock Instrumental Classics, Vol. 2 Amazon
19The Piltdown Men Brontosaurus Stomp American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 Amazon
20Esther Phillips Wild Child The Great American Soul Book Chapter 1: Any Way You Wanta! Amazon
21Brenda Lee That's All You Gotta Do The Brenda Lee Story: Her Grea Amazon
22Eddie Cochran C'mon Everybody Eddie Cochran: 2 Classic Albums Plus Singles And Session Tracks [Disc 1] Amazon
23Duane Eddy Peter Gunn Twang Thang: The Duane Eddy Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
24Joe Jones You Talk Too Much Pure R&B: Vol. 4- Whatd I Say [Disc 1] Amazon
25Ral Donner The Girl Of My Best Friend War Paint – The Gone Records Story Amazon
26The Everly Brothers When Will I Be Loved The Complete Cadence Recordings 1957-1960 Disc 2 Amazon
27Johnny Preston Cradle Of Love Running Bear Amazon
28Little Willie John Sleep Little Willie John: All 15 of His Chart Hits from 1953-1962 Amazon
29Paul Evans Happy-Go-Lucky-Me American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 Amazon
30The Safaris Image of a Girl Teen Ballads Amazon
31Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs Stay Pure R&B: Vol. 4- Whatd I Say [Disc 2] Amazon
32Sam Cooke Wonderful World Greatest Hits Amazon
33Dinah Washington & Brook Benton A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around & Fall In Love) First Issue: The Dinah Washington Story [Disc 2] Amazon
34Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks Hey Boba Lou The Best of Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks Amazon
35Bobby Vee Devil Or Angel Malt Shop Memories – Top Down Convertible Sound ( Disc 1) Amazon
36Neil Sedaka Stairway To Heaven The Brill Building Sound Disc 1 Amazon
37Roger Miller In The Summertime (You Don't Want My Love) Super Hits Amazon

Echoes of Blues Greats

There’s an echo in the well of Americana and it reverberates from tradition and some of the early songsmiths and blues masters who delivered the blues proper through the depths of the past century of America’s music. We’ll be pulling some of the classic blues covers of songs composed by just a small collection of the great blues masters: Charley Patton, Muddy Waters, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lonnie Johnson, Blind Blake and beyond in this week’s episode. There is seldom enough time to make a dent in only two hours but we’ll do our best with covers from some of the inheritors like BB King, Carl Perkins, Bob Dylan, Jorma Kaukonen and a couple dozen others. We’re excavating some deeper roots this week and then tilling the airwaves with freshly turned songs of the earth; a landscape of blues cutting a deep swath across the musical landscape of the past 100 years. Celebrating blues and those who brought it home this week on KOWS Community Radio.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Graham Parker Poor Me Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
3Rising Sons By And By (Poor Me) [Album Version] Rising Sons Amazon
4Charlie Musselwhite Pea Vine Blues Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
5Jorma Kaukonen & Tom Hobson Police Dog Blues Quah [Bonus Tracks] Amazon
6Jimmie Dale Gilmore Black Snake Moan Braver Newer World Amazon
7Bo Diddley Diddy Wah Diddy Bo Knows Bo Amazon
8Bob Dylan See That My Grave Is Kept Clean Bob Dylan Amazon
9Andy Fairweather Low Matchbox The Invisible Bluesman Amazon
10Carl Perkins Matchbox Dixie Fried Amazon
11Sam Price and his Texas Blusic Match Box Blues 1929-1941 Amazon
12B.B. King Tomorrow Night Reflections Amazon
13Lonnie Johnson, John Hughes, Roy Coulter Tomorrow Night Tomorrow Night Amazon
14John Sebastian I Found A Dream – (Live At Winterland) Faithful Virtue: The Reprise Recordings – Faithful Virtue: The Reprise Recordings [Disc 3] Amazon
15Lonnie Johnson I Found A Dream Blues & Ballads (With Elmer Snowden) (Reissued 1990) Amazon
16Ramblin' Jack Elliott Rambler's Blues A Stranger Here Amazon
17Elmore James Call It Stormy Monday Greatest Blues Legends Amazon
18Roomful of Blues I Know Your Wig Is Gone That's Right Amazon
19Boz Scaggs T-Bone Shuffle Come On Home Amazon
20Peter Wolf Rollin' & Tumblin' A Tribute To Muddy Waters – King Of The Blues Amazon
21Shannon McNally The Stuff You Gotta Watch Black Irish Amazon
22Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Cross My Heart Chess Blues Guitar / Two Decades Of Killer Fretwork, 1949-1969 Amazon
23Johnny Winter Help Me The Progressive Blues Experiment Amazon
24Dr. John/John Hammond, Jr./Michael Bloomfield Last Night Triumvirate Amazon
25Tommy Castro And The Painkillers Bad Luck Method To My Madness Amazon
26Dinah Washington Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? Verve Unmixed Amazon
27Louis Jordan Caldonia Number Ones Amazon
28B.B. King Jack, You're Dead! Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan Amazon
29Muddy Waters Don't Go No Farther His Best, 1956 To 1964 Amazon
30Muddy Waters Got My Mojo Working Chess Blues Disc 3 Amazon
31Muddy Waters The Same Thing The Definitive Collection Amazon
32Big Daddy Wilson Couldn't Keep It to Myself Deep in My Soul Amazon

Over The Hill

While we often touch on the contemporary songs of our own and subsequent generations in the show, we also like to drill into the performers and sounds that contributed to our musical heritage. The foundation of America’s music is not just a single flavor. It is a melting pot of many from all corners: the British Isles, the African continent, the islands of the Caribbean, and points south and north. The resulting harmonies, topics, and musical celebrations have further woven themselves into the fabric of our culture. This week’s show leans on some pieces that were suggested by a listener and this allowed me to take liberties when digging a bit deeper for the show. We’ll hear from Pete Seeger, The Million Dollar Quartet, Buck Owens, Alison Krauss and Mississippi Fred McDowell. We’ll also take in the American Songbag’s In The Pines and then proceed down the river and over the hill in the show this week.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives 99-1/2 Won't Do [Live] The Gospel Music Of Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives [Live] Amazon
3Annie Mae & Fred McDowell I'm Going Over The Hill The Essential Guide To Gospel Amazon
4Stringbean Going Over the Hill Layin' Low Amazon
5John Martyn Over the Hill Couldn't Love You More Amazon
6Mahalia Jackson Just Over the Hill Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting with Mahalia Jackson Amazon
7Buck Owens Goin' Down To The River Buck Owens Four Classic Albums [Disc 4] Amazon
8Alison Krauss Down To The River To Pray Oxford American Southern Sampler 2000 Amazon
9Ray Charles I'm Going Down To The River Ain't That Fine Amazon
10Suzy Boggus It All Falls Down To The River w/ McCrary Sisters Prayin' For Sunshine Amazon
11Mississippi Fred McDowell Going Down The River The First Recordings Amazon
12Etta Baker & Taj Mahal Going Down The Road Feeling Bad Etta Baker With Taj Mahal Amazon
13Bobby Bare Going Down the Road (I Ain't Going to Be Treated This Way) fcc warning Darker Than Light Amazon
14Down Like Silver To the River Light That Match – Single Amazon
15Lead Belly Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Best Of Leadbelly Amazon
16The Browns In the Pines Classics 1960 (Warped 6062) Amazon
17Dave Van Ronk In the Pines The Folkway Years: 1959-1961 Amazon
18Robert Johnson Crossroads Blues Bob Dylan Presents: Cover to Cover – The Originals Amazon
19Elmore James Standing At The Crossroads Let's Cut It: The Very Best Of Elmore James Amazon
20The Million Dollar Quartet Great Speckled Bird The Million Dollar Quartet: 50th Anniversary Special Edition Amazon
21Buzz Cason Hats Off to Hank Rare Songs of a Tribute to Hank Amazon
22Hank Williams & Hank Williams, Jr. There's A Tear In My Beer Fifty Years Of Hits – Vol 10 Amazon
23Hank Williams, Jr. Tee Tot Song Almeria Club Amazon
24Dallas Wayne Crank the Hank Rare Songs of a Tribute to Hank Amazon
25Pat Johnson Hank And Tee Tot Acoustic Rainbow Roots Volume 48 Amazon
26Washboard Sam Bucket's Got a Hole in It [Remastered 2002] That's Chicago's South Side (When the Sun Goes Down series) Amazon
27Hank Williams My Bucket's Got A Hole In It Low Down Blues Amazon
28Waylon Jennings Hank Williams Syndrome Rare Songs of a Tribute to Hank Amazon
29Odetta Alabama Bound Sings Ballads And Blues Amazon
30Sister Rosetta Tharpe 99 1/2 Won't Do Gospel Train Amazon
31Buddy Greene Big Daddy's Alabama Bound A Tribute to John D. Loudermilk Amazon
32Bob Dylan Lay Lady Lay Nashville Skyline Amazon
33Bob Dylan I Threw It All Away Nashville Skyline Amazon

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

This week we’ll take some time away for a celebration of Americana sounds from every corner. It’s a mixed bag of jazz, blues, country, rock, and everything in between in another of our free form eclectic romps here on Deeper Roots. Count on some wild swings and some quiet moments reserved for the corner booth in the show today. Aretha, Cat Power, Etta Jones and Gale Garnett are some of the female vocalists that we’ll feature this morning. We’ll also visit that ‘boulevard of broken dreams’ with Esquivel, some lighter instrumentals from Ethel Smith and Herb Alpert; classic softer side Americana from Chris Isaak and Pokey LaFarge and the polar opposite from Creedence and BB King. What a way to blast on into 2025. Join Dave Stroud as he begins yet another year with the promise of doing the right thing…always.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Little Milton We're Gonna Make It Chess Blues Disc 4 Amazon
3Marvin Gaye Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) Singers And Songwriters 1970-1971 [Disc 2] Amazon
4Jimmy Ruffin What Becomes of the Brokenhearted Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 Amazon
5Cat Power Aretha, Sing One For Me Jukebox Amazon
6Aretha Franklin Don't Play That Song 30 Greatest Hits [Disc 2] Amazon
7Jimmy Reed Hush-Hush The Roots of the Rolling Stones: MOJO Presents 15 Stones-Approved Classics Amazon
8Willie Nelson I'll Love You Till The Day I Die A Beautiful Time Amazon
9Chris Isaak Only the Lonely Baja Sessions Amazon
10J.J. Cale I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me) Okie Amazon
11Pokey LaFarge Home Home Home Rhumba Country Amazon
12The Mavericks That's Not My Name Suited Up and Ready… – EP Amazon
13Esquivel Boulevard of Broken Dreams Better Call Saul: Season 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) Amazon
14The Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band The Joker (On A Trip Thru The Jungle) Ultimate Northern Soul – The Classics Amazon
15Bob Moore & His Orchestra Mexico Instrumental Favorites- Latin Rhythms Amazon
16Louis Jordan Run Joe – Calypso Boys, Louis Jordan & His Tympany 5 Number Ones Amazon
17Ethel Smith Tico Tico Tico Tico – 28 Original Mono Recordings 1944-1952 Amazon
18Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Spanish Flea Definitive Hits Amazon
19Herbie Hancock Rockit Pop Music: The Modern Era 1976-1999 [Disc 1] Amazon
20Dick Haymes & Eileen Wilson It's A Lovely Day Today Destination Summer Sea Cruise: 33 Ocean Steamers For Your Vacation Amazon
21Julie London Watermelon Man Wild Cool and Swingin' Amazon
22Etta Jones With J.C. Heard And His Band I Sold My Heart To The Junkman Vol. 3-Blues Roots Amazon
23B.B. King Why I Sing the Blues Do the Boogie! B.B. King's Early '50s Classics Amazon
24Gale Garnett We'll Sing In The Sunshine Lifetime Of Romance: Some Enchanted Evening [Disc 2] Amazon
25Shamir Lived and Died Alone Northtown – EP Amazon
26Creedence Clearwater Revival Run Through the Jungle Tropic Thunder (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Amazon
27The Notting Hillbillies Run Me Down Missing….Presumed Having A Good Time Amazon
28First Aid Kit Emmylou The Lion's Roar (Bonus Track Version) Amazon
29Marshall Crenshaw On the Run Good Evening Amazon
30Eugene Pitt/The Jive Five What Time Is It? The Doo Wop Box, Vol. 2 Disc 4 Amazon
31Marshall Crenshaw What Time Is It? Field Day Amazon

Heaven and Hell

On this Friday the 13th, our show takes on the constructs of heaven and hell as its chosen theme. Songs that explore the debatable and sometimes fantastical concepts that, while they vary significantly across cultures and tradition, still remain human constructs rather than universal truths. Or are they? I sure don’t know and I doubt that you do. They have no doubt been formed as symbolic or metaphorical ideas formulated to help humankind find a straight path to that ‘great morning’…or something like that anyway. We’re not here to practice heresy or blasphemy, only to observe…and there’s plenty of music to call this theme one of mixed metaphors. Tune in for some Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Eric Clapton, Solomon Burke, Bill Neely and a whole crowd of other sinners and saints pounding out the concepts of heaven and hell in song with melodies both fierce and solemn. Tune in for quite the time.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2David Lindley and Wally Ingram Oh Death Twango Bango II Amazon
3John Lee Hooker & Ben Harper Burnin' Hell The Best Of Friends Amazon
4Dr. John Party Hellfire Anutha Zone Amazon
5Miss Rhapsody & Orchestra The Night Before Judgement Day Blues Women Amazon
6Eric Clapton If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day Sessions For Robert J Amazon
7The Louvin Brothers The Great Judgement Morning Close Harmony [Disc 8] Amazon
8Johnny Cash Redemption American Recordings Amazon
9Joe Strummer/Mescaleros Redemption Song Streetcore Amazon
10Vera Hall Death, Have Mercy Sounds of the South [Disc 3] – Negro Church Music & White Spirituals Amazon
11Jimmy Reed Going By The River (Pt. 1) ABC Of The Blues, Vol. 37 Amazon
12Hank Williams The Angel Of Death Lost Highway December 1948 – March 1949 Amazon
13Dave Van Ronk St. James Infirmary Two Sides of Dave Van Ronk Amazon
14Ralph Stanley The Death Of John Henry [Album Version] Ralph Stanley Amazon
15David Johansen & The Harry Smiths Oh Death David Johansen and the Harry Smiths Amazon
16Solomon Burke The Judgement Don't Give Up on Me Amazon
17Sister Rosetta Tharpe Beams of Heaven Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the Spirit of Gospel (Vol. 4) Amazon
18The Zion Harmonizers Old Time Religion Ultimate Gospel Fest Amazon
19Camille Howard When I Grow Too Old to Dream Brown Gal Amazon
20The Cats & The Fiddle When I Grow Too Old To Dream The Very Best Of Amazon
21John Prine & Mac Wiseman Don't Be Ashamed of Your Age Standard Songs for Average People Amazon
22Red Foley Don't Be Ashamed Of Your Age Tennessee Saturday Night Amazon
23Bill Neely Satan's Burning Hell The Essential Guide To Gospel Amazon
24Sheryl Crow Go Tell It On The Mountain Home For Christmas Amazon
25Iris DeMent I've Got That Old Time Religion (In My Heart) Lifeline Amazon
26Patsy Cline Life's Railway To Heaven Jubilation! Great Gospel Performances: Vol. 3: Country Gospel Amazon
27Grandpa Jones Open Up Them Pearly Gates For Me An American Original Amazon
28Carl Story When the Pearly Gates Swing Open 1951-1952 (Warped 5158) Amazon
29The Golden Gate Quartet No Restricted Signs (Up In Heaven) (1946) Vol. 5 (1945-1949) (Complete Recorded Works In Chronologial Order, Vol. 5, 1939-1949) Amazon
30Flatt & Scruggs The Drunkard's Hell The Stanley Brothers: Selected Sides 1947-1953 [Disc 2] Amazon
31Mississippi Fred McDowell Soon One Mornin' (Death Come A-Creepin' In My Room) Ken Burns Jazz [Disc 1] Amazon
32Fannie Bell Chapman He's My Rock, My Sword, My Shield Fire In My Bones : Raw + Rare + Otherworldly African-American Gospel, 1944-2007 Amazon

The Rise of Soul Music

Soul music’s roots come from the urbanization and commercialization of rhythm and blues in the late fifties and early sixties. Young black musicians, often nurtured in black churches, enjoyed and listened to R&B sounds and began a fusion of R&B, blues and gospel that would later take on the moniker “soul music”. The term “soul” had been used in African American culture, particularly among musicians, to emphasize the feelings of power, spirit and creativity found in its culture. Regional acts and labels took this genre into different directions that included, among other things, vocal interplay, gospel rhythms and themes that were translated from the sacred to the secular, all with mix heavy on standard rock or brass rhythm sections. The blend and variety brought out the contrasting tones of grit and pop-infused sounds. From Sam Cooke to James Brown and Etta James to Brenda Holloway…we’ll take a journey through the rise of soul music.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2The Southern Tones It Must Be Jesus Southern Gospel Amazon
3Ray Charles I Got a Woman Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection Disc 1 Amazon
4Etta James Tears Of Joy The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings 1 Amazon
5Clyde McPhatter Seven Days London American Label Year By Year 1956 Amazon
6Ray Charles Lonely Avenue Artist's Choice: Joni Mitchell Amazon
7James Brown Please, Please, Please Pure R&B: Vol. 2- Somethings Got a Hold on Me [Disc 1] Amazon
8Sam Cooke You Send Me Greatest Hits Amazon
9Sam Cooke I'll Come Running Back To You Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
10Etta James Come What May The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings 1 Amazon
11The Chantels Maybe Pure R&B: Vol. 4- What'd I Say Amazon
12Clyde McPhatter Lover's Question The Atlantic Story [UK] Amazon
13Ray Charles (Night Time Is) The Right Time Ultimate Hits Collection [1 of 2] Amazon
14Eugene Church Pretty Girls Everywhere Solid Gold Soul 1959 Amazon
15Jackie Wilson That's Why ( I Love You So ) Lonely Teardrops Amazon
16Jackie Wilson Lonely Teardrops Solid Gold Soul 1959 Amazon
17The Fiestas So Fine Solid Gold Soul 1959 Amazon
18James Brown Try Me 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of James Brown Amazon
19The Drifters There Goes My Baby All-Time Greatest Hits & More 1959-1965 [Bonus Tracks] [Disc 1] Amazon
20The Impressions Shorty's Got To Go Birth Of Soul: 3 Amazon
21Jerry Butler He Will Break Your Heart Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
22Marie Knight Come Tomorrow Birth Of Soul: 2 Amazon
23Gloria Lynne You Don't Have To Be A Tower Of Strength Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
24The Impressions Gypsy Woman Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
25The Mar-Keys Last Night Last Night!/Do the Pop-Eye Amazon
26Brenda Holloway I'll Give My Life Birth Of Soul: 2 Amazon
27Jan Bradley Mama Didn't Lie Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
28Claudine Clark The Telephone Game Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
29William Bell Any Other Way Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
30Jimmy Hughes I'm Qualified Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
31Barbara Lynn You'll Lose A Good Thing Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
32Joe Henderson Snap Your Fingers Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
33The Falcons I Found A Love Birth Of Soul: 2 Amazon
34Solomon Burke Down In The Valley Birth Of Soul: 2 Amazon
35Etta James Something's Got A Hold On Me Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
36Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters Cry Baby Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
37Barbara Lewis Snap Your Fingers Don't Forget About Me: The Atlantic & Reprise Recordings Amazon

Spinnin’ The Fifties

The 1950s were an incredibly vibrant decade for music, clearly a reflection of a post-war energy and relief. Urban jazz, the bright lights of broadway, and the crooning magic moments that lept off the silver screen were a paradox to the golden age of country music, the passionate rhythm of swing and R&B and, of course, the new audiences celebrating youth at sock hops, malt shops and sleepovers. It was an age of celebration and discovery if you were young; an age of culture shock if you weren’t. This week on Deeper Roots, we’ll tiptoe through the sounds of Dave Brubeck, Dion, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry and a host of others who planted their flag in the decade of the fifties. An unusual playlist for sure. Drop on by and try to get past the fact that Black Friday will soon be over and holiday madness gets into full swing.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Rosemary Clooney Hey There Magic Moments – The Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 1) Amazon
3Peggy Lee Bali Ha'i American Beauty Amazon
4Doris Day Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera) Magic Moments – The Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 1) Amazon
5Sarah Vaughan Lover Man Great American Songbook Amazon
6Chet Baker My Funny Valentine Blue Note Blend: On The Count Of 3 Amazon
7The Dave Brubeck Quartet Take Five Pop Memories of the '60s Amazon
8The Champs Tequila Rock Instrumental Classics vol. 1 – The '50S Amazon
9Duane Eddy Rebel Rouser Twang Thang: The Duane Eddy Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
10Santo & Johnny Sleepwalk Billboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1959 Amazon
11Hank Williams Hey, Good Lookin' 24 Greatest Amazon
12Johnny Cash I Walk The Line Original Greatest Hits Amazon
13Porter Wagoner A Satisfied Mind A Slice Of Life & Satisfied Mind Amazon
14Dion I Wonder Why Doo Wop Box Disc 3 Amazon
15Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers Why Do Fools Fall In Love Glory Days Of Rock 'N' Roll: Doo-Wop [Disc 1] Amazon
16The Bobbettes Mr. Lee The Doo Wop Box, Vol. 2 Disc 2 Amazon
17The Fleetwoods Come Softly To Me Malt Shop Memories – Top Down Convertible Sound ( Disc 1) Amazon
18The Platters Only You (And You Alone) All-Time Greatest Hits Amazon
19The Platters The Great Pretender Doo Wop Box Disc 1 Amazon
20Fats Domino Blueberry Hill This Is Fats Domino Amazon
21Frankie Avalon Venus Billboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1959 Amazon
22Ricky Nelson Lonesome Town Destination Lonely Street Amazon
23Ricky Nelson Poor Little Fool Ricky Nelson Amazon
24Paul Anka Diana Gems from the Columbia Vaults, Pt. 1 Amazon
25Elvis Presley Don't Be Cruel Memories: Jukebox Gems (Disc 1) Amazon
26Chuck Berry Roll Over Beethoven Blowing The Fuse: 1956 Amazon
27Little Richard Tutti Frutti Pure R&B: Vol. 1- Got My Mojo Workin [Disc 1] Amazon
28Eddie Cochran Summertime Blues Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 3 Amazon
29Bill Haley & The Comets Rock Around The Clock Rock N' Roll Greats Volume 1 Amazon
30Elvis Presley Jailhouse Rock Can't Help Falling In Love (Remastered) Amazon
31Danny & the Juniors At the Hop The Rock 'N' Roll Era: 1957 Amazon
32Chuck Berry Johnny B. Goode Johnny B. Goode-His Complete 50's Chess Recordings Amazon
33Big Joe Turner Shake, Rattle & Roll Atlantic Rock & Roll Amazon
34Little Richard Long Tall Sally Blowing The Fuse: 1956 Amazon
35Shirley & Lee Let The Good Times Roll Blowing The Fuse: 1956 Amazon
36Ray Charles What'd I Say The Soul Story, Vol. 1 [Disc 2] Amazon