Category Archives: Folk and Tradition

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

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

420 Fun

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

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

Scenes Of Devastation

There’s going to be a free form mix of sounds this week with some ‘scenes of devastation’ as well as some blues and tradition. We’ll set the tone with a song that inspired the title lines from The Pine Hill Project and then head into some tradition and some covers that speak in the language of the sacred and secular…from Saturday night at the juke to Sunday morning in the pew. A great mix of sounds from some classic female blues gems from the 1940s like Wea Bea Booze and Ethel Waters. We’ll also go down to the crossroads and Deep Elem with the likes of Champion Jack Dupree and T-Bone Walker, some deeper/darker blues from Geeshie Wiley and Blind Lemon Jefferson as well. But we’ll also fill the air with the tops in great interpretations from Van Dyke Parks, Willie Watson and Bob Brozman. Join us for some ‘last kind words’ from the Rocky Road Blues to James Alley on a Friday morning in West County.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2The Pine Hill Project Battlefield Tomorrow You're Going (Featuring Lucy Kaplansky & Richard Schindell) Amazon
3Son House John the Revelator Death Letter Amazon
4Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers John The Revelator Songs Of Anarchy: Music From Sons Of Anarchy Seasons 1-4 Amazon
5Blu Lu Barker Don't You Feel My Leg Don't You Feel My Leg Amazon
6Wea Bea Booze These Young Men Blues Female Blues – The Remaining Titles Vol. 2 (1938-1949) Amazon
7Champion Jack Dupree Dirty Woman Two Classic Albums Plus Singles Amazon
8T-Bone Walker It's a Lowdown Dirty Deal The Very Best of T-Bone Walker [Koch] Amazon
9Geeshie Wiley Last Kind Words Mississippi Masters Amazon
10David Johansen The Last Kind Words Shaker Amazon
11Woody Guthrie When That Great Ship Went Down This Land Is Your Land: The Asch Recordings Vol. 1 Amazon
12Rory Block Titanic (When That Great Ship Went Down) Confessions of A Blues Singer Amazon
13The Million Dollar Quartet Great Speckled Bird The Million Dollar Quartet: 50th Anniversary Special Edition Amazon
14Willie Watson James Alley Blues Folk Singer Vol. 1 Amazon
15Doc Watson Little Omie Wise 1964-1965 (Warped 6411F) Amazon
16Blind Lemon Jefferson See That My Grave Is Kept Clean Black Swan Sampler Amazon
17B.B. King See That My Grave Is Kept Clean One Kind Favor Amazon
18Van Dyke Parks/Mondrian Sail Away Lady The Harry Smith Project Live Vol. 2 Amazon
19Uncle Dave Macon & His Fruit Jar Drinkers Sail Away Ladies The Return Of The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of Amazon
20Bob Brozman Rocky Road Snapping the Strings Amazon
21Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys Rocky Road Blues The Essential Bill Monroe [Disc 1] Amazon
22Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys Mule Skinner Blues East Virginia Blues (When The Sun Goes Down Series) Amazon
23Dolly Parton Mule Skinner Blues Country USA 1970 Amazon
24Rev. J. M. Gates Oh Death Where Is Thy Sting The Harry Smith B-Sides Amazon
25The Persuasions Dry Bones Gospel Brunch Classics Amazon
26Maria Muldaur A Little Bird Told Me Don't You Feel My Leg (The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker) Amazon
27Jim Kweskin Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me Vanguard Visionaries Amazon
28Ethel Waters Honey In The Honeycomb On Stage And Screen 1925 – 1940 Amazon
29Baby Dee Look What Baby's Got For You Don't You Feel My Leg Amazon
30Ames Brothers The The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane Your Hit Parade – 1955 Amazon
31Bill & The Belles Finger Pointin' Mama Dreamsongs, Etc. Amazon
32Paul Thorn Come On Let's Go Don't Let The Devil Ride Amazon

In Honor Of Mississippi John Hurt

There was some devastating new this past week…nothing new; and certainly, it seems, not in Mississippi. The Mississippi John Hurt Museum, a small sanctuary of tribute located on the Mississippi Blues Trail, burned down last week. While authorities in Carroll County try to determine the cause, we mourn the loss of John Hurt’s home, a small house that had just been given landmark status on the national historical registry just hours before. Join Dave Stroud this week on Deeper Roots as he combines notes from a 2018 tribute to Mississippi John Hurt with some of the news of the day and keep with the sounds of his contemporaries (of which there are few), Taj Mahal, Ben Harper, Chris Smither and Rory Block. All paying tribute with songs of Avalon, Creole Belle, Spike Driver Blues, and Mermaids.  Tune in on Radio Rethink radio or KOWSFM.COM.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Bruce Cockburn Avalon, My Home Town Avalon Blues: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt Amazon
3Jesse Colin Young Creole Belle Together Amazon
4John Oates Spike Driver Blues Arkansas Amazon
5Doc & Merle Watson Got the Blues (Can't Be Satisfied) Live & Pickin' Amazon
6Taj Mahal Frankie And Albert The Best Of Taj Mahal Amazon
7Dave Van Ronk Spike Driver Blues Two Sides of Dave Van Ronk Amazon
8Rhiannon Giddens The Angels Laid Him Away Freedom Highway Amazon
9David Johansen Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me Shaker Amazon
10JL Stiles Trouble I Had All My Days Solo Sessions Amazon
11Bill Morrissey Avalon Blues The Essential Collection Amazon
12Mississippi John Hurt Farther Along Deadwood Amazon
13Mississippi John Hurt Spider, Spider The Complete Studio Recordings Disc 3 Amazon
14Bettye LaVette Nobody's Dirty Business American Epic: The Sessions [Disc 2] Amazon
15Dave Alvin With Dean Schlabowske Louis Collins The Executioner's Last Songs, Volume 2 Amazon
16Rory Block Candy Man Avalon: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt Amazon
17R.L. Watson & Johnny Woods Praying On The Old Campground & Lonesome Blues Mississippi Delta Blues Jam In Memphis Amazon
18Beck Stagolee Avalon Blues: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt Amazon
19Doc Watson My Creole Belle Songs From Home Amazon
20Doc & Merle Watson Stack O'lee Ballads From Deep Gap Amazon
21Mississippi John Hurt Chicken Best Of Mississippi John Hurt [Live] Amazon
22Mark Selby Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor Avalon Blues: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt Amazon
23Mississippi John Hurt Richland Woman Blues Immortal Amazon
24Taj Mahal Satisfied 'N' Tickled Too The Essential Taj Mahal Amazon
25Mississippi John Hurt Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me Discovery:The Rebirth Of Mississippi John Hurt Amazon
26John Fahey Requiem for John Hurt Essential John Fahey Amazon

Let’s Duet

Country duets have been a hallmark of the genre and this week we’ll spend a couple of hours sampling some old, some new, some sappy and some without peer. From Rose and Buck to George and Tammy, we’ll be spending time with some real down home pairings singing songs of loose talk, booze, suspicion, holding on to what you’ve got and a whole lot more. There’s a range of topics beyond that and most involve cheatin’, lovin’ and fightin’…just what you’d expect from the base. The pairings are not necessarily all husband and wife as we’ve got a few that go beyond that rail like Dwight and Buck, the Hanks, and Waylon and Willie. Tune in Friday morning for a countrified, if not rarified, journey with some classic country duets.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2John Prine/Iris Dement In Spite of Ourselves In Spite of Ourselves Amazon
3John Prine With Melba Montgomery Milwaukee Here I Come In Spite Of Ourselves Amazon
4Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash Jackson Classic Country Great Duets [Disc 1] Amazon
5Johnny Cash & June Carter It Ain't Me, Babe Carryin' on With Johnny Cash & June Carter Amazon
6Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash Girl From The North Country Country Music: A Film By Ken Burns – The Soundtrack [Disc 2] Amazon
7Buck Owens & Rose Maddox Loose Talk Classic Country: Great Duets [Disc 2] Amazon
8Buck Owens Under Your Spell Again (Duet With Dwight Yoakam) Hot Dog Amazon
9Buck Owens/Dwight Yoakam Streets of Bakersfield Reprise Please Baby: The Warner Bros. Years Disc 1 Amazon
10Dwight Yoakam/Sheryl Crow Baby Don't Go Reprise Please Baby: The Warner Bros. Years Disc 2 Amazon
11Emmylou Harris & The Band Evangeline Duets Amazon
12Linda Ronstadt I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You) (w/Emmylou Harris) Duets Amazon
13Emmylou Harris & Gram Parsons Love Hurts Duets Amazon
14k.d. lang (with Roy Orbison) Crying Recollection CD 2 Amazon
15Hank Williams & Hank Williams, Jr. There's A Tear In My Beer Fifty Years Of Hits – Vol 10 Amazon
16Patsy Cline & Jim Reeves I Fall To Pieces [Album Version (Manufactured Duet)] Remembering Amazon
17Alison Krauss/Gillian Welch I'll Fly Away O Brother, Where Art Thou? Amazon
18Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Please Read The Letter Raising Sand Amazon
19Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys RCA Country Legends [Disc 2] Amazon
20Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter Suspicious Minds Classic Country: Great Duets [Disc 2] Amazon
21George Jones & Tammy Wynette We're Gonna Hold On Classic Country: Great Duets [Disc 2] Amazon
22Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton The Last Thing On My Mind Dolly [Disc 1] Amazon
23Ashley Monroe You Ain't Dolly (And You Ain't Porter) [Duet with Blake Shelton] Like A Rose Amazon
24Ray Charles & Willie Nelson Seven Spanish Angels The Many Sides Of Willie Nelson [Cd 3 "Duets"] (1992) Amazon
25Marty Stuart This One's Gonna Hurt You (For A Long, Long Time) 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of Marty Stuart Amazon
26George Jones/Merle Haggard Yesterday's Wine [Duet] The Essential Merle Haggard: The Epic Years Amazon
27John C. Reilly & Angela Correa Let's Duet Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Deluxe Edition] Amazon
28Dottie West Duet with Don Gibson There's A Story (Goin' Round) The Essential Dottie West Amazon
29Randy Travis Happy Trails (Duet With Roy Rogers) Heroes & Friends Amazon

The Real Thing

A two hour collection of some of the very best from the past century is what the doctor ordered. Seems like it often is. Today’s Deeper Roots journey features an eclectic blend of genres, topics, and performances, all tuned to the discerning ear. We’ll be bringing you some subtle jazz vibes from Mose Allison, story songs about Caldonia, sweet soul duets from Marvin Gaye and Chuck Jackson, gospel from the Pilgrim Travelers, and plenty of boot heel country from BR5-49 and Little Jimmy Dickens. That’s not all…by far. We’ll hear a new light hearted cover from Luther Dickinson, a song about the Old Kelly Place from “The Real McCoy”, Don Covay, and Bobby “Blue” Bland. What better way to kick off your holiday season, right? There’s turkey in the fridge and the wreath will be going up on the door. Tune in why don’t you?

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Porter Wagoner 'Til the Right One Comes Along The Best I've Ever Been Amazon
3Nino Temple & April Stevens Deep Purple Your Hit Parade – The Early '60S Amazon
4Buck Owens Love's Gonna Live Here The Buck Owens Collection (1959-1990) [Disc 1] Amazon
5Lou Rawls (What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
6The 5 Royales The Real Thing The Complete Singles 1952-1962 Amazon
7Marvin Gaye Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
8Chuck Jackson And Maxine Brown The Real Thing Hold On, We're Coming '67 Amazon
9Mavis Staples At The End Of The Day Have A Little Faith Amazon
10Pilgrim Travelers After While (Take 8) Jesus Rocked The Jukebox: Small Group Black Gospel (1951-1965) Amazon
11Don Covay Mercy, Mercy Rites Of Rhythm & Blues – Volume 2 Amazon
12Bobby Bland Two Steps From the Blues Two Steps From the Blues Amazon
13k.d. lang/Roy Orbison Crying King of Hearts Amazon
14Lissie Games People Play Covered Up With Flowers Amazon
15Little Jimmy Dickens When The Ship Hit The Sand The Essential "Little" Jimmy Dickens Amazon
16Walter Brennan The Old Kelly Place Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
17Ricky Nelson & Walter Brennan Get Along Home, Cindy Wand'rin' Star And Other Movie And TV Songs: Western Movie & TV Soundtracks (3) Amazon
18BR5-49 Fool of the Century This Is BR549 Amazon
19Chuck Mead I'm Not the Man for the Job Close to Home Amazon
20Doc Watson/Merle Watson Smoke, Smoke, Smoke Black Mountain Rag Amazon
21Dave Van Ronk Your Feet's Too Big Sweet & Lowdown Amazon
22Mose Allison I'm Not Talking Cocktail Mix, Vol. 2: Martini Madness Amazon
23Elvis Presley Paralyzed Worldwide Gold Award Hits Vol. 2 Amazon
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