Category Archives: Folk and Tradition

Jumpin’ Jack

Free form provides our weekly exploration a wider berth in which to stretch our wings. And that’s precisely why I take a free form journey every week or so on Deeper Roots. This week we’ll be featuring at least two tracks from the great Ella Mae Morse, some R&B and Doo Wop from The Cardinals and Ruth Brown, a rare track you may never hear elsewhere featuring the late, great Dr. John, and selected tracks from John Prine, Nat King Cole, The Orlons, and a golden classic country favorite from George Jones. We’re just scratching the surface as we sail through two hours of gospel, tradition, pop, rock, country, bluegrass (inhale), blues, and jazz. Don’t miss this week’s Friday stroll on Sonoma County Community Radio.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Ella Mae Morse Jumpin' Jack Jumpin' Like Mad: Cool Cats & Hip Chicks Non-Stop Dancin' [Disc 2] Amazon
3Ruth Brown Daddy Daddy Atlantic Rhythm And Blues: 1947-1974 [Disc 2] Amazon
4The Cardinals Wheel Of Fortune Atlantic Rhythm & Blues: 1947-1974 [Disc 1] Amazon
5Kay Starr Wheel Of Fortune Magic Moments – The Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 1) Amazon
6Dr. John Let's Make A Better World (LP Version) Destively Bonnaroo (US Release) Amazon
7Big Joe Turner Hide and Seek Big Joe Rocks Amazon
8Sammy Price Trio/Sister Rosetta Tharpe Strange Things Happening Everyday The Gospel of Blues Amazon
9The Clara Ward Singers Traveling Shoes Meetin' Tonight! Amazon
10Maria Muldaur Travelin' Shoes Waitress In a Donut Shop Amazon
11Blind Alfred Reed You Must Unload Complete Recorded Works 1927-29 Amazon
12Ry Cooder You Must Unload The Prodigal Son Amazon
13Ray Barretto Y Su Charanga Moderna El Watusi Rock Instrumental Classics Vol. 4: Soul Amazon
14Orlons The Wah-Watusi Cameo Parkway 1957-1967 Disc 1 Amazon
15Ricky Nelson Travelin' Man Fifty Years Of Hits – Vol 10 Amazon
16J.J. Cale Travelin' Light Troubadour Amazon
17Billie Holiday w/Paul Whiteman Travelin' Light Capitol Jazz 50th Anniversary Collection [Disc 1] Amazon
18Nat King Cole Dream A Little Dream Of Me The Nat King Cole Trio: The Complete Capitol Transcription Sessions [Disc 3] Amazon
19Bert Kaempfert Wimoweh That Happy Feeling Amazon
20S.A. Solomon Linda'S Original Evening Birds Mbube The Secret Museum Of Mankind Vol. 4: Ethnic Music Classics (1925 – 48) Amazon
21Merle Haggard And The Strangers Travelin' Blues Same Train, A Different Time Amazon
22Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin Papa's on the House Top Lost Time Amazon
23Dave Alvin Don't Look Now West of the West Amazon
24John Prine/Susan Tedeschi Color of the Blues For Better, Or Worse Amazon
25George Jones Color Of The Blues The Best Of George Jones: 1955-1967 Amazon
26Steve Earle Hillbilly Highway Guitar Town Amazon
27Steve Earle; The Milk Carton Kids Custer Look Again to the Wind: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited Amazon
28Johnny Cash Understand Your Man 16 Biggest Hits Amazon
29Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Travelin' Playback Disc 6 Amazon
30Dr. John Old Settlers Live at Magfest 2014 Amazon
31Cousin Joe How Come My Dog Don't Bark? …..From New Orleans' Amazon

Leon Redbone Tribute

“The only thing that interests me is history – reviewing the past and making something out of it”. A man after our own heart here at Deeper Roots, shining bright like that old harvest moon. We lost Leon this past week and his family lovingly announced his passing  with the following prose deserving of the mysterious Mr. Redbone: “It is with heavy hearts we announce that early this morning, May 30th 2019, Leon Redbone crossed the delta for that beautiful shore at the age of 127. He departed our world with his guitar, his trusty companion Rover, and a simple tip of his hat. He’s interested to see what Blind Blake, Emmett, and Jelly Roll have been up to in his absence.” We’ll take some time to honor the music that so inspired this delightful entertainer who elevated the blues, early century pop, and country into a form that extracted the joy of life and bottled like fine wine over the past 40 years. We’ll even reach into the Redbone bins for a handful of delightful covers. A simple tip of our hat to Leon as he crosses to the other shore…

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Leon Redbone If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven Double Time Amazon
3Merle Travis If We Never Meet Again Hot Pickin' [Disc 1] Amazon
4Emmett Miller I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None O' This Jelly Roll Minstrel Man From Georgia Amazon
5Red Nichols & His Five Pennies The Sheik Of Araby Saints Ramble & Sensation Amazon
6Laurel and Hardy Shine on Harvest Moon The Oxford American Southern Sampler 1999 Amazon
7Nat King Cole Sweet Lorraine The Cocktail Combos [Disc 1] Amazon
8Billie Holiday Feat. Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra Sugar Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933-1944 [Disc 05] Amazon
9Hoagy Carmichael Lazybones Sometimes I Wonder…. Amazon
10Hoagy Carmichael Lazy River Sometimes I Wonder…. Amazon
11Lonnie Johnson He's A Jelly-Roll Baker Tomorrow Night Amazon
12Peetie Wheatstraw Shake That Thing ABC Of The Blues, Vol. 48 Amazon
13Dave Van Ronk Shake That Thing Dave Van Ronk And The Ragtime Jug Stompers Amazon
14Elvis Presley You're A Heartbreaker Elvis – The King Of Rock 'N' Roll – The Complete 50's Masters (CD1) Amazon
15Julia Lee Breeze Kansas City Star [Disc 3] Amazon
16Cowboy Copas Breeze 1954-1958 Amazon
17Leon Redbone Breeze Sugar Amazon
18Rex Griffin Sweet Mama Hurry Home 1935-1936 (Warped 3520) Amazon
19Eddy Arnold, The Tennessee Plowboy Bouquet Of Roses Hillbilly Fever – Vol. 3: Legends Of Nashville Amazon
20Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree Daddy of Western Swing, Vol. 2 : Brownie Special Amazon
21Emmett Miller Lovesick Blues American Yodeling Amazon
22Blind Blake Diddie Wa Diddie (Pm 12888, 15459-A) The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 2 (1928-1932) Amazon
23Leon Redbone Diddy Wa Diddie Double Time Amazon
24Shirley Temple Polly Wolly Doodle America's Sweetheart Amazon
25Boswell Sisters When I Take My Sugar to Tea Boswell Sisters Amazon
26Paul Specht Sweet Lorraine Static Strut: Hot Dance Rarities 1922-1930 Amazon
27Ruth Etting Shine on, Harvest Moon Art Deco: Lovely Ladies of Stage and Screen Amazon
28Joe Keawe My Little Grass Shack Hapa-Haole Hawaiian Hula Classics – Vintage Hawaiian Treasures: Vol. I Amazon
29Leon Redbone My Little Grass Shack Whistling In The Wind Amazon
30Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschanel Baby It's Cold Outside Unknown Amazon
31Al Jolson Pretty Baby The Very Best Of Al Jolson Amazon
32Leon Redbone Pretty Baby Sugar Amazon
33Bert Lown's Biltmore Hotel Orchestra Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone Bert Lown's Biltmore Hotel Orchestra Amazon
34Leon Redbone Lulu's Back In Town On The Track Amazon

Gospel Crosscurrents

Another gospel celebration, this time with a mix of country, bluegrass, classic black gospel, and a very special blending from the annals of rock n’ roll. We’re calling this roots celebration “Gospel Cross-Currents” and it makes its way through a mix of fifties country gospel of Fern Jones and Bonnie Owens and some recent country releases of Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives with folk, bluegrass and black gospel of the early century. Tune in for Mac Wiseman, Mahalia Jackson, Elvis, the Alphabetical Four, and Sister Lottie Peavy. Deeper Roots celebrates each Friday morning on KOWS and Friday evening on KWTF.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Good News Saturday Night / Sunday Morning Amazon
3Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Keep on the Firing Line Saturday Night / Sunday Morning Amazon
4Carl Story Keep on the Firing Line 1942-1947 (Warped 4780) Amazon
5Browns Ferry Four Keep On The Firing Line Goodbye, Babylon – Goodbye, Babylon [Disc 5] Amazon
6Precious Bryant Sit Down Servant The Truth Amazon
7Jackson Browne & David Lindley Sit Down Servant Love Is Strange [Disc 1] Amazon
8Mike Farris Sit Down Servant Salvation in Lights Amazon
9Bad Livers I'm Using My Bible For A Roadmap Dust On The Bible Amazon
10Mac Wiseman I'm Using My Bible For A Roadmap Most Requested Amazon
11Michelle Lanchester w/Sweet Honey In The Rock I Was Standing By The Bedside Of A Neighbor (If You See My Savior) African American Gospel: The Pioneering Composers Amazon
12Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin If You See My Savior Lost Time Amazon
13Porter Wagoner/Willie Nelson Family Bible Unplugged Amazon
14Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen Family Bible Lost In The Ozone Amazon
15Lyle Lovett I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord Smile: Songs From The Movies Amazon
16Willie Nelson Sweet Bye and Bye Old Time Religion Amazon
17Elizabeth Cotten Medley: A) Sweet Bye And Bye B) What A Friend We Have In Jesus Freight Train And Other North Carolina Folk Songs And Tunes Amazon
18Alphabetical Four What a Friend We Have in Jesus Complete Recorded Works 1938-1943 Amazon
19Bonnie Owens What a Friend We Have in Jesus 1968-1971 (Warped 6947) Amazon
20Fern Jones By And By The Glory Road Amazon
21Elvis Presley By and By Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Songs Disc 1 Amazon
22Paul Butterfield's Better Days Nobody's Fault But Mine 'Better Days' + 'Better Days – It All Comes Back' Amazon
23Sister Lottie Peavy Nobody's Fault But Mine Great Gospel Performers: Complete Recording Sessions in Chronological Order, 1937-1950 Amazon
24Brother Claude Ely I'm Crying Holy Unto The Lord Satan Get Back Amazon
25Bad Livers Crying Holy Unto The Lord Dust On The Bible Amazon
26The Jordaniares Dig a Little Deeper The Jordaniares Gospel Amazon
27Mahalia Jackson Dig A Little Deeper Good News (Vol 3) Get Away Jordan Amazon
28Johnny Cash Where We'll Never Grow Old Unearthed Volume Four. My Mother's Hymn Book Amazon
29Patty Griffin Never Grow Old Downtown Church Amazon
30Johnny Cash & The Carter Family Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord) Country's 20 Classic Gospel Songs of the Century Amazon
31Aaron Neville Were You There Gospel Roots Amazon
32Jessi Colter His Eye Is On The Sparrow [Album Version] Out Of The Ashes Amazon
33The Staple Singers This May Be The Last Time Swing Low Amazon

Cajun Two-Step

Back to the bayou once more, but this time with less the rocking rhythms of the mid-to-late century and more with tradition. We pick on the sound of cajun music, celebrating a simple dance style born of early century French/Canadian, African Creole from the Caribbean, and American Country: the two-step. It’s music is full of accordion, fiddle, washboard, bass fiddle, triangle, and percussion of all kinds…giving it a consistently energetic and lively signature. And the dance which is our focus is a simple but expressive one similar to the western two-step…just without the fancy turns and spins.  Our performances include some classics from the early century including Amede Ardoin and Jimmy Newman as well as contemporaries and mid-century legends like Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Al Berard, Michael Doucet, and Louisiana energy from the swamps to Lake Pontchartrain. Tune in!

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Taj Mahal Two-Step de Grand Mallet Creole Bred – A Tribute To Creole & Zydeco Amazon
3Savoy Family Band Two-Step de Amede This Ain't No Mouse Music disc 2 Amazon
4Amidi Ardoin Amadie Two-Step I'm Never Comin' Back Amazon
5Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys Amedee Two-Step [Cajun] Planet Squeezebox [Disc 1] Amazon
6Jimmy Breaux Perrodin Two-Step Alligator Stomp 5: The Next Generation Amazon
7Sammy Naquin Perrodin Two Step Best of Cajun Instrumentals Amazon
8Michael Doucet Awesome Ossun Two-Step Bayou Deluxe: The Best of Michael Doucet &… Amazon
9The Savoy-Doucet Band High Point Two-Step Alligator Stomp, Vol. 3 Amazon
10Beausoleil Acadian Two-Step Vintage Beausoleil Amazon
11Jimmy Newman Fais Do Do Two Step 1948-1953 (Warped 5060) Amazon
12Jimmy Newman Teiyut Two Step 1948-1953 (Warped 5060) Amazon
13Jerry Jericho Cajun Pete Jingle for Dr. Tichenor At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight (Disc 8) Amazon
14Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers Beau's Cajun Two Step Beau Jocque Boogie Amazon
15Nathan Williams & The Zydeco Cha-Chas Zydeco Two-Step Creole Bred – A Tribute To Creole & Zydeco Amazon
16Al Berard & The Basin Brothers Le Two-Step De Choupique (Choupique Two-Step) Dans La Louisiane (In Louisiana) Amazon
17Balfa Toujours Two-Step @ Tina Alligator Stomp 5: The Next Generation Amazon
18Aldus Roger Mamou Two-Step Alligator Stomp 3: Cajun Zydeco Classics Amazon
19Bruce Daigrepont Marksville Two-Step Cajun Cookin' [Easy Disc] Amazon
20Rockin Sidney Two Steppin The Two Step The Best Of Louisiana Cajun Classics Amazon
21BeauSoleil Eunice Two-Step L'Amour Ou La Folie Amazon
22Zydeco Force Shaggy Dog Two-Step Alligator Stomp 5: The Next Generation Amazon
23Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboys Bayou noir/Back of Town Two-Step Trace Of Time Amazon
24Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys Ossun Two-Step American Roots Music [Disc 4] Amazon
25Clifton Chenier Zodico Two-Step King Of The Bayous Amazon
26Lawrence Ardoin Bayou Two-Step Tradition Creole Amazon
27Lawrence Ardoin Midland Two Step Tradition Creole Amazon
28BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet Two Step De Port Arthur From Bamako to Carenro Amazon
29Clifton Chenier Louisiana Two Step Louisiana Blues and Zydeco Amazon
30Wilson & Joel Savoy Fiddle Two-Step This Ain't No Mouse Music disc 2 Amazon
31Delbert McClinton Two Step Too Cost Of Living Amazon

Brothers in Harmony

Harmony. That blend of knowing how the instruments and vocals will reverberate against each other…and the Delmore Brothers introduced the tightest of harmonies combining the early sentiments of gospel, folk, and blues, becoming, in their time, the most popular act on the Grand Ole Opry. The Louvin Brothers were blessed with not only pure complementing vocal chops but an innate sense of timing. Others, like the Osbornes, the Stanleys, and the Monroes took the Appalachian folk sound of what would become bluegrass to another level, using their kinship as a vault that would surpass others whose symbiotic relationships would often lack the requisite DNA (not to mention timing). Deeper Roots explores a number of performers who leveraged that DNA to set themselves apart from others on the stage. It’s sibling country harmony this week on Sonoma County Community Radio. Join in the fun!

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2The Everly Brothers Roving Gambler Songs Our Daddy Taught Us Amazon
3The Monroe Brothers Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms Bob Dylan Presents: Radio Radio, Theme Time Radio Hour, Vol. 3 Amazon
4The Monroe Brothers Nine Pound Hammer Is Too Heavy Harry Smith's Anthology Of American Folk Music, Vol. 4 [Disc 1] Amazon
5The Monroe Brothers On The Banks Of The Ohio What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul? Volume One Amazon
6Bill Monroe New River Train The Essential Bill Monroe & The Monroe Brothers Amazon
7The Delmore Brothers Brown's Ferry Blues Chicago 1933, New Orleans 1935 [Disc 1] Amazon
8The Delmore Brothers Hillbilly Boogie Boogie Man Boogie Amazon
9The Delmore Brothers Lonesome Yodel Blues Chicago 1933, New Orleans 1935 [Disc 1] Amazon
10The Delmore Brothers Southern Moon Hillbilly Boogie Best Amazon
11The Delmore Brothers I've Got The Big River Blues Chicago 1933, New Orleans 1935 [Disc 1] Amazon
12The Stanley Brothers Rank Strangers Back Roads to Cold Mountain Amazon
13The Stanley Brothers I'm A Man Of Constant Sorrow Stanley Brothers & Clinch Mountain Boys Amazon
14The Stanley Brothers Let Me Be Your Friend Stanley Brothers & Clinch Mountain Boys Amazon
15The Stanley Brothers Poor Ellen Smith An Evening Long Ago: Live 1956 Amazon
16The Blue Sky Boys Only One Step More Something Got A Hold Of Me Amazon
17Blue Sky Boys I'm S-A-V-E-D 1939-1940 (Warped 3976) Amazon
18The Blue Sky Boys Mary Of The Wild Moor East Virginia Blues (When The Sun Goes Down Series) Amazon
19Blue Sky Boys Story of the Knoxville Girl The Chronological Classics 1937-1938 (Warped 3807) Amazon
20The Louvin Brothers Knoxville Girl Capitol Country Music Classics Amazon
21The Louvin Brothers I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby Capitol Country Music Classics Amazon
22The Louvin Brothers If I Could Only Win Your Love Capitol Country Music Classics Amazon
23The Louvin Brothers Pitfall Close Harmony [Disc 2] Amazon
24Osborne Brothers Take This Hammer 1963-1965 (Warped 6361) Amazon
25Osborne Brothers Charlie Cotton 1963-1965 (Warped 6361) Amazon
26Osborne Brothers My Sweet Love Ain't Around 1968-1974 Disc 2 Amazon
27Osborne Brothers Gotta Travel On 1963-1965 (Warped 6361) Amazon
28The Everly Brothers Crying In The Rain Heartaches & Harmonies [Disc 2] Amazon
29The Everly Brothers I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail Heartaches & Harmonies [Disc 1] Amazon
30The Everly Brothers Down In The Willow Garden Songs Our Daddy Taught Us Amazon
31The Everly Brothers Take a Message to Mary A Portrait of Dylan Amazon
32The Louvin Brothers Cash On The Barrelhead Capitol Country Music Classics Amazon
33The Louvin Brothers When I Stop Dreaming Capitol Country Music Classics Amazon
34The Louvin Brothers The Great Atomic Power Capitol Country Music Classics Amazon

Time’s Getting Hard

Music this week that speaks to hard times. From the Dust Bowl and Great Depression to personal hardships, we’ll share some bluegrass sounds, tunes steeped in tradition, soothing notes of country gospel, and folk blues. We’ll hear from The Weavers, Mavis Staples, Bobby Bare, and Pearly “Grandma” Davis (a nugget from Mike Seeger’s Old Time Music series). There will be talk of failing crops, revolution, and Oklahoma dust this week. Deeper Roots goes a little bit deeper with more songs about hard times this week on KOWS Community Radio, broadcasting live from the Cherry Street Historic District of Santa Rosa, California, where our neighbors just experienced their own hard times from flood waters. Thinking about them.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Bobby Bare Going Down the Road (I Ain't Going to Be Treated This Way) fcc warning Darker Than Light Amazon
3Tracy Chapman Talkin' Bout a Revolution Tracy Chapman Amazon
4Uncle Tupelo No Depression No Depression Amazon
5Bob Dylan Hard Times Good As I Been To You Amazon
6Dave Alvin Waiting for the Hard Times to Go Interstate City Amazon
7Mavis Staples Hard Times Come Again No More Beautiful Dreamer: the Songs of Stephen Foster Amazon
8The Byrds Old Blue The Byrds [Box Set] Disc 3 Amazon
9Peter Rowan Seeds My Daddy Sowed Dust Bowl Children Amazon
10Jimmy LaFave My Oklahoma Home (It Blowed away) Peace Town Amazon
11Pearly 'Grandma' Davis It's These Hard Times Close To Home: Old Time Music From Mike Seeger's Collection, 1952-1967 Amazon
12Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three Hard Times Come and Go Riverboat Soul Amazon
13Eddie Dattel Trickle Down Blues Trickle Down Blues Amazon
14Buck Owens Waitin' In Your Welfare Line The Very Best Of Buck Owens, Volume 1 Amazon
15Ryan Bingham Hard Times Mescalito Amazon
16Ry Cooder You Must Unload The Prodigal Son Amazon
17The Louvin Brothers Preach The Gospel The Family Who Prays: 26 Classic Tracks Amazon
18Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys Never No More Hard Times-Blues The King Of Western Swing-25 Hits 1935-1945 Amazon
19Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys Hard Times Have Been Here (But They've Gone) 1978-1979 Amazon
20Country Joe McDonald Talkin' Dust Bowl Vanguard Visionaries Amazon
21The Weavers Bring Me Li'l Water Sylvia Dust Bowl Blues: Essential American Folk [Disc 2] Amazon
22Josh White Hard Times Blues ABC Of The Blues, Vol. 51 Amazon
23Sheryl Crow No Depression In Heaven The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family Amazon
24Country Joe McDonald This Land Is Your Land Vanguard Visionaries Amazon
25R.B. Morris That's How Every Empire Falls Singing Through the Wall. Songs for Western Sahara Amazon
26Bobby Bare Times Are Gettin' Hard 1964 (Warped 6425) Amazon
27The Tillers All You Fascists Bound to Lose The Tillers Amazon
28Aiken County String Band Hard Times Breakdown 78s Amazon
29Eels Rock Hard Times Shootenanny! Amazon

Deeper Charley Patton

This week we’ll explore the music of the legendary Charley Patton. We’ll be dipping our toes into the birth of the Delta blues featuring some classic tracks from the gravel-voiced masked wonder as well as some rich covers from contemporary performers. Listen in for music from Otis Taylor, David Johansen, Corey Harris, and Taj Mahal…just to drop a few names. We’ll also scratch the surface of Charley’s career including some reflections from a master’s thesis written by none other than the American musicologist and musician, John Fahey. Tune in Friday morning as we board ourselves a raft to roll down the waters in search of the rich and elusive legend of the Mississippi Delta blues that was Charley Patton.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Bob Dylan High Water (For Charley Patton) Love and Theft Amazon
3Charley Patton I Shall Not Be Moved The Definitive Charley Patton [Disc 2] Amazon
4Paul Rishell & Anne Raines I Shall Not Be Moved Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
5Son House The Pony Blues Complete Library of Congress Sessions, The Amazon
6Charley Patton Pony Blues (Pm 12792, 15216–) The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 2 (1928-1932) Amazon
7Guy Davis, T-Bone Wolk, Mark Murphy & Levon Helm Some of These Days Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
8Charley Patton Some Of These Days I'll Be Gone The Definitive Charley Patton [Disc 2] Amazon
9Charley Patton Poor Me The Definitive Charley Patton [Disc 3] Amazon
10Rising Sons By And By (Poor Me) [Album Version] Rising Sons Amazon
11Charlie Musselwhite Pea Vine Blues Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
12Otis Taylor Stone Pony Americana Roots Songbook: Modern Blues Amazon
13Charley Patton Stone Pony Blues The Definitive Charley Patton [Disc 3] Amazon
14McHouston Baker High Sheriff Blues Mississippi Delta Dues Amazon
15David Johansen High Sheriff Shaker Amazon
16Charley Patton High Sheriff Blues Pony Blues (The Blues Collection Vol.47) Amazon
17Steve James & Mark Rubin Elder Greene Blues Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
18Charley Patton Elder Greene Blues The Definitive Charley Patton [Disc 1] Amazon
19Taj Mahal High Water Everywhere, Part 2 American Epic: The Sessions [Disc 2] Amazon
20Graham Parker Poor Me Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
21Corey Harris Moon Going Down Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
22Charley Patton Moon Going Down Pony Blues (The Blues Collection Vol.47) Amazon
23Dave Van Ronk Mississippi Bo Weavil Blues Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
24Robert Nighthawk Mean Black Cat Greatest Blues Licks Amazon
25Charley Patton Charley Patton – Mean Black Cat Blues 24 Classic Blues Songs From The 1920_Vol 11 [ Blues Images ] Amazon
26Joe Louis Walker Sugar Mama Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
27The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band Some of These Days I'll Be Gone (Charley Version) Peyton On Patton Amazon
28Charley Patton High Water Everywhere – Part 1 The Return Of The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of Amazon

Hello Operator

Long before we were graced with the voices of SAM, Siri, or Alexa, and before we could carry our smart devices around like a wallet or clutch…there were the women and men who served us from behind the receiver: the telephone operator. Maybe they didn’t have the answer to everything but they could connect us to about anyone anywhere in the world. But it usually cost more than we were willing to admit. This week’s Deeper Roots show takes on the theme of the telephone operator, the long distance connector, and the person with a soul…and usually a quick hangup if there were not enough coins to drop in the pay phone. It was the penalty for human interaction I guess. We’ll let Jorma, Johnny Otis, Wanda Jackson, and Eddie Floyd take us on a trip back to rotary dials and party lines in this week’s episode, live from the Santa Rosa studios at KOWS.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Mary Wells Operator Looking Back 1961-1964 Amazon
3Dusty Owens Hello Operator Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 Amazon
4Rusty McDonald Call Operator 210 Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 Amazon
5Hank Snow I Just Telephoned Upstairs The Chronogical Classics 1951-1952 (Warped 5244) Amazon
6Bonnie Guitar Hello, Hello, Please Answer The Phone Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 Amazon
7Wanda Jackson Between The Window And The Phone Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 Amazon
8The Blue Sky Boys The Royal Telephone Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 Amazon
9Johnny Burnette Operator The Train Kept a-Rollin' Memphis to Hollywood – CD 9 Amazon
10Howard Crockett Please Answer The Phone Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 Amazon
11Jorma Kaukonen Operator River Of Time Amazon
12The Band Long Distance Operator A Musical History [Disc 2] Amazon
13The Golden Gate Quartet I Just Telephone Upstairs Vol. 6 (1949-1952) Amazon
14The Jordaniares I Telephoned Upstairs The Jordaniares Gospel Amazon
15Selah Jubilee Singers Royal Telephone Complete Recorded Works – Vol. 1 (1939-1941) Amazon
16Sister Wynona Carr Operator, Operator Dragnet For Jesus Amazon
17Spirit Of Memphis Quartet The Atomic Telephone The Best Of King Gospel Amazon
18Sister Wynona Carr Don't Miss That Train Dragnet For Jesus Amazon
19Johnny Otis Call Operator 210 Mercury R&B Story '45-'55 – [Disc 6] West Coast Blues V2 Amazon
20Tony & Tyrone Please Operator After Hours 3 – More Northern Soul Masters Amazon
21Gladys Knight & The Pips Operator Soul Grooves Amazon
22The Marvelettes Beechwood 4-5789 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Marvelettes Amazon
23Eddie Floyd 634-5789 Stax Profiles – Eddie Floyd Amazon
24Ry Cooder 634-5789 Borderline Amazon
25Tommy Tutone 867-5309/Jenny Radio Hits of the '80s Amazon
26Rosanne Cash Radio Operator Black Cadillac Amazon
27Jim Croce Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels) Photographs & Memories: His Greatest Hits Amazon
28The Manhattan Transfer Operator Anthology – Down in Birdland [Disc 1] Amazon
29The Grateful Dead Operator American Beauty Amazon
30Bob Gaddy Operator The Classic Old Town Records Amazon
31Effie Smith Dial That Telephone (07-27-51) 1945-1953 Amazon
32Floyd Dixon Call Operator 210 The Aladdin Story (Pt. 2) Amazon

Western Sunsets

This week’s show has us revisiting the Old Chisholm Trail and prairie passages that resemble all things that follow those romantic icons whose life on the range was less than what their songs usually embellish. In the western sunsets where John Lomax first went out in search of the ‘cowboy song’, we’ll explore more enlightened performances from the silver screen to the deep folk traditions that have become so laminated with romance that it’s hard to see the images beneath. This week’s show will take us from Carl T. Sprague, the original cowboy crooner, to Johnny Horton, Fess Parker, Rex Allen, and Roy Rogers. The music is sometimes sappy (Rick Nelson’s My Rifle, My Pony, and Me), sometimes light (Roy Rogers’ My Chickashay Girl), and other times full of storytelling and history. So many performances to light up the evening sky…just before dusk…just before that ceiling of stars appears in the night sky. Join us for our first live show from our new KOWS studios in downtown Santa Rosa.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Rex Allen The Covered Wagon Riding All Day Amazon
3Jimmie Rodgers Prairie Lullaby Recordings 1927 – 1933 [Disc 5] Amazon
4Carl T. Sprague O Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie …I Listen to the Wind That Obliterates My Traces Amazon
5The Carter Family Cowboy Jack On Border Radio – 1939 – vol. 2 Amazon
6Rhubarb Red Little Green Valley (Radio) Cowboy Crooners Sing Songs Of The West Cd 1 Amazon
7The Riders Of The Purple Sage Cool Water (Radio) Cowboy Crooners Sing Songs Of The West Cd 1 Amazon
8Bill Boyd's Cowboy Ramblers The Strawberry Roan Saturday Night Rag 1934-1936 Vol. 1 Amazon
9Hank Snow I Traded My Saddle for a Rifle 1942-1943 (Warped 4206) Amazon
10Rex Allen Dreaming of the Western Plains Riding All Day Amazon
11Roy Rogers My Chickashay Girl 1942-1947 (Warped 4561) Amazon
12Roy Rogers Don't Fence Me In My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
13Sons of the Pioneers Moonlight On the Prairie Songs of the Prairie – CD1 Amazon
14Sons of the Pioneers Cool Water Cool Water & 17 Western Favorites Amazon
15Charlie Haden Oh Shenandoah Charlie Haden Family & Friends – Rambling Boy Amazon
16Al Caiola & His Orchestra Bonanza TV Land presents Favorite TV Theme Songs Amazon
17Various The Virginian Television's Greatest Hits Vol.II – 65 More TV Themes 50s and 60s Amazon
18Johnny Western The Ballad Of Paladin Columbia Country Classics, Vol. 3: Americana Amazon
19Johnny Cash The Rebel Johnny Yuma My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
20Lee Marvin Wand'rin Star Rare Songs Played on Radio, Vol. 1 Amazon
21Dean Martin Rio Bravo My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
22Rick Nelson My Rifle My Pony And Me (w/ Dean Martin) Legacy [Disc 1] Amazon
23Marty Robbins Ballad Of The Alamo My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
24Frankie Laine Rawhide The Cowboy Album Amazon
25Johnny Horton Sleepy-Eyed John Honky Tonk Man: The Essential Johnny Horton 1956-1960 (2 of 2) Amazon
26Patsy Montana My Dear Old Arizona Home The Best Of Patsy Montana Amazon
27Roy Rogers Rock Me to Sleep in My Saddle 1942-1947 (Warped 4561) Amazon
28Fess Parker The Ballad Of Davy Crockett The Cowboy Album Amazon
29Vaughn Monroe (Ghost) Riders In The Sky (A Cowboy Legend) The Cowboy Album Amazon
30Johnny Cash The Sons Of Katie Elder My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
31Gene Autry Red River Valley The Essential Gene Autry 1933-1946 Amazon
32Johnny Bond Twilight On The Trail Country Hits Vol. 6 Amazon
33The Sons Of The Pioneers O Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie Sons Of The Pioneers Amazon
34The Cinema Sound Orchestra High Noon Western Film Themes Amazon
35Willie Nelson Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys [Album Version] Willie Nelson's Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be) Amazon

Carl Sandburg’s Songbag Pt 2

We had so much fun with our first installment a few months back that we thought it was worth a second installment…well, that and the depth and breadth of the American Songbag certainly lends itself to doing so. It doesn’t hurt either that it fits our deeper roots sensibilities so well. This installment finds us meandering about those classic songs whose topics include mellow blues ballads, hobo songs, Mexican border songs (how appropriate), tarnished love tales, and the ‘road to heaven’. Helping us through our sets we’ll be featuring an interesting collection of performers:  Dave Van Ronk, Dock Boggs, Rosanne Cash, and Peter Case. A host of others will join in the fun on Community Radio for Sonoma County.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Dave Van Ronk Willie The Weeper Down In Washington Square: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection Amazon
3The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Willie the Weeper Dirt, Silver & Gold Disc 1 Amazon
4Dan Zanes Roll The Chariot Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
5Josh White Barbara Allen Best Of Josh White Amazon
6Delmore Brothers Frozen Girl Brown's Ferry Blues Amazon
7Dock Boggs Pretty Polly Country Blues Amazon
8The Carter Family My Sweetheart Is a Poor Working Girl/Waves of the Sea (Instrumental) On Border Radio – 1939 – vol. 1 Amazon
9Tony Rice House Carpenter Church Street Blues Amazon
10Hylo Brown Pretty Fair Maiden Legends & Tall Tales Amazon
11Ola Belle Reed, John Miller, Burl Kilby The Orphan Girl Ola Belle Reed and Southern Mountain Music on the Mason-Dixon Line Amazon
12David Rawlings Midnight Train Poor David's Almanack Amazon
13Arlo Guthrie Gypsy Davy Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys (Remastered 2004) Amazon
14Peter Case Roving Gambler Sings Like Hell Amazon
15Rosanne Cash Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow The List Amazon
16Aaron Copland, London Symphony Orchestra & William Warfield Old American Songs (Set One): Zion's Walls Copland Conducts Copland (Expanded Edition) Amazon
17Louis Armstrong Ezekiel Saw De Wheel Louis And The Good Book Amazon
18Sister Rosetta Tharpe Things That I used to do (and I Don't Do No More) The Gospel Truth Amazon
19The Robinson Children I Ain't Gwine Study About War No More Swinging Gospel Sounds (1935-1942) Amazon
20The Bronzemen Dese Bones Gwine Rise Again The Bronzemen – Radio Transcriptions (1939) Amazon
21Septeto Habanero Cielito Lindo Cuba. Por La Musica Amazon
22Los Panchos La Cucaracha – La Adelita Cattle Call-Early Cowboy Music And It's Roots Amazon
23Dan Zanes Lo Que Digo Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
24Kathy Reid-Naiman Pretty Betty Martin Dear Jean: Artists Celebrate Jean Ritchie Amazon
25Laurie Lewis Weevily Wheat Laurie Lewis & Her Bluegrass Pals Amazon
26Dan Zanes Cuckoo Waltz Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
27Tom Paxton Times A-Getting Hard, Boys Seeds – The Songs Of Pete Seeger, Vol. 3 (Disc 2 Of 2 – Friends Of Pete) Amazon
28Bobby Bare Times Are Gettin' Hard Memories – RCA Singles 1962 – 1969 Amazon
29Ronnie Gilbert Lincoln And Liberty Songs Of The Civil War Amazon
30Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur The Boll Weevil Penny's Farm Amazon
31Dave Van Ronk Gamblers Blues Dust Bowl Blues Essential American Folk Amazon