Category Archives: Theme Time

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

Cheatin’ Country Tales

There are a handful of common story threads that run through classic country songs. I’m not talking about trucks, beer the ‘merica that seems to have overwhelmed modern so-called country with autotune and synth pop. The heartbreak of cheating situations that were among the most common storylines in the Golden Age of country at a time when family unity was of paramount importance. It was country music’s frank portrayal of infidelity that offered a counterpoint which was both relatable and controversial. Cheating songs became a central theme, reflecting the complexities and emotional intensity of love, betrayal, and heartbreak. Dave will share as many as will fit in two hours in this week’s episode with early tearjerkers from Kitty Wells, The Louvin Brothers, Billy Walker, Bonnie Owens and George Jones. There will also be the very best of the classics from Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn to take us into the 70s and beyond. . .

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Hank Williams Your Cheatin' Heart 24 Greatest Amazon
3Patsy Cline Your Cheatin' Heart 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection – Classic Patsy Cline Amazon
4Charlie Walker Cheaters Never Win 1952-1958 (Warped 5230) Amazon
5Billy Walker One Heart's Beatin' One Heart's Cheatin' 1949-1952 (Warped 4960) Amazon
6Hank Thompson I Find You Cheatin' on Me 1946-1949 (Warped 4660) Amazon
7Lee Elliott Cheaters Never Win Country & Western Nuggets Amazon
8Jerry Lee Lewis She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye The Definitive Collection Amazon
9Sanford Clark A Cheat Chills & Fever: The Dot Records Story 1955-1962 Amazon
10The Rockin' Saints Cheat On Me Baby That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 6 (Us Decca, Vol. 2) Amazon
11Bonnie Owens How Can Our Cheatin' Be Wrong 1968-1971 (Warped 6947) Amazon
12The Louvin Brothers While You're Cheating On Me Close Harmony [Disc 4] Amazon
13Kitty Wells Cheated Out of Love Lonely Street/Dust On the Bible Amazon
14Kitty Wells Cheatin's a Sin The Complete Country Hits Amazon
15George Jones The Window Up Above George Jones The Absolutely Essential 3 CD Collection Amazon
16Loretta Lynn You Ain't Woman Enough Loretta Lynn Legendery Country Singer Amazon
17Billie Jo Spears The Cheating Kind Country Greats #2 Amazon
18Crystal Gayle Talking In Your Sleep Superstars Of Country: Easy Loving [Disc 1] Amazon
19Dolly Parton Jolene Dolly [Disc 3] Amazon
20Charley Pride Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger Golden Age of Country Volume 4: Honky-Tonk Man [Disc 1] Amazon
21Gary Stewart She's Acting Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles) Superstars Of Country: Good Ol Songs [Disc 2] Amazon
22Del McCoury Cheater's in the Soup 1975-1976 (Warped 7553F) Amazon
23Ricky Skaggs Don't Cheat In Our Hometown [Album Version] Country Gentleman: The Best Of Ricky Skaggs Amazon
24T.G. Sheppard Last Cheater's Waltz Contemporary Country: The Late '70s Pure Gold Amazon
25Moe Brandy I Cheated Me Right Out Of You Contemporary Country: The Late 70's – Hot Hits Amazon
26Moe Bandy It's A Cheating Situation The Late '70s Amazon
27John Prine With Dolores Keane It's A Cheating Situation In Spite Of Ourselves Amazon
28John Anderson She Just Started Liking Cheatin' Songs Anthology Amazon
29Dale Watson Cheatin' Heart Attack Cheatin' Heart Attack Amazon
30Mickey Gilley My Baby's Cheatin' On Me Boppin' By The Bayou – Made In The Shade Amazon
31Dwight Yoakam King of Fools Reprise Please Baby: The Warner Bros. Years Disc 2 Amazon
32Porter Wagoner The Cold Hard Facts of Life The Essential Porter Wagoner Amazon
33Emmylou Harris The Last Cheaters Waltz Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems Disc 1 Amazon
34Kenny Rogers Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town 20 Great Years Amazon
35Kitty Wells Hey Joe Cheatin's a Sin Amazon

Wake Up!

We’ll be sharing a Wake Up call with everyone out there…no…not election day. Although it’s just around the corner. There’s an alarm clock buzzing or ringing or chiming that is bent on a theme…that of ‘waking up’. That’s our theme in the show todays as we excavate the mines of rich Americana ore from the past century, sharing songs whose thematic tone demands that our eyes open to the brighter days ahead. Dave has a boatload of sounds that include the rockabilly sounds of Mac Curtis and some country bop from Billy Briggs. That’s not all…there’s the brothers Everly, Merle Haggard, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Richard Thompson, Nat King Cole, Bob Dorough and a couple dozen others. Join Dave for a thematic romp on Deeper Roots this Friday morning on KOWS Community Radio.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Gene Bianco Alarm Clock Rock Killer Rhythms & Red Hot Beats – The Definitive Rare Rock & Roll Instrumentals Collection Amazon
3Les Paul & Mary Ford The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise Time-Life – Your Hit Parade: The Early '50S Amazon
4Ike & Tina Turner Wake Up Don't Play Me Cheap Amazon
5Bobby Rush Wake Up Rare Soul: Groove & Grind 1963-1973 [Disc 4] Amazon
6Michelle Willson and the Evil Gal Orchestra Wake Up Call Wake Up Call Amazon
7Norah Jones Wake Me Up Not Too Late Amazon
8White Owl Red Wake Up Afterglow Amazon
9The Neville Brothers Wake Up Yellow Moon Amazon
10Richard Thompson I Can't Wake up to Save My Life Action Packed: The Best of the Capitol Years Amazon
11The Ravens Rooster Old Man River Amazon
12Cab Calloway Wake Up And Live Best Of The Big Bands Amazon
13Bob Dorough Wake Up Sally, It's Saturday Too Much Coffee Man Amazon
14Cecil Gant Wake Up, Cecil, Wake Up Blues in L.A. (The Blues Collection Vol.88) Amazon
15Wilco When You Wake up Feeling Old Summerteeth Amazon
16The Bellfuries I Don't Wanna Wake Up Tomorrow Just Plain Lonesome Amazon
17Jimmy Murphy Wake Me up Sweet Jesus Electricity Amazon
18Merle Haggard Wake Up His Greatest & His Best Amazon
19Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys Wake Up Irene Vintage Collections Amazon
20Ralph Stanley It's Time To Wake Up A Mother's Prayer Amazon
21Mac Curtis Wake Up Rock N' Roll Rockabilly Uprising – The Best Of Mac Curtis Amazon
22Billy Briggs Alarm Clock Boogie Boogie Man Boogie Amazon
23Los Lobos Wake Up Dolores Kiko Amazon
24The Browns Wake Up Jonah Warped 5773 – The Browns – 1956 – 1959 Amazon
25The Everly Brothers Wake Up Little Susie Heartaches & Harmonies [Disc 1] Amazon
26Lula Wiles Wake Up Shame and Sedition Amazon
27Dustbowl Revival I Wake Up Is It You, Is It Me Amazon
28Nat King Cole Trio I Wake Up Screaming Dreaming Of You Chronological Classics: Nat King Cole 1949 Amazon
29Snooks Eaglin Reality [Formerly Titled Wake up] Complete Imperial Recordings Amazon
30Mahalia Jackson When I Wake Up In Glory Gospels, Spirituals, & Hymns, Vol.2 [Disc 2] Amazon
31The Oak Ridge Boys I'll Wake Upon The Other Side Gospels & Spirituals: The Gold Collection [Disc 2] Amazon
32Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Wake Up Everybody Akeelah And The Bee (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Amazon

A Bucket Of Nuggets

The Bear Family label, headquartered in Germany, has long featured deep track dives into American music of the past century. Whether that be rock, country, rhythm and blues, or Americana; much of it is as far off the beaten track as you can imagine. Their selections and the high quality of the liner notes and ephemera have long been the top shelf standard for collectors and aficionados of American music. This week on Deeper Roots we’ll be diving into their delightful ‘theme’ universe prefaced with the perfect title of “Destination”. We’ll be digging into the themes of ‘freeway’, ‘outer space’, ‘beach parties’, ‘ocean cruise’, ‘lust’ and ‘sex’. The music you’ll be hearing is an unusual ‘bucket of nuggets’ representing some of the very best of camp pop and rock. Tune in for a raucous blend of ‘never heard’.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Stonewall Jackson Run Destination Jail: 31 Prison Songs From Behind The Bars Amazon
3Skeets McDonald Fort Worth Jail Destination Jail: 31 Prison Songs From Behind The Bars Amazon
4Jimmie Skinner One Dead Man Ago Destination Jail: 31 Prison Songs From Behind The Bars Amazon
5Jaycee Hill Crash Out Destination Jail: 31 Prison Songs From Behind The Bars Amazon
6Bill Carter Shot Four Times And Dying Destination Jail: 31 Prison Songs From Behind The Bars Amazon
7Gary Williams Walla Walla State Prison Destination Jail: 31 Prison Songs From Behind The Bars Amazon
8Don French Lonely Saturday Night Destination Lonely Street Amazon
9Jackie Wilson Lonely Life Destination Lonely Street Amazon
10Gene Vincent Lonely Street Destination Lonely Street Amazon
11Lonesome Lee Lonely Travelin' Destination Lonely Street Amazon
12Conway Twitty Lonely Blue Boy Destination Lonely Street Amazon
13Dale Hawkins Lonely Nights Destination Lonely Street Amazon
14Rusty Draper & Lola Dee Scratch My Back Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon
15Miss X S-E-X Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon
16Mamie Van Doren Seperate The Men From The Boys Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon
17Ann-Margret Let Me Entertain You Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon
18Jayne Mansfield Too Hot To Handle (Film version 1960) Destination Lust – Chicksville U.S.A. Amazon
19Dorothy Collins Let's Do It Destination Lust – Chicksville U.S.A. Amazon
20Jeri Southern Senor Blues Destination Lust – Chicksville U.S.A. Amazon
21Pat Morrissey Trapped In The Web Of Love Destination Lust – Chicksville U.S.A. Amazon
22The Valiants With Sandy Vale Boppin' On The Beach Destination Beach: 30 Tunes For Dancing In The Sand Amazon
23Freddie Mitchell And His Rockers Seaweed Destination Beach: 30 Tunes For Dancing In The Sand Amazon
24Wayne Hollers Dance In The Sand Destination Beach: 30 Tunes For Dancing In The Sand Amazon
25Mitchell Torok Teenie Weenie Bikini Destination Summer Sea Cruise: 33 Ocean Steamers For Your Vacation Amazon
26Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys Teach 'Em How To Swim Destination Summer Sea Cruise: 33 Ocean Steamers For Your Vacation Amazon
27Joey Dee & The Starliters Twistin' On A Liner Destination Summer Sea Cruise: 33 Ocean Steamers For Your Vacation Amazon
28Earl Grant Beyond The Sea Destination Summer Sea Cruise: 33 Ocean Steamers For Your Vacation Amazon
29Bobby Jackson Wow Man Destination Freeway Amazon
30Burt Keyes w/Teddy McRae And His Orchestra Stop Jivin' Start Drivin' Destination Freeway Amazon
31Dinah Shore See The U.S.A. In Your Chevrolet Destination Freeway Amazon
32Hagan, Sammy & The Visounts Tail Light Destination Freeway Amazon
33Warmer, Faron Cruisin' Central Destination Freeway Amazon
34Movie Trailer Plan 9 From Outer Space (Movie Trailer) Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
35Merv Griffin The Screamin' Meemies From Planet 'X' Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
36Jimmie Haskell & His Orchestra Rockin' In The Orbit (Space Satellite) Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
37Teacho & His Students Rock-Et Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
38The Jive Fiveins People From Another World Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
39Bill Buchanan The Thing Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
40Louis Prima Beep! Beep! Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
41Movie Trailer Invaders From Mars (Trailer) Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon
42Billy Lee Riley & The Little Green Men Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments) Amazon

Rain Theme

Seven years after our community was ravaged by three different wildfires, we’re going to focus on the theme of rain in our show today. Call it a rain dance if you must but we’re hoping that not only will the weather give us one more year of respite from the flaming torrent of climate change-induced wildfires but also make it two years in a row with reservoir replenishment. So why not a theme that promotes rainy weather? We’ll go to every genre corner in the show today: gospel, jazz, country, rock ‘n roll, soul and rhythm & blues. Tune in for a themed collection this morning that includes the likes of Glenn Yarbrough, Percy Sledge, Leon Russell, Lonnie Johnson and Billy “The Kid” Emerson. There’s a whole lot more so join in and find out. A sunny September morning leads us to our rain dance…or whatever you call it.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Sons of the Pioneers Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (Remastered) Anthology: The Definitive Collection (Remastered) Amazon
3Buddy Guy Feels Like Rain Buddy's Baddest: The Best of Buddy Guy Amazon
4Hugh Laurie Didn't It Rain Didn't It Rain (Deluxe) Amazon
5Sons Of South Didn't It Rain Children The Best Of Nashboro Gospel Amazon
6Lew Childre It Don't Do Nothing but Rain …I Listen to the Wind That Obliterates My Traces Amazon
7The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Buy for Me the Rain Dirt, Silver & Gold Disc 1 Amazon
8Sir Douglas Quintet The Rains Came Best Of Sir Douglas Quintet Amazon
9Eddie Rabbitt I Love A Rainy Night Superstars Of Country Amazon
10Albert Lee Rainbows All Over Your Blues The Big E: A Salute to Steel Guitarist Buddy Emmons Amazon
11Buddy Holly Raining in My Heart The Definitive Collection Amazon
12The Cascades Rhythm of the Rain Teen Ballads Disc 2 Amazon
13Lonnie Johnson Pouring Down Rain Complete Folkways Recordings Amazon
14John Hammond, Jr. Little Rain Falling Country Blues Amazon
15Billy "The Kid" Emerson When It Rains, It Pours Living The Blues: Blues Classics 1955-1956 Amazon
16Big Maybelle Rain Down Rain The Complete OKeh Sessions 1952-'55 Amazon
17Leon Russell A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall Leon Russell And The Shelter People [Bonus Tracks] Amazon
18Irma Thomas It's Raining Time Is on My Side: The Best of Irma Thomas, Vol. 1 Amazon
19Irma Thomas I Think It's Going to Rain Today Simply Grand Amazon
20Madeleine Peyroux California Rain Half The Perfect World Amazon
21Billie Holiday Come Rain Or Come Shine Billie's Best Amazon
22Creedence Clearwater Revival Have You Ever Seen The Rain Rock Steady 1971: Celebrating Starbucks 35th Anniversary Amazon
23The Mavericks Here Comes the Rain Music for All Occasions Amazon
24The Serendipity Singers Don't Let The Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man) My Music Original Masters Folk Rewind [Disc 2] Amazon
25Glenn Yarbrough Baby the Rain Must Fall Pop Memories of the 60s: Vol. 4- Blue Velvet [Disc 1] Amazon
26Roy Orbison Leaving Makes The Rain Come Down One of the Lonely Ones Amazon
27The Everly Brothers Crying in the Rain Singles / EP's /Radio / Live Amazon
28Merle Travis Rainy Day Feeling Hot Pickin' [Disc 2] Amazon
29Grandpa Jones It's Raining Here This Morning (Remake) Hillbilly Bop 'n' Boogie: King/Federal Roots of Rockabilly 1944 – 56 Amazon
30The Birmingham Sunlights It's Gonna Rain Folk Masters Amazon
31Simon & Garfunkel Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme Amazon
32Percy Sledge I Wish It Would Rain Blue Night Amazon
33Nick Lowe Raining Raining Nick's Knack Amazon

Summer of Broken Hearts

The debate is over; what’s say we have ourselves another. There’s certainly no debating democracy at work. Today’s Deeper Roots show will find us circulating through the connective tissue of song: themes that connect with one another. A little bit of eclectic free form fused with all the delightful sounds of country, pop, rock and tradition. Our guiding light will be the truth and the American way. Yes, there’s always bubble gum, apple pie, and Sunday church but then we also have the bats**t crazies who will blame all the good, the bad and the ugly on those who don’t resemble themselves or their own views. So take a break with us on this summer of broken hearts and we’ll share country from Don Gibson to Rosanne Cash, rock and roll from The Stray Cats to Fats Domino, and a little bit of sass and blues from Etta James and Charles Brown. Summer’s almost over and election day is fast approaching. So make sure you vote. 

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Sarah Vaughan Broken Hearted Melody Ultimate Sarah Vaughan (Selected by Dee Dee Bridgewater) Amazon
3Chris Isaak Lonely With A Broken Heart San Francisco Days Amazon
4k.d. lang & the Reclines Trail of Broken Hearts Absolute Torch and Twang Amazon
5Rosanne Cash The Way We Make A Broken Heart [Album Version] King's Record Shop Amazon
6Al Green How Can You Mend A Broken Heart The Virgin Suicides Amazon
7Don Williams Some Broken Hearts Will Never Mend The Definitive Collection Amazon
8Don Gibson I Can Mend Your Broken Heart The Complete Recordings 1952-1962 Amazon
9Charles Brown & Johnny Moore's Three Blazers My Heart Is Mended Sunny Road Amazon
10Gram Parsons Hearts On Fire G.P. / Grievous Angel Amazon
11Kelly Dalton I'm On Fire Home – EP Amazon
12Nikki Lane Love's On Fire All or Nothin' (Deluxe) Amazon
13Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys Settin' The Woods On Fire Back At The Quonset Hut Amazon
14Fats Domino I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire This Is Gold Disc 2 Amazon
15Leon Redbone Settin' By The Fire Whistling In The Wind Amazon
16Etta James Let's Burn Down The Cornfield Enduring Soul Amazon
17Etta James Jump Into My Fire Seven Year Itch Amazon
18The Brothers Four Greenfields Best Of The Folk Era Amazon
19Peter Wolf The Green Fields Of Summer [with Neko Case] Midnight Souvenirs Amazon
20Nanci Griffith Fields Of Summer Late Night Grande Hotel Amazon
21Stray Cats Lonely Summer Nights Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92 Amazon
22The Four Preps Lazy Summer Night Dancin' & Romancin' In The '50s And 60s [Disc 3] Amazon
23Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta Summer Nights Grease Amazon
24Steve Forbert Steve Forbert's Midsummer Night's Toast The Best of Steve Forbert: What Kinda Guy? Amazon
25The Beach Boys Your Summer Dream Surfer Girl Amazon
26Link Wray & The Wraymen Summer Dream Destination Beach: 30 Tunes For Dancing In The Sand Amazon
27Rodney Crowell Voila, An American Dream Collection Amazon
28Hayes Carll American Dream What It Is Amazon
29Elvis Presley An American Trilogy Fifty Years Of Hits Amazon
30Willie Nelson By the Rivers of Babylon Gospel Favorites Amazon

Americana Roundup

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

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

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

Tex Mex Fest

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

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

Swamp Pop Fest

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

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