Category Archives: Theme Time

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

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

The Year 1954

We’re going to count down the top ten of the year 1954…in pop, country, and R&B. Nothing special about that year, just a random pick; but it was the year that Marilyn Monroe married Joltin’ Joe D. It was the year the Army-McCarthy hearings convened. The words “under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance. It was also a year of firsts:  That’s Alright, Mama, Elvis’ first big hit, was released on Sun Records, the first Burger King opened, and the first transistor radio was developed and announced by high-tech’s Texas Instruments. The DOW Jones average closed at an all-time high of (a whopping) 382.74. Tune in for the countdown. 65 years in the rear-view on Sonoma County Community Radio.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Frank Sinatra Young At Heart The Complete Capitol Singles Collection [Disc 1] Amazon
3The Midnighters Annie Had a Baby Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 2 Amazon
4Archie Bleyer Hernando's Hideaway Your Hit Parade – 1954 Amazon
5Johnnie & Jack (Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely Golden Age of Country Volume 4: Honky-Tonk Man [Disc 2] Amazon
6The Midnighters Sexy Ways Doo Wop Box, Vol. 3: 101 More Vocal Group Gems from the Golden Age of Rock-N-Roll Disc 1 Amazon
7Doris Day Secret Love The Best Of Doris Day Amazon
8Jim Reeves Bimbo Classic Country Hits 'Your Cheatin Heart' Disc 1 Amazon
9Guitar Slim The Things That I Used To Do Living The Blues: Blues Masters Amazon
10The Four Aces Three Coins In The Fountain A Proper Introduction To The Four Aces – Heart And Soul Amazon
11Webb Pierce Even Tho All Hits! [Disc 1] Amazon
12Faye Adams Hurts Me to My Heart Keeper of My Heart Amazon
13Four Knights I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You) Your Hit Parade – 1954 Amazon
14Hank Snow It Don't Hurt Anymore The Essential Hank Snow Amazon
15Roy Hamilton You'll Never Walk Alone Anthology 1 Amazon
16Eddie Fisher Oh! My Papa Your Hit Parade #1 Hits Of The '50s Amazon
17Eddy Arnold I Don't Really Want to Know (Remake) The Essential Eddy Arnold Amazon
18The Chords Sh-Boom Doo Wop Box Disc 1 Amazon
19Jo Stafford Make Love To Me Your Hit Parade – 1954 Amazon
20Webb Pierce More And More All Hits! [Disc 1] Amazon
21Ruth Brown Oh What A Dream Miss Rhythm Greatest Hits And More Disc 2 Amazon
22The Crew Cuts Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream) Magic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 2) Amazon
23Kitty Wells One By One (w/Red Foley) Singles Amazon
24Big Joe Turner Shake, Rattle and Roll Big Joe Rocks Amazon
25Rosemary Clooney Hey There Magic Moments – The Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 1) Amazon
26Webb Pierce Slowly All Hits! [Disc 1] Amazon
27Hank Ballard & The Midnighters Work With Me Annie The Roots Of Frank Zappa Amazon
28Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra/Perry Como Wanted The Very Best of Perry Como Amazon
29Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys Wake Up Irene Vintage Collections Amazon
30The Drifters With Clyde McPhatter Honey Love (Single/LP Version) Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters Amazon
31Kitty Kallen Little Things Mean A Lot Magic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 3) Amazon
32Stuart Hamblen This Ole House Classic Country Amazon
33Rosemary Clooney This Ole House 16 Most Requested Songs (K) Amazon
34The Crows Gee Doo Wop Box Disc 1 Amazon
35Bill Haley & His Comets Dim, Dim The Lights (I Want Some Atmosphere) (Single Version) Rock Around The Clock Amazon
36The Four Tunes I Understand (Just How You Feel) Greatest R&B Hits of 1954, Vol. 9 Amazon

Birds

For the birds, about the birds, and don’t you know that we’ll be wingin’ it on Deeper Roots….literally and figuratively. Our theme this week celebrates these descendants of prehistoric times and  we’ll celebrate with flights of music and lyrics by all of the best including stories of robins, blackbirds, bluebirds, mockingbirds, and whipporwills.  Tune in for music from LIttle Jimmy Dickens, Buffalo Springfield, Bill Monroe, and The Handsome Family on a Sonoma County Community radio morning that promises the brightest and warmest of the year so far. What better way to enjoy a Friday morning.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Al Jolson When the Red Red Robin (Birds) Bob Dylan Presents: Radio Radio, Theme Time Radio Hour, Vol. 3 Amazon
3Steve Goodman Red Red Robin Live at the Earl of Old Town Amazon
4Cyril Grantham With Geraldo & His Orchestra Robins And Roses Penny Serenade – Rare Recordings From The 1930s Amazon
5Jimmy Martin Little Robin Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys 1954-1974 [Disc 3] Amazon
6Luke Jordan Pick Poor Robin Clean Before The Blues Vol. 3 Amazon
7Howlin' Wolf Bluebird Smokestack Lightning /The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960 Amazon
8Bonnie Raitt Bluebird Bonnie Raitt Amazon
9Leon Russell Bluebird Retrospective Amazon
10Buffalo Springfield Bluebird Retrospective – The Best of Buffalo Springfield Amazon
11Marvin Rainwater Gonna Find Me A Bluebird Three Classic Albums Plus Singles 1955-1962 Amazon
12Bing Crosby So the Bluebirds and the Blackbirds Got Together Bing Crosby in Hollywood (1930-1934), Vol. 1 Amazon
13Annette Hanshaw with her Novelty Orchestra My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now The Girl Next Door Amazon
14Little Jimmy Dickens May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose The Best of Country Amazon
15Al Clauser & His Oklahoma Outlaws Dance Of The Dodo Bird The Best Of Western Swing Amazon
16Cab Calloway Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird Are You Hep To The Jive? Amazon
17Eels Little Bird End Times Amazon
18Mel Blanc And The Sportsmen Woody Woodpecker Mairzy Doats-44 Wacky Hits [Disc 1] Amazon
19Dean Martin Bye Bye Blackbird Cocktail Hour Disc 1 Amazon
20Patti Page Mockin' Bird Hill The Patti Page Collection: The Mercury Years, Volume 1 Amazon
21The Handsome Family Woodpecker Wilderness Amazon
22T-Bone Burnett The Bird That I Held in My Hand Twenty Twenty: The Esssential T-Bone Burnett Disc 1 Amazon
23Jim Greer When It's Time For The Whipporwill To Sing 30 Appalachian Bluegrass Classics: Vintage Collection Power Picks Amazon
24Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys The First Whipporwill The Best of Bill Monroe Amazon
25Blue Lu Barker A Little Bird Told Me Chronological Blue Lu Barker (1946-1949) Amazon
26Tina Dixon Parrot Bar Boogie Boogie Woogie Gals – 1939-57 Amazon
27Bobby Day Rockin' Robin Oldies But Goodies: 21 #1 Hits Amazon
28Johnny "Guitar" Watson The Eagle Is Back Blues Masters: The Very Best Of Johnny "Guitar" Watson Amazon
29Steve Miller Band Fly Like An Eagle (2006 Digital Remaster) Fly Like An Eagle – 30th Anniversary Amazon
30The Flamingos I Only Have Eyes For You Dancin' And Romancin' In The 50s And 60s [Disc 1] Amazon
31Neil Young Birds After the Gold Rush Amazon
32Earl Bostic Flamingo Dance to The Best Of Amazon

The Stax Label

Founded in 1957 by brother and sister Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton as Satellite Records, Stax Records would become a powerhouse soul and R&B label in the sixties. Their ‘open door’ policy of welcoming artists to prove themselves in the studio produced an unparalleled cadre of talent. Although it looked as if the label went down with its biggest talent, Otis Redding, in 1967 when Atlantic Records had Stax forfeit all of its studio recordings through its power of majority stakeholder, under the guiding hand of Al Bell, the catalogue was rebuilt and a whole new generation of performers would surface in the 1970s. We’ll share the stories and the music from the Stax label this Friday on Deeper Roots on Sonoma County’s powerhouse low power station, KOWS.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Ruby Johnson I'll Run Your Hurt Away The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (5 of 9) Amazon
3Veda Brown Short Stopping Stax 50th Anniversary Collection [Disc 3] Amazon
4Mable John Your Good Thing (Is About To End) Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1] Amazon
5Judy Clay & William Bell Private Number Stax 50th [[Disc 1]] Amazon
6Jean Knight Mr. Big Stuff Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 2] Amazon
7Mel & Tim Starting All Over Again Stax 50th [[Disc 1]] Amazon
8Otis Redding & Carla Thomas Tramp Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1] Amazon
9Otis Redding Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul Amazon
10Ollie & the Nightingales I Got a Sure Thing The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (9 of 9) Amazon
11Albert King Born Under a Bad Sign The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (7 of 9) Amazon
12Albert King Crosscut Saw The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (6 of 9) Amazon
13Booker T. & The MG's Time Is Tight Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 2] Amazon
14Booker T. & the MG's Slim Jenkins' Place The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (8 of 9) Amazon
15Carla Thomas Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes) Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1] Amazon
16Isaac Hayes & David Porter Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) Stax 50th Anniversary Collection [Disc 3] Amazon
17The Bar-Kays Soul Finger Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1] Amazon
18Otis Redding Mr. Pitiful The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 Disc 4 Amazon
19Isaac Hayes Theme From Shaft Stax 50th [[Disc 1]] Amazon
20The Mar-Keys Last Night Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1] Amazon
21Eddie Floyd Knock On Wood Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1] Amazon
22The Staple Singers I'll Take You There Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 2] Amazon
23Sam & Dave When Something Is Wrong With My Baby The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (7 of 9) Amazon
24Sam & Dave Hold On I'm Coming Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1] Amazon
25William Bell I Forgot To Be Your Lover Stax 50th Anniversary Collection [Disc 2] Amazon
26Sir Mack Rice Love Sickness The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (8 of 9) Amazon
27The Four Shells Hot Dog The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (5 of 9) Amazon
28Jeanne & the Darlings Soul Girl The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (9 of 9) Amazon
29Linda Lyndell What A Man Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1] Amazon
30March Wind Do The Sweetback Stax 50th Anniversary Collection [Disc 3] Amazon
31The Staple Singers Respect Yourself Stax Profiles Amazon
32Carla Thomas Stop! Look What You're Doing The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (5 of 9) Amazon

Rodgers & Hammerstein

It’s fun to cover the songwriters whether they be pop, country, blues, or in the wheelhouse of Broadway or Tin Pan Alley. This week, we drop by the sophisticated, cosmopolitan, and catchy sounds from the Great White Way. From Broadway to Hollywood, the music of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II left a cultural watermark on the psyche of middle America in the heart of the 20th Century. From The Sound of Music to Oklahoma!; from Carousel to The King and I and South Pacific, the songs that were featured in these musicals were totems to their time and place. And catchy, too. Tune in for a romp through some of the most popular performances written by two giants of screen and stage musicals.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Shirley Jones, James Whitmore, Gordon MacRae Oklahoma Oklahoma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Amazon
3Oscar Hammerstein II Act I: The Sound Of Music The Sound Of Music: Original Broadway Cast Amazon
4Mary Martin My Favorite Things Columbia Records' 125th Anniv. Amazon
5Blossom Dearie Surrey With The Fringe On Top Four Classic Albums Plus (Blossom Dearie / Plays For Dancing / Give Him The Ooh-La-La / Once Upon A Summertime) (Digitally Remastered) Amazon
6Gertrude Lawrence Getting To Know You Ultimate Broadway [Disc 1] Amazon
7Ella Fitzgerald I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair That's Amore [Prism] Amazon
8Frank Sinatra It Might As Well Be Spring Sinatra & Strings Amazon
9Ray Charles & Betty Carter People Will Say We're In Love Ray Charles and Betty Carter/Dedicated To You Amazon
10Jo Stafford The Gentleman is a Dope Yes Indeed! – [Disc 3] Haunted Heart Amazon
11Bobby Darin Hello, Young Lovers Wild Cool & Swingin Amazon
12Mary Martin A Wonderful Guy The Best of Broadway: The Late '40s Amazon
13Willie Nelson Some Enchanted Evening What A Wonderful World Amazon
14Elvis Presley You'll Never Walk Alone He Touched Me: The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley Disc 1 Amazon
15James Taylor Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin' Other Covers Amazon
16Gordon MacRae Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin' Oklahoma (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Amazon
17Bloody Mary and the Ken Darby Singers Bali Ha'i South Pacific, Original Soundtrack Recording Amazon
18Nellie Forbush and the Ken Darby Singers I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair South Pacific, Original Soundtrack Recording Amazon
19Nancy Wilson Happy Talk Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley Amazon
20The King And I Cast I Whistle A Happy Tune The King And I Amazon
21Gertrude Lawrence And Yul Brynner Shall We Dance Ultimate Broadway [Disc 1] Amazon
22Bing Crosby And Trudy Erwin People Will Say We're In Love Your Hit Parade – 1943 Amazon
23Bob Dylan Some Enchanted Evening Shadows in the Night Amazon
24Jo Stafford If I Loved You You Belong To Me Amazon
25Jan Clayton & John Raitt If I Loved You The Original Broadway Cast Album Amazon
26Rosemary Clooney Younger Than Springtime Beautiful Ballads Amazon
27Sammy Davis Jr. There Is Nothin' Like A Dame Boys Night Out Amazon
28Lena Horne People Will Say We're In Love Stormy Weather Amazon
29Randy Spendlove Shall We Dance Shall We Dance? Amazon
30Wes Montgomery The Surrey with the Fringe on Top Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides (Disc 1) Amazon
3120th Century Fox Orchestra Main Title The King And I 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

Mambo Baby!

Well, it might be a bit of a stretch, and it might have been a bit of a fad, but it also flavored the beverage. Mambo. A lively mix born of a Latin dance of Cuban descent in the 30s and introduced by Perez Prado to an American audience in the 40s. It found it’s way into the popular music culture from big band to jazz and R&B. This week’s show samples some of the performances that were totally infected by its rhythm. We’ll hear from Mickey Baker, Wynonie Harris, and Tiny Grimes on the R&B side as well as the bandleaders who brassed it up including Perez Prado, Desi Arnaz, and Xavier Cugat.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Wynonie Harris All She Wants to do is Mambo Lovin' Machine Amazon
3Perez Prado Mambo #5 Cocktail Hour : Mambo Jambo Amazon
4The Andrews Sisters The Mambo Man Golden Age of the Andrews Sisters [Disc 4] Amazon
5Tito Puente Cuban Pete Mambo Kings Amazon
6Tiny Grimes Showboat Mambo Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
7Xavier Cugat Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much) The Original Mambo King [Disc 2] Amazon
8Desi Arnaz Holiday In Havana The Best of Desi Arnaz: The Mambo King Amazon
9Desi Arnaz;Amanda Lane Cuban Pete The Best of Desi Arnaz: The Mambo King Amazon
10J.J. Jones After Hours Mambo Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
11Mickey Baker Guitar Mambo Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
12Ruth Brown Mambo Baby Miss Rhythm Greatest Hits And More Disc 2 Amazon
13Joe Liggins & His Orchestra They Were Doing the Mambo Mercury R&B Story '45-'55 – [Disc 6] West Coast Blues V2 Amazon
14Cherokee & Band Mambo Blues Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
15The Treniers Who Put The 'Ungh' In The Mambo You're Killin' Me Amazon
16Don Swan El Cumbanchero [Guaracha-Fast Rhumba] Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 2: Mambo Fever Amazon
17Fay Simmons Big Joe Mambo Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
18Big Maybelle New Kind Of Mambo The Complete OKeh Sessions 1952-'55 Amazon
19Earl Bostic Mambostic Earl Bostic Flamingo Amazon
20Cozy Cole Cozy's Mambo 1 Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
21Jack Costanzo Peter Gunn Mambo Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 2: Mambo Fever Amazon
22Bill Doggett Real Gone Mambo (Si Si Nova) Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
23Esther Sutherland Clock Mambo Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
24Xavier Cugat Cuban Mambo Cocktail Hour : Mambo Jambo Amazon
25Link Wray & The Wraymen Rumble Mambo Walkin' With Link Amazon
26Ry Cooder & Manuel Galban Patricia Mambo Sinuendo Amazon
27Yma Sumac Taki Rari Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 2: Mambo Fever Amazon
28Billy May Hernando's Hideaway Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 2: Mambo Fever Amazon
29The Manhattan Transfer The Speak Up Mambo (Cuentame) Anthology – Down in Birdland [Disc 1] Amazon
30Young-Holt Trio Wack Wack Big Noise: A Mambo Inn Compilation Amazon
31Tito Puente Hong Kong Mambo Cocktail Hour : Mambo Jambo Amazon
32Wynonie Harris Good Mambo Tonight Lovin' Machine Amazon
33Sonny Rollins Mambo Bounce Best of Sonny Rollins, the (Riverside) Amazon
34J.J. Jones Night Train Mambo Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
35Norton Buffalo & The Knockouts Harmonica Mambo King of the Highway 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

Bayou R&B

Back to the bayou once more. This time we keep our focus with laser precision on the rhythm and the blues swirling around in the stew that is Louisiana and the southern climes. You can look forward to some straight ahead blues from Katie Webster, B. B. King, and Lonesome Sundown as well as rhythm vocals from the likes of Art Neville, The Del-Chords, and Joe Richards. I’m telling you…you won’t be hearing anything like it anywhere on Sonoma County radio. It’s a down and dirty bayou collection including selections from the Ace UK archives, the Chess label, and includes some special treats from Little Richard, The Spiders, and King Karl.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2James Booker Junco Partner Junco Partner Amazon
3Little Richard Directly from My Heart The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 2] Amazon
4Joe Richards You'd Better Change Rhythm & Bluesin' By The Bayou – Rompin' & Stompin' Amazon
5Tabby Thomas I'd Love To Tell Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies Amazon
6Johnnie Allan Lonely Days & Lonely Nights Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
7Cookie & His Cupcakes Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Vocal Groups Amazon
8The Velvetiers Feelin' Right On Saturday Night Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Vocal Groups Amazon
9The Del-Chords Help Me Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Vocal Groups Amazon
10The Hi-Fi's I'm So Lonely Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Vocal Groups Amazon
11The Spiders I Didn't Want to Do It Doo Wop Box, Vol. 3: 101 More Vocal Group Gems from the Golden Age of Rock-N-Roll Disc 3 Amazon
12Art Neville House On The Hill Brother to Brother (Disc One:Art) Amazon
13Art Neville What's Going On The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 4] Amazon
14Clarence "Frogman" Henry Ain't Got No Home Chess New Orleans [Disc 2] Amazon
15Earl King Feeling My Way Around Chess New Orleans [Disc 2] Amazon
16Sugar Boy Crawford What's Wrong Chess New Orleans [Disc 1] Amazon
17Chris Kenner Something You Got Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
18Katie Webster Hoo Wee, Sweet Daddy Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies Amazon
19Jimmy Dotson I Need Your Love Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies Amazon
20Lionel Torrance Rooty Tooty Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies Amazon
21King Karl Walking Through The Park Rhythm & Bluesin' By The Bayou – Rompin' & Stompin' Amazon
22B.B. King Bad Case of Love Blues on the Bayou Amazon
23Lonesome Sundown California Blues Rhythm & Bluesin' By The Bayou – Rompin' & Stompin' Amazon
24Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns Don't You Just Know It Having A Good Time with Huey 'Piano' Smith & His Clowns – The Very Best Of, Volume 1 Amazon
25Fats Domino Whole Lotta Loving Very Best of Fats Domino [Phantom] (Disc 2) Amazon
26Bobby Mitchell I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
27Clifton Chenier The Big Wheel (Squeeze Box Shuffle) Chess New Orleans [Disc 1] Amazon
28Smiley Lewis Shame, Shame, Shame I Hear You Knocking: 1947-1962 Disc 3 Amazon
29John Fred Shirley Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
30Ernie K-Doe Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta Absolutely the Best Amazon
31Big Boy Myles New Orleans The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 5] Amazon
32Frankie Ford Roberta Very Best Of Frankie Ford Amazon
33Charles Brown & Amos Milburn Educated Fool The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 4] Amazon
34Clarence 'Bon Ton' Garlow Jumping At The Zadacoe Louisiana Swamp Blues Amazon
35Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns Don't You Know Yockomo Having A Good Time with Huey 'Piano' Smith & His Clowns – The Very Best Of, Volume 1 Amazon
36Clarence "Frogman" Henry It Won't Be Long Chess New Orleans [Disc 2] Amazon
37Fats Domino The Fat Man Out Of New Orleans, Vol. 1 Amazon