Category Archives: Rock

Summer Sun

Summer’s here and you know what that means…we’ll be running through a bit of theme, this time with the focus on all that we celebrate in summer. With the Fourth of July coming up we’ll turn our attention to barbecues, baseball, ice cream treats, the warmth of the sun, swimming holes, and everything summer. Tune in for some terrific tracks from Dean Martin, Johnny Rivers, The Four Preps, Walter Wanderly and a whole lot more. It took us six months for the days to get longer and now it’s another six months of diminished daylight but that’s what make three other seasons something to relish…I guess. So whether you’re shipping kids off to summer camp, planning for this year’s visit to the Fair, or planning a trip to a ballpark or beach, know that it’ll be warmer than colder and we’re here to play the background music here on Sonoma County Community Radio, KOWS-LP, 92.5 FM Occidental, streaming to all over this big blue marble on kowsfm.com/listen.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2The Beach Boys All Summer Long All Summer Long Amazon
3The Donkeys Theme From The Endless Summer Theme From The Endless Summer [single] Amazon
4Jack Nitzsche The Lonely Surfer Cowabunga! The Surf Box Disc 2 Amazon
5The Beach Boys Keep An Eye On Summer Summer Love Songs Amazon
6Nat King Cole That Sunday, That Summer 30 Greatest Hits Disc 1 Amazon
7The Four Preps 26 Miles (Santa Catalina) Banana Split for My Baby Amazon
8The Grand Southern The Boys of Summer Don't Say Anything Amazon
9Terry Cashman Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey & "The Duke") 61* [Box Set] Disc 1 Amazon
10John Fogerty Centerfield Sing America Amazon
11Sister Wynona Carr The Ball Game Baseball Anthems Amazon
12Betty Bonney & Les Brown and His Orchestra Joltin' Joe Dimaggio Baseball Anthems Amazon
13Ronnie Isle and the Blisters Bad Sunburn Banana Split for My Baby Amazon
14Dean Martin w. Dick Stabile Orchestra In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening Good Old Summertime Amazon
15The Four Mints Night Air Good Old Summertime Amazon
16Jo Ann Campbell Beach Comber Banana Split for My Baby Amazon
17Frank Triolo and the Shipmates Orchestra Ice Cream Baby Banana Split for My Baby Amazon
18The Pearls Ice Cream Baby Another Banana Split, please Amazon
19Leslie Uggams and Hugo Peretti Orchestra Ice Cream Man Banana Split for My Baby Amazon
20Fred Waring; Pennsylvanians I Scream, You Scream (We All Scream for Ice Cream) The Silly Songs (1922 to 1934) Amazon
21Walter Wanderley Summer Samba Instrumental Favorites- Latin Rhythms Amazon
22Johnny Rivers Summer Rain Anthology: 1964-1977 [Disc 2] Amazon
23Santo & Johnny Summertime Sleepwalk – The First Two Albums Amazon
24Les Paul & Mary Ford In The Good Old Summertime The Best Of The Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition Amazon
25Loudon Wainwright III The Swimming Song Attempted Mustache Amazon
26Bobby Bare They Covered Up the Old Swimming Hole Memories – RCA Singles 1962 – 1969 Amazon
27Tennessee Ernie Ford and Cliffie Stone's Music Sunday Barbecue Banana Split for My Baby Amazon
28Robert Earl Keen Barbeque Gringo Honeymoon Amazon
29Buzz Cason Barbeque Hats Off To Hank Amazon
30Wendy Waldman Long Hot Summer Nights Love Is The Only Goal: The Best Of Wendy Waldman Amazon
31Plains Summer Sun I Walked With You A Ways Amazon
32Robin Ward Wonderful Summer Vintage Collectors Series Music, Volume 11 & 12 Amazon
33Don Henley The Boys Of Summer Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits Amazon

Cynthia Weil Tribute

In a June Substack tribute to Cynthia Weil’s legacy, Dan Epstein of “Jagged Time Lapse” observed that the “modern pop songbook would be significantly slimmer and less life-affirming without their work”.  The ‘their’ referring, of course, to her husband and songwriting partner Barry Mann. From their early Brill Building output which included “Uptown” (The Crystals), “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (The Righteous Brothers), and “Walking In The Rain” (The Ronettes), to the chart-topping 80s classics of “Don’t Know Much” (Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville) and “Here You Come Again” (Dolly Parton), Cynthia Weil’s contributions to popular music were indeed affirming. This week’s Deeper Roots pays due respect to Cynthia, who was married to Barry Mann for almost 62 years, and was lyricist to his music. Their contributions to the sound of rock and roll and pop music in the 1960s rivaled luminaries like Burt Bacharach, Carole King and Neil Diamond.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Jay & the Americans Only in America Red, White & Rock Disc 2 Amazon
3The Drifters On Broadway Red, White & Rock Disc 2 Amazon
4Arthur Alexander Where Have You Been The Greatest Hits Amazon
5Tony Orlando Bless You Halfway To Paradise: The Epic Records Story Amazon
6The Cinderellas Please Don't Wake Me The Brill Building Sound [Disc 3] Amazon
7The Crystals Uptown Back to Mono (1958-1969) Disc 1 Amazon
8The Crystals He's Sure the Boy I Love Back to Mono (1958-1969) Disc 1 Amazon
9The Ronettes Walking in the Rain The Best of the Ronettes Amazon
10The Ronettes You Baby The Best of the Ronettes Amazon
11The Lovin' Spoonful You Baby Greatest Hits [Buddha] Amazon
12Shelley Fabares Johnny Loves Me The Brill Building Sound [Disc 3] Amazon
13The Righteous Brothers You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' The Very Best of the Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody Amazon
14The Righteous Brothers (You're My) Soul and Inspiration The Very Best of the Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody Amazon
15The Animals We Gotta Get Out of This Place The Singles Plus Disc 1 Amazon
16The Vogues Magic Town Greatest Hits Amazon
17Scott Walker Angelica Scott Amazon
18Max Frost & The Troopers Shape of Things to Come Shape of Things to Come – Single Amazon
19Mark Lindsay/Paul Revere Kicks Red, White & Rock Disc 3 Amazon
20Paul Revere & The Raiders Hungry Time-Life Classic Rock: 1964 – The Beat Goes On Amazon
21Mama Cass Elliot Make Your Own Kind Of Music Creeque Alley: The History Of The Mamas & The Papas [Disc 2] Amazon
22Mama Cass Elliot It's Getting Better Creeque Alley: The History Of The Mamas & The Papas [Disc 2] Amazon
23Dusty Springfield Just a Little Lovin' Dusty in Memphis [Deluxe Edition] Amazon
24The Drifters Saturday Night At The Movies The Definitive Drifters [Disc 2] Amazon
25Elvis Presley I Just Can't Help Believin' Artist of the Century Disc 3 Amazon
26Dolly Parton Here You Come Again Dolly [Disc 3] Amazon
27The Pointer Sisters He's So Shy From The Pointer Sisters With Love Amazon
28The Girls Chico's Girl The Brill Building Sound [Disc 3] Amazon
29The Ronettes Born to Be Together The Best of the Ronettes Amazon
30The Ronettes Woman in Love (With You) Back to Mono (1958-1969) Disc 2 Amazon
31The Monkees Love Is Only Sleeping Listen to the Band Disc 2 Amazon
32The Drifters Only In America The Definitive Drifters [Disc 2] Amazon
33Gene Pitney Angelica Sings Great Ballads Amazon

Sass & Gas

An eclectic episode full of sass, gas and plenty of brass. We’re going the free form route today and there’ll be plenty of embellishments to the morning as we take a blindfolded trip through a hall of mirrors with some classy vocals from Frankie, Peggy Lee and Helen Forrest; some honky tonk whiskey-in-the-bottle twangin’ from George Jones, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee; rocking rhythm passion from Tina Turner, The Marquees, and Elmore James; and much more including some little known nuggets from Bob Dylan, Merle Travis, and Daddy Cleanhead. We’re going to set the morning on fire with plenty of fuel from the deeper wells of the past century of America’s music. You don’t want to miss out. Join Dave Stroud for another Friday morning selection of wild tune-age on KOWS Community Radio.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Hank Penny Hold The Phone Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 Amazon
3Ike & Tina Turner It's Gonna Work Out Fine Birth Of Soul: 3 Amazon
4Marshall Crenshaw Blues Is King Downtown Amazon
5Daddy Cleanhead Something's Goin' On In My Room Bob Dylan – Radio Radio – Theme Time Radio Hour Volume Four [Disc 2] Amazon
6The Marquees Hey Little Schoolgirl OKeh Rhythm & Blues Amazon
7The Delta Rhythm Boys Dry Bones The Best Of 1940-50 Amazon
8James Taylor Coming Back To You Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen Amazon
9Bob Dylan Braggin' Triplicate Amazon
10Frank Sinatra I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' Bob Dylan – Radio Radio – Theme Time Radio Hour Volume Four [Disc 2] Amazon
11Peggy Lee I'm Beginning To See The Light Bob Dylan – Radio Radio – Theme Time Radio Hour Volume Four Amazon
12Glen Gray & The Casa Lorne Orchestra Blue Moon Bob Dylan Presents: Cover to Cover – The Originals Amazon
13The Artie Shaw Orchestra Feat. Helen Forrest Deep In A Dream The Essential Artie Shaw [Disc 2] Amazon
14Buddy Emmons Deep In The Heart Of Texas Buddy Emmons Sings Bob Wills Amazon
15Geraint Watkins Deep in the Heart of Texas Aide Memoire Amazon
16Carl Perkins Matchbox Original Sun Greatest Hits Amazon
17Jimmie Dale Gilmore Train of Love Come on Back Amazon
18Slim Whitman Down In The Valley Wagon Wheels [Disc 2] Amazon
19The Handsome Family Down In the Valley of Hollow Logs Through the Trees Amazon
20The Louvin Brothers The Wreck On The Highway Sing the Great Roy Acuff Songs Amazon
21George Jones Just One More The Best Of George Jones: 1955-1967 Amazon
22Geraint Watkins Heart of Stone Rush of Blood Amazon
23Merle Travis I Used To Work In Chicago The Guitar Picker CD1 – Divorce Me C. O. D. Amazon
24Webb Pierce California Blues Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour: The Best Of The Second Series Amazon
25The Carlisles Nine Have Tried (and None Have Died) (Second Countdown) Bob Dylan Presents: Radio Radio, Theme Time Radio Hour, Vol. 3 Amazon
26Hank Williams No, No Joe Beyond The Sunset Amazon
27Charlie Louvin Katy Dear Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs Amazon
28Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys Cadillac in Model "A" Legends of Country Music Disc 4 Amazon
29Jerry Lee Lewis End of the Road 25 All-Time Greatest Sun Recordings Amazon
30Everly Brothers I'm Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail Classic Everly Brothers – Vol. 2 Amazon
31Johnny Cash Train Of Love His Sun Years: Down South Amazon
32T-Bone Burnett I'm Coming Home Truth Decay Amazon
33Bob Dylan Ring Them Bells Oh Mercy Amazon
34Steve Allen This Could Be The Start Of Something Big Bob Dylan – Radio Radio – Theme Time Radio Hour Volume Four [Disc 2] Amazon

Liberty Rocks

Liberty Records was founded in 1955 by Simon Waronker after his cousin, Herb Newman, suggested they go into the record business. The early years found the label in the deep end of easy listening pop with the likes of Julie London, novelty music featuring The Chipmunks, Patience and Prudence, Martin Denny, and Henry Mancini. But rock n’ roll was hitting its stride, and in the late fifties they released a blend of pure rock and rockabilly with Eddie Cochran. But the 60s found a more tame version with hitmakers like Bobby Vee, Johnny Burnette, Timi Yuro, Buddy Knox, and the post-Buddy Holly Crickets. At the peak of it’s hit-making machine the whole lot was sold to an umbrella company that also featured the catalogs of Imperial, Aladdin, Minit, and Dolton…we’ll share a host of Liberty releases with you in the show today. With the exception of Eddie Cochran, we’ll just call it rock ‘n roll ‘lite’.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Eddie Cochran C'mon Everybody Eddie Cochran: 2 Classic Albums Plus Singles And Session Tracks [Disc 1] Amazon
3Eddie Cochran Hallelujah I Love Her So Eddie Cochran: 2 Classic Albums Plus Singles And Session Tracks [Disc 1] Amazon
4Eddie Cochran Nervous Breakdown Eddie Cochran Singles Album Amazon
5Shirley & Lee Hey Little Boy Shirley & Lee Rock Amazon
6Rick Nelson Teenage Idol Greatest Love Songs Amazon
7Sandy Nelson &And Then There Were Drums Their Greatest Misses Amazon
8Buddy Knox Open (Your Lovin' Arms) Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
9Bobby Vee Sharing You Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
10Roosevelt Grier The Mail Must Go Through Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
11Jackie DeShannon Just Like In The Movies Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
12Warren Smith Book Of Broken Hearts Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
13The Rivingtons Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
14Gene McDaniels Chip Chip Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
15Johnny Burnette The Fool Of The Year Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
16Matt Monroe Softly As I Leave You Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
17Betty O' Brian Money Honey Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
18The Crickets Little Hollywood Girl Point Of No Return: The Liberty Records Story 1962 Amazon
19Bobby Vee The Night Has A Thousand Eyes Easy Listening Gold 1962-1963 Amazon
20Jackie DeShannon Needles And Pins The Brill Building Sound [Disc 3] Amazon
21The Ventures Walk, Don't Run 61* [Box Set] Disc 1 Amazon
22Jan & Dean Linda Jan & Dean Anthology Album Amazon
23Jan & Dean Honolulu Lulu Surf City + Folk 'n Roll Amazon
24The Fleetwoods (Goodnight My Love) Pleasant Dreams Come Softly To Me: The Very Best Of The Fleetwoods Amazon
25Wilson Pickett It's Too Late A Man & A Half: The Best Of Wilson Pickett [Disc 1] Amazon
26Irma Thomas Break-A-Way Time Is on My Side: The Best of Irma Thomas, Vol. 1 Amazon
27Johnny Rivers Memphis Greatest Hits [Capitol] Amazon
28Johnny Rivers Seventh Son Best Of Johnny Rivers Amazon
29Johnny Rivers Mountain Of Love Best Of Johnny Rivers Amazon
30Gary Lewis & the Playboys This Diamond Ring Red, White & Rock Disc 2 Amazon
31Cher All I Really Want To Do Yesterday's Gone [Disc 1] Amazon
32Del Shannon The Big Hurt The Complete Recordings 1960-1970: Home and Away Amazon
33Mel Carter Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me Music to Shag By Amazon
34Mel Carter Band of Gold The Best of Jukebox Rock – 1966 – Volume 2 Amazon
35Johnny Rivers The Poor Side of Town Greatest Hits [Capitol] Amazon
36Gene McDaniels Point of No Return The Liberty Records Story (Pt. 1) Amazon

Imperial Rhythm & Rockabilly

The Imperial label will be the subject of this week’s Deeper Roots show. Founded in 1947 by Lew Chudd, it’s early years featured some of the very best rhythm and blues and early rock you could find. Their lineup included some of the big names of early rock, not least of which was Roy Brown, Fats Domino, Frankie Ford and Ricky Nelson. They would dabble in country and jazz but also looked to strike while the iron was hot when Elvis hit with a blend of country and rhythm and blues in the mid-50s. They did so by looking for new names with ducktails and driving combos in the rockabilly era. This episode focuses primarily on the 1950s with a future episode taking us further into the label’s sale to Liberty Records in 1963 but not before Lew Chudd purchased Aladdin and Minit Records, bringing over even more of the R&B talent that they would be known for. It’s another Deeper Roots Friday morning on KOWS.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Fats Domino The Fat Man Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: Piano Blues – A Film By Clint Eastwood Amazon
3Smiley Lewis Tee-Nah-Nah I Hear You Knocking 1947-1962 Disc 1 Amazon
4Guitar Slim and His Band Bad Luck Is On Me [Woman Troubles] Louisiana Swamp Blues Amazon
5Big Jay McNeely All That Wine Is Gone Jumpin' Like Mad: Cool Cats & Hip Chicks Non-Stop Dancin' [Disc 1] Amazon
6T-Bone Walker Cold Cold Feeling Best Of Black & White & Imperial Years Amazon
7Fat Man Matthews & the Four Kittens Later Baby Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 3 Amazon
8Fats Domino Goin' Home Rock And Rollin Amazon
9Lil' Son Jackson Get High Everybody Vol. 2 1950-1952 Amazon
10Smiley Lewis Big Mamou I Hear You Knocking 1947-1962 Disc 2 Amazon
11Hawks I-Yi Money Honey – Rise of the Black Vocal Group 51-53 Amazon
12Pee Wee Crayton Win-O Pee Wee's Blues – The Complete Aladdin And Imperial Recordings Amazon
13Joe Houston Orchestra All Night Long Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 4 Amazon
14The Pelicans Ain't Gonna Do It Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 2 Amazon
15The Spiders I Didn't Want To Do It Sound Of The City, The – New Orleans [UK] Disc 1 Amazon
16Dave Bartholomew Another Mule 1952-1955 Amazon
17James "Sugar Boy" Crawford She Gotta Wobble (When She Walks) (Imperial 5424) R&B Humdingers Volume 12 Amazon
18Bobby Mitchell with Dave Bartholomew's Orch.' Try Rock And Roll Blowing The Fuse: 1956 Amazon
19Lew Williams Cat Talk Classic Rockabilly-Cool Cats & Hot Chicks Amazon
20Lew Williams Gone Ape Man Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
21Merle Kilgore Ernie Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
22The Strikes Baby I'm Sorry Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
23Bob Luman Red Hot Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
24Ricky Nelson Stood Up Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
25Ricky Nelson Boppin' The Blues Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
26Ricky Nelson Waitin' In School Legacy [Disc 1] Amazon
27Dennis Herrold Hip Hip Baby Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
28Weldon Rogers So Long, Good Luck & Goodbye Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
29Dorsey & Johnny Burnette My Honey Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
30Dorsey & Johnny Burnette Warm Love Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
31Slick Slavin Speed Crazy Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
32Bill Allen Please Give Me Something Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
33Jackie Walker Only Teenagers Allowed Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
34Billy Eldridge Let's Go Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story Amazon
35Faye Adams Keeper Of My Heart Crescent City Soul Amazon
36Roy Brown Let the Four Winds Blow The Complete Imperial Recordings Amazon
37Ricky Nelson My Bucket's Got A Hole In It Legacy [Disc 1] Amazon

Rhythm & Blues Jezebels

Wild and sassy sounds from the archives of 40s and 50s rhythm & blues featuring some of the female dynamos of the genre coming your way on a Friday morning here on Deeper Roots. We’ll be featuring some great performances from the catalog of Jubilee Records (those Jubilee Jezebels) and a host of peers including some early scorchers from Little Sylvia (Robinson), Big Maybelle, Viola Watkins, Fay Simmons, and Ruth Brown. For the first three or four decades of the recorded blues and jazz, women played a major part in black music’s popularity and there was a resurgent ‘boom’ post-war that played a bigger part than we imagined in that tidal wave of wild rhythm beat that would become rock and soul. These are some classic tracks that don’t always get the attention they deserve…but they will here on Deeper Roots on a Friday morning on KOWS.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Sister Rosetta Tharpe Strange Things Happen Every Day Good News (Vol 3) Get Away Jordan Amazon
3Miss Rhapsody (Viola Wells) Sweet Man Blues Women Amazon
4Mabel Scott Catch Em Young Treat Em Rough Tell Em Nothing Blues Women Amazon
5The Enchanters Boogie Woogie Daddy Jubilee Jezebels Amazon
6Enchanters Housewife Blues Money Honey – Rise of the Black Vocal Group 51-53 Amazon
7Jeanne Gayle Bim Bam Baby Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
8Little Sylvia Drive Daddy Drive Jubilee Jezebels Amazon
9Little Sylvia Everything I Need But You Jubilee Jezebels Amazon
10Little Sylvia Ain't Gonna Do It Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
11Viola Watkins It Must Be Love Jubilee Jezebels Amazon
12Viola Watkins Boogie Woogie On A Saturday Night Boogie Woogie Gals – 1939-57 Amazon
13Viola Watkins Really Real Jubilee Jezebels Amazon
14Varetta Dillard Mercy, Mr Percy Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
15Mabel Scott Mr Fine Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
16LaVern Baker Voodoo Voodoo Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
17Edna McGriff Oh Little Daddy Stompin' 34 Amazon
18Edna McGriff I'll Surrender Anytime Jubilee Jezebels Amazon
19Edna McGriff & The Tomcats Mambo Baby Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
20Big Maybelle One Monkey Don't Stop No Show The Complete OKeh Sessions 1952-'55 Amazon
21Big Maybelle Ring Dang Dilly The Very Best Of Big Maybelle Amazon
22Big Maybelle Hair Dressin' Women ABC Of The Blues Vol 29 Amazon
23Ruth Brown Smooth Operator Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
24Fay Simmons You Hit Me Baby Like An Atomic Bomb Atomic Platters Amazon
25Fay Simmons Ella Weaver Dapper Dan Amazon
26Fay Simmons Hangin' Around Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
27Patti Jerome No Mama, No Papa Stompin' 22 – Crazed Rhythm 'N' Blues Pounders! Amazon
28Linda Hopkins Rock And Roll Blues Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
29Carol Fran Knock Knock Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies Amazon
30Carol Fran I'm Gonna Try Cat Scratchin' Amazon
31Carole Fran You Can't Stop Me Jubilee Jezebels Amazon
32Marie Knight Grasshopper Baby Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
33Dolly Cooper Ay La Bah Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
34Dolly Cooper Tell Me, Tell Me Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
35Ella Mae Morse How Can You Leave A Man Like This? Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females Amazon
36Annisteen Allen Fujiyama Mama From The Ghetto Amazon

Covers Time

Another morning of covers, from country to soul and a little bit of rhythm and roll in store. This week’s show celebrates the songwriters and performers who found themselves honored with tributes and covers that honor the sense of a piece. We’ll hear covers of Tom T. Hall, Arthur Alexander, Robert Hunter, Derek Martin, Hank Snow and JJ Cale in the show today. The idea is to find a cover worth noting and put it up alongside the original. Just over a dozen songs to pick from in our two hours this morning featuring covers by Shannon McNally, Charley Crockett, Amy Black and Teddy Thompson. Join Dave Stroud for another episode from those dusty digital bins and turn up the volume for straight interpretations and a few wild takes in another covers show on a Friday morning from the KOWS studio in downtown Santa Rosa, California. 

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2The Everly Brothers Bowling Green Heartaches & Harmonies [Disc 3] Amazon
3Neko Case Bowling Green The Virginian Amazon
4Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels Devil With a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly Red, White & Rock Disc 3 Amazon
5Bill Kirchen Devil With The Blue Dress (Album Version) Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods Amazon
6Willie Nelson Busted I Don't Know A Thing About Love Amazon
7Ray Charles Busted Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection Disc 3 Amazon
8Red Foley Midnight Hillbilly Fever [Disc 3] Amazon
9Kevin Russell Midnight Plain Dirt Fashion Amazon
10Elvis Presley It's Now Or Never Elvis 30 #1 Hits Amazon
11Chris Isaak It's Now or Never Beyond the Sun (Deluxe Version) Amazon
12Elvis Presley Don't Be Cruel Elvis' Golden Records (Volume 1) Amazon
13The Mavericks Don't Be Cruel Play the Hits Amazon
14Derek Martin Daddy Rollin' Stone Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
15The Blasters Daddy Rollin' Stone 4-11-44 Amazon
16Wilson Pickett In the Midnight Hour Red, White & Rock Disc 2 Amazon
17James Taylor In The Midnight Hour Other Covers Amazon
18Bob Luman Let's Think About Living Gems from the Warner Brothers Vault (Pt. 1) Amazon
19Teddy Thompson Let's Think About Living Up Front And Down Low Amazon
20Tom T. Hall I Hope It Rains At My Funeral Tom T. Hall – Storyteller, Poet, Philosopher Amazon
21Charley Crockett I Hope It Rains At My Funeral Lil G.L. Presents: Jukebox Charley Amazon
22The Impressions Gypsy Woman Birth Of Soul: 1 Amazon
23Aaron Neville Gypsy Woman My True Story Amazon
24Arthur Alexander You Better Move On The Greatest Hits Amazon
25Amy Black You Better Move On The Muscle Shoals Sessions Amazon
26Hank Snow I'm Moving On The Essential Hank Snow Amazon
27Willie Nelson I'm Movin' On Remember Me, Vol. 1 Amazon
28John Martyn Don't Want to Know Solid Air Amazon
29Dr. John I Don't Wanna Know Anutha Zone Amazon
30Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys Sugar Moon Legends of Country Music Disc 4 Amazon
31k.d. lang Sugar Moon Shadowland Amazon

Lonesome Train

Free form! That’s right. No theme, no genre exploration, no tribute or topical show today. Only topical playlists embellishing the show today including New Orleans memories from Bobby Mitchell, Fats Domino and Dr. John, country nuggets from Merle, Buck and Elvis as well as some fancy shmancy crooning from a Perry, Blue Eyes and Dino. We’ll also be digging into some classic rockabilly tunes and some canciones de Flaco and Los Lobos. Here in Sonoma County we’re going from three years of drought, wildfires and the Santa Ana winds to preparing for levee breaches and floods with the snow melts. We also get to behave like adults in the face of biased and inhumane Supreme Court decisions and moronic Texas politicians. Because we know who they are and what they represent: book burners and religious zealots with white hoods. While nobody is without sin, we’ll go with Newsom’s ability to employ the right critical thinking at the right time. I told you it would be a free form morning.



No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Geraint Watkins Deep in the Heart of Texas Aide Memoire Amazon
3Ella Mae Morse w/Big Dave and His Orchestra Big Mamou Barrell House Boogie and the Blues Amazon
4Wanda Jackson Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Queen Of Rockabilly Amazon
5Matchbox Rockabilly Rebel Rockabilly Rebel Amazon
6Johnny Burnette Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track) The Train Kept a-Rollin' Memphis to Hollywood – CD1 Amazon
7Sonny Burgess Tomorrow Never Comes We Wanna Boogie Amazon
8Warren Smith Got Love If You Want It The Best of Sun Rockabilly, Vol. 2 Amazon
9Bobby Mitchell I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 2] Amazon
10Fats Domino I Want To Walk You Home Heatin' Up Amazon
11Dr. John Back By The River Mos' Scocious: The Dr. John Anthology [Disc 2] Amazon
12Tommy McLain Before I Grow Too Old The Essential Collection Amazon
13Buck Owens Made In Japan Country USA 1972 Amazon
14Merle Haggard & the Strangers Please Mr. D.J. Swing West 1: Bakersfield Amazon
15Merle Haggard I Wonder If They Ever Think Of Me Country USA 1972 Amazon
16Elvis Presley After Loving You Artist of the Century Disc 3 Amazon
17The Devil and Bunny Show Crossing Muddy Waters The I-10 Chronicles 2 – One More For The Road Amazon
18Los Lobos Set Me Free (Rosa Lee) El Cancionero: Mas y Mas (1 of 4) Amazon
19Flaco Jiminez Margarita Los Super Seven Amazon
20The Band Ophelia To Kingdom Come [Disc 2] Amazon
21Linda Ronstadt Hurt So Bad Very Best Of Linda Ronstadt Amazon
22April Stevens I Want A Lip Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon
23Nino Tempo & April Stevens Deep Purple Teach Me Tiger Amazon
24April Stevens Teach Me Tiger Destination Lust – The World Of Love, Sex And Violence Amazon
25April Stevens Do It Again Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 6: Rhapsodesia Amazon
26Wayne Newton Danke Schoen Jackpot! The Las Vegas Story Amazon
27Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra/Perry Como/Ray Charles Singers Round and Round The Very Best of Perry Como Amazon
28Tony Bennett In the Middle of an Island Your Hit Parade – 1957 Amazon
29Thomas A. Dorsey with Alex Bradford It's A Highway To Heaven Precious Lord Recordings Of The Great Gospel Songs Of Thomas A. Dorsey Amazon
30Sammy Price Trio/Sister Rosetta Tharpe Singing in My Soul The Gospel of Blues Amazon
31Michelle Lanchester/Sweet Honey in the Rock I Was Standing by the Bedside of a Neighbor ( If You See My Saviour) Smithsonian Folkways American Roots Collection Amazon
32Aretha Franklin Don't Play That Song Spirit in the Dark Amazon
33Aretha Franklin Try Matty's Spirit in the Dark Amazon
34The Band The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down The Best of the Band Amazon

Streets of Bakersfield

It was Nashville West but with a decidedly more amount of midwestern flavoring. Bakersfield was the terminus of most of the migrant traffic from the dust bowl where the hope for a better life was not always fulfilled. So many landed square on the Central Valley and for those who grew up it became a whirlwind post-war prosperity that was familiar: oil drilling, agriculture, almond orchards, cattle raising, and a transportation industry to support it. Those who were raised on country swing and the classic country sounds coming out of Nashville were lucky given Bakersfield’s proximity to the studios of Hollywood and Los Angeles. We’ll hear from many of them, digging into the early years of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Tommy Collins, Wynn Stewart and a host of other performers who made that blend of rough country, trucking songs, and honky-tonk swing what it would become.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Buck Owens Streets of Bakersfield All-Time Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 Amazon
3Bill Woods & His Orange Blossom Playboys Have I Got A Chance With You Swingbillies Amazon
4Joe Maphis & Rose Lee Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music) Swing West 1: Bakersfield Amazon
5Jean Shepard with Ferlin Husky A Dear John Letter Swing West 1: Bakersfield Amazon
6Bud Hobbs Louisiana Swing Defining Country Music – The Sounds of Bakersfield Amazon
7Billy Mize Who Will Buy the Wine Billy Mize and the Bakersfield Sound (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Amazon
8Rose & The Maddox Brothers Why Don't You Haul Off & Love Me Maddox Brothers & Rose Amazon
9Alvadean Coker We're Gonna Bop The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 1; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' Amazon
10Tommy Collins What'cha Gonna Do Now? Swing West 1: Bakersfield Amazon
11Ferlin Husky I Feel Better All Over The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 2; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' Amazon
12Bonnie Blue Bell & Leon Reach & Chic Adams Band Let's Go The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 1; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' Amazon
13Billy Mize Solid Sender The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 1; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' Amazon
14Bill Carter I Wanna Feel Good The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 2; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' Amazon
15Johnny Bond Three Or Four Nights The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 2; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' Amazon
16Herb Henson Goodbye, Baby, Goodbye The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 2; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' Amazon
17Wynn Stewart Playboy Come On – Gonna Shake This Shack Amazon
18Buck Owens Hot Dog (with Danny Dedmon) The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 1; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' Amazon
19Buck Owens The Key's In The Mailbox Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard Amazon
20Buck Owens Love's Gonna Live Here Buck 'Em: The Music of Buck Owens (1955-1967) Amazon
21Buck Owens Together Again The Very Best Of Buck Owens, Volume 1 Amazon
22Ferlin Husky Six Days on the Road Defining Country Music – The Sounds of Bakersfield Amazon
23Red Simpson Truck Drivin' Man The Best of Red Simpson: Country Western Truck Drivin' Singer Amazon
24Red Simpson The Highway Patrol Swing West 1: Bakersfield Amazon
25Bonnie Owens Just for the Children's Sake Warped 6534 – Bonnie Owens – 1964 – 1966 Amazon
26Bobby Austin Apartment #9 Swing West 1: Bakersfield Amazon
27Merle Haggard Okie From Muskogee Capitol Collector's Series Amazon
28Merle Haggard And The Strangers Mama Tried (2006 Digital Remaster) Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard Amazon
29Dallas Frazier California Cotton Fields Singing My Songs Amazon
30Abe Mulkey Packed Up And Shoved Off The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 2; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' Amazon
31Wynn Stewart It's Such A Pretty World Today Swing West 1: Bakersfield Amazon
32Wynn Stewart Donna On My Mind California Country Amazon
33Buck Owens Act Naturally The Buck Owens Collection (1959-1990) [Disc 1] Amazon
34Merle Haggard & the Strangers Please Mr. D.J. Swing West 1: Bakersfield Amazon
35Buck Owens Streets of Bakersfield [With Dwight Yoakam] The Buck Owens Collection (1959-1990) – Disc 3 Amazon
36Maddox Brothers & Rose The Death of Rock 'n' Roll Classic Rockabilly Amazon

Loose Talk

A free form Friday morning finds us drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds as we follow the blue shadows on the trail with songs of loose talk, love letters and dreams. We’ll dig deep into those early, mid- and late century digital archives for some sweet and sensitive tracks from the likes of Elvis, Wanda, Iggy (!), The Impressions, Rhiannon Giddens, and a couple dozen more. It’s quite the mixed bag on a Saturday morning as the winter of 2022-23 begins to roll away like the tumbleweeds as the winds of spring pushes the time away. Tune into community radio this week as we fill the air with the music that’s easy on the ears (and the soul). Every Friday and Saturday morning on KOWS 92.5 FM, Occidental and streaming to planet Earth on KOWSFM.COM.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Los Lobos One Time One Night El Cancionero: Mas y Mas (1 of 4) Amazon
3Wanda Jackson Savin' My Love Queen Of Rockabilly Amazon
4Roger Miller Old Songwriters Never Die (Banter) King Of The Road: A Tribute To Roger Miller [Disc 2] Amazon
5Kacey Musgraves Kansas City Star King of the Road: A Tribute to Roger Miller Amazon
6John Prine With Connie Smith Loose Talk In Spite Of Ourselves Amazon
7Sara Watkins Blue Shadows On the Trail (feat. Nickel Creek) Under the Pepper Tree Amazon
8Roy Rogers Here On the Range 1939-1940 (Warped 3936) Amazon
9The Western Flyers Along The Navajo Trail Wild Blue Yonder Amazon
10Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Tumbling Tumbleweeds 16 Great Songs Of The Old West Amazon
11The Dinning Sisters Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie Rounding Up The Girls/Great Female Country Vocals Vol 1 Amazon
12We Five You Were on My Mind Classic Rock: 1965 – Shakin' All Over Amazon
13The Impressions People Get Ready Classic Rock: 1965 – Shakin' All Over Amazon
14Nancy Wilson (You Don't Know) How Glad I Am Your Hit Parade – Intro the '60S Amazon
15Lyle Lovett Summer Wind For Love of the Game Amazon
16Iggy Pop How Insensitive Preliminaries Amazon
17Rhiannon Giddens Up Above My Head Tomorrow Is My Turn Amazon
18Laura Rucker I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter Swingin' the Blues: 1931-1939 Amazon
19Elvis Presley Love Letters Elvis' Gold Records (Volume 4) Amazon
20Patsy Cline Love Letters In The Sand The Patsy Cline Collection Amazon
21Roy Orbison Dream You've Got Mail Amazon
22Louis Armstrong A Kiss to Build a Dream On Sleepless in Seattle Amazon
23Whispering Jack Smith That's My Weakness Now Me & My Shadow Amazon
24Fats Domino Make Me Belong To You Fats Is Back Amazon
25Barbara Lewis Hello Stranger MaltShop Memories Save the Last Dance for M Amazon
26Justin Townes Earle Can't Hardly Wait Midnight at the Movies Amazon
27Chuck Jackson Shame On Me Hold On, We're Coming '67 Amazon
28Nick Lowe I Live on a Battlefield The Impossible Bird Amazon
29Connie Smith Ribbon Of Darkness The Essential Connie Smith Amazon
30John Fogerty Where the River Flows John Fogerty Amazon
31Wanda Jackson Fujiyama Mama Queen Of Rockabilly Amazon
32John Fogerty Almost Saturday Night John Fogerty Amazon
33Sons of the Pioneers Lone Star Trail Songs of the Prairie – CD2 Amazon
34Bill Frisell Happy Trails When You Wish Upon a Star Amazon